《南斗延寿灯仪》

The ritual is performed according to the established liturgy.

The named Daoist master, filled with reverence, bows with his head to the ground, offers incense, and bows again, then memorializes the gods: "We respectfully invite the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the Supreme Sages, the Perfected of the Ten Extremities, the Great Emperor of Ziwei, the Sovereign of the Sun, the Imperial Lord of the Moon, the star lords of the Five Planets and Four Luminaries, the Six Departments Star Lords of Longevity of the Southern Dipper (the six divine lords in the Southern Dipper who govern the extension of life), the Nine Sovereign Star Lords of Life-Giving of the Northern Dipper (the nine star lords in the Northern Dipper who govern the bestowal of life), the star lords of the Eastern, Western, and Central Dippers, the star lords of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, the multitude of the Perfected among all the stars of the heavens, the star lords of one's Natal Destiny and Original Year (star spirits who govern an individual's natal year), the Great Emperors of the Three Officials of the Three Primes, the Four Sagely True Lords of the Northern Pole, the True Lords of the Five Masters and Three Reflections, and the countless holy hosts of the Three Realms and Four Ministries, to descend to this assembly of the Lamp Altar. We humbly beg that all the holy and perfected ones, in their compassion, look upon us and observe."

"We have heard that no grace between heaven and earth is greater than allowing the myriad beings to live, and that among the blessings described in the Hongfan, none is more complete than fortune joined with longevity. Heaven and earth have established divine offices to govern lifespans, and so people may sincerely pray for the dispelling of calamity and the prolonging of blessings. Gazing up toward the Three Realms, we find that the Southern Dipper is the bureau that governs long life, and the True Lords of its Six Departments hold the authority over lifespans. All beings who have form and life have their years governed by them."

"Therefore, following the ranks and norms recorded in the Hetu (River Diagram), and observing the Lingbao Keyi (Daoist ritual regulations), we solemnly set out the star lamps and reverently conduct the Jiao offering (a rite of setting out offerings and making petitions to the gods), hoping thereby to reach the upper realms and invite the exalted Perfected to descend. Now this disciple, so-and-so, burns incense to convey their intentions and thereby make manifest their sincerity. Looking toward the Southern Pole, we proceed according to the statutes of the Southern Dipper's star bureau. We light the precious torches so that the lamplight is bright, symbolizing the radiance of the gods shining down upon us. We recite and chant the sacred ritual texts, hoping the gods will descend. We pray that Heaven will observe our wishes and that the spirits will respond with kindness."

"May the gods, riding jade carriages beneath feathered canopies, draw near at hand, with golden steeds and jeweled chariots filling the sky. May they grant lengthened lifespans and settled destinies, and cause auspicious qi to descend. May they illuminate what is hidden and subtle, and make manifest the grace of their watchful protection. We reverently present our Faxin (tokens of faith offered in the ritual to express reverence), praise the gods, bow with our heads to the ground, take refuge in them, and offer our devout homage."

We, the assembled company, sincerely take refuge in the Great Sage of the Palace of Illustrious Virtue, the Perfected Lord Who Protects the State, Minister of Fate and Chief Counselor of the Southern Dipper's Celestial Mansion, together with all the spirit officials.

We have heard that Heaven bestows life upon all things, and that each life has its natural span; humans receive their fundamental nature, and all of it returns to the highest principle. When life is well nurtured, then even if one's allotted blessings have been diminished, they can still be prolonged; when life is harmed, calamity arises from it. The charge of governing life and apportioning misfortune and fortune truly rests with the deity who presides over fate. If one wishes to seek blessings and dispel disasters, one must cultivate and practice with sincerity.

