《正一法文经章官品》

The Ranks of Officials in the Chapters of the Zhengyi Ritual Texts

The Ranks of Officials in the Chapters of the Zhengyi Ritual Texts is included in the Zhengyi section of the Daoist ritual registers in the Chinese Daoist Canon. It is a catalog of Daoist ritual chapters arranged by their uses.

Volume One contains twenty-four entries. They concern subduing the Earth Lord and other baleful spirits associated with disturbing the ground or a dwelling; dealing with strange occurrences and spirits; handling official lawsuits, verbal disputes, slander, and curses; protecting homes and livestock; driving away thieves; and such matters as dispelling misfortune and prolonging life, summoning souls and seeking immortality, healing illness, praying for ritual registers, farming, long journeys, and buying and selling.

Volume Two contains twenty-six entries, many concerning exorcism and healing. These include subduing spirits and apparitions; treating headaches, eye ailments, deafness, tooth and cheek pain, and other illnesses; and addressing imprisonment, harm from snakes and locusts, harmful insects and mice, childbirth, and pregnancy. The entries also concern subduing heterodox ritual masters, atoning for offenses, and lifting curses.

Volume Three contains eleven entries. They mainly concern clearing vegetation; spirits and baleful forces associated with graves and funerals, the Earth Lord, and earth Qi; and matters such as moving house, protecting a dwelling, marriage, and sowing crops in the fields.

Volume Four

Oversees livelihoods involving the planting of mulberry trees, the raising of livestock, fishing, buying and selling, and all kinds of calamities. Also oversees journeys, comings and goings, and affairs of entry and exit.

Can release people from confinement and avert the calamity of imprisonment; resolve dealings with the authorities, disputes and resentments connected with official matters, and slander and defamation. It can also address cases of abducting another man’s wife, compel thieves and fugitives to return, ensure success in military campaigns and attacks, and make prayers for rain or clear skies.

There are sixteen items in all.

2. “Entry and Exit,” in the Zhengyi Statutes and Registers Scripture (Zhengyi Fawen Jingzhang)

Can release people from confinement and avert the calamity of imprisonment; resolve dealings with the authorities, disputes and resentments connected with official matters, and slander and defamation. It can also address cases of abducting another man’s wife, compel thieves and fugitives to return, ensure success in military campaigns and attacks, and make prayers for rain or clear skies.

There are sixteen items in all.

“Official Ranks,” Zhengyi Statutes and Registers Scripture, Volume One

Collecting the Earth Lord

If someone is gravely ill, growing thinner by the day, and in mortal danger, one should invite Lord Yangzhi, the Celestial Official, to lead 120 officials and 120 functionaries in treating the illness. If the person has suffered a long illness and calamities linger in the home, one should invite Lord Xuyu to lead twenty official generals in treating the condition. One may also invite Lord Chitian Shihei to lead 120 official generals, charged with collecting and treating the evil ghosts that cause trouble in the home.

If a household remains unsettled after a burial, with frequent nightmares and confused dreams, and the souls cannot rest, one should invite Lord Shou Shen Tuming to lead 120 official generals in treating the condition. One should then invite Lord Sanhei Weiyu, leading five official generals, and Lord Duxing, leading 120 official generals, to sever the hauntings that plague the home.

Lord Shi’an, Lord Duxing, and Lord Zhuyang, one of each, are to lead 120 official generals apiece to sever the hauntings brought by deceased relatives of the wife’s family. One may also invite Lords Gaodu and Shuoping, each leading 120 official generals.

Lord Qinglong Yuanshui is to lead twenty attendants, and Lord Duxing 120 official generals, to sever the hauntings that plague the home.

Lord Shi’an, Lord Duxing, and Lord Zhuyang, one of each, are to lead 120 official generals apiece to sever the hauntings brought by deceased relatives of the wife’s family. One may also invite Lords Gaodu and Shuoping, each leading 120 official generals.

Here, “lord,” “official,” “functionary,” and “official general” refer to the divine offices and their subordinates described in the scripture. “Invite” means to summon the deities to descend and preside over exorcistic rites in Daoist ritual practice.

The Lord of the Azure Dragon’s Source Waters, the Elder of the Nine Waters, and the Water Emperor are to be summoned, along with the ruler in charge of water administration and the ten soldiers led by the Lord of Just Governance. Also to be summoned are the One Hundred and Twenty Officials and Generals who Install Officials and Set Up Offices, to distinguish and handle the affairs under the Water Lords’ jurisdiction.

Twelve Grand Masters of Remonstrance are also to be summoned, together with the Lord of Jingyin Zhen and Lord Tan, who are responsible for reconciling and admonishing those who have died.

The Great Harmonious Lord of the Eastern Sea, Tu, commands One Hundred and Twenty Officials and Generals. They are responsible for capturing spirits such as Gouxing and Hu’ge, as well as the One Hundred and Twenty Generals and Officials commanded by the Lord of Nüe’yang Fang. Lord Anshang commands One Hundred and Twenty Officials and Generals to guard the Chamber of the Mysterious Yellow; Lord Shidu commands One Hundred and Twenty to guard the Chamber of Yin and Yang; Lord Anshi commands One Hundred and Twenty to guard the Chamber of Mysterious Truth; and Lord Anhe commands One Hundred and Twenty to guard the Bingwu Chamber. These officials and generals are responsible for inspecting and summoning the relevant officials, and for apprehending and treating the local earth spirits around the residence.

Lord Tianchang commands one hundred thousand soldiers in yellow robes, who are responsible for capturing the One Hundred and Twenty Calamity Spirits in a given residence. These strange beings cause trouble inside and outside the home and bring punishment, death, and illness; they must all be eliminated. Lord Taibai, the Martial Star, commands one hundred thousand troops and is responsible for capturing spirits, harmful ghosts, and evil beings that bring disaster to households. If there are written records whose meaning is difficult to determine, summon the Qiongqi Envoy to investigate the strange ghosts and eliminate them.

Lord Tiangang is also to be summoned. He commands One Hundred and Twenty Officials and Generals and is responsible for keeping the residence peaceful.

Lord Anqi commands One Hundred and Twenty Officials and Generals to guard the Palace of Peaceful Elixir. In secret, they regulate the rebellious ghostly Qi within the residence, assess merit and determine rewards and punishments, and ensure that each spirit returns to its proper place. The Lord of Daoist Illumination and Supreme Mystery is also to be sent with One Hundred and Twenty Officials and Generals to guard the Chamber of Rebellion. They address conditions that make the homes of ordinary people unfit to live in and are responsible for capturing and removing all calamities, baleful forces, and strange beings.

Lord Chisha commands One Hundred and Twenty Officials and Generals to guard the Chamber of Numinous Prosperity. They are responsible for capturing and treating the ghosts of the Five Poisons and Six Kui, from Miyi onward, as well as ghosts that deplete and harm a residence by blowing Qi or by other means. This helps keep the home peaceful.

Lord Yuanqi commands One Hundred and Twenty Officials and Generals to guard the rooms and dwellings. They are responsible for capturing and treating evil spirits in the homes of people throughout the world and dispelling the harms caused by ghosts that bring sudden calamities.

The Celestial Dark Lord alone oversees a category of affairs that benefit the household.

The Lord of Primordial Qi, a divine lord who governs the Qi of the Primordial Beginning, commands 120 officers and generals and governs the rooms of the residence. He is responsible for gathering in and subduing the evil spirits that haunt people’s homes throughout the world, and driving away ghosts that bring unexpected calamity.

The Celestial Dark Lord commands 120 officers and generals and governs the Peaceful State Room. He is responsible for gathering in and subduing the evil spirits that prevent people from living in peace, and suppressing the ghosts that bring disaster, so that homes remain peaceful.

The Lord of the Azure Dragon commands 120 officers and generals and governs the Storehouse Room. He responds to situations in which people’s possessions are squandered and their six kinds of livestock fail to thrive, and protects their homes.

Gathering in and Subduing Official Affairs

The Lord of Cap and Belt commands 120 officers and generals and governs the Five Gates Room. He is in charge of resolving the lawsuits people become entangled in, so that matters involving imprisonment can be settled with ease.

The Lord of the Four Directions commands 120 officers and generals and governs the Azure Canopy Room. He is in charge of quelling the anger, resentment, punishments, and injuries inflicted by the authorities, so that these troubles cease without provoking disputes, and of dispelling quarrels and malicious talk.

The Lord of the Clear Granary commands 120 officers and generals and governs the Great Gate Room. He is in charge of suppressing lawsuits, resentments, punishments, and injuries, and bringing them to an end.

The Lord of the Eight Gates alone commands 120 officers and generals and governs the Great Sovereign Room. He is in charge of gathering in and stopping lawsuits, resentments, punishments, and injuries.

The Three Gates of Jiao, Zhou, and Zhao-nü Room are in charge of suppressing lawsuits, resentments, punishments, and injuries, and bringing them to an end. The Lord of the Eight Gates alone commands 120 officers and generals and governs the Great Sovereign Room. He is in charge of gathering in and stopping lawsuits, resentments, punishments, and injuries.

Jiao, Zhou, and Zhao-nü command 3,007 officers and generals. These officers and generals wear their hair loose and can stop lawsuits, punishments, and calamities.

The Lord of the Official Seat commands 120 officers and generals and governs the Great Gate Room. He is in charge of freeing a person from lawsuits and imprisonment, dispelling prison troubles and enabling that person to escape.

The Northern First Official, Lord of the Left Youth, commands 220 officers and generals. He also summons 110 officials responsible for gathering in punishments and investigating unlawful acts. He is in charge of cutting off the harm inflicted on a person by malicious county officials, calming schemes, quarrels, and prison troubles, and bringing matters to a peaceful resolution.

The Lord Who Inspects Evil commands 120 officers and generals and governs the High Plain Room. He is responsible for arresting those in the commandery offices who falsely accuse and slander a person and continue to harm them, and for breaking up all manner of schemes so that people’s minds may be at ease.

The Lord Who Shakes Heaven and Moves Earth commands 500,000 soldiers of the Nine Heavens and is in charge of gathering in rebels and bandits on earth.

The Lord of Star Operations commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed at Yue Palace. He is responsible for driving away the calamities brought upon the people of the world by unsettled tombs.

The Lord of the Capital Marquis commands 120 officials and is stationed at Supreme Clarity Palace. He is responsible for apprehending ghosts in tombs.

The Lord of Literary Meaning commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed at the Inner Tomb Office. He is responsible for apprehending ghosts that cause trouble over disputes concerning tombs.

The Lord of the Nine Mysteries Who Examines Qi (the divine lord who oversees the examination of vital energy) commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed at Western Release Palace. He is responsible for apprehending Earth Official ghosts connected with burial and the covering of graves with soil.

The Lord of the Nine Earths commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed at the Office of Pacification. He is responsible for apprehending ghosts involved in burials and interments.

Earth ghosts.

The Lord of the Nine Mysteries Who Examines Qi commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed at Western Release Palace. He is responsible for apprehending Earth Official ghosts connected with burial and the covering of graves with soil.

The Lord of the Nine Earths commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed at the Office of Pacification. He is responsible for apprehending ghosts involved in burials and interments.

The Lord of Earth Armor commands one official and 120 generals and is stationed at Ruined Palace. He is responsible for handling cases in which people throughout the world dig up tombs or cry out over the harm they have suffered.

He resolves the transgressions of the dead.

The Three Dukes’ observances of the sun and moon, and their nine examinations, are conducted by the Dragon-Patrol Envoy. He commands 120 officials and generals of the Six Jia Parents and is responsible for resolving a thousand… two hundred examinations and officials for the people of the world. Those who write it by hand and clarify it themselves will have their form…

The Lord Who Harmonizes Qi (the divine lord who harmonizes vital energy) commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed at Complete Lodging Palace. He is responsible for apprehending those who, because of actions carried out by libationers and others, have incurred condemnation, examination, or punishment; the Lord of Correct Qi then deals with them.

The Lord of Heavenly Return commands 11,000 white-clad soldiers and is responsible for apprehending and examining the various officials of examination. The Lord of the Western Heavenly Constellations commands 100,000 red-clad soldiers. He is responsible for apprehending matters of the heavenly palaces under the authority of examination summons and Correct Qi, and for setting the merits officers and their subordinate officials in order during that period.

Five Merits Officers command 120 officials and generals. They are responsible for matters concerning fields and residences and for lifting examination penalties. The Lord Who Observes Brightness is stationed at Illustrious Palace and commands 100,000 red-clad soldiers. He is responsible for apprehending and dealing with libationers who drink wine, eat meat, engage in sexual misconduct, or bathe improperly.

Supreme Clarity Heaven commands a million soldiers and is responsible for apprehending, examining, and restraining the 3,600 officials of examination.

The Four Illuminations Lord commands 120 officials, generals, and clerks and resides at the libation master’s administrative compound. He oversees calamities and sacrifices, keeping the compound in order. He is also responsible for prohibiting, investigating, and judging cases involving ghosts and spirits causing trouble, opposing the upright Qi, or provoking disputes. He examines the various kinds of Qi and distinguishes the clear from the turbid.

The National Elder White Hare Lord commands 120 officials and generals and resides at Luocheng Palace. He oversees the suppression of rebellious intermediate ghosts and investigates and summons for judgment deities who are guilty of wrongdoing or misconduct. He also supervises subordinate offices, distinguishes the duties of officials from those of troops, and lifts the offenses and calamities borne by their commanders.

The Lady Bi commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Immortal Palace. She oversees the resolution of problems caused when libation masters—Daoist clergy serving at the local level—break precepts, and she prohibits drinking wine and eating meat. She also judges the people’s deceitful and licentious conduct according to the gravity of their offenses, so that such wrongdoing will not recur.

The National Elder White Xun Lord commands 120 officials and generals and resides in Luowei Hall. He oversees the handling of those who do evil or violate prohibitions, and investigates the offenses and merits of officials summoned for judgment. He also distinguishes and adjudicates cases, prohibits drinking wine and eating meat, and deals with the people’s deceitful and licentious conduct according to its severity, so that it will not recur.

The Lord Who Decides and Resolves commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Immortal Name Mountain Hall. He oversees the resolution and handling of libation masters who drink wine and eat meat, as well as licentiousness, theft, and similar offenses among the people’s children.

If anyone slanders or curses, the relevant officials and generals investigate and deal with the matter.

The Lord Who Directs Conduct commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Level Ground Hall. He oversees rewards and punishments for officials according to their merits, punishes evil and promotes good, and continually restores the spirits to their proper places so that the Daoist teachings and methods may be made clear.

The Five Paths Lord commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Northern Upper Hall. On behalf of libation masters, he puts an end to quarrels among the people. He also oversees anyone who fails to observe the prohibitions and thereby brings disaster upon themselves.

The Lord Who Investigates Evil commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the High Plain Hall. He oversees the apprehension of Daoists and laypeople, as well as members of the public, who speak recklessly, divulge Daoist teachings and methods, or disparage the worthy.

The Lord Who Overcomes the Crowned Evil commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the High Plain Hall. He oversees the apprehension of those throughout the world who speak recklessly, disrupt order, or disparage the worthy and their pure spirits.

The Six Bells Great Sovereign commands five officials and generals and 120 subordinates, and resides in the Stone Immortal Hall. He oversees restraint in the people’s speech, quells disputes, and rectifies and gathers in their Qi, so that the people may live in harmony, united in purpose and mutually amiable, turning toward the good.

The Lord of the Mysterious Heights (Shangqing Xu Jun), a revered deity among the divine perfected beings of the Highest Clarity, commands a hundred thousand soldiers. He is responsible for arresting monks and laypeople throughout the world who use words to slander, curse, or insult others, and for investigating and punishing them. He also enables the people to live together in harmony, sharing goodwill and joy.

The Lord of the Mysterious Heights commands a hundred thousand soldiers. He is responsible for arresting monks and laypeople throughout the world who use words to slander, curse, or insult others, and for investigating and punishing them.

The Six Star Lords of the Southern Bell (Nanzhong) command five officials and one hundred and twenty generals and soldiers. They oversee the office of the Lord of Immortal Harmony and are responsible for ending verbal disputes among the people, so that they may live together in harmony, laughing and rejoicing.

The Six Star Lords of the Southern Bell command five officials and one hundred and twenty generals and soldiers. They oversee the office of the Immortal Stone Chamber and are responsible for ending verbal disputes among the people, including disputes caused by the disobedient and by officials, so that everyone may agree and live together in unity.

The Lord of the Five Balances commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals and oversees the Jade Maiden Chamber. He is responsible for rewarding officials who have done meritorious deeds, punishing evildoers, and supporting good conduct.

The Lords of Left Wisdom and Right Joy command one hundred and twenty officials and generals. They are responsible for ending verbal disputes between monks and the people in a person’s home district, ensuring that such conflicts do not come near that person.

The immortal officials and Jade Maidens, numbering twelve hundred, are responsible for summoning the Qi born of Heaven and Earth, and for exhaling and inhaling essence and vital energy. They can prevent calamities, so that verbal disputes and disasters do not arise.

Verbal Disputes Involving County Officials

After examining and deliberating, the Celestial Administration petitions separately for the fifty officials commanded by the Elder of the Azure Emperor of the East.

It also petitions for the fifty officials commanded by the Minister of the Red Emperor of the South.

It also petitions for the fifty officials commanded by the Minister of the White Emperor of the West.

It also petitions for the fifty officials commanded by the Minister of the Qi Emperor of the North.

It also petitions for the fifty officials commanded by the Minister of the Yellow Emperor of the Center. It also petitions for the fifty officials commanded by the Minister of the White Emperor of the West.

It also petitions for the fifty officials commanded by the Minister of the Qi Emperor of the North.

It also petitions for the fifty officials commanded by the Minister of the Yellow Emperor of the Center.

It also petitions for twelve hundred officials and generals under the Axe-Wielding Tang Father.

It also petitions for twelve hundred soldiers under the Great General Who Breaks the Market.

It also petitions for twelve hundred soldiers under the Great General Who Breaks the Mountain.

