《广成集》Vol. 1

Your servant submits: Jinkou Monastery is the eighteenth of the twenty-four monasteries. Its seasonal observance corresponds to Lesser Fullness, and its associated constellation is Bi. The platform from which Chen Anshi ascended to heaven in daylight still stands, as do the wheel ruts left by the immortal woman Bao as she attained the Dao while riding in her carriage. Each spring and autumn, prayers and purification rituals were traditionally held here in accordance with imperial edicts.

In recent times, following the wars, the buildings of Jinkou Monastery have all been destroyed. Only the former sites of the ancient halls and empty altars remain, and weeds conceal the statues of the immortals. Travelers have nowhere to pay their respects, and officials and common people alike have lost a place where they may entrust their faith. Seeing this blessed site grow increasingly desolate, your servant has undertaken its restoration, hoping thereby to pray for Your Majesty’s longevity.

Your Majesty has inherited the numinous lineage of the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan and the legacy of the immortals of Mount Goushan. By Heaven’s mandate, you govern the realm; through the transforming power of the Dao, you bring peace to the people. All regions of the realm have received Your Majesty’s vast beneficence, and the three teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism have been renewed and supported. Gardens and fields of spiritual beauty, immortal retreats, ancient temples, and Confucian academies have all been restored through Your Majesty’s grace. Since Daoist traditions preserve the Way of longevity, your servant has ventured to request the rebuilding of Jinkou Monastery.

Your servant then cleared away the weeds and brush and raised halls, so that the statues of the immortals would no longer be exposed to the elements, and Daoist priests could wear their caps, cultivate the Way, and practice through the burning of incense. The traces of the immortals have thus been restored as a solemn and sacred sanctuary. The incense now has a place to be offered, and purification rituals can continue without interruption. Your servant also summoned the Daoist priests Yang Xuanjing, Dugu Zhiyuan, and He, three men in all, to reside at the monastery.

Yet the site had long lain in ruins, and there was no plaque above its gate. Your servant humbly begs Your Majesty to bestow a title upon this immortal sanctuary, while retaining its old name, “Jinkou,” and granting it the plaque “Sagely Longevity.” Once permission is granted, your servant will have the plaque made and hang it himself. May this plaque inscribed with the imperial decree shine for ages beneath the sun and moon; may the immortal mountains beside the Han River forever offer prayers for the longevity of the enlightened sovereign. Your servant is filled with the deepest reverence.

Your servant respectfully submits: I have received the imperial command directing me, together with He Chonghui, Master of Ceremonies of the Right Street, and twenty others, to hold a Golden Register Zhaijiao (a major Daoist purification ritual seeking blessings and averting calamities, and offering prayers for the state) in the new palace hall for seven days and nights. The altar was opened on the fourteenth of this month and the rites concluded on the twentieth. The provisioning official, Yang Shaoye, performed the prescribed obeisances at the appointed times, and all the ceremonies and hymns praising the merits of the sacred powers have been completed.

Heaven’s will has aided Your Majesty’s accomplishments, and the palace precincts have been renewed. The halls rise in splendor, their steps paved with jade, surpassing the palaces borne by giant sea turtles on the immortal islands. Their blue doors and windows and vermilion gates outshine the celestial palaces in the highest heavens. The imperial residence is magnificent in its design and august in its seclusion. All nations look toward it, while the assembled spirits stand guard. The new palace had scarcely been completed when a Golden Register altar was established there. Every part of the altar was arranged with exquisite care, and every rite was conducted with reverence and purity. The smoke of dragon’s-breath incense rose as though the myriad holy ones had descended together; moonlight fell softly as though a thousand perfected beings had gathered at the altar.

The ritual prayed for the Emperor’s lasting blessings and longevity, and for the enduring fortune of the state. Close attendants respectfully presented the prayers, while the chief ministers purified body and mind, gazing upward in blessing. Auspicious signs gathered, and grace spread without limit. May the dynasty endure, and may the lands in all eight directions under Heaven be united. We, your servants, were fortunate to carry out Daoist liturgy and take part in offering incense and observing the purification fast. We were served abundant offerings from the celestial kitchens, as if we had entered a cloud palace in the realm of immortals—an honor beyond measure. Your Majesty also bestowed on us money for clothing, silver vessels, silk, and other gifts. Your grace is as deep as the sea and your kindness as weighty as a mountain. Feeling ourselves as humble as cranes and swallows, we truly do not know how to repay Your Majesty’s generous favor. Our awe and gratitude are beyond words.

“Memorial of Thanks for the Imperial Favor on Appointment as Vice Minister of Revenue and Promotion in Rank and Nobility”: a memorial expressing thanks for the favor and for appointment as Vice Minister of Revenue, together with promotion in official rank and noble title.

Your subject, so-and-so, respectfully submits: By Your Majesty’s gracious decree, I have been granted the distinguished titles and offices of Grandee of Splendid Happiness, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Pillar of the State, Duke of Cai, and Master Guangcheng, among others. Your Majesty’s kindness is like the warm breeze of spring, and the imperial decree shines with radiance. I have received honors far beyond what I can bear, and, faced with such profound favor, scarcely know how to conduct myself. Your subject, so-and-so, bows deeply in gratitude.

I have heard that an enlightened ruler, seated above, must appoint people of ability, while worthy and gifted officials serving at court should devote themselves fully to their duties. Those who hold office at court must take moral principle as their foundation, and those who discuss the governance of the state must understand how to adapt to changing circumstances. They must assist their ruler above and fulfill their responsibilities as ministers below. One who holds office should do what the times require; if unable to benefit the people, one will surely be criticized for seeking only to please and pursuing an easy life. I am a person of shallow understanding and timid disposition. Though fortunate to have received the favor of an enlightened ruler, when I examine my own abilities and virtue, I truly dare not accept such exceptional favor.

Your Majesty has inaugurated a new era and inherited the Mandate of Heaven. Your brilliance surpasses the sun and moon, and your benevolence extends throughout heaven and earth. You have cleansed the world of its corruption, bringing peace and renewal to all under heaven. Your achievements are illustrious; the people are united, your teachings spread widely, and the realm submits to your authority. In a dream, Your Majesty sought out a hermit in the mountains, as King Wen of Zhou sought Lü Shang, the worthy minister who helped the Zhou rise to power. Your admiration for the high-minded recluses dwelling amid mist and waves foretells that you will gain worthy assistants. Loyal ministers of great merit support their ruler, and outstanding men emerge in response to their times. Those who assist the Crown Prince bring renewed brilliance to the state; those who loyally support the princes strengthen the foundations of the imperial house.

Your subject comes from the world of rivers and lakes, with little talent or learning. As a Confucian scholar, I did not even know how to achieve great things; as a Daoist, I can only resign myself to being an inept person who failed to paint a tiger convincingly. Moreover, I left the land of Wu many years ago, and have served the sacred dynasty for a long time. Though once far from the court, I often recalled the fortunate meeting between ruler and minister. For more than thirty years, I have received Your Majesty’s protection and nurture. Your kindness weighs like a mountain, and the depth of your recognition is like the sea. Your Majesty has made my withered life flourish anew and restored substance to my wasted bones. These favors may be called extraordinary, yet they are hard to match with anything I could offer in return for Your Majesty’s generosity.

My heart is therefore filled with sincerity and gratitude, and I am deeply mindful of the imperial favor. By day my spirit is shaken; at night I often wake in alarm. To repay Your Majesty’s kindness, I have yet to contribute even the smallest measure of my strength, while anxiety and fear already fill my breast. Now, at the founding of the new dynasty, when Your Majesty has only just assumed rule over all under heaven, you have bestowed upon me the Daoist honorific Master Guangcheng and appointed me to a distinguished office at court. I can offer no counsel to secure the peace of the state, nor do I have the ability to speak before you and illuminate your understanding. I judge that the honors I have enjoyed in my life already exceed what I deserve; to covet still more rank and title would be excessive. How could I dare accept further honors in the form of an esteemed office and exceptional distinction?

I have accepted the honorific Master Guangcheng, yet my virtue and ability as a member of the Daoist community are so slight. In the Han dynasty there was Dongfang Shuo, whose courtesy name was Manqian; in the Jin dynasty there was the man of Zhichuan. Yet I have never heard of anyone in antiquity who both held office in a distinguished and powerful bureau and repeatedly received such extraordinary ranks. Reflecting on this again and again, I am overcome with fear and unease; whether I advance or withdraw, I find it difficult to know how to conduct myself. In the presence of Your Majesty’s authority, I have had no opportunity to state my wish to decline in person. I can only earnestly discipline myself and strive to repay Your Majesty’s profound kindness for a long time to come. Your subject is filled with the utmost trepidation.