Today, [name], having cleansed the mind of its thoughts and cast off stray worries, nourishing Qi (vital energy) and gathering the Shen (spirit) to guard the heart, has long held an aspiration toward the Dao (the Way) and reveres the celestial images of the divine powers above. Accordingly, in keeping with ritual procedure, we have set up a star altar (an altar for the worship of the star deities) and prepared offerings of incense, flowers, lamps, and candles, taking refuge in the Great Sage of the Palace of Illustrious Virtue, the Perfected Lord Who Protects the State, Minister of Fate and Chief Counselor of the Southern Dipper's Celestial Mansion. We humbly request that Heaven's will guide our hearts, so that all may walk the path of long life and well-being, and that all beings may receive grace and no longer meet with the misfortune of premature or violent death. Bowing our heads in refuge, we offer praise according to the rite:

Lord of Fate of the Southern Dipper, High Perfected and Chief Counselor (the venerable deity among the Southern Dipper star officials who governs lifespan): you embrace all phenomena, and your awesome power protects the realm. The Southern Dipper is a celestial government office, and you are the foremost minister assisting the Celestial Emperor. The immortals obey your commands, and through you all things receive the breath of life. You are the Supreme Steward within the Golden Portal, and the venerable one of the Jade Pure Realm. The profound and subtle Dao is such that none dares fail to follow it. Thus the many deities are settled in their posts of guardianship, together protecting the court of the Celestial Emperor.

We, the assembled company, sincerely take refuge in the Great Sage of the Palace of Grotto Script, the Perfected Lord Who Guards the Sacred Peaks, Chief Counselor and Registrar of the Celestial Minister Star of the Southern Dipper, together with all the spirit officials.

We have heard that when the Taiji (Supreme Ultimate) first arose, the Dao had no fixed form; once the myriad things came into being, there was power to protect the court of the Celestial Emperor.

We, the assembled company, sincerely take refuge in the Great Sage of the Palace of Grotto Script, the Perfected Lord Who Guards the Sacred Peaks, Chief Counselor and Registrar of the Celestial Minister Star of the Southern Dipper, together with all the spirit officials.

I have heard that at the beginning of the Taiji (Supreme Ultimate), the Dao (the Way) had no fixed form; only after life arose did the myriad things receive their own distinct names. Calamity and auspiciousness depend on a person's De (Virtue), and do not differ according to high or low station; good and ill fortune are tied to one's conduct, and do not vary according to worthiness or foolishness. Now, as the officiant follows the natural order of things, anyone who prays with sincerity and earnestness will surely receive abundant blessings.

Today, the petitioner, with a focused mind and upright intent, devotes themselves to the Dao and the cultivation of truth, gazing up at the brilliance of the heavenly signs and reverently praying for Heaven's protection and smooth fortune. In accordance with ritual regulations, we have set up a star altar and prepared offerings of incense, flowers, lamps, and candles. We take refuge in the Great Sage of the Dongwen Palace (a venerated Daoist deity) and the Nandou Silu Shangxiang Zhenyue Zhenjun (the True Lord among the Southern Dipper star lords who oversees the registers and guards the sacred mountains). We respectfully wish that the great Dao may be spread far and wide, that hidden powers of observation and protection may be exercised, and that all beings may be universally saved, so that both cultivation and good deeds may be accomplished in due order. Bowing our heads in reverent submission, we sincerely sing their praises:

Divine Lord of the Southern Dipper who oversees the registers, Venerable Spirit of Tianxiang, you determine the year of birth and record the allotted fortunes, protect nature and life (xing and ming), and prolong the span of years. The mountain deity, acting on command, oversees and inspects the multitude of spirits. The radiance of the wondrous Dao shines forth, washing away the qi of demons and evil, dispelling malign obstacles, and guarding the body. The host of immortals turn their hearts in reverence, and the principles of all subtle marvels are made manifest one by one. Creation and transformation accord with nature, enabling people to ascend to Shangqing (the Highest Purity, the Daoist realm of pure immortals).

At this point the scripture repeats the lines "bowing our heads in submission, we sincerely sing their praises" and the passage beginning "Divine Lord of the Southern Dipper who oversees the registers...". The line "the radiant, wondrous Dao, sheng, orders the goodness of cultivation" appears to be corrupted, and its meaning cannot be made out with certainty.

We, the assembled company, sincerely take refuge in the Great Sage of the Roude Palace (a venerated Daoist deity), the Nandou Tianliang Yanshou Baoming Zhenjun (the True Lord among the Southern Dipper star lords who extends longevity and preserves life), and all the spiritual officers.