It also petitions for twelve hundred soldiers under the Great General Who Strikes and Repels.

It also petitions for twelve hundred soldiers under the Great General Who Dispels Afflictions.

It also petitions for twelve hundred soldiers under the Great General Who Disperses Affairs.

Again, summon the twelve hundred officers and soldiers commanded by the Great General Zhencheng to descend.

May the officials and clerks of the Five Departments, the Lord’s officials, and the officials and clerks of the Seven Departments of Heavenly Officials descend together to oversee transformation and handle official affairs. If disobedient officials disturb someone in dreams, or if disputes and accusations involving the authorities worsen someone’s illness, petition the local guardian spirit to investigate and summon the officials and clerks of the Three Masters and the Twenty-Four Lords and Generals. This person practices the Daoist methods, cultivates the true, and accumulates De, yet the harassment of the wicked person A and that person’s subordinate officials has worsened their illness. A person instructed in the Daoist methods should help the state govern its people, assist Heaven’s Dao in carrying out its teachings, sustain life, nurture good conduct, and punish wrongdoing. If anyone uses words to slander and harm a good person, then pray to the Great Spirit Father of the East, the Great Spirit Mother of the West, the Great Spirit Father of the South, the Great Spirit Mother of the North, and the Great Spirit Lord of the Center. Ask them to restrain and command the messengers who commit evil, sealing their mouths so they cannot speak and ending harm caused by slander. If anyone intends to attack with words, also ask the twelve officials of the Lord of Great Yin to come and seize that person’s soul, so that their documents cannot be written and their slander cannot arise. May the authorities of the four directions and all manner of harmful spirits submit and come under the rule of the gracious lord.

Protecting the Six Kinds of Livestock

When raising cattle, horses, donkeys, mules, or other livestock, state their coat colors and numbers, then petition the Lord-General and officials of the King Who Collects the Hundred Kinds of Insects and Livestock to descend together and take charge.

May the livestock be well nourished, strong and healthy, and prolific in breeding, without suffering injury. Ask the one hundred and twenty officials and generals of the Lord of Heavenly Patterns to reside at the Resting Office and oversee the breeding of the livestock belonging to a certain household, so that their numbers increase and none die. Then ask the one hundred and twenty officials and generals of the Lord of the Hao Water Cycle to reside in the Red Cloud Chamber and oversee the treatment of the harmful spirits that cause illness among the world’s livestock. Also ask the Lord of Heavenly Yang and his one hundred and twenty officials and generals to reside in the Chamber of the Lord’s Flesh, where they will oversee the removal of influences in people’s homes that harm cattle and horses, protecting them so that they thrive and do not die.

Driving Away Thieves

Ask the five Lords of Heavenly Rank and their one hundred and twenty officials and generals to reside with the Lord Who Supports the Clan, where they will oversee the protection of people’s homes from robbery by thieves.

Under the command of the Eastern and Western Grand White Lords (deities overseeing related celestial offices) are 120 officers and generals, stationed in the Chamber of Heavenly Qian. They guard the territorial lords across the empire’s commanderies, townships, market towns, and villages: five divine lords, together with their 120 officers and generals. They also protect Lord Fuzong, safeguarding people’s homes from theft and robbery.

Under the command of the Eastern and Western Grand White Lords are 120 officers and generals, stationed in the Chamber of Heavenly Qian. They inspect cases of robbery and theft among the people throughout the empire’s commanderies, townships, market towns, and villages, and punish those who commit such crimes.

Under the command of the Lord of the Ten Thousand Surnames, a deity who protects the people, are 120 officers and generals, stationed in the Chamber of Harmony with the Immortals. They monitor people who harbor wrongful intentions or engage in theft and robbery, and arrest those who commit such crimes.

The Sun Men, male divine soldiers symbolized by the sun, number 1,200. Dressed in red, they arrest thieves and those who incur grudges and commit wrongdoing throughout the empire.

The Moon Women, female divine soldiers symbolized by the moon, number 1,200. Dressed in white, they arrest women who steal and rob throughout the empire.

Under the command of the Lord of Demotion are 120 officers and generals, stationed in the Chamber of the Hundred Corners. They oversee the order of Yin-Yang throughout the empire. If the twelve classes of officers and generals act perversely and violate the proper order, these forces investigate them. There are also 100,000 Great Soldiers Who Uphold Heaven, dressed in deep-red cinnabar robes. They prevent people from robbing one another and investigate cases of disorderly relations between men and women, as well as the concealment of stolen goods. Under the command of the Lord of the Upper Calendar, Who Reverses and Clears the Mysterious Origin, are one million soldiers. They arrest thieves on the ground and pursue fugitives, leaving them nowhere to escape. The Great Soldiers of the Sun and Moon number 100,000. Dressed in crimson, they patrol the Han realm, seek out and capture thieves, and take them into custody.

Extending Life and Overcoming Calamity

Under the command of the Lord of the Southern Heights are 120 officers and generals, stationed in the Chamber of Granaries and Fruit. They open the Gate of Heaven and extend people’s lifespans, restore the sick to health, and dispel calamities.

Under the command of the Lord of Longevity are 120 officers and generals, stationed in the Chamber of Peace and Prosperity. They oversee affairs of the Chamber of Granaries and Fruit throughout the empire. They open the Gate of Heaven and extend people’s lifespans, restoring the sick to health and dispelling calamities.

Under the command of the Lord of Longevity are 120 officers and generals, stationed in the Chamber of Peace and Prosperity. They extend the lifespans of people throughout the empire and help them overcome calamities, allowing their lives to continue.

Under the command of the Lord of Southern Prosperity are 120 officers and generals, stationed in the Chamber of Ordered Storehouses. As they journey through the Eight Cycles and conduct their inspections, they can remove a person’s name from the register of the dead and restore them to their original allotted lifespan. They can also eliminate the Three Corpses—the internal worms said in Daoism to harm the body and bring about aging—so that a person can devote themselves to cultivation and seek immortality. Even at the age of eighty, one may regain youth and become like a fifteen-year-old.

The Lord of the Vermilion Chamber of the Bright Hall, a divine lord who oversees the Bright Hall and Vermilion Chamber, commands 120 officials and generals. He governs cities and palaces, oversees the worries that weigh on the hearts of libation masters—Daoist ritual officials who preside over sacrifices and purification rites—and helps people recover their lifespan and live longer. He also governs the work of guiding people beyond the world to become immortals. Those who disobey his commands cannot attain these aims.

There is one Lord of Heaven, attended by 39,000 guards. He governs punishments, life, and death. Through his power, people can survive worldly calamities and extend their lives by a thousand years.

The Lord Who Dispels Calamity commands 120 officials and generals. He oversees the removal of punishments and calamities decreed by fate, and can also deal with disasters caused by the stars, ghosts, spirits, and monsters, as well as those arising from injury, wrongdoing, and decline.

Recording Souls and Long Life

There are 1,200 Jade Maidens of Pure Calendars, goddesses who govern longevity and souls, all dressed in red. Under orders, they record a person’s three Hun souls and seven Po souls, keeping them from leaving that person. They oversee longevity and the treatment of illness. Another 1,200 Maidens of Pure Elimination oversee granting people long life, extending their years, and dispelling illness.

Recording Souls and Long Life

There are 1,200 Jade Maidens of Pure Calendars, all dressed in red. Under orders, they record a person’s souls, keeping them from leaving the body, and oversee longevity and the treatment of illness. There are also 1,200 Maidens of Pure Elimination, who oversee extending life and curing illness. They record the souls and keep them from leaving the body, thereby bringing people peace.

Lord Zhouyu commands 120 officials and generals and governs the Palace of Terrestrial Geography, which oversees matters of the land. He is responsible for granting 120 kinds of life force. His divine generals wear red and gather spiritual power. They restrain and protect a person’s three Hun souls and seven Po souls, keeping them within the body so that life is preserved and prolonged, for as long as eight hundred years.

Jade Maidens Who Heal Illness

If the life-soul falls into water, one should find a way to bring it out. If it falls into a coffin, one should break open the coffin and rescue it. If it falls into prison, one should dig in many places to save it. If it falls into a tree, one should bring it down. If it falls into prison, one should open the jail and release it. If it falls into a tomb, one should open the tomb and bring it out. When a person’s allotted salary and lifespan are about to run out, they should be increased. If the person has been entangled in official documents and detained, one should seek their release. If the matter is being handled by a celestial official, it should be examined and dealt with at the proper time. When ordinary people face urgent hardship, ritual methods should be performed promptly to bring them recovery.

The Great Dragon Lord should open the tomb and release the person. When their allotted salary and lifespan are about to run out, these should be increased. If they have been entangled in official documents and detained, one should seek their release. If the matter is being handled by a celestial official, it should be examined and dealt with at the proper time. When ordinary people face urgent hardship, ritual methods should be performed promptly to bring them recovery.

The Great Dragon Lord has 120 officers and generals under his command, stationed in the Chamber of the Seven Stars. They oversee the halting of divination and inquiries throughout the world, as well as medicine, moxibustion, acupuncture, and bloodletting, ensuring that these practices can be carried out.

The Lord Eastern Radiance, Grand Physician, has five officers and generals and 120 subordinates under his command, stationed in the Palace of the Heavenly Emperor. They oversee the preparation of medicines and treat the illnesses of men and women, administering medicine to patients.

Lord Mountain Circuit has 120 officers and generals under his command, stationed in the Chamber of First Birth. He leads the Jade Maidens, Plain Maidens, and Five Youths, who bring immortal medicines and divine prescriptions and treat children with the method of yellow clothing. He then orders the Moon Mysterious Jade Maiden and 1,200 others to dress in white and carry divine prescriptions and canonical texts, so they can diagnose and treat sick men and women and restore them to health.

The 1,200 Jade Maidens of the Upper Clarity Great Immortal Hall oversee the delivery of divine medicines. When carrying out a rite, they send a dose of medicine and talismanic methods down to the lower realm. Following the canonical texts, they treat a person’s suffering and make it disappear. The Heavenly Physicians, Official Physicians, Grand Physicians, and medical officials belonging to the Five Offices each number twelve. Together they go to the designated place and enter a person’s body to treat illness.

The 1,200 Jade Maidens of the Upper Clarity Great Immortal Hall oversee the delivery of divine medicines. When carrying out a rite, they send a dose of medicine and talismanic methods down to the lower realm. Following the canonical texts, they treat a person’s suffering and make it disappear. The Heavenly Physicians, Official Physicians, Grand Physicians, and medical officials belonging to the Five Offices each number twelve. Together they go to the designated place and enter a person’s five viscera, six bowels, and twelve chambers, spreading the medicine’s power to all 120 joints. They then perform divine methods to disperse the Qi of illness and treat the places where pain is concentrated. The Merit Officer (a functionary spirit in the Daoist bureaucracy) responsible for treating the person, together with the officers, generals, and medical officials who have been summoned, examines the patient’s body and treats it from head to toe, checking the lungs and breathing and distinguishing whether the six pulses are floating or sinking. Sinking pulses are judged stable; floating pulses are dispersed. The five viscera are cleansed and the six bowels calmed. Accumulated illness Qi, as well as malign influences arising from food and drink, spirits, demons, and epidemic disease, is driven out. Baleful forces, military calamities, and cold disasters are dispelled and kept far from the person. Having received divine grace, the person prays for the illness to be removed and the body restored to health; this serves as proof that the rite has worked.

Treating Wind-Toxin Leprosy

The Lord of the Jade Maidens has 120 officers and generals under his command, stationed in the Chamber of Longevity. They oversee 24 kinds of illness Qi and diagnose and treat a person’s leprosy, afflictions caused by poisonous insects, and suffering caused by wind malignity, dispelling calamities and red swellings.

Lord Bingzi Ren has 120 officers and generals under his command, stationed in the Chamber of Further Injury. He oversees the Jade Maidens of the world as they spread and circulate the Qi of the Dantian, treating and eliminating various afflictions caused by worms, leprosy, toxic diseases, and gu poison.

Treating Illnesses Handed Down by Ancestors to Their Descendants

The Supreme Lord of Fangcang, a Daoist divine general, commands one hundred thousand soldiers. He is responsible for gathering in the ghosts of the ancestors’ five tombs—ancestral burial grounds—that have not yet caused their descendants to fall ill; distinguishing baleful and dangerous influences between life and death; cutting off depletion and harm; and dealing with various parasites, sores, viruses, and gu poisons so that they are eliminated.

Gathering in the ghosts of ancestors who cause their descendants to fall ill

The Supreme Lord of Fangcang commands one hundred thousand soldiers and is responsible for gathering in the ghosts of the ancestors’ five tombs that cause their descendants to fall ill, discerning dangers between life and death, and cutting off depletion and harm. The Lord Official of Fangcang commands one hundred thousand soldiers and is responsible for gathering in the ghosts among the ancestors who cause their descendants to fall ill. Whoever declares this matter places the task of gathering them in and cutting off their harm in his charge.

Gathering in the harm caused by the dead

The Lord of the Dipper has an official general who commands one hundred and twenty subordinates and governs the Chamber of the Azure Canopy. He is responsible for dispelling baleful influences associated with the stars and death, preventing calamities and hauntings from becoming entangled again, stopping three related forms of harm, and eliminating calamities and guilt so they no longer afflict the living. The Lord of the Plain Chariot and White Horse commands one hundred thousand soldiers and is responsible for gathering in the ghosts of the twelve tombs. If they have not yet caused the living to fall ill, he cuts off their harm.

The Supreme Heavenly Lord commands one hundred thousand soldiers and is responsible for gathering in the ghosts and hauntings in a household designated by the names Water, Fire, Broth, Pouring, Yi Stone, and the Twenty Executions, among other terms. He drives away and destroys the baleful influences of the dead who have not found rest and continue to entangle the living.

The Lord of the Metropolitan Office has one hundred and twenty official generals and governs the Chamber of Great Yin. He is responsible for gathering in the ghosts of a household’s blood relatives who are associated with stellar death and disturb the living, and for cutting off their harm.

The Lord of Heavenly Mystery has one hundred and twenty official generals and governs the Chamber of the Lesser Intestine. He is responsible for gathering in and driving away hauntings from tombs so they do not cause the household’s head to fall ill.

Lord Shi’an is responsible for cutting off the harm caused by the ghosts of a household’s blood relatives who are associated with stellar death and disturb the living.

The Lord of Heavenly Mystery has one hundred and twenty official generals and governs the Chamber of the Lesser Intestine. He is responsible for gathering in and driving away hauntings from tombs so they do not cause the household’s head to fall ill.

Lord Shi’an has one hundred and twenty official generals and governs the Chamber of the Beginning. He is responsible for gathering in the ghosts of the dead who have not yet transformed into essence hauntings, and cutting off the depletion and injury they cause.

Lord Shi Xian commands one hundred and twenty soldiers and is responsible for gathering in violent, troublesome ghosts that come from elsewhere and haunt the homes of people throughout the world. He subdues and cuts off beings that use the qi of ghosts to torment people and turn into essence hauntings. They pass from one place to another, causing those who come later to fall ill; the official in charge on the side of the dead is to put an end to this.

The Lord Who Executes Calamity has one hundred and twenty official generals and governs the Granary Hall. He is responsible for gathering in and cutting off, on behalf of a person, cases in which the dead return in succession and become entangled as they pass from place to place, thereby killing the living in an unnatural manner and bringing calamity and guilt.

If a deceased wife summons harmful spirits that inflict illness, petition the two officials Dazhao and Dadian to take her into custody and detain and inspect her soul, forbidding her to return and harm the living. Then petition the officials Taibai, Bingxing, Yinghuo, and others to descend together to the human realm, clear away and weaken the baleful Qi brought on by the death, and then handle disputes over graves arising from successive burials and funeral processions.

The Lord of the Nine Earths, who oversees matters of land and burial, commands 120 officials and generals and governs the Palace of Geomancy. He handles the people’s funeral and burial affairs, capturing tomb spirits created by grave construction in any month from the first through the twelfth. In this way, he deals with illnesses caused by burial, as well as disputes involving spirits.

The Lord of the Nine Earths commands 120 officials and generals and governs the Palace of Geomancy. He handles the people’s funeral and burial affairs, capturing tomb spirits created by grave construction in every month. The Great Divine Officials and Generals command 120 men and govern the relevant palaces. They oversee the people’s relocation and the repair of graves, as well as taboo spirits that arise from choosing particular months.

The Lord of the Commandery commands 120 officials and governs the Chamber of Great Mystery. He captures spirits haunting burial mounds and puts an end to disturbances in graves by the Tomb God, the Tomb Marshal of Arms, and others.

The Two-Thousand-Picul Official, a title for an ancient official such as a commandery governor, handles cases in which Jing spirits cause trouble and use grandiose claims to mislead people. This official lord commands 120 men and governs the Chamber of Safe Channels. He oversees the capture of tomb spirits that make the living ill after the dead have been buried without finding peace.

The Lord Who Examines Qi in the Nine Mysteries commands 120 officials and generals and governs the Chamber of the Four Marshes. He oversees the repair of damage to the Earth Lord caused during burial, and removes, weakens, and dissipates the resulting calamities.

The Lord of the Nine Earths commands 120 officials and generals and governs the palace. He oversees the burials of the people, capturing the perils and various spirits generated by burial, atoning for transgressions, and managing matters related to burial.

The Lord of Earth’s Branch commands 120 officials and generals and governs the Palace of Fulfillment. He oversees the weeping, commotion, and strange sounds in tombs that occur when people across the realm open tomb doors, and helps people avoid the illnesses these events may bring during the year.

The Ritual libationer of the Registers seeks the register of names.

The Dragon Envoys of the Three Primal Festivals, months, and nine periods, together with the officials and generals of the Six Jia Parents, number one hundred and twenty each. They are responsible for dispelling the misfortune of premature death and longevity, and the twelve hundred kinds of trials; they verify documents and attest to their own identities. The officials and generals of the Lords of Form and Qi also number one hundred and twenty. They are stationed at the Zhidan Lodging Chamber, where they receive and deal with the condemnations, trials, and associated substitutes faced by the various Libationers, Daoist local functionaries, and administer punishment and execution according to the orthodox canons.