Your servant submits: By Your Majesty’s grace, whenever I have attended court, offered greetings, or presented congratulations, I have always stood in line alongside Daoist priests and Buddhist monks. Your Majesty has now issued a special decree that, from this day forward, I am to enter the hall alone to present my memorials and answer questions, no longer following the old practice of standing in line with the others. This distinction far exceeds the ordinary, and this favor is exceptionally generous. It comes from Your Majesty’s sacred will and grants me a singular honor among the Daoist community. I hold this profound kindness in my heart, though I scarcely feel worthy of it. I am both honored and apprehensive, and bow again and again.

Your Majesty is endowed with heavenly wisdom and bears the Mandate of Heaven, governing the realm with a heart that embraces Heaven and Earth and protects all living things. Like the sun and moon suspended in the sky, Your Majesty’s light shines in every direction. Your discernment is like a golden mirror, revealing even what is hidden and subtle. Your governance of the people is like the harmonious ordering of the four seasons, nurturing all things so that they flourish everywhere. Thus, Your Majesty’s benevolence extends throughout the land. With military achievement, Your Majesty has quelled disorder; with civil virtue, pacified distant regions and led the violent to reform and submit. The peoples of remote lands have all come to court to observe our customs and present tribute. Once the realm was settled, rites and music were established; once its achievements were secured, its ceremonies were brought to order. Your Majesty has revived the institutions neglected by the ancient sage kings and restored the laws and systems lost under successive emperors, adapting them to the times and acting with impartial fairness.

Whenever the assembled ministers attend court, Your Majesty sits upright in the hall, assisted by worthy counselors and surrounded by men of exceptional talent and virtue serving at court. The court’s rites, dress, and ceremonial retinue are splendid in this age and worthy to match those of antiquity. Daoist priests, clad in cloud-patterned robes and feathered garments, look up at Your Majesty from below the hall steps and offer their blessings in unison. Buddhist monks, wearing their monastic robes, stand within the palace and respectfully present their congratulations. In the past, I always stood in line with the others. Simply being allowed to meet Your Majesty already felt like an extraordinary honor for someone of my humble, rustic origins.

Now Your Majesty has shown me special favor and changed the former protocol. Though I am a Daoist priest, I also hold an official post and a distinguished rank: I first served in the Northern Secretariat and was later transferred to the Southern Department. Your Majesty has expressly commanded that, when I present matters, I am not to stand in line with Buddhist monks and Daoist priests, but am instead to be summoned for an audience alone, thereby displaying exceptional favor.

In the past, the state of Wei valued those who yielded with humility, and the Liang court honored recluses such as Tao Hongjing. The Han had Dongfang Shuo, and the Qin had Ziping. The ceremonies in those dynasties still followed the old precedents. Now Your Majesty has sent down a clear command from Heaven, establishing a great model for generations to come. When I consider my own insignificance, I can only feel apprehensive; knowing how limited my abilities are, I feel all the less able to bear Your Majesty’s grace, which falls like rain and dew. I can only devote myself wholly to loyalty and repay this profound kindness for the rest of my life. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

Your subject, so-and-so, respectfully submits: By Your Majesty’s special grace, an edict was issued allowing me to enter the court alone and present my memorial in audience. You also ordered the Historiography Office, which oversees the compilation of the state histories, to record this event in the official history. Your command came from within the palace, displaying an exceptional mark of favor; and since the event has been entered into a trustworthy history, this gracious favor will endure for generations. I humbly receive this great honor, overwhelmed with trepidation.

Your Majesty governs with sagacity, spreading merit and virtue far and wide. Your beneficence covers all things like Heaven and Earth, and shines in every direction like the sun and moon. Worthy and virtuous men enter the court to assist in governance, where many distinguished talents serve. The people of every community turn their hearts toward goodness, and precious tribute arrives from every region. Throughout the realm, people live in comfort and abundance, enjoying long lives and good health. All yearn for a peaceful realm governed through Wuwei (non-action), as though living in the land of Huaxu, the legendary ideal country. Thus the immortal islands of Penglai and the palaces of sacred fungi shine all the more brightly, while Buddhist temple gardens stand in solemn splendor. The Four Auspicious Creatures—the dragon, phoenix, qilin, and tortoise—appear as signs of good fortune; the six Qi of Heaven and Earth are in harmony, showing that Heaven bestows its blessings. Daoist and Confucian traditions flourish, and monks and scholars celebrate together.

I am an ordinary man, fortunate to live in this flourishing age. I have received an honored title and been appointed once more to a distinguished office. Your Majesty has also shown me the special favor of allowing me to enter the court alone and present my memorial in audience. Clad in Daoist robes, I obeyed the edict and walked straight into the hall, as if rising weightlessly into the clouds. Standing among the assembled officials, I looked back at my own shadow and almost wondered whether I had grown wings. Now this favor has also been entered into the state history and proclaimed throughout the realm. Such extraordinary grace will be recorded in the enduring annals. I have always been dull and shallow, and cannot bear the depth of Your Majesty’s kindness. Though I am insignificant, how could I repay a beneficence as vast as Heaven and Earth? I can only cultivate myself with reverence and strive with diligence, in gratitude for Your Majesty’s sagacious rule. I am overcome with trepidation.

Memorial of Congratulations on the Yellow Clouds

I respectfully observe that Zhao Wengui, Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, submitted the following memorial: On the twenty-third of this month, the Emperor went to Dexian Tower to review the soldiers. The Crown Prince was returning to the city from the horse-reviewing tent south of the walls. At the hour of You, between five and seven in the evening, two yellow clouds appeared above the city wall, shaped like canopies of the kind used in imperial processions. Before long, they turned purple.

I have consulted the records of antiquity. When Yao was born, yellow clouds often hung over him; during Shun’s rule, yellow clouds often gathered in the sky. When Emperor Xuan of Han went to Ganquan Palace, purple clouds entered the hall; when Emperor Shizu of Song ascended the throne, purple clouds appeared above the Duan Gate as well. The Yellow Emperor once used auspicious clouds to distinguish official ranks. Now, Your Majesty’s virtue has moved Heaven, and auspicious signs have appeared in the sky. The people of the central lands and the distant frontier regions alike look up to you, while the mountains and seas of the Four Quarters join in praise.

I respectfully offer my congratulations to Your Majesty. You embody the Great Dao and have received the Mandate of Heaven; you were born with sage-like wisdom. Your benevolence extends to all things, and your kindness reaches throughout the realm. You spread the civilizing influence of culture among distant peoples and use military strategy to awe fierce enemies. The central lands have not yet been pacified, and the people and all living things still lack peace. Measures to quell the disorder must therefore be taken, to rescue the people from hardship. Once the military order is issued, the campaign turns south against the enemy; once the city gates open, the fighting is swept away to the north. The warships are sturdy, their masts tower high, and the naval forces are as fearsome as dragons. The land forces take up spears sharp as frost and halberds white as snow, and march in formation. Their might shakes mountains and rivers; they move as swiftly as thunder and lightning. Their benevolence and their resolve to expand the realm go hand in hand, enough to bring order to all under Heaven.

Your Majesty then commanded the Crown Prince to train the Six Armies and renew the commands governing the troops. The warriors who dare to charge into the enemy ranks and shield the chariots have ambitions that soar to the clouds; the soldiers strong enough to pull up mountains and lift great bronze vessels have hearts that reach from the sun to the moon. All are steadfast as metal and stone, loyal and valiant. They truly accord with Heaven’s will, and so the divine auspice bestowed by the spirits has indeed appeared: two clouds of Qi rose in a swirling ascent, then gathered in orderly formation, creating a wondrous shape like branches of gold and leaves of jade. High above the imperial seat, the clouds turned purple and took the shape of flowers; lower down, they joined the walls of the imperial city. At first they resembled a cloud shading a ritual cauldron; gradually they gathered into a hue like that of a mountain pass close at hand. This shows that Heaven lends its support and protection, and that the Emperor’s virtue has reached the ears of Heaven.