I have heard that long life and enduring vision are the constant expression of the great Dao, and that praying for longevity and an extended span of years is the shared wish of the people. The Way of Heaven endures without change; if a person can attain a long life, they may be spared early death and harm. To lengthen one's life, one must first pray sincerely; and when about to seek the protection of the spirits, one should likewise cultivate goodness with sincerity. Today, the petitioner, with undivided attention, gazes up at the heavenly signs, hoping the spirits will look down upon them and grant an increase in life and a long span of years. In accordance with ritual regulations, we have set up a star altar and prepared offerings of incense, flowers, lamps, and candles. We take refuge in the Great Sage of the Roude Palace and the Nandou Tianliang Yanshou Baoming Zhenjun. We respectfully wish that benevolent virtue may be widely bestowed, so that all people receive the blessings of lasting health and peace; and that virtues beneficial to life may be broadly cultivated, so that people are forever free from worry of early death and misfortune. Bowing our heads in reverent submission, we sincerely sing their praises:

The Southern Dipper (Nandou, the southern constellation, also the star deity in Daoism who governs lifespan and blessings) extends human life and is the pillar of the Way of Heaven. It protects all things universally, so that every being is nourished and flourishes. May people enjoy long life and good fortune, may blessings and longevity continue without end, may the life that Heaven bestowed be long preserved, and may calamity be dispelled. All together, we bow our heads, take refuge, and sincerely offer praise:

The Southern Dipper extends human life and is the pillar of the Way of Heaven. It protects all things universally, so that every being is nourished and flourishes. May people enjoy long life and good fortune, may blessings and longevity continue without end, may the life that Heaven bestowed be long preserved, and may calamity be dispelled. May life go on ceaselessly, as steady and enduring as mountains and hills; may benevolence be widely bestowed, its radiance shining once more like the Winnowing Basket (Ji) and Wings (Yi) constellations. May people accord with the virtue (De) of the spirits and continue unbroken through the ages.

We, the assembled, sincerely take refuge in the Great Sage of the Palace of Preserving Light, the True Lord of Heavenly Unity, Increaser of Longevity and Protector of Life of the Southern Dipper (the venerable deity within the Southern Dipper who presides over increasing one's allotted years and protecting life), and in all the Spirit Officials.

I have heard that human destinies are long or short, and that a lengthy life is precious; the lifespans Heaven bestows are greater or lesser, and to attain longevity is auspicious. Only when the heart is honest and free of deceit can one hope to have one's years increased. This matter is governed by the Highest Perfected Ones (venerable immortals and perfected beings), and so one must pray with single-minded devotion. Now, a certain person wishes to add to their years, and reverently looks up to the luminous movement of the stars in the heavens; in the subtle and unseen, they seek resonance with the spirits (Shen), using body and voice as the means of communication. Thus, in accordance with ritual procedure, they have set up a star altar and prepared offerings of incense, flowers, lamps, and candles, taking refuge in the Great Sage of the Palace of Preserving Light, the True Lord of Heavenly Unity, Increaser of Longevity and Protector of Life of the Southern Dipper. They humbly beseech the Greatly Compassionate One to bestow protection, making life long-lasting like the growth of all things in spring; to grant a great increase in years, making life as firm and enduring as Mount Song. All together, we bow our heads, take refuge, and sincerely offer praise:

The Southern Dipper increases one's allotted years, in accord with the Way of Heaven. The spirits are lofty and luminous, enduring for ages, their virtue of nurturing and protecting inexhaustible. May they preserve each person's innate destiny, so that life does not lose its proper course; may people live long and in peace, forever in harmony with the true Dao. May the allotted years continue to extend, and blessings and emoluments grow greater by the day; may they guard my person for ten thousand ages. May I travel the Upper Realm of Dongqing (the pure and sublime celestial realm), riding upon clouds and dragons.

We, the assembled, sincerely take refuge in the Great Sage of the Palace of Heavenly Node, the True Lord Tianshu of the Southern Dipper, Deliverer from Calamity, Patron of Literary Fortune, and Refiner of Souls (the venerable deity within the Southern Dipper who presides over delivering people from misfortune, literary destiny, and the refinement and salvation of souls), and in all the Spirit Officials.