The Tianhuan Chamber has one hundred thousand soldiers dressed in white. They inspect all living beings and the various examining officials, and correct their faults. The Lord of the Western Celestial Quarter has one attendant and commands one hundred thousand soldiers dressed in red. He oversees receiving and dealing with cases and conducting examinations, and establishes the proper seasons and calendar for the great palaces governed by Qi.

The Gongcao of Dunjizhi, together with the Left and Right Gongcao, number five in all, with one hundred and twenty officials and generals. They oversee official affairs concerning fields and residences and dispel the related trials.

The Lord Who Inspects Qi is stationed at the Palace of the Famous Mountain. He oversees receiving and dealing with trials faced by Libationers of various kinds because of drinking alcohol, eating meat, or indulging in sexual excess. He also presides over sacrifices and punishments.

The Four Bright Lords number five, with one hundred and twenty officials and generals. They inspect whether the Qi in the Libationers’ ritual lodges is settled, prohibit improper Qi, dispel trials caused by performing rites incorrectly, distinguish the clear from the turbid, and support and rectify Qi.

There are three kinds of trials in the country that must be reported.

The Four Bright Lords number five, with one hundred and twenty officials and generals. They inspect whether the Qi in the Libationers’ ritual lodges is settled, prohibit improper Qi, dispel trials caused by performing rites incorrectly, distinguish the clear from the turbid, and support and rectify Qi.

The White Rabbit Lord of the Three Trials in the Country commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals and is stationed at the Luocheng Chamber. He oversees the disorder caused by ghosts within the ritual domain and the offenses of masters summoned for examination, among other matters. This deity is regarded as the horse spirit of masters throughout the realm. He clarifies matters concerning officials and soldiers, and dispels the offenses of masters.

The Lady Bi has one attendant and commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals. She is stationed at the Immortal Chamber. She oversees the removal of offenses committed by Libationers who violate the prohibitions in the registers, such as drinking alcohol, eating meat, behaving improperly among the people, or committing adultery, so that these acts no longer bring calamity.

The White Xun Lord of the Three Trials in the Country has one attendant and commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals. He is stationed at the Luocheng Chamber and oversees the investigation and punishment of evil conduct within the ritual domain and offenses against examining officials. He also distinguishes and dispels trials connected with the Jade Registers.

The Lord Who Inspects Adultery has one attendant and commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals. He is stationed at the Famous Mountain Chamber. He oversees the investigation of Libationers who violate the prohibitions in the registers or drink alcohol and eat meat, as well as the sexual misconduct and theft of young people among the common folk, and dispels the trials arising from these offenses.

When a document authorizing relocation has been issued, the relevant officials protect the men and women of the household, their cooking utensils, and their six kinds of livestock as they leave their dwelling, ensuring that the move proceeds smoothly and is not obstructed by the taboos associated with the twelve earthly branches.

May protection and fragrance flourish.

The officials under Lord Gongshi number one hundred and twenty. They are stationed at Mingxi Hall and oversee the raising of silkworms among the people, ensuring that the worms rest and move about in comfort, grow strong, and produce lustrous, plump cocoons. To make a request, present a written talisman tied with a cord, seeking that it be fulfilled as desired.

The officials under Lord Gongshi also number one hundred and twenty. They are stationed at the Palace of Heavenly Blessings and oversee the raising of silkworms among the people, ensuring that the worms grow strong and feed well. Deities such as divine boys and girls, and jade boys and girls, protect the silkworms, helping them rest and grow in comfort and produce lustrous, plump cocoons. To make a request, present a written talisman, seeking that it be fulfilled as desired.

The deities Zimu, Wenshi, Xinfu, and others each have twenty-four attendants. Together they come to the designated silkworm chamber, keeping it warm and protected so that the silkworms thrive and the cocoons are plentiful. The silk yield will increase ten thousandfold and suffer no harm.

Planting Fields, Melons, and Gourds

When plowing and sowing various crops, one should report the matter to the divine offices responsible. The Lords of All the Fields, Five Fields, and Seven Fields, together with the gods of mountains and rivers, the spirits of the land, the grain gods, and the altar gods, should all be summoned.

The White Silkworm Lord oversees the protection of the Five Grains, ensuring that seedlings and stalks grow luxuriantly, bear fruit, and yield a harvest increased ten thousandfold. The Lord of the Nine Fields has one hundred and twenty officials, stationed at the Palace at the End of the Earth. They oversee the people’s farming and help them obtain a harvest, keeping pests away and driving off herds of deer so that the yield increases a hundredfold.

The Lord of the Five Grains has one hundred and twenty officials, stationed at the Palace of Great Waters. They oversee the people’s production of the Five Grains, ensuring that seedlings and stalks grow well and the harvest is abundant. They can drive out field pests, locusts, and all manner of spirits, increasing the grain harvest a hundredfold.

The Lord of the Heavenly Fields has one hundred and twenty officials, stationed at the Palace of the Earth’s Chambers. They oversee the people’s sowing of grain and greatly increase the harvest.

One should also pray to the Lords of the Five Fields, Outer Fields, and Nine Fields, as well as the swarms of locust spirits belonging to the Five Fields, Outer Fields, and Nine Fields. Ask them to dispel the locust plague and increase the grain harvest a hundredfold. The Lord of the Heavenly Fields and his officials also oversee the people’s planting of grain and help them obtain an abundant harvest.

The Lords of the Five Fields, Outer Fields, and Nine Fields manage farming affairs on their own. At year’s end, when the Five Grains are cultivated, local customs differ from place to place; a hu of horse millet serves as a potent token of verification.

The Lord of the Five Thousand Kings has one hundred and twenty officials, stationed in the Chamber of the Nine Waters. They oversee the practical methods of the people’s farming.

The Lord of the Six Domestic Animals commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Hall of Light. He oversees the people’s melons, fruits, and gourds, ensuring that harvested seeds multiply and suffer neither death nor damage.

Traveling Ten Thousand Li

The Lord of Ten Thousand Li commands 120 officials and generals. He proclaims the names of the ancestral masters and resides in the Qi Chamber, a place for honoring them and practicing methods for circulating Qi. He protects people traveling ten thousand li, keeping roads open in every direction and free from calamity.

The Lord of the Northern Horse, one in number, commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of Rooms. He protects commanders and generals on distant journeys, ensuring that they are not captured by corrupt officials and can travel swiftly and lightly, covering a thousand li in a day. The Jade Maidens of the Hall of Light number 1,200 and wear white robes. They protect people traveling far from home, keeping them safe from calamity and helping them overcome hardships and dangers.

The Lord of Ten Thousand Blessings commands 120 officials and generals. He protects people traveling ten thousand li, keeping roads clear, warding off death, turning danger into safety and misfortune into blessing, and dispelling calamities and baleful forces. Travelers remain safe on both the outward and return journeys. What they think of, remember, or wish for in their hearts also comes to pass.

Fraud in Buying and Selling

The Lord of the Post-Horse Gate, Inspector of the Market, commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of the Celestial Market. He oversees the capture of harmful ghosts throughout the world and investigates those who exploit ordinary people and the poor while slaughtering animals, selling wine, or running shops. Such abuses include secretly using underweight scales, reducing the capacity of measuring vessels, and cheating others for gain.

The Supreme Lord of Ten Thousand Blessings has 28 officials under his command who help people obtain gold and silver, cloth, silk, silk floss, fine silk, grain, and money. What they hope for in their hearts can come to them, and whatever they seek can be obtained. He oversees the attraction of wealth and the gaining of profit.

The Lord of Northern-Facing Changmang, one in number, commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of Northern Waters. He oversees the taxes of boatmen on the waterways, as well as trade, measurement, and profit. Purchases are made in full measure, and sales bring a profit; fraudulent dealings for gain are investigated.

The Supreme Blessing Lord has 120 officials and generals. They oversee the acquisition of wealth and profit. Whatever one seeks—including gold, silver, cloth, and silk—can be obtained, and whatever one wishes for can be accomplished.

The Celestial River Lord has 120 officials and generals, stationed at the Nine Rivers Chamber. They oversee the registration of the River Earl (river god) and exhort water deities to regenerate and restore calm. The scripture next records the words “Mojiayue Sanfu zhi Zhang, Sangou San Xunqing de.” Their meaning is unclear, so the names are retained as they appear in the original.

Turning Back Those Who Have Left the Dao

The Transforming Qi Lord has 120 officials and generals, stationed at “Chitu Chi.” They are responsible for reclaiming those who have turned away from the Daoist path, making a certain person follow the messenger back, return to the Dao, and rejoin the Daoist community without delay.

The Nine Assemblies Lord has 120 officials and generals, stationed at the Returning Residence. They oversee summoning officials from the Nine Heavens down to the human world to teach people to return to the Dao and urge them to come.

The Nine Assemblies Lord has 120 officials and generals, stationed at the Returning Residence. They oversee summoning from the Nine Heavens officials who investigate and take people into custody, reclaiming those who have turned away from the Daoist path and bringing the head of their household to appear.

Opening the Hearts of the Libationers

The Master Lord has 120 officials and generals, stationed in the Purple Tenuity Canopy Chamber. They oversee teaching men and women libationers—officiants in Daoist communities—their close attendants, and young beginners, so that they may receive instruction, understand the sacred Dao, and discern the speech of ghosts and spirits.

The Jade Immortal Lord has 120 officials and generals, stationed at Great Simplicity. They oversee teaching women libationers, their close attendants, and young beginners, so that they may receive the teachings of the sacred Dao and recognize female ghosts.

The Five Classics Transforming Qi Lord has 120 officials and generals, stationed in the Nine Wonders Chamber. They oversee teaching libationers and young beginners, so that they may receive instruction in person. The original also contains another passage repeating the Jade Immortal Lord’s duties from earlier: teaching women libationers so that they receive the teachings of the sacred Dao and recognize female ghosts.

If a person’s mind is open and clear, their resolve firm, and their conduct exceptional, then summon the two officials of the Five Stars and their 120 officials and generals to descend upon that person.

Then summon the Lords of the Eight Extremities of the Circuit of Heaven, together with the twelve officials of the Left and Right, Yin-Yang, Brightness, and Sequence, to descend upon that person and settle their hidden thoughts and resolve.

Entering the Mountains Without Thirst

The Canopy Heaven Lord has 120 officials and generals, stationed in the Daoist Chamber. They oversee summoning the mountain gods and the master, enabling a person to register to enter a famous mountain, and driving away the spirits dwelling there. The scripture also mentions “the Dao Maidens of Jade and the Plain Maidens preside over this,” meaning that this matter is overseen by the Dao Maidens of Jade and the Plain Maidens.

The Qingcheng Officials Who Measure Longevity—divine officials who oversee the allotted years of life—number twelve and wear red patterned silk robes. They assist the Master in attaining a lifespan of one hundred and twenty years. Once this term is reached, he enters a famous mountain. Another account says that they govern the chambers and halls within the Daoist tradition, oversee the summoning of the Mountain Gods’ Master to enter a famous mountain, and can also make spirits withdraw. They may also summon the mountain’s Jade Maidens and Pure Maidens, who take charge of the related affairs.

The Qingcheng Officials Who Measure Longevity number twelve and wear red patterned silk robes. They assist the Master in attaining a lifespan of one hundred and twenty years. Once this term is reached, he enters a famous mountain.

The Lord of Abundant Provisions is attended by five officials and one hundred and twenty military officers. He governs the subduing of the Three Corpses—spirits believed in Daoism to dwell in the human body and obstruct cultivation—so that people feel neither hunger nor thirst and may attain longevity.

The Lord of the Royal Domain’s Traveling Kitchen commands one hundred and twenty military officers. He governs the chambers of the Royal Gate and oversees the Master’s control of the breath, so that he can go without food and feel no hunger. In this way, he may enter a famous mountain without relying on grain or the vital energy drawn from food, while also enlarging his Shen (spirit) until it is like that of a child.

The Lord of the Golden Granary commands one hundred and twenty military officers. He governs the chambers of the Divine Sovereign and oversees the summoning of grain and the taking in of food’s vital energy. The cultivator may enter a famous mountain, feel neither hunger nor thirst, and bring his own Qi (vital energy) into accord with that of the immortal officials.

The Lord Who Orders Heaven commands twenty military officers and governs the chambers of the Elder. He oversees the worship of the Celestial Officials. The titles of Dao and ghosts are difficult to distinguish. By following the breath, the cultivator advances through offices such as ritual master and libationer, and thereby attains the Dao. The spirits stationed below each attend to their own duties.

The Lord Who Leans on Heaven’s Realm numbers five and governs the chambers of the Five Celestial Bodies. He is an immortal official.

The Lord Who Orders Heaven commands twenty military officers and governs the chambers of the Elder. He oversees the worship of the Celestial Officials. The titles of Dao and ghosts are difficult to distinguish. By following the breath, the cultivator advances through offices such as ritual master and libationer, and thereby attains the Dao. The spirits stationed below each attend to their own duties.

The Lord Who Leans on Heaven’s Realm numbers five and governs the chambers of the Five Celestial Bodies. He oversees the spirits within the body who protect the Master, granting his wishes and enhancing his appearance. He can also restore youth, making a person seem to have returned to the strength of early adulthood.

The Lord of the Realm That Leans on Heaven numbers five and governs the chambers of the Five Celestial Bodies. He oversees the recording of the Master’s cultivation of the Five Essences—the vital energies corresponding to the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water)—and protects the spirits within the body, restoring the essences, improving the complexion, and renewing youthful vigor.

The Lord of Radiant Splendor commands one hundred and twenty military officers and governs the chambers of White Mystery. He oversees the Master’s mountain retreat and single-minded visualization practice. The Master faces the sun for seven days, visualizing his complexion as resembling earth and water, without turning back. In this way, he can keep from aging and bring Yin-Yang (yin and yang) energy to completeness.

The Five Epidemics and Cold Damage (five kinds of epidemic disease and symptoms of cold damage)

The Lord Who Calculates Heaven commands one hundred and twenty military officers and governs the chambers of the Six Ding. He oversees the treatment of cold damage that occurs together with other illnesses, bringing disordered breath back into balance.

The Lord Who Directs the Earth Official Qi commands five attendants and one hundred and twenty military officers. He governs the chambers of the Upper Writings and oversees the five kinds of epidemic disease, cold damage, and illnesses affecting men in the marketplace.

There are five Earth Citadel Punitive Officials and 120 officer-generals. They are stationed in the Chamber of Peril and are responsible for treating patients afflicted with typhoid fever whose symptoms are interlinked and entangled.

The Divine Lord Who Commands the Qi of the Earth Officials has five attendants and 120 officer-generals. They are stationed in the Upper Writing Chamber and are responsible for illnesses among men in the marketplaces infected with the typhoid fever of the Five Plagues.

There are five Earth Citadel Punitive Officials and 120 officer-generals. They are stationed in the Chamber of Peril and are responsible for treating women in a particular ward who suffer from the typhoid fever of the Five Plagues, with symptoms that spread from one another.

The Lord Who Sets Qi in Motion and Dispels Calamity commands an army of 100,000 soldiers. They drive out the typhoid fever of the Five Plagues and, at the appointed time, strike down and execute the disease-causing ghosts. The soldiers of the Five Plagues’ Unified Qi number 400,000. They gather in evil Qi, the ghosts of the Five Plagues’ typhoid fever, and baleful forces that cause illness.

The Lord of the Nine Yi of the Northern Gate, a divine lord who guards the north, has five attendants and 120 officer-generals. They are stationed in the Great Seedling Chamber and are responsible for treating people in the ward who have typhoid fever and disordered symptoms, as well as patients whom officials and commoners regard as mad or deluded.

The Great August Lord of the Northern Ward has five attendants and 120 officer-generals. They are stationed in the Traveling Chamber and are responsible for treating people in the ward who have typhoid fever and let their hair hang loose.

The Lord, Minister of the Throat, Elder of the Heavenly Marketplace, has one attendant and 120 officer-generals. They are stationed in the Accomplishment Chamber. The presiding lord, born of the ancestral founder, is tabooed by the name Chen Yin. He treats the people’s typhoid fever with interlinked symptoms, as well as those who have lost their voices and cannot speak.

The Great Army of the Zhen Husband numbers 100,000. Its soldiers wear red, layered-patterned Heavenly Crowns and gather in ghosts throughout the world who claim to possess diseases of the Five Colors.

The Lord of the Qi of the Hundred Spirits has one attendant and 120 officer-generals. They are stationed in the Chamber of Peril and gather the typhoid fever of the Five Plagues throughout the world, along with ghosts that attach themselves to people and cause illness.

The officer-generals of the Lord of the Nine Yi of the Northern Gate number 120 and are stationed at Heavenly Dai Bao. The Lord of Divine Qi has one attendant and 120 officer-generals. They are stationed in the Chamber of Peril and gather the typhoid fever of the Five Plagues throughout the world, along with ghosts that attach themselves to people and cause illness.

The officer-generals of the Lord of the Nine Yi of the Northern Gate number 120 and are stationed at Heavenly Dai Bao. They treat typhoid fever in the marketplaces, as well as patients who let their hair hang loose, behave wildly, curse despite taboos, or speak incoherently.

The officer-generals of the Lord Who Attacks Heaven number 120 and are stationed in the Chamber of the Six Ding. They gather epidemic poison ghosts that cause illness. If someone falls ill aboard a boat, or if typhoid fever spreads from person to person with symptoms that become entangled, these cases too are governed by the ghosts of the Five Plagues.

There are five Lords of Bandits in the Northern Region. Their subordinate officials and generals number 120. They are stationed in the Chamber of Fever and Death and govern the ghosts responsible for fever.

The Lord of the Nine Yi in the Northern City has 120 subordinate officials and generals. They are stationed in the Chamber of the Full House and are responsible for treating injuries caused by boats and carts, typhoid fever passed from person to person, recurrent illnesses, sudden madness, throat obstruction, and bodily calamities.