This auspicious sign surpasses the omens of the eras of Tang Yao and Yu Shun, and outshines the signs that answered the virtue of the Song founder and Emperor Xuan of Han. From this day forward, may guests from every quarter submit, and may the institutions and rites of the realm be brought into unity. May Your Majesty’s sacred years be long, and the state’s great enterprise endure forever. I have received Your Majesty’s favor in abundance, and have now witnessed such auspicious signs in succession. I therefore venture to compose a poem to express my sincerity, following the people’s way of singing praise to extol Your Majesty’s sacred virtue, and respectfully submit it here.

Memorial by He Yachuan on the Presentation of a White Magpie

We respectfully observe that Li Yantao, a resident of Chongshan Ward in Duogong District, Yandao County, caught a white magpie in a camphor tree and presented it to the court. The Qi of the Five Phases has revealed an auspicious sign, foretelling that the state is in a time of flourishing prosperity. Civil and military officials alike look upon it with reverence and celebrate the emperor’s blessing from Heaven. I, your servant, humbly offer my congratulations.

I have heard that a ruler must uphold proper distinctions and establish moral instruction, follow Heaven’s will, overcome violence, and put an end to killing in order to comfort the people. Thus rare trees and birds come to court. The white magpie’s frost-white feathers are striking, and its dark green feet are wondrous to behold. It folds its wings and displays its form; to say only that it resembles the auspicious birds of the Han and Wei periods would not do justice to its distinction. Its cries announce good fortune, and its flight shows that it has come to serve the enlightened emperor of our age.

Your Majesty’s auspicious signs surpass those of rulers throughout history, and your achievements exceed those of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. You bring harmony to the order of Heaven and Earth and make the winds and rains timely. Like a bright mirror, you illuminate the darkness and bring clarity to the realm. Your grace nourishes all regions and restores the foundations of Heaven and Earth; your radiance shines upon the land like the sun and moon newly risen in the sky. The people no longer merely seek a bare livelihood, as in the Han era, but enjoy peaceful and prosperous lives like the people of Emperor Yao’s time. They sing of abundant harvests, and all things thrive under the peace of the age.

Moreover, Your Majesty commands a great host of valiant soldiers. The camps are orderly and the armor gleams. You have subdued evil forces and swept away abuses, while comforting the weak and caring for orphans. When the army sets out, its drums thunder and its banners darken the sky. At your command, heroes rise in response; through your beneficence, the weary, sick, and suffering are restored. The Five Planets move in auspicious courses, the people of the Four Seas are settled through moral instruction, and the winds and waves subside. Thus the mountains and rivers reveal auspicious signs, and birds come to announce good fortune. This white magpie left its nest by the sea and came to the palace among the clouds. When its jade cage was opened, it showed its snow-white feathers; yet on seeing the imperial gardens, it did not take fright and flee. Instead, it flew before Your Majesty as if dancing with joy. It flitted among the splendid steps and perched beside the pearl curtains. Its white feathers can scarcely be distinguished from snow, while its song has already become familiar.

It is neither the magpie said to build a bridge nor a flock of birds circling a tree. Its snowball-like form proclaims an auspicious sign and truly reflects the state’s flourishing prosperity. Surely before long, weapons will be laid down, treachery swept away, and beacon fires extinguished at the borders, so that all under Heaven may enjoy lasting peace. Disorder within the realm, too, will subside. This is the result of Your Majesty’s cultivation of the world through the De of the West. Your Majesty’s might and De truly surpass those of the Wei state and even those of the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han.

Fortunate to have encountered a flourishing age, I have repeatedly witnessed extraordinary auspicious signs. I therefore offer words of praise and respectfully submit them for Your Majesty’s consideration. I have composed and presented one poem, “In Praise of the Sage Emperor’s De and in Commemoration of Auspicious Signs.” I have presumptuously brought this matter before Your Majesty and disturbed you; I am filled with trepidation.

I have seen the image of auspicious grain with joined ears presented by Cui Shanjin, Retainer of the Tiance Army. It depicts auspicious grain discovered by Wang Youtian, a commoner of Shehong County: two stalks grew in separate fields, yet their ears joined together. The sacred Virtue of Your Majesty has spread far and wide, and auspicious signs have appeared one after another. All within and beyond the court rejoice and marvel.

I have consulted the illustrated records of auspicious omens, which state: “Auspicious grain is a fine portent. When the harvest is abundant and the ruler’s Virtue is deep, with its blessings reaching the earth, two stalks will flourish together.” In the past, Tang Shu received auspicious grain. Though the stalks grew in separate plots, their ears joined together. King Cheng of Zhou asked the Duke of Zhou, “Do two stalks joining as one ear signify that all under Heaven will be united in harmony?” King Cheng then ordered Tang Shu to compose the “Auspicious Grain” chapter. Thereafter, the Nine Provinces came together and the four quarters submitted to civilizing influence; distant lands, too, sent treasures and tribute in succession. Thus the Zhou founded a legacy lasting thirty generations and a dynasty enduring seven hundred years, whose glory has outshone that of the Xia and Shang and illuminated all ages.

Now, under Your Majesty’s enlightened rule, this auspicious sign has appeared once more. Your Majesty inherits the sacred Virtue of the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan and carries forward the vast foundations of the Zhou kings. In accord with Heaven’s mandate, You rule all under Heaven and govern the Chinese lands and the peoples of the four quarters. You are reverent and frugal, with no attachment to music or wine; sacred and martial in wisdom, You discern affairs clearly and listen widely to the people’s concerns. You have exalted martial Virtue, first punishing rebellion and swiftly sweeping away treachery. You have also spread civilizing teachings, quickly pacifying the Rong and Qiang, who have submitted and brought tribute. Concerned for the people and attentive to farming, You have secured abundant harvests year after year, while the fields have been spared both drought and flood. Your Virtue and blessings reach the earth, and so two stalks flourish together; Heaven responds to Your influence, and so grain from separate fields has indeed joined ears.

This auspicious sign accords with the omen that appeared when the Sacred Ancestor revived the Zhou, and it foretells Your Majesty’s achievements in expanding the realm. In the past, auspicious grain symbolized the harmony of Heaven and Earth and the unification of all under Heaven. Now Your Majesty will bring all lands into unity. Moreover, the imperial army is currently setting out to punish the rebels, resolved to pacify the people and relieve their suffering. The court’s authority has already struck fear in distant lands, while auspicious signs have first appeared nearby. May Your Majesty regard all under Heaven with benevolence, attain victory, and forever dispel the darkness of disorder, so that the world may see the light again and an auspicious omen appear like the Zhou divinations. May the hopes of the people across the four seas be fulfilled, and may all under Heaven be united in harmony, like the auspicious grain received by Tang Shu.

I respectfully gaze upon this image of an auspicious sign and join in praising Your Majesty’s Virtue and the portent. May these words be included in the collected songs, and may I have the honor of joining Tang Shu in composing a piece that extols the auspicious grain. I respectfully present this poem in praise of Your Majesty’s Virtue and the joined ears of auspicious grain.

Your humble servant has respectfully read the imperial edict stating that Your Majesty intends to travel in person to the military camps on the northern route. I have heard that touring the realm and reviewing accomplishments are practices recorded in the ritual classics, while punishing the wicked and subduing rebels are rites observed throughout the state. These acts spread benevolence across a region, bring the feudal lords to submit to the court, eliminate disorder, and reassure the people.

The rebels in the Bin and Qi region are foolish and obstinate, and have long defied the right way. They will surely be subdued before long; they hardly warrant Your Majesty riding in a war chariot to travel far into the enemy’s lair. We, your servants, are filled with concern and are deeply alarmed and perplexed to hear of this.

Your Majesty’s civil governance surpasses that of Yu the Great, and your military achievements exceed those of King Wu of Zhou. You punish wrongdoing with laws as clear and stern as autumn frost, yet also extend blessings that nurture all things like the spring. Upholding justice and practicing trustworthiness, you have transformed the whole realm, and its customs have come into accord. Only the lands around Long and Wei remain beyond this influence, like a cold valley cut off from the warmth of the sun, or a place in shadow that stands apart beneath its light. The rebels rely on their ant-hill-sized mound and call it secure; like swallows nesting between curtains, they seek only to survive for a little while.