The Yin and Yang (阴阳) qi (气) move in secret, and within them lie patterns of flourishing and decline; the Five Phases (五行) turn in succession and have never once come to rest. When we consider how laborious human life is, how could there be no times of calamity? Since the true sages preside over salvation and deliverance, the people should offer their utmost sincerity and pray with reverence. Now, this petitioner, filled with awe and careful in self-cultivation, gazes upon the sacred images with devotion, vows to take refuge in the Dao (道, the Way), and prays to receive the grace of the divine powers. In accordance with the rite, we have set up an altar and prepared incense, flowers, lamps, and candles, and we entrust our lives to the Great Sage of the Palace of Heavenly Tallies, the True Lord of the Southern Dipper Tianshu who Delivers from Calamity and of Wenchang who Refines the Souls (the venerable deity who oversees the Southern Dipper's deliverance from calamity and Wenchang's refining of souls). We humbly hope that the True Lord will always show compassion and save people, so that disasters dissolve unseen; that he will forever hold a heart devoted to aiding the world, and bestow the auspicious blessings of hidden virtue and protection. We bow our heads in refuge and sincerely offer this hymn:

The Southern Dipper, Deliverer from Calamity, is the pivot of Heaven. It moves in stillness, transforming and nurturing the myriad things, letting each pass through flourishing or decline. The Wenchang star shines brilliantly and oversees books and records; it can turn calamity into blessing and become the cinnabar carriage that guides me forward (a symbol of the vehicle that leads cultivation toward realms of blessing). It refines the hun and po souls, guards the Shen (神, spirit), and preserves the body. May the light of Heaven be tranquil and clear, and may all disasters and misfortunes be wholly removed; may the Qi of the Dao endure, so that we may keep company with the sages and the Perfected.

We, the assembled, sincerely entrust our lives to the Great Sage of the Palace, the True Lord of the Southern Dipper Tianji, Supreme Overseer of the Registers of Life and Judge of Grand Governance, together with all the divine officers (the deity who oversees the Southern Dipper's registers of life, the supervision of records, and the adjudication of affairs).

I have heard that when the true immortals practice virtue, they are unwilling to remain ignorant of the condition of even a single being; the sacred Dao responds to the moment, and this is its wondrous function in fulfilling the wishes of the many. Human beings receive the good nature bestowed by Heaven and Earth and so establish their lives, and receive the transformations of qi and so take on bodily form; all these processes of generation and change are held in the hands of the divine powers, and therefore we pray with reverence and sincerity. Now, this petitioner, having fasted and purified the heart, yearns for the Dao and gazes toward Heaven with single-minded focus, remembering with reverence the grace by which Heaven and Earth nurture the myriad things, and does not presume to perform the rite of supplication lightly. In accordance with the rite, we have set up a star altar and prepared incense, flowers, lamps, and candles, and with sincere hearts we entrust our lives to the Great Sage of the Palace, the True Lord of the Southern Dipper Tianji, Supreme Overseer of the Registers of Life and Judge of Grand Governance. We humbly hope that the True Lord will perceive the virtue by which Heaven and Earth give life to the myriad things, and will employ the power of transformation and nurture, so that the lives and natures of all may accord with harmonious qi and return to the proper Way. We bow our heads in refuge and sincerely offer this hymn:

Lord of the Southern Dipper (Nandou Xingjun), we beseech you to receive the virtue (De) by which Heaven and Earth give birth to and nourish the myriad things, and to wield the authority that transforms and nurtures them. May the life and nature of all beings be harmoniously tended and return to a state in accord with the Dao (the Way). With reverence we bow our heads and sincerely take refuge, chanting in praise:

The Star Lord of the Southern Dipper governs the sources of life and is a pillar of Heaven. He sets the transformations of Heaven and Earth in motion, so that the birth and decline of all things follow the proper seasons. He oversees the registers and records, whose contents even ghosts and spirits cannot glimpse. He commands the boundless Great Void and presides over the great principles between Heaven and Earth. Firmly established at the root, he accords naturally with change and suffers no harm. He endures through ten thousand kalpas and abides long in his post without alteration. He universally governs the lifespans of all beings under Heaven, and he ascends to dwell in the Taiwei Enclosure (a region of the heavenly stars).