There are five Lords of the Great Northern Qi Mechanism, with 120 subordinate officials and generals. They are stationed in the Chamber of Great Passage and are responsible for treating the five pestilences, typhoid fever, and seasonal febrile illnesses.

The Lord Who Breaks Rebellion has 120 subordinate officials and generals. They are stationed in the Chamber of Han Immortals and are responsible for treating men and women afflicted by harmful spirits: symptoms include disheveled hair, running about wildly, recurring episodes, claiming to be gods or ghosts, and uttering strange words.

There are five Lords of Heavenly Joy, with 120 subordinate officials and generals. They are stationed in the Chamber of the Five Waters and are responsible for treating women’s madness and illnesses marked by disheveled hair.

The Lord of the Essence That Races Through Heaven and Earth has 120 subordinate officials and generals. They are stationed in the Palace of Miao Forest and are responsible for treating men and women with disheveled hair, madness, and related illnesses.

The Great Lord of the Horn Prison has 120 subordinate officials and generals. They are stationed in the Palace of the Five Great Passages and are responsible for capturing and destroying all kinds of spirits that attach themselves to people and cause trouble throughout the world.

The Lord of the High Ridge has 120 subordinate officials and generals. They are stationed in the Palace of Dependent Radiance and are responsible for capturing dragons and snakes that bring calamities upon people.

There is one Lord of the Solid Earth, with 120 subordinate officials and generals. They are stationed in the Palace of Patterns and are responsible for capturing and judging the animal spirits of the earth, as well as evil entities that practice heterodox ways, defy the righteous Way, harm perfected beings, and use force to make people ill.

Nine Heavens Marshal Sima commands 1,200 subordinate officials dressed in deep crimson robes and red knee coverings. He is in charge of subduing spirits transformed from wood and stone throughout the world.

General Hu commands 1,200 subordinate officials, each leading 100,000 Hu soldiers. He is in charge of subduing and examining spirits throughout Heaven and Earth that claim to be the Dao and take the essence of the Five Dragons as their name, then dealing with them.

There is one Lord of the Nine Admonitions, with 120 subordinate officials, stationed at Chengxin Palace. He is in charge of subduing spirits throughout the world that claim to be the River Earl, a water dragon, or a serpent. Whenever they cause people to fall ill, the Lord of the Nine Admonitions is responsible for dealing with them.

There is one Lord of the Northern Dark, with 120 subordinate officials, stationed at the Imperial Palace. He is in charge of subduing dragon and serpent spirits, as well as tiger spirits.

There is one Lord Who Grants Merit through the Three Qi, with 120 subordinate officials, stationed at the Yellow Cloud Chamber. He is in charge of subduing rodent spirits throughout the world. He is also responsible for dealing with illnesses caused by these spirits.

There is one Lord of the Mountain Qin, the Elder Lord, with 120 subordinate officials, stationed in the Earth Chamber. He is in charge of spirits transformed from cliffs and rocks throughout the world.

There is one Lord of Brightness, Centrality, and Penetration, with 120 subordinate officials, stationed in the Commoners’ Chamber. He is in charge of subduing spirits transformed from all things throughout the world.

There is one Lord Minglang, with 120 subordinate officials, stationed in the Anzhuang Chamber. He is in charge of subduing the various harmful spirits throughout the world that call themselves demons.

The Heavenly Sealed Great Army numbers 100,000. Its soldiers wear yellow clothing and are responsible for subduing dragon and serpent spirits, as well as spirits that sing wildly and claim to be gods.

There is one Lord Zeming, with 120 subordinate officials, in charge of the Tianwu Ping Chamber. He is responsible for dealing with spirits throughout the world that call themselves examination gods, as well as spirits transformed from snakes, sparrows, stones, grasses, and trees.

There is one Elder Lord Guang, with 120 subordinate officials, stationed in the Granary Chamber. He is in charge of subduing bee spirits, aphid spirits, and other such ghosts throughout the world, and of controlling various spirits.

He is in charge of illnesses involving mania and itching.

The Earth Yellow Lord has 120 subordinate officials and is stationed in the Women’s Chamber. For a type of manic illness, an old medical text gives the name “Crisp Silk Valley.”

The Heavenly Gate Great Camp Lord has 120 subordinate officials and is stationed in the Supreme One’s Chamber. He is in charge of mania and addiction illnesses in both men and women.

The Lord of Earth’s Yang (Tuyang Jun) has one officer and commands 120 officials and generals. He is stationed at Wen Kong and is responsible for treating the demonic influences associated with illnesses such as “Heavenly Killing” and “Horse Itch.”

The Lord of the Non-Gate (Feimen Jun) has one officer; the number of officials and generals under his command is recorded as “one of it.”

The Lord of Earth’s Yang (Tuyang Jun) has one officer and commands 120 officials and generals. He is stationed at Wen Kong and is responsible for treating the demonic influences associated with illnesses such as “Heavenly Killing” and “Horse Itch.”

The Lord of the Non-Gate (Feimen Jun) has one officer and commands 120 officials and generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of Peaceful Bliss and is responsible for capturing demonic influences associated with the eight seasonal nodes and the twelve double-hours throughout the world. He can treat demonic influences that cause madness.

Under the Lord of the Earth Gate are five Heavenly Camp officers, who command 120 officials and generals. Their main task is to treat women’s “pheasant trampling” and madness.

The Star Officer of the Earth Star Camp commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed in the Chamber of Supreme Spirit. His main task is to treat demonic influences that cause terror and derangement.

The Lord Who Closes the Heavenly Mystery has one officer and commands 120 officials and generals. He is stationed in the Star Pivot Office and mainly deals with illnesses involving madness and disturbed consciousness in men and women.

The Lord of Heavenly Joy commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed in the Chamber of Five-Nine. His main task is to treat illnesses in women involving madness, disheveled hair, shouting, and running about.

Treating Eye Diseases

The Lord of the Left and Right Green Fields has one officer and is in charge of treating eye pain. The scripture says that eye pain can be cured within three days, and the demonic influences causing it will also be destroyed.

The Lord of Yang Heaven is in charge of treating “Hui-day pain” in men and women and bringing the illness to an end. The Lord of Boat Brightness (Zhouming Jun) has one officer and commands 120 officials and generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of Kongci and is in charge of treating men’s eye diseases of the kind described as “eye hollow, sea emerging, du, ten years.”

There are 200 Jade Maidens of the Hundred Mysteries. They possess divine prescriptions and Gen medicines and are in charge of treating men’s eye-hollow illnesses.

The Great Bright Lord has one officer and commands 120 officials and generals. He is stationed in the Hall of Light and is in charge of treating men’s eye diseases of the kind described as “eye sea producing du, ten years.”

The Lord of Infusion and Transformation commands 120 officials and generals, possesses Gen medicines, and is in charge of treating men’s eye-hollow illnesses.

The Great Bright Lord has one officer and commands 120 officials and generals. He is stationed in the Hall of Light and is in charge of treating men’s eye diseases of the kind described as “eye sea producing du, ten years.”

The Lord of Infusion and Transformation commands 120 officials and generals, is stationed in the Chamber of High Xia, and is in charge of treating eye diseases. The Lord of Reverse Infusion is stationed in the Right Chamber and is responsible for treating eye diseases and restoring the patient to health.

Here, “lord,” “officials and generals,” and “chamber” belong to the Daoist system of divine offices, denoting divine names, ranks, and places of residence. The scripture explains illnesses as being caused by demonic influences and describes the capture and treatment of these influences by divine officials and generals as a means of exorcism and healing. Some illness names and phrases, such as “Horse Itch,” “Hui-day pain,” and “eye hollow, sea emerging, du, ten years,” cannot be identified with certainty from the surviving text, so their original wording has been retained.

The Lord of the Bright Mirror commands 120 official generals and resides in the Guanyang Chamber. He oversees the essence and Qi of the paired pupils. His gaze can see ten thousand li into the distance, perceive the forms and shadows of things, and discern good fortune and misfortune.

The Lord of the Sun and Moon commands 120 official generals and resides in the Xin Chamber. He oversees the treatment of eye diseases among officials and common people, and can cure even severe eye ailments.

The Lord Who Abhors Heaven commands 100,000 soldiers in black robes. He is responsible for subduing 120 Ao demons, so that eye diseases caused by them improve at once.

There are five Lords of Heavenly Brightness. They command 120 official generals and reside in the Male Chamber. They oversee the treatment of diseases of men’s left eyes and can also immediately cure various toxic ailments of the face and eyes. There are five Lords of Earthly Brightness. They command 120 official generals and reside in the Northern Chamber. They oversee the treatment of diseases of the left eyes of men and women and bring about recovery.

The Lord of Heavenly Delusion commands 100,000 soldiers in black robes. He is responsible for subduing 120 Ao demons and treating patients’ eye diseases until they recover. There are five Bright Lords. They command 120 official generals and reside in the Northern Chamber. They oversee the treatment of eye pain in men and women and bring about recovery.

Treating Deafness

There is one Lord of Heavenly Longevity. He commands 120 official generals and resides in the Xiangong Chamber. He oversees the treatment of deafness in men and can treat it even when the illness has lasted ten years.

The Lord of the Heavenly Drum commands 120 official generals and resides in the Great Simplicity Chamber. He oversees the treatment of deafness in men and women, including the inability to hear sounds.

The Lord of Heaven commands 120 official generals and resides in the Immortal Perfected Chamber. He oversees the treatment of deafness in men and women; he can treat it even when they have been unable to hear speech for ten years.

Treating Pain in the Teeth, Cheeks, and Throat

The Lord of Primordial Reckoning has 24 subordinates, divided between left and right. He oversees the treatment of dental diseases in men and women and brings improvement. The Lord of Primordial Harmony commands 120 official generals. He oversees the treatment of dental diseases, swollen and painful cheeks, and ailments such as malignant sores in the mouth among men and women.

The Lord of a Hundred Auspicious Signs commands 120 official generals and resides with the Lord of Neck Tranquility. He oversees the treatment of sores on the teeth, as well as ailments such as a swollen, painful throat.

There are five Lords of the Nine Jiao, with 120 subordinate officials and generals. They govern the Palace of Nine Joints and oversee its officials and generals. Lord Xiang’an treats tooth sores and illnesses caused by malign Qi invading the throat.

There are five Lords of the Nine Jiao, with 120 subordinate officials and generals. They govern the Palace of Nine Joints and oversee diseases of the mouth and teeth in men and women. They also treat sore throats and bring such illnesses to recovery.

The Lord of the Nine Celestial Watchers has 120 subordinate officials and generals. He oversees the treatment of illnesses in men, including a swollen and painful throat, a stiff and blackened tongue, and stagnation and obstruction.

The Lord of the Eight Terrestrial Joints has 120 subordinate officials and generals. He oversees the treatment of illnesses in women, including a swollen and painful throat, a stiff tongue, and Qi that is knotted and unable to flow freely.

Treating malevolent influences associated with the Earth God and the Kitchen God

The Supreme Lord’s Board-Cutting Soldiers number 100,000. They treat and dispel for the people the harms caused by 120 kinds of turtle demons from wells throughout the world, and cut off their mischief that brings illness.

The Celestial Maidens of the Circumambient Heavens number 1,200. Clad in red and wearing three ring-shaped knots on their heads, they oversee the treatment of all kinds of illnesses in men and women caused by turtle demons.

Lord Pingshen has 120 subordinate officials and generals. They govern the Palace of Yangzhao and are responsible for treating and dispelling harms brought by Earth Gods and turtle demons. They also identify and deal with malevolent influences that have not yet harmed anyone.

The soldiers of the Supreme Taiping number 100,000. They dispel illnesses caused by malevolent influences of the stellar altars. They capture the perpetrators and rescue vital souls that have been seized, returning them to their bodies so they are no longer held captive. They also separate malevolent influences from people forever, identify ghostly afflictions, put an end to their harassment and harm, and disperse any remaining evil Qi.

There are five Lords of the Ritual, with 120 subordinate officials and generals. They govern the Palace of the Five Surnames and oversee the treatment of sores on the face and body, paralysis, and other illnesses in men—conditions believed to be linked to violating the “Twelve Faults.”

The Jade Maidens of the Kitchen Fire number 1,200. Clad in red, they treat illnesses caused by 120 kinds of turtle demons.

Overseeing the dispelling of insect and rodent spirits

The Lord of the Three Qi, Yangwu Yuan, has 120 subordinate officials and generals. They govern the Chamber of Yellow Numen and are responsible for capturing spirits.

The officers of the White Tiger of Southern Mountain capture and drive out the rats that gather in homes, preventing them from harming people and livestock. Once driven out, the rats are not allowed to remain.

The Supreme Lord of Transformation, the Unrivaled Sovereign, commands a hundred thousand soldiers to seize and eliminate the hundred and twenty measures of possession demons and death-dealing Qi, freeing people from death so they may be reborn.

The Supreme Lord of the Ten Thousand Officials commands a hundred thousand soldiers to seize and eliminate the rebellious and licentious possession Qi on earth, destroying it.

A hundred thousand soldiers seize and eliminate the hundred and twenty measures of possession demons and death-dealing Qi, freeing people from death so they may be reborn.

The Supreme Lord of the Ten Thousand Officials commands a hundred thousand soldiers to seize and eliminate the rebellious and licentious possession Qi on earth, destroying it.

The Supreme Lord of the Level Heaven commands a hundred thousand soldiers. They are responsible for seizing and eliminating the hundred and twenty kinds of calamity, possession demons, and death-dealing Qi throughout the world. If these evil currents of Qi are inside a person, they destroy them.

Two officials of the Bureau of the Red Heaven Dao Chamber, the two Generals of Examination, Cavalry, and Old Rebellion, two Grand Lords, and the Chief Official of the Capital Bureau, the Lord of Old Opposition and Slaying, each command several thousand people. They guard the household in question and protect its men and women. If evil Qi enters someone’s body, they remove it, freeing that person from the register of the dead and restoring them to the register of the living. They also arrest the dead and determine the clear and turbid Qi received by a person in life and in death. They break the evil force that harms corpses and brings calamity, and see that old and young alike are dealt with according to the proper law: those who deserve tonsure and five hundred strokes are punished accordingly, and the guilty are executed. Even when the dead are restored to peace, the matters connected to them continue to draw one another on, layer upon layer.

Administering and Releasing Prisoners

The Venerable Deity commands the Lord of the Division of Swift Decoction and Beheading Axes, and summons the Generals of Reversal, Severance, Releasing Prisoners and Souls, Gathering Brightness and Releasing Qi, Transferring and Releasing Imprisoned Prisoners, and Collecting Talismans and Retrieving Dispatches. Together they swiftly release those trapped in prison, making their efficacy manifest.

Administering Snake Shedding and the Five Poisons

The Lord of the Mountain Tribes commands a hundred and twenty officials and generals. He administers the storehouses and is responsible for seizing and eliminating snake venom, gu poison, and the harmful, venomous Qi of mountain beasts such as tigers and wolves.

One Master Lord commands a hundred and twenty officials and generals and is responsible for administering the divine-water prison.

Administering Snake Shedding and the Five Poisons

The Lord of the Mountain Tribes commands a hundred and twenty officials and generals. He administers the storehouses and is responsible for seizing and eliminating snake venom, gu poison, and the harmful, venomous Qi of mountain beasts such as tigers and wolves.

One Master Lord commands a hundred and twenty officials and generals and administers the divine-water chamber. He treats the people for snakebites and harm caused by the five poisons, and stops poisonous evils from wreaking havoc. He also seizes and eliminates the five-poison demons afflicting the person in question. If an insect or snake spits poison at someone, and the venom enters the belly so that its Qi cannot circulate, he immediately dispatches divine generals to deal with it.

There are thirty-nine White Snake Lords in Heaven. They are responsible for treating people harmed by spirits that carry snake venom. Such people fall ill when their Qi flow is obstructed.

Treating swelling, paralysis, and fistulas

The Lord of the Eight Earthly Nodes commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Great Elixir Chamber and treats women’s ulcerated sores, painful swelling of the throat, and various illnesses caused by obstructed Qi.

There is one Lord of White Mystery and Release, who commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Chamber of Yin Illumination and treats illnesses in women such as throat swelling that flares up at dawn and dusk, and hoarseness.

The Lord of the Earthly Heavenly Tomb commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Chamber of the Nine Han and treats women’s tumors, sores, and bleeding.

There are five Lords of Heavenly Cover, who command 120 officers and generals. They guard the Chamber of the Circumpolar Stars and treat illnesses in men such as neck swelling and bleeding.

The Lord of the Nine Heavens and Nine Illnesses commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Lower Tomb Chamber and treats illnesses in men such as throat swelling and a stiff tongue.

The Lord Who Saves Qi commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Seven Spirits and also treats people; he guards the Chamber of the Circumpolar Stars and treats illnesses in men such as neck swelling and bleeding.

The Lord of the Nine Heavens and Nine Illnesses commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Lower Tomb Chamber and treats illnesses in men such as throat swelling and a stiff tongue.

The Lord Who Saves Qi commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Seven Spirits and treats people’s neck swelling, paralysis, and water illnesses.

The Lord of Heavenly Cover commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Circumpolar Stars and treats illnesses in men such as paralytic swelling of the neck, bleeding at night, and fistulas.

The Lord of the Nine Heavens’ Watch commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Lower Tomb Chamber and treats illnesses in men such as throat swelling, a stiff tongue, and even obstruction of the throat and tongue.

The Lord of Earthly Cover commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Chamber of the Nine Watchers and treats illnesses in men such as neck tumors, paralytic swelling, bleeding, and fistulas.

There is one Lord of the Watchers, who commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Well Chamber and treats illnesses in women such as throat swelling and an unresponsive tongue.

There is one Lord of the Eight Earthly Nodes, who commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Chamber of the Five Stars and treats men’s paralysis of the hands and feet, sores that persist without healing, and conditions in which the hun and po souls are constrained.

Treating wind impediment and weakness

The Lord of the Red Tongue commands 120 officers and generals. He guards the Chamber of Upper Customs and treats women’s severe wind illness, as well as the condition called “death by hunger” in the scripture, bringing sufferers to recovery.