Now the commander has been ordered to lead the campaign, and a powerful army is about to advance. With Your Majesty’s careful strategy as well, the roots of the rebellion will surely be torn out completely. I privately consider that the lands along the Han River and around Baochuan are in the depths of winter, covered in frost and snow, with steep plank roads that are difficult to climb. There is no need to use a crossbow of a thousand jun to shoot at small fish or flies; nor is an isolated city with its ruined walls worth summoning the majesty of an imperial expedition.

I earnestly ask Your Majesty to take our feelings into consideration and issue a special order rescinding the decision to lead the campaign in person. Await the army’s victory, and thus govern China and the peoples of the frontier for a long time to come. I have dared to offend Your Majesty’s dignity; my heart trembles with fear, and my concern is urgent. With reverence, I have come to the palace gate to submit this memorial.

Second Memorial

I, your subject, humbly note the court’s decree: the emperor will travel to the northern military camp. The Crown Prince, chief ministers, and officials have submitted a memorial asking the emperor to change his itinerary, but their request has not yet been granted.

Inspecting the regions and learning about their customs was a ritual practice in antiquity; personally visiting the troops expresses a ruler’s fatherly compassion. Yet the roads are now perilous, and the cold makes travel by land and water difficult. Subjects both near and far are deeply concerned.

I humbly believe that Your Majesty possesses the benevolence and generosity of Emperor Yao, and surpasses Emperor Shun in discernment and prudence. I hope that all the people under Heaven may enjoy the civilizing influence of peace and harmony. Qianlong, near the frontier in what is now Shaanxi, has long broken its alliance and betrayed the court’s kindness and good faith. Those who understand the situation and are willing to submit have already bowed in loyalty. Those who still cannot discern the proper course from the wrong continue to shut their ears and reassure themselves, leaving the people of the region burdened by years of resentment. Some resist the rightful order like dogs barking at Emperor Yao; others admire Emperor Shun and long to submit, but have no means to do so.

The court therefore bestowed on the general of the Jiang clan the tally and battle-axe that symbolize command of the troops, and put the army in order. An altar was raised to appoint the commander in chief, and the troops were sworn in before setting out. Orders were swiftly issued, and the soldiers’ momentum surged like a sudden downpour. The senior generals are renowned for their authority and steadfast in purpose. They have set a deadline for conquering the enemy and will surely restore order. Why must Your Majesty personally ride in a carriage adorned with kingfisher feathers and direct the campaign with a white-feather fan in hand? The six dragons and eight horses would have to gallop along perilous plank roads, while thousands of cavalrymen and officials would journey far beyond ranges of towering mountains. Frost and snow are upon us, and bitter cold is near. I implore Your Majesty to take the people’s concerns to heart and postpone this tour of inspection. In this way, the state and its altars of soil and grain will be secured above, and the people of the Central Plains and the frontier will be comforted below. We await the news of victory and the expansion of our territory.

I have received Your Majesty’s profound favor and esteem, and am all the more grateful for Your Majesty’s discernment and sincerity. My memorial has affronted the dignity of the court, leaving me fearful and unsettled. I earnestly hope Your Majesty will show mercy; my plea is most urgent.

Memorial of Thanks for the Imperial Gift to Zhang Qian, the Great Master Hongyi of Xing Sheng Monastery, for His Construction Project

I, your humble servant, reverently receive the Emperor’s gracious decree, which commands that the repair and administration of Xing Sheng Monastery, a Daoist temple, be entrusted to the Eminent Master Zhang Qian. The favor comes from the Emperor’s sacred will, and its honor reaches the Daoist community. The Daoists rejoice in celebration, and even the plants and trees within the monastery seem brighter for it. I bow to express my gratitude for imperial grace.

Your Majesty’s De (Virtue and Power) is comparable to that of the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan, and your sagacity to that of Emperor Yao. Your thoughts dwell on Mount Gushe, the legendary abode of immortals, and in dreams you travel to the realm of Huaxu, the legendary land of perfection. You care for Daoism, whose principles accord with the work of bringing relief to the world. You govern the spirits through Wuwei (non-action), while entrusting your intentions to those who cultivate De and act with purpose. Your rule of clarity and stillness benefits the state and its people.

The halls of Xing Sheng Monastery have now fallen into disrepair, and dust has settled over the divine images. Therefore, Your Majesty issued a gracious decree ordering the monastery to be restored. Its grounds lie near Yuqing, the celestial realm where revered Daoist deities dwell. Long ago, this place was a center of Daoist learning; it was later rebuilt as the Hall of Zhenyuan and also called the Palace of Purple Polarity. During the Zhìdé era, it was renamed Xing Sheng Monastery. The monastery faces a major road, with the Jin River nearby to the east. Its scenery resembles an immortal realm, and it is indeed a place of great beauty. Its gates and courtyards are complete, and its divine images are solemn and well preserved. It is truly a vestige of immortals from earlier ages and a blessed place in the capital.

The monastery has now been restored. Impure offerings have been cleared away, and dust swept from its shadowy, narrow spaces so that the divine images may once again be seen. Tiles and stones have been cleared from overgrown ground, and a new jade altar has been built for Daoist rites. Rain and dew nourish the grounds, and the trees grow more luxuriantly. As aloeswood, musk, and other incense are offered in the fire, the rites take on a solemn calm. Zhang Qian and the others have devoted themselves to overseeing the restoration and have guarded the monastery with care and diligence. At dawn and dusk, bells and chimes are sounded in prayer for Your Majesty’s long life; morning and evening, incense and lamps are offered in prayer for the dynasty’s enduring prosperity. I, your humble servant, am fortunate to belong to the Daoist community and to have personally received imperial grace. My gratitude is beyond measure.

Memorial of Gratitude for the Imperial Gift of a Small Bell for the Government Hall

By imperial decree, I, your humble servant, have received as a gift a small bell from before the government hall, to be placed in the eastern courtyard and struck during Zhaijiao (Daoist purification and sacrificial rites). Imperial grace descends as if from the highest heavens, and its honor reaches the Daoist community. I rejoice in this good fortune, yet do not know how to express it. To have personally received the Emperor’s favor is an immense honor, and my gratitude is beyond measure.

Memorial of Gratitude for the Imperial Gift of a Small Bell for the Government Hall

I was blessed by the Emperor’s gracious decree with a bell for use before the main hall of the Riyuan, to be struck during Zhaijiao (purification rituals). Your favor reaches to the clouds, and its honor rests upon this minister’s robes and cap. I danced with joy in worship, yet do not know how to express my gratitude; my heart overflows with glory.

Your Majesty’s benevolence, like Heaven and Earth encompassing all and the sun, moon, and stars illuminating the world, extends without limit and benefits all things. Thus the waves across the four seas have calmed, and the menace of fierce whales will be driven away in this prosperous age; the Five Planets move in their proper courses, and the vast comet will fade into the long night. Your Majesty has pacified the four quarters and laid aside weapons, while also cherishing the sacred heart and favoring Daoism, bringing communion to the grotto realms and prompting the numinous immortals to manifest auspicious signs. Your Majesty should enjoy longevity equal to that of the sun, moon, and stars, and the fortunes of the realm should flourish like Heaven, Earth, mountains, and seas.

Now Your Majesty has taken thought for the temple under my care, where the frames for hanging bells and stone chimes are still incomplete. At every Zhaijiao ceremony, we still lack the deep, resonant sound of a bell. Without ritual instruments that reach the divine and the perfected, the liturgy cannot be brought to completion. Your Majesty has bestowed a bell whose sound once rang above the jade steps, and brought to the human world the clear, cool tones that echo among the lofty peaks. This gift surpasses the honor of bestowing music in general, and the grace of receiving a bell is especially great. I shall long burn fragrant herbs such as lingzhi and atractylodes, pray to the perfected spirits, and seek the descent of auspicious blessings in response to Your Majesty’s favor. I reverently accept the bell amid burning incense, overwhelmed with gratitude.

“Memorial of Gratitude for the Imperial Gift to the Jade Bureau of a Statue of the Elder Lord”: Acknowledging imperial favor in bestowing the Elder Lord for worship at the Jade Bureau Temple.

Your servant respectfully submits: I have reverently received the Emperor’s gracious edict and learned that he has ordered the stone image of the Old Lord to be moved from the old entrance to Yujudong and enshrined in the western chamber beneath the pavilion of the Imperial Portrait Hall at Longxing Abbey. He has also bestowed a stone dwelling, to be dismantled, moved, and rebuilt within the abbey, and granted funds for a purification ritual. He commanded the Daoist community to lead the image back to the abbey with banners and flowers, and to hold a ceremony of celebration and praise. The Emperor’s grace reaches far and wide; the Daoist tradition is thereby given new luster, the streets and markets take on a fresh appearance, and laypeople and monastics alike share in the joy.