The Lord of Black Qi and Warm Water, who governs black Qi and warm water, commands 120 officials and generals. He is in charge of treating women suffering from “great wind” and “dead hunger” illnesses.

Five Lords Who Raise Qi command 120 officials and generals. They stabilize and settle illnesses, treating people’s weakness and wasting, lameness, and paralysis affecting one side of the body. They also treat women’s “great wind” and “dead hunger” illnesses.

Five Lords Who Raise Qi command 120 officials and generals. They stabilize illnesses and treat weakness and wasting, lameness, and paralysis affecting one side of the body.

Five Lords of Heavenly Water command 120 officials and generals. They govern the “Upper Commoners’ Chamber,” a divine office palace listed in the scripture, and treat women’s great wind disease and illnesses caused by malevolent forces.

Five Lords Who Raise the Earth command 120 officials and generals. They govern the “Upper Three Thousand Chambers,” divine office palaces listed in the scripture. They treat women’s paralysis and weakness affecting the limbs and one side of the body, as well as sallow complexion, helping the illness improve.

Five Lords of Intersecting Roads command 120 officials and generals. They treat Bi syndrome in men and women caused by wind malignity invading the skin and flesh. Symptoms include being unable to move the legs freely, unbearable pain, and inability to walk.

Treating chronic illness and persistent dribbling

The Five Lords of Deep Affliction command 120 officials and generals. They treat chronic illness and persistent dribbling, and can relieve bone pain, stop pain, drive out water malignity, and eliminate all kinds of illness and pain.

The Seven Lords of the Polities command 120 officials and generals. They govern the “Yang Chamber” and oversee cases in which Yin-Yang officials throughout the world remain ill for a long time without recovering, bringing about their recovery.

White Mystery Residence Qi Dew

The Five Lords of Deep Affliction command 120 officials and generals. They treat chronic illness and persistent dribbling, and can relieve bone pain, stop pain, drive out water malignity, and eliminate all kinds of illness and pain.

The Seven Lords of the Polities command 120 officials and generals. They govern the “Yang Chamber” and oversee cases in which Yin-Yang officials throughout the world remain ill for a long time without recovering, bringing about their recovery.

Five Lords of the White Mystery Residence Qi command 120 officials and generals. They govern the Great Truth Chamber and treat the “falling illness” that occurs in girls at the age of ten, using the method of “joining lacquer and gathering bones” to improve the condition.

The Lord of the Ruler commands 120 officials and generals. He governs the Mysterious Womb Star and is responsible for capturing ghosts and demons believed to attach themselves to a person and cause illness. He deals with cases in which these spirits leave someone bedridden and the illness lingers without recovery.

Treating malaria

Five Lords of the Granary Mother command 120 officials and generals. They are responsible for driving out and treating the ghosts and demons that cause malaria in men, making the illness subside.

The infant malaria officials of the Central Chamber, Xuanwu, unite their strength to treat the ghosts and demons that cause malaria in men, bringing about recovery.

Curing the hundred illnesses of men and women:

The Lord of the Earth’s Resentful Camp has five attendants and 120 subordinate officers and generals. They are stationed in the Upper Chamber and are responsible for dealing with the ghosts that keep men and women from recovering from their many illnesses, so that the sick may be healed.

The Plain Maidens of the Scripture Bureau number 1,200. Together they suppress and bind taboos, and are responsible for stabilizing treatment so that men and women may recover from their many illnesses.

Curing the hundred illnesses caused by disorder and violence between Heaven and Earth:

The Lord of the Earth’s Resentful Camp has five attendants and 120 subordinate officers and generals. They are stationed in the Upper Chamber and are responsible for dealing with the ghosts that keep men and women from recovering from their many illnesses, so that the sick may be healed.

The Plain Maidens of the Scripture Bureau number 1,200. Together they suppress and bind taboos, and are responsible for stabilizing treatment so that men and women may recover from their many illnesses.

The Lord of Disorder and Violence between Heaven and Earth has one attendant and 120 subordinate officers and generals. They are stationed in the Main Chamber and are responsible for dealing with ghosts that cause recurrent pain, disordered breathing, and confinement.

The Lord of Massage has one attendant and 120 subordinate officers and generals. They are stationed in the Bright Yang Chamber and are responsible for treating pain in the limbs of men and women.

The Lord of Disorder against Heaven’s Order has one attendant and 120 subordinate officers and generals. They are stationed in the Chamber of Rectitude and are responsible for treating those whose chronic illnesses do not heal and whose breathing is out of balance.

The Lord of the Heavenly Po has five attendants and 120 subordinate officers and generals. They are responsible for treating joint disorders in men and women and restoring them to health.

The Merit Officer of the Lord of the Neck’s Discourtesy has five attendants and 120 subordinate officers and generals. They are responsible for treating disorders of the waist and knees in men and women.

The Lord of the Covering Transformation Bureau and his Three Ancestors and Nine Harmonies are responsible for curing vomiting.

The Lord of the Earth-Covering Bureau and his Three Ancestors and Nine Harmonies are responsible for dispelling and treating the ghosts that cause vomiting.

The Lord of the Eight Winds’ Circumambient Harm has 120 subordinate clerks. They are responsible for treating the ruler’s ailment of one eye, as well as disorders of the hundred vessels in men.

The Lord of Heaven, the Lord of the Yin-Yang Grove, and their attendant officers, generals, and clerks number 120. They are responsible for treating jaundice in men.

The Lord of the Nine Directions and the North Sea is responsible for driving away and treating the ghosts that cause men to suffer from dropsy, so that the illness is immediately cured.

The Lord of Great Yin has one attendant and 120 subordinate officers and generals. They are stationed in the Orchid Chamber and are responsible for treating fright and fear in men and women.

The Lord of the Nine Directions and the North Sea is responsible for driving away and treating the ghosts that cause men to suffer from dropsy, so that the illness is immediately cured.

The Lord of Great Yin has one attendant and 120 subordinate officers and generals. They are stationed in the Orchid Chamber and are responsible for dealing with the ghosts that cause fright sickness in men and women.

The Lord of the Nine Rivers and the Northern Sea has 120 subordinate officers and generals stationed in the Chamber of the River’s Source. They oversee illnesses affecting men and women. When pain occurs below the abdomen, they can bring about a rapid recovery. They are also responsible for treating illnesses attributed to water demons that have resisted earlier treatment.

The Lord of the Five Phases of Heaven has 120 subordinate officers and generals stationed in the Chamber of the Great Monastery. They oversee illnesses in men and women such as “inhaling and spitting,” inability to uphold what is right, and abdominal pain, and make patients recover quickly.

The Lord of the Five Phases of Earth has 120 subordinate officers and generals stationed in the Great Chamber. They oversee illnesses such as “inhaling and spitting,” inability to eat or drink, inability to uphold what is right, and abdominal pain, and make patients recover quickly.

The Lord of the Five Phases of Heaven, the Three-Five-Seven-Nine Lord, has 120 subordinate officers and generals. They oversee obstructions of Yin-Yang in men and women, as well as swelling, pain, and sores.

The Lord of the Nine Rivers has 120 subordinate officers and generals. They oversee conditions in men and women in which urination or defecation is obstructed.

Lord Fengli has twelve subordinates. They oversee pain in the chest and abdomen of men and women, cramping pain below the navel, abdominal distension, and vaginal discharge. These illnesses are said to be caused by twelve kinds of ghosts.

The Lord of Shenyu has 120 subordinate officers and generals stationed in the Chamber of the Seven Commands. They oversee swelling, pain, and sores on the heads and backs of men and women, and bring about recovery.

The Lord of the Officials of Crisp Giant Charcoal, Paper, and Brush has five subordinates and a further 120 subordinate officers and generals stationed in the Chamber of the Seven Commands. They oversee swelling, pain, and sores on the heads and backs of men and women, and bring about recovery.

The Lord of the Officials of Crisp Giant Charcoal, Paper, and Brush has five subordinates, and a further 120 subordinate officers and generals under his command. They oversee swelling in men’s shoulders, arms, and hands, and bring about recovery.

The Lord of Heaven’s Collapse has 120 subordinate officers and generals stationed in the Chamber of the Five Qi. They oversee illnesses in women involving uninterrupted red or white vaginal discharge, day and night. The scripture says that such illnesses lead to the extinction of one’s descendants.

The Lord of Yansheng has 120 subordinate officers and generals stationed in the Chamber of Peace and Joy. They oversee illnesses associated with the 120 spirits in the clouds throughout the world and the masters of thirty-six kinds of illness, as well as pain in the chest and abdomen, back, limbs, and joints. Their charges also include staring eyes, foaming at the mouth, inability to speak, and convulsions and spasms. The scripture attributes these conditions to ghosts and says that the officers and generals seize and eliminate them. Lord Chixuan has five subordinates who seize and restrain ghosts arriving from the four directions.

Lord Yingxiang has twenty subordinates. They oversee the seizure of what is called “eating the clouds and shutting within,” and destroy it completely.

The Strong and Resolute Officers and Soldiers are responsible for controlling demonic forces afflicting the sick in the Yunzhong region. They remove the twelve-hour demons from a person and clear away ash and earth from the site of illness. The Five Officers and Generals of Ronggan command 120 officers and generals and are stationed in the Central Chamber of the Most High. They cure the Yunzhong illness afflicting a person.

Lord Shiming commands 120 officers and generals and is stationed in the Chamber of Governance. He is responsible for eliminating harmful forces caused by talismans, spells, or food and drink, as well as demons formed from Jing. He removes evil spirits from a person and carries out rites of release.

Lord Zhudu commands 120 officers and generals and is stationed in the Luyang Chamber. He is responsible for treating the myriad demons and hundred Jing-spirits throughout the world that bring calamity upon a person, and for crushing the evil spirits that torment the sick.

Protecting Pregnancy and Ensuring Childbirth

Lord Yangqi commands 120 officers and generals and is stationed in the Scripture Chamber. He protects women so that childbirth goes smoothly and the baby is born at the proper time, keeping mother and child safe from further hindrance.

Lord Tingdi commands 120 officers and generals and is stationed in the Chamber for Pacifying Harm. He enables a woman who has received a charge to conceive and protects her pregnancy from other malign spirits.

The Infant’s Nurse Officer is responsible for nursing a person’s fetus, ensuring that feeding proceeds smoothly and that mother and child are in harmony.

The Fetal Guardian Officer protects a person’s fetus, so that it gradually grows and develops with the passage of the days and months, and firmly receives the vital energy of life. The Officer-Healer of Ten Thousand Births assists with the delivery, ensuring that it proceeds smoothly and quickly, and that mother and child remain safe and come through unharmed.

The Examination and Summoning Officer is responsible for gathering and dispelling the earth energies around all four sides of a residence, breaking forces of collision, injury, and slaughter, and removing harm to the pregnant woman’s body. In this way, the fetus grows and develops with the passage of the days and months and securely receives the vital energy of life. The Officer-Healer of Ten Thousand Births assists with the delivery, ensuring that it proceeds smoothly and quickly, and that mother and child remain safe and come through unharmed.

The Examination and Summoning Officer is also responsible for gathering and dispelling the earth energies around all four sides of a residence, breaking forces of collision, injury, and slaughter, and removing harm to the pregnant woman, so that the pregnancy remains secure.

Lord Qiwen commands 120 officers and generals and is stationed in the Lesser Immortal Chamber. He treats difficulties with childbirth and nursing. If the fetus lies crosswise in the womb, or the woman in labor suffers from a wind illness, he also ensures that she gives birth safely and on time.

One Lord of White Mysterious Qi, commanding 120 officials and generals, resides in the Father King’s chamber and is responsible for treating conditions such as the Crown Prince’s falling sickness and other illnesses.

One Lord of the Four Brightnesses, commanding 120 officials and generals, resides in the Lower Food chamber and is responsible for treating illnesses such as men and women dying of hunger.

One Lord, Fuxuan Ying, commanding 120 officials and generals, resides in the Containing Awe chamber and is responsible for treating conditions such as thirst, wasting thirst, and emaciation in men and women.

One Lord of Male Yang, commanding 120 officials and generals, resides in the River Granary chamber and is responsible for treating children’s loss of appetite, “Red Yang,” jaundice, and prolonged, persistent dribbling.

One Lord of Infants, commanding 120 officials and generals, resides in the River Granary chamber and is responsible for treating children’s loss of appetite, “Red Yang,” and prolonged, persistent dribbling.

One Lord of the Heavenly Spirit and Heavenly Child, commanding 120 officials and generals, resides in the Central High Plain chamber and is responsible for curing the condition called “supporting the frozen.”

Five Lords of the Eastern Royal Mound, commanding 120 officials and generals, are responsible for treating disordered Qi flow and restoring it to normal.

Five Lords of Great Balance, commanding 120 officials and generals, reside in the Chamber of Ill-Fated Arrival and are responsible for treating the conditions called “crossing the earthly star path” and “sucking and spitting” in men and women.

The Lord Who Supervises Metal commands 120 officials and generals, resides in the Reed-Yellow chamber, and is responsible for treating accumulations, minute seepage, and ailments of the heels in men and women.

One Lord Who Rescues from Deception, commanding 120 officials and generals, resides in the Granary Brightness chamber and is responsible for rescuing the people from misfortunes such as ruin and falling.

The Lord Who Resolves Afflictions commands 120 officials and generals, resides in the Lower Granary chamber, and is responsible for resolving problems for the people, such as homes falling into disrepair or being improperly aligned.

The Lord Above the South commands 120 officials and generals, resides in the Food and Fruit chamber, and is responsible for opening the main gate. When a person’s lifespan is diminished or their fortune is poor, he is also responsible for providing protection.

The Lord Who Resolves Afflictions commands 120 officials and generals, resides in the Lower Granary chamber, and is responsible for resolving problems for the people, such as homes falling into disrepair or being improperly aligned.

The Lord Above the South, ruler of the southern upper realm, commands 120 officers and generals. He oversees the Chamber of Fruit and is responsible for opening the gates. They govern human lifespans, extending or shortening them by three days. If a patient has not yet recovered, they cannot make the illness depart. When an ailment affects the chest or flanks, Lord Tianchang dispatches 100,000 soldiers in yellow robes to remove the 120 kinds of calamities and strange occurrences in the household. They drive away the twelve classes of punitive spirits that cause trouble both inside and outside, bringing nightmares and strange illnesses.

The Lord, Senior Officer Dongming, oversees the Chamber of the Celestial Emperor. In accordance with the Dao’s methods, he proclaims taboo names and sacred characters, and sends the Three Winds to arrive with malign essences, keeping illness in place and directing its treatment.

Treating Various Illnesses

The Lord of Old Poison commands 120 officers and generals. He oversees the Chamber of Red and White and treats illnesses caused by a thousand kinds of malign influences, as well as by rebellious and improper haunting spirits.

The Central Celestial Army numbers 100,000. Lord Red Accumulation is responsible for capturing and punishing all kinds of ghost commanders, and for dealing with rebellious and improper malign influences.

Each of the Nine Elders of the Nine Heavens commands 100,000 soldiers and oversees the Chamber of Earthly Retention. They treat the genital discharge illness that afflicts boys and girls at age ten, a disorder of the lower body named in the scripture. These divine soldiers also patrol the prisons in the center.

The Lord of the Five Phases of Earth is responsible for capturing and punishing all kinds of ghost commanders, and for dealing with rebellious and improper malign influences.

Each of the Nine Elders of the Nine Heavens commands 100,000 soldiers and oversees the Chamber of Earthly Retention. They treat the genital discharge illness that afflicts boys and girls at age ten. These divine soldiers also patrol the prisons in the center.

The Lord of the Five Phases of Earth commands 120 officers and generals and oversees the Chamber of Wood. He treats women’s ailments, including vaginal discharge, abdominal masses, and genital discharge.

The Balanced Lord of the Five Phases of Heaven commands 120 officers and generals and oversees the Chamber of the Mound of Balance. He treats men’s lower-body illnesses, including abdominal masses, genital discharge, and disorders of inhaling and exhaling.

The Three Ancestor Lords, the Celestial Elder, and the Shrine Mother—five in all—each command 120 officers and generals and oversee the Chamber that Dispels the Various Ancestral Mountains. The father is under their governance wherever he may be.

The Lord of Celestial Works has twenty-four attendants on each side, who oversee matters of sexual beauty in men and women and are responsible for treatment. The Lord of Yin-Yang, Celestial Officer Di, commands 120 officers and generals; together with the Qi Swift Attendants on both sides, seventy-one in all, he treats weakness.

The three officials of the Celestial Continuation Order listed above immediately mobilize a thousand boats to treat urgent illnesses that attack the heart and leave the patient on the verge of losing their breath.

The Duke of Great Unity Who Supports Purity and the Lord of the Canopy command twenty-four officials and 120 officers and generals. They oversee the Chamber of the Three Signs and treat the nine kinds of madness and disorders of the heart and diaphragm.

The Marshal of the Rear Division Who Supports Purity treats weakness.

The Right Continuation orders the three heavenly figures (divine generals of the celestial realm) to command a thousand ships and treat sudden illnesses that attack the heart, as well as conditions in which life hangs by a thread.

Fuqing Taiyi Lord Huagai commands twenty-four officers and generals and one hundred and twenty soldiers and generals. He treats the Three-Hou Chamber, the Nine Forms of Madness, and illnesses affecting the heart and diaphragm.

Fuqing Hou Bu Sima and Xia Jun command eighty-four officers and generals and one hundred and twenty soldiers and generals. They oversee the Heart Palace (the heart and related disorders).

The Masters Who Treat and Subdue Evil (divine generals responsible for capturing and treating malign spirits):

Fuqing Dongzhu Lord Fu commands one hundred and twenty officers and generals. He oversees the treatment of rebellious Qi, bringing the patient’s condition toward recovery.

Lord Chi commands one hundred and twenty officers and generals. He oversees the treatment of women’s vaginal bleeding, infertility, vaginal discharge, and the illnesses of the eleven periods.