Your servant bows and gives thanks for the Emperor’s grace. Your Majesty follows the Great Dao in governing the realm, allowing the people to live in peace and all things to transform and flourish naturally. You promote the principles of clarity, stillness, and Wuwei (non-action), and bring about subtle transformations without claiming credit for them. The realm is already at peace, and the work of unification is soon to be accomplished. Your Majesty has placed the sacred image of the Mysterious Origin, the Old Lord, near the palace precincts. Incense offerings have been maintained without interruption, and now the sacred image has been welcomed back to a Daoist abbey, restoring its worship to a fitting Daoist setting. Your Majesty therefore issued a clear decree and provided abundant offerings for the purification ritual. Sandalwood was burned, its fragrance wafting through the air; banners and standards stood in rows. As gongs and jade chimes rang out, the procession had barely left the palace gate before it swept like clouds and wind into the halls of Longxing Abbey. All looked up at the sacred image and joined the procession in celebration. Acclamations of praise and joy rose like thunder, while crowds gathered like mist to pray for Your Majesty’s blessings, longevity, and sagely wisdom.

Your servant and the Daoist community have been able to abide in the teachings of the Great Dao and have repeatedly received profound kindness. We will surely continue our diligent practice for years to come, in gratitude for Your Majesty’s generosity. My heart is filled with gratitude beyond what words can express.

Memorial Celebrating the Recovery of Longzhou

I, your subject, respectfully submit this report: Sang Jian, military governor of Longzhou at the northern front, has led his subordinate soldiers and surrendered the city. Longzhou has thus been recovered. Your Majesty’s far-reaching strategy has been widely put into effect, and the generals who have won great merit have devoted themselves fully in your service. As soon as the army set out, it recovered this fortified city.

I offer my congratulations to Your Majesty. Your Majesty’s sagacity surpasses that of the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan, and your might exceeds that of King Wu of Zhou. You plan your campaigns with such skill that every move succeeds; you assess powerful enemies and never misjudge your deployments. The enemy betrayed the Way around Mount Qi and broke their pact beyond the passes. They gravely violated the rites of friendship and good relations, abruptly severing the harmony between neighboring states. Relying on a single wolfish army and the territory of three prefectures, they imagined themselves secure. Yet they were like birds nesting in broken reeds, or men sitting on a pile of firewood while calling themselves safe. The Spring and Autumn Annals condemns the weak who refuse to honor the strong.

Thus, men of principle glared with anger, and strategists wrung their hands in frustration. Everyone longed to crush the enemy, so the army took the field. The Six Armies pressed forward with courage, while the Eight Battalions quietly rallied their spirits. The troops swept across the land and were poised to capture Mount Wuyue; the warhorses were about to drink from the Wei River. Sang Jian adapted to the changing circumstances and clearly discerned where allegiance lay. He turned his forces around and offered the tally and jade token as a sign of submission, surrendering in good faith. He yielded a thousand li of mountains and rivers without a single soldier or blade being deployed; an entire region’s households and population were restored to the registers without the slightest loss of life.

The court then redirected its forces and brought the enemy’s followers under control. The enemy now seems to have nowhere left to flee: the road through Huizhong is cut off, leaving no way back. If they look behind them toward Bashang, where can they hide and escape? They will likely be captured before long. May the realm extend across the Eight Rivers and Three Mountains and remain united for ages, with the Nine Provinces and Four Seas under one rule. May the calendar of Emperor Shun be promulgated in every region, and all lands be included within the borders marked out by King Yu. I am fortunate to live in a flourishing age and have witnessed one great victory after another; my heart is filled with joy.

“Memorial Presenting a Portrait of the Perfected Zhang on the Longevity Festival”: A memorial accompanying the presentation of a portrait of the Perfected Zhang on the Longevity Festival. Eighth day of the second month, first year of Tianhan.

Your servant humbly submits: the dynasty’s foundations shine brightly and endure, and Heaven has sent down auspicious signs. The North Star, symbol of the emperor, gleams with radiance; iridescent light flashes forth, heralding the birth of a wise and enlightened ruler. The Jade Balance of the Northern Dipper sends out purple lightning, gathering the luminous essence of good fortune. The people of all nations rejoice and look up in admiration; hearts are stirred with delight. I humbly pray that Your Majesty receive the numinous energies of Heaven and Earth and gather the auspicious signs of the nine heavens. Your virtuous influence extends throughout Heaven and Earth, pure and solemn, and is sufficient to move spirits and gods.

You have established a grand foundation, worthy to stand alongside the flourishing Zhou dynasty. You will usher in four hundred years of prosperity, surpassing the Han dynasty in the length of its reign. Your benevolence nourishes both Confucianism and the Daoist tradition, while a gentle breeze reaches across China and the lands beyond. Now, at this great festival celebrating Your Majesty’s birthday, treasures from every region have gathered in abundance. Envoys from distant lands have crossed seas and mountains to present gifts and convey their congratulations.

Together with the Daoist priests of this monastery, I have respectfully swept and prepared the magnificent ritual altar. Following rites transmitted in secret, we have recited Daoist scriptures and unrolled precious scrolls. We have observed solemn purification and cleansed body and mind, offering prayers with reverent hearts that blessings between Heaven and Earth may increase without end.

The Perfected One Jiànshèng once honored the Daoist Patriarch as his teacher and personally received numinous and wondrous scriptures. He passed down the true formulas he had been endowed with and kept precious Daoist writings safe in a blessed land. Long ago, he foresaw the dynasty’s flourishing and understood the subtle workings of the Mystery. Song Gong foresaw the rise of Emperor Gaozu, the Divine Yao of the Tang; Tao Hongjing, known as Master Zhenbai, likewise foresaw the affairs of Emperor Wu of Liang. Yet the insight of the Perfected One Jiànshèng surpassed theirs so greatly that they cannot be compared. I have therefore specially commissioned portraits and silk banners for people to behold, hoping that through the burning of incense and prayer, auspicious fortune and blessings may be carried forward.

I presume to submit this memorial to Heaven’s hearing and offer my congratulations to Your Majesty. My heart is sincere and reverent, yet filled with trepidation. I now respectfully send the portrait and several related objects of merit to the palace gate for presentation to Your Majesty, and await your instructions.

Memorial of Thanks from Huang Wanyou and Deng Baijing upon Receiving Purple Robes and Master Titles

Your servant respectfully read the gracious edict and learned that Huang Wanyou, a Daoist priest of Kuizhou, has been granted a purple robe—the garment bestowed by the court upon Daoist priests—and a master title. I respectfully offer my thanks to Your Majesty. I have already sent the portrait and related objects of merit to the palace gate for presentation to Your Majesty, and await your instructions.

I respectfully read the Emperor’s gracious edict: Huang Wanyou, a Daoist from Kuizhou, was granted a purple robe and the honorific title of Master; Deng Baijing, a Daoist from Luojiang County, was granted a purple robe. The Emperor rules the realm with sage-like authority, and his sacred merit extends to all things. The court is supported by worthy ministers, while among the people no talent goes unrecognized. The people throughout the realm have turned their hearts toward the court—a fitting sign of an enlightened age.

Your servant respectfully submits this expression of gratitude. Huang Wanyou and the others have long lived in seclusion in the mountains and forests, keeping company with deer and elk, dwelling deep among cliffs and tangled vines, and seeking neither fame nor profit. Some refine elixirs to aid the people, with the ability to restore health and delay aging; others write vermilion Fulu (talismans and registers) to drive away evil influences, dispelling demons and averting calamity. These are manifestations of the efficacy of the Daoist arts, and they also quietly support an age of good governance. Now, having received the court’s summons, they have come to the capital to pay their respects. Huang Wanyou traveled from the area around Jinshui, while Deng Baijing came from Luojiang. Together they receive the Emperor’s grace, as if bathed in the beneficence of Yao and Shun, and are thereby honored. A survey of the histories of past dynasties reveals few precedents to match this.