Lord Taizhu Xingjun commands one hundred and twenty officers and generals. He oversees the treatment of rebellious Qi, bringing the patient’s condition toward recovery.

The Great Army of the Celestial Central Realm, four million strong, is responsible for capturing and escorting away the miasmatic Qi (pathogenic malign energy).

The Inner Lord of the Red Heaven above the Eastern Sea commands a million troops. He is responsible for capturing ghosts that cause trouble through the use of one hundred and twenty kinds of Fulu (talismans and registers) and intrude upon people’s food and drink.

The Masters Who Treat and Subdue Radiant Ghosts (divine generals responsible for capturing and treating radiant ghosts):

Lord Chi Tian Wanling commands one hundred and twenty officers and generals. He guards the Yang Water Chamber and is responsible for capturing and interrogating rebellious, unrighteous ghosts throughout the world.

General Gaitian Dakao commands one hundred thousand troops and one hundred and twenty officers and generals. He guards the Yang Water Chamber and is responsible for capturing and interrogating rebellious, unrighteous ghosts throughout the world.

General Gaitian Dakao commands one hundred thousand troops. He is responsible for capturing and treating bandit ghosts that roam everywhere in the world and disturb people’s food and drink, as well as ghosts that transform into strange beings and afflict the sick.

General Gao Hui and the Drum of the Great Lakes, together with the armored soldiers of the Reversed Scales, command a force of four hundred thousand. They are responsible for capturing ghosts that deliberately stir up disorder and commit violence against people.

Lord Wushang Huangzhou commands a million troops. He is responsible for capturing ghosts that, at this time, carry out killings by force under the orders of the Director of Destiny.

The Great Army of the Wushang Central Realm, four million strong, is responsible for capturing and eliminating evil Qi and demon ghosts.

Lord Beidu commands one hundred and twenty officers and generals. He is responsible for capturing ghosts under the command of the Tai Sui General that intrude upon people’s food and drink.

Lord Wushang Sikai commands one hundred thousand troops. He is responsible for capturing ghosts that wreck all affairs and rebel against the twelve directions.

The Supreme Commander of Heaven leads four hundred thousand troops. He is responsible for capturing ghosts that call themselves the “August Heavenly Emperor.”

Lord Beishang commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of Heavenly Retention and oversees the vital essence of the Big Dipper’s seven stars. He handles affairs relating to the twelve kinds of killing and violence.

Lord Taifu commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of Western Peace and subdues star spirits that invoke the name of a certain family’s talismanic mandate, spread mischief, and haunt people’s homes. He also handles affairs relating to the twelve kinds of killing and violence.

Lord Taifu commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of Western Peace and subdues spirits that invoke the name of a certain family’s talismanic mandate, spread mischief, and haunt people’s homes. He also investigates spirits that demand food and drink and use them to harm people.

Lord Taiping commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of Northern Solitude.

Lord Zhongguan commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of Spring Yang. He subdues spirits transformed from the Six Ding and Six Jia (Daoist divine generals) throughout the world and investigates spirits that demand the people offer blood sacrifices.

Lord Beiping Wumen commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of Vermilion Yang and subdues spirits that claim to be the parents of Heaven and Earth and demand food and drink from the people.

Lord Beicao Wuqian commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of Vermilion Yang and subdues spirits that claim to be the parents of Heaven and Earth and demand food and drink from the people.

Lord Xuantian commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of the Northern Capital and subdues spirits that invoke the name of the Great Year General to demand food and drink from the people.

Lord Chi commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of the Northern Heavens and subdues spirits that invoke the name of the Northern Season Director of Destiny to demand food from the people.

Lord Beitian commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of the Northern Capital’s Main Hall and subdues spirits that invoke the name of the Great Year General to demand food and drink from the people.

Lord Chi commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of the Northern Heavens and subdues spirits that invoke the name of the Northern Season Director of Destiny to demand food from the people.

Lord Beitian commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Main Chamber and subdues spirits throughout the world that claim to be the Five Emperors and demand food and drink from people.

Lord Jiuqi commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of Seven Thoroughfares and subdues spirits throughout the world that claim to be Tianxi and demand food and drink from the people.

The Spirit Officer commands 120 official generals. He is stationed in the Chamber of Prohibitions and Taboo and subdues spirits that claim to be the August Heaven, the Supreme Emperor, and demand food and drink from people.

General Tianyuan Baihou commands 100,000 soldiers. He subdues spirits that claim to be the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water, or that cause harm under names such as the Ten Thousand Ways of Rebellious Killing. These spirits interrogate and investigate the people without evidence, yet still demand food and drink from them.

The Divine Soldiers of Great Qi who Search, Judge, and Punish Evil—appointed to arrest and punish evil Qi—command the multitude of living beings and oversee the arrest of two thousand Dao and a thousand ghosts among all the people of the world.

The Lord of the Hundred Spirits and his officials and generals number one hundred and twenty. They guard the Chamber of the Leveling Heaven and oversee the capture of ghosts transformed from the poisonous Five-Colored Insects throughout the world.

The Venerable of the Nine Heavens, Supreme Above, commands one hundred central troops and oversees the capture of ghosts who call themselves “the Thousand and Two Dao.”

The Great Five Ding Lords of the Crooked Heaven command a million troops. They oversee the capture of rebellious ghosts who destroy talismans and registers, ruin temples, or, out of resentment, occupy places at sacrificial banquets and consume offerings of blood and flesh. They subject these ghosts to interrogation and punishment, leaving them nowhere to hide and no way to escape.

The Great General of the Dark Elder has twelve commanders and one hundred and twenty officials and generals. He oversees the capture of ghosts who falsely claim to be the Three Officials or, with rebellious Qi, declare themselves divine.

The Great Five Ding Lords of the Crooked Heaven command a million troops. They oversee the capture of rebellious ghosts who destroy talismans and registers, ruin temples, or, out of resentment, occupy places at sacrificial banquets and consume offerings of blood and flesh. They subject these ghosts to interrogation and punishment, leaving them nowhere to hide and no way to escape.

The Great General of the Dark Elder has twelve commanders and one hundred and twenty officials and generals. He oversees the capture of ghosts who falsely claim to be the Three Officials or, with rebellious Qi, declare themselves divine beings.

The Lords of the Unbounded, Five in number, have one hundred and twenty officials and generals. They oversee the capture of divine soldiers transformed from the spirits of ancient objects of every kind, as well as those who falsely claim official positions or use names that are not theirs. They also summon the holy ghost generals of the Thousand Masters and Ten Thousand Deaf to destroy and eliminate them.

Treating Muteness

The Lord of a Hundred Tongues, one in number, has one hundred and twenty officials and generals. He oversees the treatment of loss of voice and muteness, when a person cannot speak. He also commands Qi clerks to bring the body’s internal Qi into balance and treat tongue pain.

The Lord of the Nine Qi Generations, one in number, has one hundred and twenty officials and generals. He oversees the treatment of chronic coughs in men and women.

Overseeing the Treatment of Men’s and Women’s Transgressions

The Lord of the Court of Resignation and his one hundred and twenty officials and generals guard the Chamber of the Immortal Hamlet. They oversee the questioning of the words of the sick, transform the thoughts of men, women, young, and old so that they no longer deceive themselves, and rectify sins and errors committed through their actions.

The Lords of Plain Red, five in number, have one hundred and twenty officials and generals. They guard the Chamber of Red Emptiness and oversee the treatment of every illness in men and women. They make those who suffer because of rebellious deeds reflect on their faults and repent, so that their illnesses may be cured.

The Lords of Plain White, five in number. [The following phrase, “deceit, sins and errors committed through one’s actions,” repeats wording associated with the Lord of the Court of Resignation above; this is the order in which it appears in the source.]

The Lords of Plain Red, five in number, have one hundred and twenty officials and generals. They guard the Chamber of Red Emptiness and oversee the treatment of every illness in men and women. They make those who suffer because of rebellious deeds reflect on their faults and repent, so that their illnesses may be cured.

Bai Sujun has five divine officials and 120 officers and generals under his command, stationed in the Heyang Chamber. They are in charge of treating women’s illnesses of every kind. The sick may report their suffering to the spirits, who can then regulate the heart and abdomen and improve their condition.

Tian Ke has 12,000 officials, all surnamed Jin and serving as libationers, who command male and female clerks and soldiers. They record the sins of the people in the world, after which those people come under this deity’s authority.

There is one Yang Xianjun, with 120 officers and generals under his command, stationed in the Yangshi Chamber. He treats all kinds of illnesses among men and women throughout the world. When the sick suffer inwardly, they can sincerely turn their thoughts to the Dao, and their illness will improve.

There is one Yin Xianjun, with 120 officers and generals under his command, stationed in the Yangshi Chamber. He is in charge of treating all kinds of illnesses among women throughout the world. When the sick suffer inwardly, they can sincerely turn their thoughts to the Dao, and their illness will improve.

There is one Tiancangjun, with 120 officers and generals under his command, stationed in the Tianliu Chamber. He oversees the responsibilities passed down through the generations of Celestial Masters, and also treats people among the populace who do not wish to fall ill.

Divine offices in charge of lifting curses:

Shuqi Jun has 120 officers and generals under his command, stationed in the Su Chamber. He deals with cases in which the sick have been subjected to punishment or violated taboos, or have been trapped by curses and prohibitions imposed by various states, and consequently suffer punishment and curses.

The Eight Trigrams Dark Heaven Lord has 120 officers and generals under his command. He is in charge of subduing 120 kinds of ghosts and evil spirits bound by punishments and prohibitions. If someone is cursed and remains ill for a long time, growing weak and haggard, and does not improve despite turning their thoughts to Daoist methods, a Kui official may be asked to lead a troop of forces to subdue the curse, oath, and malevolent, rebellious spirits attached to that person, along with the evil spirits that forcibly sever the person’s soul and thereby keep it beyond the control of Daoist methods. They are then to be seized with iron implements and killed by the Celestial Soldiers, armored troops, and 6,000 soldiers carrying iron staffs, so that none can escape.

All illnesses caused by punishments or curses, as well as cases in which people hate or suspect one another, harbor divided intentions, live apart, or disagree, are also investigated and dealt with by the relevant divine generals, to eliminate illness and carefully uncover and dispel the source of harm.

There is one Shujun, with 120 officers and generals under his command, stationed in the Mountain Chamber. He is in charge of freeing men and women throughout the world from the disturbance of ghosts and evil spirits, so that the sick may recover. He also deals with harm suffered by people because others have used methods of suppression or prohibition against them.

The Celestial Field Lord (the name of a Daoist divine general) has 120 officers and generals under his command, responsible for capturing and driving away functionaries from the underworld. The phrase “twenty for settling the matter, according to its severity” is difficult to interpret with certainty; it seems to mean that cases are handled according to how serious they are.

This concludes Volume Two of The Ranks of Officials in the Zhengyi Ritual Text.

The Ranks of Officials in the Zhengyi Ritual Text, Volume Three

Commanding the Cutting of Grass

“Cutting the grass” is a ritual performed as part of funerary rites. The officials, generals, and attendants of the Two Lords drive away and ward off the malign influences associated with the year, month, day, and hour, and escort the deceased to burial.

Capturing and Burying the Ghosts of the Funeral Procession and Tombs

The Lord of Great Yin, the Lord of the Nine Earths, and certain other lords each have two officers and generals, in addition to 120 more. They summon craftsmen, supervise construction, and oversee burial affairs.

The troops of officers, generals, and soldiers commanded by the Lord of Funerary Processions escort and protect the funerary rites initiated by Daoist priests, and deal with ghosts connected to the funeral procession and burial.

The Lord of the Nine Mysteries Who Observes Qi (a divine general who examines vital energy) has 120 officers and generals. He is stationed at the Western Relay Chamber and deals with ghosts that, after burial across the land, transform into spirits and cause trouble.

The August Lord of Brightness in the Central Formation of Great White has 120 officers and generals. They capture and restrain the various ghosts in tombs, keeping them concealed and unable to emerge. Once the burial is complete, they are summoned back to their original headquarters.

The Lord of the Left Capital Marquis has 120 officers and generals. He is stationed at the Chamber of the Primal Origin of Great Clarity and captures ghosts in military burial grounds throughout the land. He also deals with ghosts that haunt burial mounds and tomb chambers, causing people to fall ill.

The Lord of Mysterious Brightness of the Han has 120 officers and generals. He is stationed at the Chamber of the Five Customs and captures ghosts in houses and tombs.

The Lord of the Nine Jia has 120 officers and generals. He is stationed at the Chamber of the Nine Pits and captures ghosts summoned among the people by quarrying stone, burials, and related activities. He also deals with malign spirits brought about by mourners weeping, wearing mourning clothes, and relatives and friends gathering, protecting people from calamity and illness.

The Lord of Great Speech has 120 officers and generals. He is stationed at the Chamber of the Mother Canal and captures ghosts that hide in the Chamber of Pits and cause illness among the people after funerals. The scripture adds that they also deal with malign spirits summoned among the people by quarrying stone, burials, and by mourners weeping, wearing mourning clothes, and relatives and friends gathering, protecting people from calamity and illness.

The Grand Speech Lord Officer, a divine official in charge of a particular class of affairs, commands 120 generals and clerks and is stationed at the Mother Canal Chamber. He is responsible for treating the ghosts that cause people to fall ill over disputes concerning graves after the dead have been buried.

The Earth-Dwelling Spirit Officer commands 120 generals and clerks and is stationed at the Vast Spirit Chamber. He is responsible for treating ghosts that wreak havoc in burial grounds and tombs, including tomb wardens, tomb lords, and stone spirits.

The Great Mystery Lord Officer commands 120 generals and clerks and is stationed at the Mother Canal Chamber. When someone is dazed and confused, running about irrationally, and remains unwell after treatment at the lower administration, he treats the ghosts associated with graves, burial, and funerals, whether they act in accord or in opposition, as well as ghosts that cause grave disputes and the functionaries who carry out the rites. The relevant divine generals will come together and establish a guarded camp where the funeral procession sets out, ensuring that it is not obstructed along the road.

The Nine Heavens Lord Officer commands 120 generals and clerks and is stationed at the Earthly Measure Chamber. He is responsible for treating ghosts that wreak havoc after people have been buried, as well as ghosts produced when graves are built or the earth is disturbed in a month designated as inauspicious by the fated cycle, in violation of taboos.

The Nine Earths Lord Officer commands 120 generals and clerks and is stationed at the Flourishing Measure Chamber. He is responsible for treating ghosts that wreak havoc after people have been buried. He also deals with cases in which a grave is built during one of the twelve months designated by the fated cycle, or ghosts haunt a burial ground in the corresponding month, causing people to fall ill one after another even after burial is complete, disputes to arise within the grave, or calamity to spread through the village.

The Great Divine Person Lord Officer commands 120 generals and clerks and is stationed at the spirit chamber under his jurisdiction. He deals with a particular condition involving tomb ghosts associated with the twelve months: after burial is complete, the owner of the grave continues to fall ill, disputes arise within the grave, and calamity may even spread to the village.

The Great Divine Person Lord Officer commands 120 generals and clerks and is stationed at the spirit chamber under his jurisdiction. He is responsible for treating ghosts that appear when people move, repair, or build a grave, or violate dietary taboos on days associated with these activities.

The Courier Post Lord Officer commands 120 generals and clerks and is stationed at the Grand Petition Chamber. He is responsible for treating the grave lord, the abandoned-grave spirit, the mound steward, the tomb elder, and the strange beings known as “the Thousand-Two Stones,” which haunt burial grounds. They are believed to transform into spirits and bring harm to the people.

The Nine Virtues Lord Officer commands 120 generals and clerks and is stationed at the Transcending Nature Chamber. He leads his troops and is responsible for treating five kinds of harmful, inauspicious ghosts in graves, as well as ghosts that fail to guard burial grounds or care for the living.

The Red Mystery Lord Officer commands 120 generals and clerks and is stationed at the Lesser Yang Chamber. He is responsible for treating the hao ghosts found in burial grounds throughout the land.

The Qin Pass Illustrious Lord Officer commands 110 generals and clerks and is stationed at the Lesser Chamber. He is responsible for treating ghosts throughout the land that claim to have come because of criminal punishment or penal exile.

The Lord of the Plain Cart and White Horse commands 100,000 soldiers. He is responsible for treating the ten tomb ghost generals and fighting the ghosts of comparison and examination.

The Rebellion-Breaking Lord Officer commands 120 generals and clerks and is stationed at the Han Immortal Chamber. He is responsible for treating frenzied and uncanny ghost spirits in the deep tombs of ordinary people.

Yangfang Lord commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed in the Chamber of the Heavenly Gate, a place of governance in the celestial realm. He is responsible for apprehending troublesome ghosts in tombs throughout the world. The Great General of Tai Sui is stationed in the Chamber of the Han Immortals and apprehends strange ghostly beings that harass the people and hide in deep tombs.

Yangfang Lord commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed in the Chamber of the Heavenly Gate, where he apprehends ghosts in tombs throughout the world. The Great General of Tai Sui carries out the Supreme Mystery True Talisman, a form of Daoist talismanic register and mandate, under the authority of the Nüqing Shao writs, official decrees from the Daoist divine realm.

Ghosts of Tombs

Lord Yanbao commands five officials and 120 officers and soldiers. Stationed in the Chamber of the Five Promises, he apprehends ghosts in tombs throughout the world.

The River Earl dispatches twelve river messengers, who relay documents from post station to post station and travel on horseback. They apprehend the male and female ghosts in tombs, along with the calamities and auspicious signs associated with them.

The Great Yellow Supreme Ultimate Lord commands the underground officials ranked at two thousand shi, as well as the wardens of the twenty-four prisons of Mount Tai, by means of the Supreme Ultimate Lord’s talismanic writing and the Nüqing edicts. He apprehends ghosts in tombs.

Lord Taisu Taishi commands five officials and 120 officers and soldiers. Together they issue talismans and oversee the underground officials. By authority of the Nüqing edicts, he commands such officials as the Mound Assistant and the Tomb Earl to apprehend twelve kinds of ghosts found in tombs.