I respectfully submit that Your Majesty’s Dao and De surpass those of Tang Yao, and your achievements exceed those of the Yellow Emperor, Xuanyuan. In ancient times, Emperor Yao contemplated the Dao on the banks of the Fen River, yet remained far from the palace; when the Yellow Emperor sought instruction from Guangchengzi on Mount Tong, he had to travel there himself. Now Your Majesty has honored worthy men with a reed-woven carriage, and they too have come by boat, leaving their mist-shrouded mountain forests to appear in person before the Emperor. Your Majesty has bestowed distinguished titles upon them and granted them ceremonial robes as well, ensuring that their honor is recorded in the histories and bringing distinction to Daoists wearing hairpins and crowns or plain robes. My gratitude is beyond what I can express.

“Liu and yi” refers to the Emperor’s crown and screen, and here stands for the Emperor. A “reed carriage” was the ceremonial vehicle used in antiquity to recruit worthy men. “Vermilion seals” refers to Fulu written in red ink.

I, your servant, submit this report: I have respectfully received the imperial decree and, under its command, went to the Inner Privy Council to meet the Great Master of Promoting the Dao, Huang Wanyou. Your Majesty’s kindness is profound, extending care even to a person as insignificant as your servant. I am grateful for your favor, and filled with awe and honor; my heart can scarcely bear such grace.

Your Majesty transforms the world through the Dao and governs with a commitment to benevolence. Your concern reaches across all lands and leaves nothing unattended. Thus, even the eminent who dwell in mountain forests approach the court with reverence, and those who cultivate the Dao, proud and apart from the common world, understand the proper rites of audience at court. The Great Master of Promoting the Dao has long pursued the profound arts of the Dao and lived in seclusion among high mountains and rocky caves. Though his reputation is known, few have seen his face. Now, summoned to appear, he has come directly to court, set aside his garments of grass and lotus leaves, and received a purple robe and a Daoist title. This event deserves a place in the histories and brings honor to the Daoist tradition.

By imperial decree, your servant was granted an audience with the Master. Through Your Majesty’s discerning recognition and commendation, I was also able to behold his cloud-and-crane-like bearing. It was as though I had left the dusty world for the gourd-heaven, the Daoist paradise, and climbed to Penglai Island, the legendary immortal isle in the sea. I respectfully accept this special favor, which brings honor to all beings. Yet I am as tiny as a wren: how could I repay a kindness as vast as Heaven and Earth? Your servant is humbled and uneasy.

“Memorial Presented to the Jade Bureau at the Jiao Ritual Held at Longxing Abbey”

Your servant previously received Your Majesty’s gracious command… [Here the text repeats the earlier passage beginning “the gourd-heaven, and climbed to Penglai Island…”] …Your servant is humbled and uneasy.

“Memorial Presented to the Jade Bureau at the Jiao Ritual Held at Longxing Abbey”

In the tenth month of this year, on the twenty-second day, I received the Emperor’s gracious gift of an old official residence at the entrance to Yuju Cave, together with a stone statue of Lord Lao. A building has now been completed on the lecture hall’s foundation behind the main hall of this monastery. The stone statue of Lord Lao has been placed there, where incense is burned and cultivation practiced, and offerings are made in his honor.

Under the established rites, the twenty-four sacred sites among the famous mountains and great rivers—Daoist temples and holy places for worship and cultivation—should hold sacrifices in both spring and autumn. I respectfully request that the regular Zhaijiao rites at Yujuhua begin on the eighth day of the second month of the first year of Tianhan. The authorities of this prefecture and county will proceed reverently to Longxing Monastery and establish an altar before the stone statue of Lord Lao at Yuju. May this prevent any interruption in the sacrifices and accord with the rites of honoring the spirits and revering the Dao.

Furthermore, Beimaohua is located in Junzhou, where Zhaijiao rites and prayers have been discontinued for many years. Since it lies within the realm, it too should be included among the sacrificial sites in accordance with the statutes. From now on, therefore, Beimaohua is also to hold Zhaijiao rites at Longxing Monastery together with Yujuhua. May this invite the spirits to bestow blessings and protect the sacred dynasty for generations to come. I respectfully submit these matters and await the Emperor’s decree.

Memorial on the Emperor’s Establishment of a Purification Rite for the Crown Prince’s Birthday

Your servant respectfully carries out the imperial decree. In celebration of the Crown Prince’s birthday, the court has granted sixty strings of cash from the estate and residence treasury to arrange a purification ritual at the Northern Emperor’s Temple. Twenty-one Daoist practitioners have been selected to establish a Yellow Register ritual altar on the eighth day of the seventh month. The ritual will continue for seven days and nights, with the purification fast concluding on the fifteenth.

Your servant believes that purple Qi fills the palace, and that the Crown Prince was born in the Green Palace, his residence. The whole country rejoices, glad voices resound across the four seas, and happiness fills the deep palace. People throughout the realm offer their sincere congratulations. Your Majesty’s benevolence reaches throughout the court, within and beyond, and Your Majesty shows concern for the ministers. The Crown Prince has always been diligent in spiritual cultivation and mindful of frugality. Concerned that needless expenditures would exhaust the people’s strength, he once ordered every bureau to keep any purification rituals and cultivation ceremonies simple and economical.

Now Your Majesty has specially allocated funds and goods from the inner treasury to establish an altar at a Daoist sanctuary, praying that the perfected ones in the Jade Capital and Golden Palaces—the heavenly palaces of Daoist teaching—will protect the Crown Prince and increase the blessings of the imperial palace’s southern quarter. The excellence of this ceremony surpasses what is recorded in the ceremonial classics, and its splendor exceeds the precedents of antiquity. Your servant is honored to carry out the decree and offer incense and prayers. Witnessing Your Majesty renew this benevolence and set forth such a grand example fills your servant with joy. I respectfully submit this memorial in celebration.

Memorial for Yellow Register Purification Rituals at the Various Temples of Lord Lao.

I, your servant, respectfully carry out the imperial decree. At the Northern Emperor’s Court, I make offerings to the Most High Lord Lao and conduct a three-day Yellow Register Daoist ritual, a Daoist purification rite seeking blessings for the state and all living beings and warding off calamity. After the offerings and rites are completed, the altar will be dismantled. The court has allocated sixty strings of cash from the Inner Estates Treasury and exempted twenty-one members of the Daoist community from labor service. They must perform the rites and repentances conscientiously, with utmost reverence and purity.

Your Majesty’s achievements rival those of the Five Emperors, and your virtue surpasses that of the Three Sovereigns. Seated in repose, you govern according to the Dao and transform the realm through the quiet virtue of Wuwei (non-action). Your sacred heart resonates with the mysterious Dao, and the myriad spirits respond unseen. Your far-reaching vision has drawn the people of the four seas to you, gathering like clouds to follow and honor you. Thus, Heaven and Earth are in harmony, the sun and moon shine brightly, harvests are abundant, and wind and rain arrive in season. Wherever your armies advance, fierce enemies are vanquished; wherever your benevolence reaches, drought demons that harm the people and lurking dragons that work mischief retreat. Accordingly, auspicious signs continue to appear in immortal mountains and secluded grottoes, while jade seals, bronze tallies, and other portents emerge from time to time.

Now Your Majesty seeks to relieve the realm’s crises, send forth troops to restore order, clear the four seas, and unite all under Heaven. Even so, Your Majesty remains sincerely devoted to the mysterious teachings and credits Heaven with these merits. During the Zhongyuan fasting period, fragrant flowers are prepared as offerings in the Three Pure Ones’ realms, and a Zhaijiao purification ritual is held to repay the sacred protection of the Most High Lord Lao and to inaugurate a Yellow Register Daoist ritual. May this bring abundant blessings, ensure lasting peace for the state, secure the dynasty’s foundations, and grant Your Majesty a long life.

I, your servant, have been fortunate to receive Your Majesty’s favor. I respectfully convey your will and can only offer my utmost sincerity, burning incense and praying with reverence. Overwhelmed by your gracious kindness, I am filled with awe.

By imperial command, I announce: the frontier has been pacified. I respectfully submit this memorial to express my gratitude.

Your servant respectfully received the imperial edict granting him permission to read the frontier reports from the northeastern army. The reports state that Wang Yanliu and other officers who surrendered from the Fengxiang region described conditions within the enemy forces. They also mention a rumor saying, “A song from the frontier of Tai awaits the coming year.”

Your servant believes that the Way of Heaven is profound and subtle, silently governing every kind of omen. The workings of the divine are hidden from view, yet they govern good fortune and auspiciousness. Rumors and songs often use such omens to convey signs of good fortune. In the time of Wu, a children’s rhyme circulated through the markets and was soon fulfilled by Wu’s fall. In the time of Chen, an unusual bird alighted on a high terrace, and this was later fulfilled by Chen’s destruction. The five planets falling from the sky foretold that Shun would receive the abdication and take the throne; a horse transforming into a dragon foretold Emperor Yuan’s rise to kingship. These events all arose from Heaven’s intent and resonated with the human heart.

On close examination, auspicious pronouncements ultimately point to the virtue of a sage ruler. I respectfully submit that Your Majesty inherited Heaven’s Mandate, was endowed with exceptional wisdom, and established the dynasty in accord with the times. Heeding the will of the countless people who support you, you rule all under Heaven; receiving Heaven’s favor and commission, you save the people. The nation’s treasures and auspicious omens will arrive without being sought, while rare tribute from distant peoples will be sent in eager succession.

Yet on the northern frontier there are still those who have turned their backs on benevolence, and an isolated city has forsaken righteousness. It is like sitting atop a pile of firewood, ready to be consumed in an instant, or like a reed about to snap and shatter. Now we see the divine giving signs through prophetic omens, while songs are being sung in the streets and lanes. I have privately heard what these songs proclaim, and from them have formed my judgment that the enemy forces can be subdued. The “frontier” in the song means the lands beyond the state’s San Pass. The phrase “A song from the frontier of Tai awaits the coming year” seems to foretell a military expedition and an auspicious sign from the divine. In light of this, the success and defeat of the enemy foretold by a song heralding a change of dynasty are close at hand. Soon the Three Qin regions will be pacified and the myriad states brought under rule, while the nation’s imperial charts and the dynastic enterprise endure securely for generations.

Your servant has been fortunate enough, through Your Majesty’s grace, to hear these auspicious words with his own ears. He therefore ventures to offer his humble opinion. His words have trespassed upon Your Majesty’s dignity, and he is filled with fear and unease.

“Memorial of Gratitude for the Imperial Grant of the Tianxi Abbey Estate”: A memorial thanking the emperor for issuing an edict granting the estate of Tianxi Abbey.

I, your servant, have received the emperor’s gracious command and been granted the Tang Youze estate at Tianshi Abbey in Tongji County, Hanzhou, as permanent property for the abbey’s use. Your Majesty has received Heaven’s mandate and governs the realm in step with the times. The empire’s great fortune was long ago ordained in Shangqing, the heavenly realm of Daoism, and auspicious decrees have now appeared on earth. Your Majesty has renovated the abbey buildings in response to these favorable signs. The divine images in the halls are solemn, and the incense and flowers offered throughout the year are pure and splendid. Now Your Majesty has specially bestowed favor on the abbey, granting it estate lands and setting aside fertile fields as permanent property. This profound imperial grace will further the flourishing of the Daoist teachings.

From now on, the food for the abbey’s daily offerings will have a reliable source, and there will be no need to seek it elsewhere. We can also burn incense and light candles morning and evening with greater focus in our prayers. We pray that Your Majesty’s sacred life may be long and that the empire’s fortune may endure in stability. I, your servant, have been fortunate to receive Your Majesty’s commendation and this special favor in person. My gratitude is beyond words.

Memorial of Thanks for the Imperial Order to Have the Monk Xingzhen Renovate Zhangren Abbey

I, your servant, respectfully report that I have heard of the memorial submitted by Master Huijin and the monk Xingzhen. By imperial command, they undertook the construction of the Hall of the Perfected Lord Zhangren on Mount Qingcheng, and the work is now complete. Your Majesty’s grace extends throughout the realm, and Your Majesty shows deep compassion to both Buddhism and Daoism. The Jetavana monasteries, as Buddhist temples are called, and the Penglai Isles, the fabled mountains of the immortals, have both received the benefit of renovation and adornment. The Deer Park, a name for a Buddhist sacred site, and the Palace of the Ao, a name for an immortal palace, have likewise been granted the favor of restoration. Now Your Majesty has specially appointed a high-ranking monk to oversee the building of the halls at this immortal sanctuary, completing their carving and refinement so that the halls stand in solemn splendor. This deep and magnificent hall has quickly been completed and will forever protect this blessed place. May the spirits of the Five Sacred Peaks and the Ten Grotto-Heavens protect Your Majesty, so that Your Majesty’s life may endure as long as Heaven. I, your servant, have been fortunate to dwell within the Daoist teachings and receive imperial grace in person. My gratitude is boundless.

Memorial on the Dispersal of the Purification Retreat for the Daoist Birthday Ritual Held for the Imperial Prince

I, your servant, respectfully report: the Nine Heavens have gathered blessings, and the three luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars—have formed auspicious signs. The palace’s pivot has turned and released its radiance; auspiciousness has descended upon the Eastern Palace, the residence of the imperial prince, granting it an outstanding and worthy heir. I, your servant, have been fortunate to dwell within the Daoist teachings and receive imperial grace in person. My gratitude is boundless.

I, your subject, respectfully believe that the Nine Heavens have sent down blessings, and the sun, moon, and stars have gathered auspicious radiance. Their light shines upon the Pivot Hall, while graceful auspices descend upon the Spring Palace. The people of China and of the four quarters rejoice, and the countless millions celebrate together.

The Emperor has generously bestowed wealth and devoutly held a purification rite to pray for blessings. May the Most High Heaven, revered in Daoism, look kindly upon this devotion and grant the sovereign a life without end. May the Supreme Dao bestow blessings upon the heir, showering him with myriad auspicious signs, so that the nation’s great inheritance may flourish and the Emperor may rule the world forever.

We, your subjects, have been fortunate to do our utmost in burning incense and observing the purification rite. We have received imperial favor and gifts of wealth; our awe and gratitude are beyond words.

Memorial of Thanks for Permission to Present an Honorific Title

I, your humble servant, respectfully accept the emperor’s gracious permission to join my fellow officials in presenting an honorific title. We have submitted our sincere petition, and Your Majesty has examined and accepted it. Since Heaven has issued its decree, the people throughout the realm rejoice in celebration.

Your Majesty possesses the Heaven-bestowed mandate that came to Shang Tang and the Han founder, rising at the appointed time. With extraordinary ability, you have rescued the people from peril. You have established great achievements and displayed the Virtue of a sage, surpassing the rulers of earlier ages. In accord with Heaven’s mandate, you founded a new dynasty and reverently assumed the imperial throne. It is as though Heaven, Earth, and humanity have chosen their ruler anew, and all the states beneath Heaven have turned toward you. You surpass Cheng Tang and King Wu of Zhou, who won the realm by force of arms, and far outshine the founders of the Cao Wei and Sui dynasties, who oppressed the weak and the bereaved. With a generous heart, you have brought peace to the realm; with solemn dignity, you occupy the imperial throne. You have received the blessings bestowed by the spirit of the Central Yellow Emperor and hold the mandate of the White Emperor of the West. Holding the golden mirror that symbolizes insight into all things, you shine over the Four Seas, bringing harmony between humans and spirits. As you tour the realm, the people everywhere gladly pledge their support.

Thus, when you arrive at Duanmen Gate, auspicious Qi fills the palace halls; when you ascend the circular mound for the sacrifice to Heaven, divine troops accompany and protect you. At your visit to the ancestral temple, dark clouds part and moonlight brightens the night sky. As you accept the honored title, white clouds drift past while luminous mists enfold the steps. A qilin appears in the waters; dragons leap in the rivers. Plants display beautiful patterns, clouds and mists shine in brilliant colors, golden writing appears, and the jade seal glows. Though you attribute your merit and Virtue to Heaven, these events are already worthy of being recorded in the annals.

From distant frontier lands and foreign states, people bring rare and precious goods, sending divine steeds to the imperial stables. Precious incense and fine jade from afar are also presented at court. States throughout the four quarters ask to adopt a single calendar, as in the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, and to share common measures, script, and roads, as in the time of Emperor Gaozong of Tang. The realm’s borders will recover the extent set out by the ancient Yu, and the prosperous age of Emperor Yao will return. Every official performs his duties, and rites and music are in harmony. Your kindness and trust reach even pigs and fish; your benevolence extends to all things. You show concern for the people’s debts and their legal cases, and you lessen punishments. No star of imprisonment appears in the heavens, and no ominous Qi is found on earth. Captives are spared the axe and halberd, and even rebels facing execution receive special gifts of money.