The Highest Lord of the High Firmament commands an army of 100,000 and apprehends the ghosts of ancestors in tombs who attach themselves to their descendants and bring misfortune upon later generations.

Earth Lords and Ghosts

Lord Zhidi commands five officials and 120 officers and soldiers. Stationed in the Chamber of Beneficial Springs, he apprehends Earth Lord ghosts throughout the world, those connected with the rises and dips of the terrain, Tai Sui, the current year of one’s life cycle, and one’s birth destiny.

Lord Zhidi commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed in the Chamber Beneath the Earth. He apprehends Earth Lord ghosts throughout the world.

Lord Jiude commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed in the Chamber of Water. He apprehends Earth Lord ghosts throughout the world. Another lord-official stationed in the Chamber Beneath the Earth also commands 120 officials and generals and apprehends Earth Lord ghosts throughout the world.

Lord Jiude commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed in the Chamber of Water. He apprehends Earth Lord ghosts throughout the world.

Lord Anshi commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed in the Chamber of Dark Yellow. He apprehends malevolent spirits and Earth Lord ghosts that cause trouble in mountains and wilderness throughout the land.

Earth Qi Ghosts

Lord Gangwu Ganjiang leads his subordinate officers and soldiers in apprehending ghosts formed from Earth Qi throughout the world.

Lord Tianjiang commands 120 officials and generals and is stationed in the Hanging Chamber. He oversees construction and related matters, carries out duties according to the twelve double-hours, and directs personnel. He is in charge of ghosts associated with the taboos of the four hundred methods.

The Immortal Official, Lord Jiqi, commands 120 officers and generals and resides in the Chamber of Sichuan. He is responsible for subduing ghosts that obstruct the accumulation of merit or violate taboos, as well as ghosts that disturb the area around a house when the ground is broken for construction.

Lord Yangfang commands 120 officers and generals and resides in the Chamber of the Heavenly Dragon Gate. He is responsible for subduing the Great General Tai Sui and the Earth Qi associated with the monthly positions of the twelve months of the year.

Lord Anxuan commands 120 officers and generals and resides in the Chamber of Bingwu. He is responsible for capturing the public ghosts throughout the realm who govern water and earth. Lord Pingshi commands 120 officers and generals and resides in the Chamber of Southern Transgression. He is responsible for subduing the 120 Earth Lords found in high and low places throughout the realm, as well as Earth Lord ghosts that violate taboos or act against people’s wishes.

Divine Generals in Charge of Well Ghosts

The Supreme Preceding Inspector commands an army of 490,000 soldiers and is responsible for subduing 120 kinds of ghosts in wells.

Divine Generals in Charge of Stove Ghosts

The Supreme Inspector, Lord Qi, commands 100,000 troops and is responsible for subduing ghosts that lie in wait to cause trouble and appear in the form of an ao or a dragon, as well as ghosts that bring calamity, loss, and waste.

The Jade Maiden of the Furnace commands 1,200 red-robed goddesses and is responsible for subduing 120 kinds of well ghosts hidden within the Qi.

The Hanming Dihuang Emperor commands 120 officers and generals and resides in the Chamber of the Yellow Gate. He is responsible for subduing ghosts throughout the realm that call themselves Wen Chong Ling.

Divine Generals in Charge of Moving House

The Great God of the Capital commands 120 officers and generals and resides in the Chamber of Withdrawal. He is responsible for subduing ghosts that disrupt people moving house, building or repairing homes, as well as those that violate dietary taboos in the first lunar month.

The Lord of the County Seat commands 120 officers and generals and resides in the Chamber of Food Withdrawal. He is responsible for subduing ghosts that cause trouble when people move house.

The Immortal Official Changxi commands 120 officers and generals and resides in the Chamber of Food Transgression. He is responsible for subduing ghosts that cause trouble when people move house, build or repair homes, or construct tombs, so that people may live in peace and enjoy smooth passage.

The Lord of the Land and Domain commands 120 officials and generals and oversees matters of moving house. The generals are responsible for the construction of homes and the relocation of people throughout the world.

There is one Lord Changluo, who commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of Chang in the City. He is responsible for containing the effects brought by the Great General of Tai Sui when people move house.

There is one Lord Xuandu, who commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of the Northern Capital. He is responsible for containing the Jie, the Five Corps Generals, and old Qi that arise during relocations throughout the world.

He oversees matters concerning people’s homes.

The Lord of Rescue and Song commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of Cangming. He is responsible for containing unfavorable conditions in people’s homes, such as dilapidation and afflictions affecting infants. If servants or the six domestic animals (livestock) are in difficulty, he also contains the trouble and protects them.

The Lord Tianxuan commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of An’guan. He is responsible for the Corps Generals and old Qi that arise when people move house.

He oversees matters concerning people’s homes.

The Lord of Rescue and Song commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of Cangming. He is responsible for containing unfavorable conditions in people’s homes, such as dilapidation and afflictions affecting infants. If servants or the six domestic animals are in difficulty, he also contains the trouble and protects them.

The Lord Tianxuan commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of An’guan. He is responsible for dealing with homes that are unsuitable or inauspicious to live in. He contains all manner of ghosts, baleful Qi, and strange phenomena, transforming the home into a place of safety and good fortune.

The Lord Tianyang and five Lords Tianxiu command 120 officials and generals and reside in the Chamber of Fojunquan. They are responsible for containing Qi of decline and loss in homes. If the six domestic animals, such as cattle and horses, fare poorly, these divine generals protect them, ensuring they thrive and remain well and no longer die.

The clerks, registrar, and left and right officials of the Lord Pinyuan number five each. He also commands 120 officials and generals and is responsible for dispelling all manner of trials, censure, and calamities, so that homes remain safe and stable.

The Lord of Dispelling Afflictions commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of Cang. He is responsible for relieving people of problems such as leaking roofs and continual damage to their homes, so that household life is peaceful and goes smoothly.

The Lord of Dispelling Afflictions commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of Cang. He is responsible for relieving people of problems such as leaking roofs and continual damage to their homes, so that household life is peaceful and goes smoothly.

The Lord of Red Sands commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of Nanchang. He is responsible for containing the harmful effects caused in homes by the ghosts of the Five Gu and Six Mian, along with 120 kinds of baleful Qi from throughout the world.

The celestial official, Lord of Heaven, commands 120 officers and generals stationed in the Anyang Chamber. They oversee cases in which people’s homes are unfit to live in, and capture and treat the various ghosts and spirits that bring killing energy, cause trouble, and harm people.

The immortal official, Lord Jiping, commands 120 officers and generals stationed in the Red Water Chamber. They oversee the capture and treatment of baleful forces in homes. “Punishing houses and breaking ghosts” refers to ghosts and spirits that injure a home and bring it to ruin. The lords, generals, clerks, and soldiers responsible for repairs and restoration each have their own organization. They patrol the local communities and assist someone in beginning the work of restoration. Once the work is complete, they inspect it every three days. If nothing further is needed, they record and report the matter, then transfer the personnel to new posts.

Lord Shiyangping commands 120 officers and generals stationed in the Seven Customs Chamber. They oversee the capture and treatment of ghosts and spirits associated with river dragons, the seven prison officials, and baleful forces in homes.

The Azure Emperor commands 120 officers and generals stationed in the Spirit Brightness Crimson Coffer Residence. They oversee the capture and treatment of the wasting afflictions found in the homes of people throughout the realm—that is, malign forces that drain and ruin a household.

Lord Beishidaoyuan commands 120 officers and generals stationed in the Spirit Brightness Chamber. They oversee misfortunes in people’s lives, such as ruin and the disordering of status and rank.

In charge of marriage matters:

Lord Niangquan commands 120 officers and generals stationed in the White Jade Chamber. They oversee food and drink, celebrations, and the harmonizing of divine energies.

The Lords of Spring on the Left and Right each command 120 officers and generals stationed in the Chamber of the True Yang. They oversee the capture and treatment of ghosts and spirits that appear during marriages throughout the realm. They also deal with malign forces that disrupt marriages by falsely invoking spirits and monsters, or claims that talismanic decrees conflict.

The Lords of Spring on the Left and Right each command 120 officers and generals stationed in the Yin-Yang Chamber. They oversee the capture and treatment of ghosts and spirits that appear during people’s marriages, as well as incidents involving troublesome spirits. They also handle related problems attributed to conflicts between talismanic decrees.

The Lord of the Sun and Moon, with 120 officers and generals under his command, is stationed in the Yin-Yang Chamber. He oversees marriages between men and women throughout the realm, as well as relations with guests. He protects couples, bringing harmony to their marriages and helping their bonds endure.

The Lord of Heavenly Dwelling commands 120 officers and generals stationed in the Five Guards Chamber. They oversee people’s marriages, betrothals, and harmonious unions; subdue ghosts and spirits associated with the four seasons; and align marriages with talismanic decrees, praying for the birth of noble sons.

Xuanlai Jun (the divine lord who oversees marriages) is one in number and commands 120 officials and generals. He resides in the Chamber of the Rich Maiden and governs marriages between men and women throughout the world, enabling spouses to remain together for a long time and enjoy long life. The Marriage Officials of Prolonged Life and other divine officials obey his orders. They oversee the marriages of all people and patrol and protect them, ensuring that marriage affairs proceed safely and smoothly.

Gele Jun is one in number and commands 120 officials and generals. He resides in the Chamber of Yin and Yang and governs the marriages and food of people throughout the world. He arranges gatherings of guests, bringing men and women together, fostering harmony in marriage, and ensuring that both men and women are joyful and at ease.

Gele Jun is one in number and commands 120 officials and generals. He resides in the Chamber of Yin and Yang and governs the marriages, food, and guest gatherings of people throughout the world. He brings harmony to marriages, makes men and women joyful, and helps talismanic decrees increase and spread.

The Lord of Nine Qi and Mysterious Mechanisms commands 120 palace generals and resides in the Central Court Chamber. He oversees relocation, marriage, and people who fall ill after being troubled by seasonal ghosts.

The Red Spirit Lord commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of Agitation. He oversees matters involving seasonal ghosts in the marriages of people throughout the world.

The Singing Lord is one in number and commands 120 officials and generals. He resides in the Chamber of Balance and oversees the joining of people in marriage, ensuring suitable matches and bringing men and women to wed.

The Lords of Left and Right Proclamation and Service command 120 officials and generals and reside in the Chamber of Yang’s Return. They oversee matters involving seasonal ghosts in the marriages of people throughout the world.

The Lord of the Heavenly Tomb commands 120 officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of the Five Balances. He oversees betrothal, marriage, and the rites of praying for the birth of an honored son after marriage.

The Immortal Official Chang Le Jun is one in number and commands 120 officials and generals. He resides in the Chamber of Earth’s Might and oversees the gathering of the food prepared by people throughout the world, protecting and sustaining it.

There are 100,000 Heavenly Noble Black-Clad Soldiers. They can immediately seize 120 seasonal ghosts associated with marriage and stop them from causing people to behave wildly and speak incoherently.

May the Plain-White, Dark-Bright Official—a divine name, governing marriage and the dispelling of misfortune—command one hundred and twenty officials and generals, stationed in the Departmental City Chamber, to resolve harmful influences in the marriages of women throughout the world. If a person’s allotted lifespan falls under inauspicious stars and ghostly baleful forces, and they encounter such calamities as Zang ghosts, Tuo spirits, the evil star of the Chou Lodge, Binding-Punishment ghosts, Heaven-Hanging Corpses, or the Six Harms, or suffer punishment and disaster as a result, bringing misfortune to relatives such as parents-in-law, husband, or children, this deity takes charge of treating and dispelling them.

The Bold and Able Clerks of the Central Chamber, together with the Left and Right Yin-Yang Marriage Clerks, number twelve hundred. They are responsible for apprehending the Qi Lords who govern marriage in the Nine Chambers—that is, the spirits who oversee the relevant currents of fortune.

The Lord of the Nine Granaries commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals, stationed in the Returning-Gaze Chamber. He oversees marriage and food throughout the world, brings people together and enables childbirth, and aligns the talismanic destinies and lifespans of men and women.

The Lord of the Jade Calendar commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals, stationed in the Nine Heavens Chamber. He resolves harmful influences in the marriages of men and women throughout the world. If their birth years and lifespans fall under inauspicious stars, making the couple incompatible and their offspring few, this deity sends down protection so their birth years and lifespans accord, allowing them to live together for a long time.

The Lord of the Jade Calendar commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals, stationed in the Nine Heavens Chamber. He resolves harmful influences in the marriages of men and women throughout the world. If a couple is incompatible and their offspring are few, this deity sends down protection so their birth years and lifespans accord, allowing them to live together for a long time.

The Lord of the Northern Peace commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals, stationed in the Chamber of the Clustered Cities. He resolves situations in marriage that bring misfortune to parents-in-law and other relatives. If a person’s allotted lifespan falls under inauspicious stars and ghostly baleful forces, and they encounter such calamities as Zang ghosts, Tuo spirits, the evil star of the Chou Lodge, Hanging Corpses, or the Six Harms, causing harm to pregnancy and wasting away the flesh and bones, to the detriment of their descendants, this deity sends down protection so the couple’s destinies are compatible and they remain together for a long time.

The Lord of the Celestial Grand Minister commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals, stationed in the Five Phases Chamber. He oversees betrothal gifts and marriage rites among the people, ensuring that the gifts yield a doubled return.

The Lord of the Five Grains commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals, stationed in the Great Waters Chamber. He ensures that the five-colored grain seedlings in the fields grow luxuriantly and produce good harvests, with fewer weeds, yielding a hundred hu per mu. He also drives away insects, rats, bears, rabbits, jackals, deer, and other creatures so they do not damage the crops, and brings harmony between floods and droughts.

The Lord of Land Livestock commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals, stationed in the Four Luminaries Chamber. He ensures that the melons and gourds planted by the people grow luxuriantly and yield twice as much.

The Lord of the Celestial Jia commands one hundred and twenty officials and generals, stationed in the Earth Gate Chamber. He protects the people’s grain crops from damage by insects and rats.

The Lord Wuye commands 120 officials and generals. He governs fields and dwellings of every kind, oversees the people’s farming and livelihood, protects crops from damage by insects and mice, and ensures harvests a hundredfold.

The third scroll of The Zhengyi Scripture on Ritual Texts and Registers of Officials ends here.

The “Master of Insects and Mice” oversees the expulsion of insects and mice.

The Lord Wuye commands 120 officials and generals. He governs fields and dwellings of every kind, oversees the people’s farming and livelihood, protects crops from damage by insects and mice, and ensures harvests a hundredfold.

The third scroll of The Zhengyi Scripture on Ritual Texts and Registers of Officials ends here.

The Zhengyi Scripture on Ritual Texts and Registers of Officials, Scroll Four

Overseer of the mulberry trees for silkworms.

Attached are talismanic mandates from the ghosts and spirits who respond to the seasons; these can enable people to have noble sons.

The Lord of Mountains and Marshes commands 120 officials and generals. He governs the Chamber of Yin and Yang and oversees the silkworms among the world’s cliffs, including those known as the “Heavenly Father and Mother Silkworms.”

The Lord of Nourishment commands 120 officials and generals. He governs the Palace of the Heavenly Lineage and oversees the encouragement of men and women to raise silkworms, ensuring that sericulture suffers no losses and yields are doubled.

The immortal officials—the Dark Maidens and Dark Men, Spirit Maidens and Spirit Men, Jade Maidens and Jade Men, and Pure Maidens and Pure Men—together with the officials responsible for silkworm raising, reeling silk, and making silk floss, jointly assist the people in raising silkworms and drive away insects and mice, preventing losses to sericulture.

The immortal officials, including the Dark Maidens, Spirit Maidens, Jade Maidens, Pure Maidens, and Dark Men, as well as the various lords, elders, and officials and generals, number 120 in each group. They govern the Silkworm Chamber, overseeing and protecting silkworm work and driving away insects and mice to prevent losses. The Spirit Men and Dark Maidens oversee the gathering of mulberry leaves; the Short Dark Maiden oversees the registers; and the Pure Maiden oversees the cocoons, ensuring that their black and white colors are distinct.

There are five Lord Yujing, who command 120 officials and generals and govern the Granary Chamber. They oversee cases in which men and women violate the taboos concerning the seasons, the year, or the contrary Qi of the Year Lord, making marriage or the begetting of children unsuitable.

There are five Lord Yujing, who command 120 officials and generals and govern the Granary Chamber. They oversee cases in which men and women violate the taboos concerning the seasons, the year, or the contrary Qi of the Year Lord, making it unsuitable for them to have children.

There are five Lord Tianjing, who command 120 officials and generals and govern the Luotai Chamber. They oversee the resolution of cases in which men and women, because they have violated taboos concerning the seasons or the Year Star, are unsuited to marital union.

There are five Lord Dij ing, who command 120 officials and generals and govern the Luotai Chamber. They oversee the resolution of cases in which men and women violate taboos concerning the seasons or the Year Star, making it unsuitable for them to have children.

There are five Lords Who Open the Heavens’ Origin. They command 120 officers and generals and are stationed in the Chamber of Food. They are responsible for dispelling the misfortune brought about when men and women offend Jupiter, and for ensuring harmony between spouses and stability in the household.

The Lords and Officials of Pure Integrity, Investigation, and Punitive Expeditions are responsible for summoning and examining the relevant officials. They also oversee taboos concerning the removal of prohibitions and the selection of auspicious dates for marriage, as well as the ghosts named Meigu, Zantuo, and others (names of spirits listed in the scripture).

Overseeing Field Crops

There are five Lords of the Heavenly Groves, each commanding 120 officers and generals. They oversee the people’s cultivation of the five grains, making the harvest twice as abundant.

There are five Lords of the Earthly Groves, commanding 120 officers and generals and stationed in the Chamber of the Four Directions. They arrange for the people’s planting, so that the grain harvest is doubled.

The Lord of the Heavenly Fields commands 120 officers and generals and is stationed in the Chamber of the Northern Gate. He oversees the people’s farming and the growth of their crops, drives away pests and mice, and ensures that the crops grow well and yield twice the harvest.

The Lord of the Yang Origin of the Three Qi commands 120 officers and generals and is stationed in the Chamber of Yellow Clouds. He is responsible for eliminating damage to fields caused by pests and mice and other harm, and for governing the fields. The Lords of Balance, City Gods, and deities of mountains, rivers, and the soil and grain in the Four Fields, Seven Fields, Nine Fields, and other regions should all protect a certain household’s rice and grain shoots, so that they ripen abundantly and remain unharmed. Another twenty are stationed in the Chamber of Yellow Clouds. They oversee the elimination of damage to fields caused by pests and mice, protect fields everywhere so that crops ripen abundantly and remain unharmed, and drive away pests and mice. By winter, the harvest should have doubled; this is the proof of their efficacy.

There is one Lord of the Five Thousand Jades, who commands 120 officers and generals and is stationed in the Chamber of the Nine Waters. He oversees the people’s farming, so that the grain shoots grow lush and strong.

Overseeing the Six Domestic Animals

The Lord of Qinhuang’s Great Origin commands 120 officers and generals and is stationed in the Palace of Earthly Mystery. He oversees the six domestic animals raised by the people, ensuring that they breed and thrive.

The Lord of the Heavenly Servants commands 120 officers and generals and is stationed in the Palace of Rest and Travel. He oversees the six domestic animals raised by the people, ensuring that their numbers steadily increase and that their owners suffer no losses from death or injury.

The Lord of Qinhuang Who Settles the Black commands 120 officers and generals and is stationed in the Chamber of the Nine Earths. He oversees the six domestic animals raised by the people, ensuring they no longer fail to thrive or grow well, and that they breed and prosper.

The Lord of the Northern Water Well of the Red-Black Heaven has five attendants and 120 subordinate officers and generals. The Black Lord who governs the Emperor’s lands also has 120 officers and generals. They govern the chambers of the Nine Earths and oversee the growth and breeding of the people’s livestock, helping animals that are weak or fail to thrive gradually grow in number and prosper.

The Lord of the Northern Water Well of the Red-Black Heaven has five attendants and 120 subordinate officers and generals. They oversee cattle, horses, and other livestock throughout the world, ensuring that they breed and flourish.

The Black Little Qilin Lord has 120 subordinate officers and generals. The Red Spirit Lord oversees the plague demons that afflict cattle, horses, and other livestock throughout the world, and subdues thirty-six kinds of demonic and baleful spirits. Those who wish to raise livestock or breed horses and cattle may, according to ritual procedure, invite the relevant divine generals to descend together, drive away pests and baleful spirits, and protect the flourishing of their animals.

Overseeing Fishing and Hunting

Invite the subordinate officials of the Lord of Abundant Provisions, who serves the Grand Governor, to descend together and capture the black demons that disturb people’s food. Those who fish or hunt should each cultivate a compassionate heart and refrain from harming one another.

The Lord of the Great River has 120 subordinate officers and generals. They govern the chambers of the Nine Rivers and oversee matters related to the River Earl. The Water-Might Officer oversees hunting and instructs hunters to act with compassion, give up fishing with hooks, and burn their nets.

The Lord of the Celestial River Who Seeks No Dwelling’s Profit has 120 subordinate officers and generals. They govern the chambers of the Nine Earths and oversee the people’s ponds and pools, as well as aquatic plants such as lotus roots, reeds, water chestnuts, and bananas. They ensure that people seeking aquatic and other produce have abundant harvests.

The Master of the Great Fishery of the Nine Rivers has 120 subordinate officers and generals. They govern the chambers of the Dark Valley and oversee the people’s ponds, ensuring that fish, turtles, and other aquatic creatures each grow according to their own nature and do not turn into spirits that harm people.

The Lord of Waters That Turn Back has one attendant and 120 subordinate officers and generals. They govern the chambers of the River Dragon and oversee the people’s ponds, marshes, and islets throughout the world, along with all kinds of aquatic creatures. They capture and eliminate twelve-eyed spirits and demons and guard their respective territories.

Overseeing Trade and Markets

The Lord of the Celestial Market has 120 subordinate officers and generals. They govern the chambers of the Pendant and oversee markets throughout the world, inspecting market affairs and investigating fraud, short weights, and deficient measures. They restore order to the markets so that trade is fair and civic affairs are well governed.

The official generals of the Lord of Prosperity Above the Earth number 120. They are stationed in the Chamber of the Hundred Rivers and oversee the people’s travel by boat and carriage, as well as their trade. They monitor and investigate practices that harm others, such as buying cheaply and selling dearly, hoarding goods, using heavy weights when purchasing but undersized measures when selling, and cheating people in the marketplace.

The officials of the Supreme Lord of Ten Thousand Blessings number twenty-eight. They oversee the bringing of five kinds of beneficial gain. Huang Sheng is in charge of trade in gold and silver, coins, silk, cloth, silk floss, grain, and other goods; he also governs what people seek in their hearts. The scripture further says that these officials inspect and investigate buying cheaply and selling dearly, hoarding goods to drive up prices, and cheating people with undersized measures.

The official generals of the Lord of the Postal Riders and Market Supervision number 120. They are stationed in the Chamber of the Heavenly Market and oversee evil spirits throughout the world. They investigate and punish those who open slaughterhouses or wine shops, seek excessive profits, use light weights and undersized measures, cheat others, or make a living by demanding food and drink from the people.

The official generals of Lord Zhu Lu number 120. They are stationed in the Hall of Great Origin and oversee transformations involving gold, silver, steel, iron, and money throughout the world. Anyone seeking gold, silver, copper, or iron should pray to this deity.

Overseeing the Many Calamities and Livelihoods

The field officers and troops protect and support people’s work, gathering the various trades and helping them flourish in the marketplace. The lords, officials, generals, officers, and troops who oversee, inspect, and organize affairs together govern the many ways people throughout the world earn a living and conduct business, so that they may have something to rely on.

The Lord Who Seeks Profit and Brings a Hundred Blessings works together with these divine officers to oversee calamities and livelihoods. The field officers and troops protect and support people’s work, gathering the various trades and helping them flourish in the marketplace. The lords, officials, generals, officers, and troops who oversee, inspect, and organize affairs jointly govern the people’s various businesses and livelihoods, giving them a place and purpose.

The Lord Who Seeks Profit and Brings a Hundred Blessings also handles these affairs together with his subordinate generals and officers, including Shengwang Daohei. He oversees the people’s illnesses and petitions, enabling their wishes to be fulfilled.

Overseeing Travel and Passage

The Bright Star Jade Maidens number 1,200. Dressed in white, they are the chief generals of the Zhengyi tradition. They oversee those who travel ten thousand li, ensuring that they do not encounter harm, calamity, or danger.

The official generals of Lord Shounan Feng number 120. They are stationed in the Chamber of the Heavenly Granary and oversee the arrangement that allows ritual masters to travel without carrying clothing or provisions, while the people willingly come forward to supply them with food and drink.

The Lord of Ten Thousand li (a deity who oversees protection on long journeys) has five manifestations, each attended by 120 officials and generals. They reside and govern in the Nine Registers Chamber. They oversee protection for generals and commanders who travel far under the Zhengyi method, ensuring they encounter no disasters along the way. They also watch over clear roads and safe travel a thousand li away, guard travelers on their journeys, and prevent other calamities from intruding.

There are another five Lords of Ten Thousand li, each attended by 120 officials and generals and residing in the Qi-Drawing Chamber. They oversee Zhiyi and the people when they travel far, ensuring they encounter no disasters on the way and travel under their own protection.

The Lord of Heavenly Provision is attended by 120 officials and generals and resides in the Heavenly Granary Chamber. He oversees armies traveling without carrying polished rice and protects the people whose fields have not yet been irrigated.

On the road are divine offices held by the Three Mysterious Ones, the Four Mysterious Ones, the Four Primordial Jiazi, the Thirty-Six Officials, and others, including the office of the One Son Who Transmits Guests at the Inn of Luminous Offices. They record the comings and goings of ghosts and spirits and the things they take, then forward the relevant matters to the Heavenly Horse Granaries.

There is one Lord of the Heavenly Horses, attended by 120 officials and generals and residing in the Stone Chamber. He oversees generals and commanders traveling far, ensuring they are not berated by officials or soldiers and making their bodies light, so they can travel a thousand li a day without carrying provisions.

The Lord Who Oversees a Thousand li from Afar and the Lord of the li jointly command their subordinates. They escort the people of the world on long journeys, protect them, and prevent other troubles from arising.

The Lord of a Thousand li is attended by 120 officials and generals. Together with divine officers such as the Lord of Protective Generals and the Elder of Ten Thousand Blessings, he commands his subordinates and protects those traveling far.

Overseeing Release from Imprisonment and Calamities of the Jail

There is one Lord of the Green Granary, attended by 120 officials and generals and residing in the Bean-Trade Chamber. He oversees the removal of oppression by government authorities, enmity, punishment, and calamities, causing each of these afflictions to disperse and never recur.

The overseer of the Heavenly Chambers is the Essence Lord of the Heavenly Prison. The serving clerks and the various Lords of the Prisons are all under his authority.

The Lord of Document Inspection is attended by 120 officials and generals and resides in the Nine Heavens Chambers. He oversees prisons, enmities, punishments, and calamities throughout the world, causing each to disperse and never recur.

The overseer of the Heavenly Chambers is the Essence Lord of the Heavenly Prison. The serving clerks and the various Lords of the Prisons are all under his authority.

The Lord of Document Inspection is attended by 120 officials and generals and resides in the Nine Heavens Chambers. He oversees the documents of prisons throughout the world and the clerks associated with them, and commands the prison officials in every region.

The Lord of the Cap and Girdle, together with his officials and generals, numbers one hundred and twenty. They reside in the Chamber of the Five Luminaries and are in charge of resolving the legal charges and prison confinement incurred by ordinary people, so that those held in custody may be released more easily.

The Jade Maidens of the Fish Realm number three thousand six hundred. With their hair loose and vessels for warding off gu poison in their hands, they handle legal affairs and dispel the calamities associated with twelve hundred kinds of punishment.

The Revered Spirit of the Beheading Axe, who has charge of cutting off calamities, is also called the Lord of the Yang Division. He is responsible for ending imprisonment and confinement, freeing people from their bonds. General of Reversal, General Who Splits Wood, General of Severing Strikes, and General Who Seizes Talismans and Inspects Dispatches are responsible for rescuing people from hardship and imprisonment and securing their release.

In charge of resolving legal disputes

There is one Lord of the Stars, with one hundred and twenty officials and generals, who resides in the Chamber of the Azure Canopy and is in charge of resolving legal disputes.

There are one thousand two hundred Jade Maidens, Celestial Officials, who summon the Qi born of Heaven and Earth and emit Jing (essence). The General Who Inspects Dispatches by Talisman is able to end hardship and imprisonment and secure people’s release.

In charge of resolving legal disputes

There is one Lord of the Stars, with one hundred and twenty officials and generals, who resides in the Chamber of the Azure Canopy and is in charge of resolving legal disputes.

There are one thousand two hundred Jade Maidens, Celestial Officials, who summon the Qi born of Heaven and Earth, emit Jing, and are able to resolve legal disputes.

In charge of disputes and slander involving county officials

The battle troops of the Great and Small Ying Stars, under Lord Pang Duolu, lead the soldiers who oppose the ruler and bring them to peace. Clad in iron armor and bearing blades, they encamp below to protect the people, keeping them free from disputes and slander involving county officials.

There are five Lords of the Southern Bell Heavenly Stars, each with one hundred and twenty officials and generals, residing in the Chamber of the Stone Immortals. They are in charge of gathering in disputes among the people involving county officials and dealing with officials and commoners who do evil and defy authority, so that people’s hearts may return to Xuántóng (mystical unity with the Dao, in serene accord).

In charge of resolving legal disputes and enmity

The Lord of Heavenly Wishes has one hundred and twenty officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of the Azure Canopy. He is in charge of resolving legal disputes and enmity and protecting the master, Lord of the Eight Barriers.

There are five Earth Lords, each with one hundred and twenty officials and generals, residing in the Western Palace, where they bring people’s hearts back to Xuántóng.

In charge of resolving legal disputes and enmity

The Lord of Heavenly Wishes has one hundred and twenty officials and generals and resides in the Chamber of the Azure Canopy. He is in charge of resolving legal disputes and enmity and protecting the master, Lord of the Eight Barriers.

There are five Earth Lords, each with one hundred and twenty officials and generals, residing in the Western Palace. They are in charge of pursuing and capturing women who have been abducted in raids and caused heartbreak, then sending them back to their original masters.

In charge of capturing thieves and ordering them to make restitution

The Star Lord (a divine ruler who governs the stars) commands 120 officials and generals stationed at the various Ni Guan. They are responsible for pursuing and capturing thieves and fugitives among the people throughout the world.

The great forces of the Sun and Moon number 100,000. Clad in scarlet robes, they regulate Yin-Yang and pursue thieves and wicked rebels who threaten the human world.

The Sun Male commands 1,200 troops and wears red robes. He is responsible for capturing thieves, enemies, evildoers, and rebels throughout the world.

The Lord of the People (a divine ruler who oversees the affairs of the people) commands 120 officials and generals, stationed at the Heshan Palace. He is responsible for monitoring whether the people throughout the world are upright or corrupt in their intentions, as well as for theft, robbery, sexual misconduct, and other wrongdoing.

The Lords of Venus in the East and West command 120 officials and generals, stationed at the Jiutian Qian Palace. They are responsible for monitoring robbery, sexual misconduct, murder, and lawbreaking among the people in the prefectures, counties, townships, wards, and villages throughout the world.

The Five Yang command 120 troops, stationed at the Jiutian Qian Palace. They are responsible for monitoring robbery, sexual misconduct, murder, and lawbreaking among the people in the prefectures, counties, townships, wards, and villages throughout the world.

The Lord of the Five Yang commands 120 officials and generals, stationed at the Men Palace. He punishes men who fail to honor their ancestors or violate ancestral taboos, as well as those who rob and steal property or behave improperly.

The Three Weeping Lords command 120 officials and generals, stationed at the Xuandu Office. They are responsible for pursuing and capturing rebels throughout the world.

The Great General of the West commands one division and is responsible for driving thieves away from the people throughout the world.

The Lords Who Shake Heaven and Move Earth and the Lord of the Nine Qi command 500,000 troops. They capture rebels on the earth, as well as thieves who plunder one another and disrupt society.

The forces that Uphold Heaven number 100,000. They wear red celestial crowns and vermilion shoes, and are responsible for capturing men and women among the people who plunder one another. Beneath them are 120 officials and generals stationed at the Chamber Below Shu. They resolve disputes and enmities between officials and commoners, along with matters involving punishment, calamities, and verbal quarrels, and they prevent related acts of invocation.

The Lord of the Four Vows commands 120 officials and generals, stationed at the Yanggai Chamber. He resolves enmities arising from government affairs.

Overseeing Verbal Abuse and Slander

The Supreme Lord of Clarity and Mystery commands a million troops. He captures and punishes demons and evil spirits that provoke disputes, appear to curse people, use gu techniques to harm others, or inflict poisoning.

The Supreme Lord of a Hundred Blessings commands 1,200 troops. He gathers people’s thoughts and wishes and directs them toward various blessings and good deeds. He also deals with spirits and monsters, born from the breath of speech, that disturb and harm people.

The Earth Official Jade Maidens number one thousand two hundred. Wearing five-colored robes, they are responsible for revealing and subduing ghosts who curse, abuse, and harm people with poison.

The Supreme Lord of the Hundred Blessings commands one thousand two hundred troops. He oversees gathering in people’s scattered thoughts and encouraging them to perform more good deeds. He also dispels the baleful energy caused by speech and governs the vital essence of human beings.

The Earth Official Jade Maidens number one thousand two hundred. Wearing five-colored robes and crowns that reach to Heaven, they oversee gathering in the Earth’s energy and regulating the breath and vital essence. They also avert punishments, disasters, disputes, and three other kinds of calamity, bringing people to a state of clarity and spiritual lucidity.

The Lord of the Five Classics is one in number and commands one hundred and twenty officers and generals. He resides at the Northern Upper Palace and oversees putting an end to disputes and slander. He teaches the people of the Orthodox Unity tradition not to spread rumors or slander the Great Dao. He also prevents people from being harmed because of another person’s faults, thereby ending verbal disputes.

There are five Lords of the Celestial Emperor, each commanding one hundred and twenty officers and generals. They reside at the Chamber of the Myriad Immortals and oversee stopping disturbances among the people caused by speech. They gather in and rectify people’s breath, enabling the multitude to meet in harmony and live together with one heart.

The Joyful Laughing Vermilion Bird Lord commands one hundred and twenty officers and generals and resides at the Chamber of Bathing Peace. He protects everyone, ensuring that guests can eat and drink in peace and that camps are well ordered. He also enables people gathered together to live alongside one another for a long time without resentment, and puts an end to verbal disputes.

The Six Stars of Southern Suppression command one hundred and twenty officers and generals and reside at the Hall of Containing Light. They oversee clearing away disputes over interests, verbal conflicts, slander, and all manner of calamities among the people, so that everyone may be of one heart and live together in joy.

The Northern River Officials of Jiyu, Zhoukai, and Nili, who send attendants to restore order, oversee the Hall of Containing Light. They are responsible for clearing away disputes over interests, verbal conflicts, slander, and all manner of calamities among the people, so that everyone may be of one heart and joyful.

The Northern River Officials of Jiyu, Zhoukai, and Nili, who send attendants to restore order, oversee putting an end to verbal disputes and slander.

The troops of Chengzhou and the Yue Maidens number three billion. They oversee gathering in verbal disputes and slander.

The Celestial Yue Maidens number three billion. They oversee stopping verbal misconduct, rebellion, and slander.

The Lord of Upper Yue commands one hundred officers and generals.