The sacrificial animals are well fed, and the grain is clean and abundant. You serve the spirits with reverence and appoint worthy people to office. With a sincere heart, you communicate with Heaven and Earth and respectfully perform the suburban sacrifices. Wherever your sincerity reaches, nothing fails to respond; when your actions accord with the proper season, auspicious signs always answer. You do not pursue extravagance, wear excessively splendid clothing, indulge in feasts and entertainments, or let yourself be swayed by licentious music. You take no pleasure in riding out for sport and do not give yourself over to hunting and fishing. In daily life you are solemn and composed, and your conduct follows ritual. You develop wealth and unite the people, prohibit violence and bring them peace. You hold military reviews to strengthen the army’s bearing and inspect the troops to display its preparedness. A million brave soldiers stand fully equipped, with fine horses gathered in ranks and steeds swift as dragons.

You honor loyalty and filial devotion, and widely select people of talent. You overlook no act of kindness, however small, and record even the slightest achievement. Those who devote themselves to studying the classics earn high rank through their learning; worthy recluses who have withdrawn from the world are also summoned with generous titles and offices. You reward diligence, value the foundations of livelihood, and promote agriculture. Year after year the harvest is abundant and the granaries full; crops flourish in the fields, and the people prosper. No beacon fires sound an alarm along the borders, and songs of contentment are heard throughout the villages. Military commanders have distinguished records and their forces are imposing; Confucian officials are deeply learned, and the culture of letters is gentle and generous.

Even compared with Sun Quan, who held the lands east of the Yangtze, and Liu Bei, who occupied the southwest, their achievements cannot approach yours. Now the regions of the passes and rivers are at peace, envoys from neighboring states travel back and forth, and weapons have been laid aside along the borders. The people live in happiness and longevity, and government is clear and harmonious. Civil and military officials sincerely support you; those within and beyond the court earnestly make their request; the Chinese and the peoples of distant lands speak with one voice. Now the emperor has at last turned the radiance of the sun and moon toward us, graciously granted the request, and issued the decree. The people throughout the realm look forward to the grand ceremony, honor Heaven, and rejoice with uplifted hearts. We, your servant and our fellow Daoist clergy, are so overcome with joy that we can scarcely contain ourselves.

Your servant has heard that a clan should be as firm as a rock: those who share one lineage cannot be confused with members of another. The grave responsibility of supporting the royal house should indeed rest with its own imperial branch. To establish institutions that endure, distinctions of kinship and distance must be clearly defined.

Since I began observing the laws of the court, I have known nothing of military strategy, yet was fortunate to join the army and receive the emperor’s favor from an early age. I took up spear and sword, devoting myself to repaying my sovereign. On campaigns in the north and south, I repeatedly vowed to serve the royal house with utmost loyalty. His Majesty the Emperor led a host of outstanding men and brought peace to the realm. In recognition of my small merits, he bestowed an extraordinary favor upon me, making me one of the imperial family and admitting me to the clan. I have wished only to devote myself fully to his service and repay His Majesty’s kindness.

Now the Mandate of Heaven has shifted, and Heaven and Earth have sent auspicious signs. The former dynasty’s fortune has quietly passed away, and a new dynasty has risen in response to Heaven’s will. Your Majesty has answered the support of the people of the Central States and the borderlands, and the allegiance of countless millions. Your Majesty remained peacefully in your place, and the imperial throne naturally came to you, as when Emperor Shun received the abdication. With reverence and care, you govern the realm and establish the imperial enterprise, without needing to send out armies as King Wu of Zhou did. May the imperial fortune of Mount Gou endure for ages, and may the imperial lineage along the Huai River continue without end.

So illustrious a ruling house should be succeeded from generation to generation by descendants of the imperial clan. So broad a foundation for the dynasty should not admit the sons of ordinary families. I have examined myself again and again: my honors have reached their height, and I am all the more apprehensive. Therefore, at the risk of death, I submit this sincere memorial, willing to bear the offense of challenging the sovereign’s dignity. I ask only that distinctions of noble and humble status be clarified, and that the proper boundary be restored between myself and the imperial clan, between the register of immortals and the world of ordinary people. I humbly beg Your Majesty’s compassion and permission to resume my former surname. Having offended the imperial authority, I await punishment in fear and trembling. My longing for your grace is so profound that tears stream down, and I can scarcely contain myself.

Memorial of congratulation on the sun’s impending eclipse passing without an eclipse.

I respectfully note that the Director of the Bureau of Astronomy has reported that on the first day of this month, a Dingwei day, at the fourth quarter of the Si hour, the sun was expected to be eclipsed at the eleventh degree of the Zhen lunar lodge, and not to return to its full circle until the fourth quarter of the Wei hour. Yet observations have now confirmed that the sun was not eclipsed. The sun’s radiance shines forth, a sign that the ruler’s virtue is as precious as sunlight. That the sun has escaped the eclipse predicted by the calendar clearly shows that the Emperor’s sagacity can move Heaven.

I respectfully submit that Your Majesty received the primordial Yang Qi at birth and descended into the world as a sage ruler, shining as brightly as the sun and moon, the two celestial luminaries. Your Majesty is like the sun rising in the Zhen trigram palace in the east, its brilliance upright and resplendent as it illuminates all beneath Heaven. You bestow benevolence like the warm sun of winter, bringing grace to the people of all nine provinces; you extend compassion widely like the gentle sunlight of spring, so that no radiance between Heaven and Earth can compare with yours. Thus the sun shines all the more brightly, beyond the reach of calendrical calculation. Your Majesty’s extraordinary blessings and virtue accord with Heaven and Earth, surpassing the ordinary course of Yin-Yang. Auspicious radiance grows ever greater, and your profound virtue moves Heaven. Its brilliance surpasses the auspicious sign of the sun’s reappearance in the Han dynasty and exceeds the favorable omen of the sun and moon joining in the time of Yao. This event will be entered into the annals, surely ranked as the foremost auspicious sign in the jade records. I am fortunate to have been born in a flourishing age and to receive and witness this gracious blessing. Reflecting that I have now reached old age, I feel even more devoted admiration for Your Majesty, like the sunflower turning toward the sun. I am overcome with joy and cannot contain myself.

Memorial of Gratitude for the Proclamation That Construction of the Main Hall at Zhangren Abbey Is Complete

Your servant, so-and-so, reports: I respectfully note that Chan Master Huijin of Changping Mountain has reported that Your Majesty ordered the reconstruction of the True Lord’s main hall at Zhangren Abbey, and that the work has now been completed. Your Majesty’s grace has spread far and wide, and the undertaking to build the immortal sanctuary has been brought to completion.

Your servant humbly reports: I have read the memorial submitted by Chan Master Huijin of Changping Mountain and learned that Your Majesty issued an edict to rebuild the Hall of the Perfected Lord at Zhangren Monastery. The work is now complete. With the emperor personally overseeing its construction, the Daoist sanctuary has been renewed. This great undertaking has been brought to completion, and the traces of the immortals have been made all the more illustrious.

Your Majesty’s benevolence extends throughout the realm, reaching both Buddhism and Daoism. Your civil governance and teachings spread far and wide, and Daoist monasteries everywhere respond in willing obedience. Your military authority is renowned across distant lands, and regions with different customs all follow the court’s commands. The immortal palaces of Penglai, along with Buddhist temples and Daoist monasteries, have been repaired and built. The people of the realm can look up to your rites and music, while the many peoples have come to know the teachings of Daoism and Buddhism. Your achievements rival those of antiquity and surpass the emperors of earlier times.

Last winter, the Hall of Zhangren Monastery, though long established, had fallen into disrepair, its halls and buildings steadily crumbling with age. Your Majesty ordered eminent monks to plan its reconstruction and bestowed funds and labor to advance the repairs. Stone was brought from elsewhere, timber was felled in the deep mountains, fine materials were selected for the halls, and each detail was carefully crafted to meet the standards of the work. Before long, this vast undertaking was complete. The halls are sturdy, as though they could stand for ages.

The soaring eaves overlook the sunlight, and broad steps stretch across the open air. Clouds brush the lofty beams, while breezes pass through the spacious windows. The courtyard walls and pond remain as before, while the wall paintings look freshly made. The hillsides have been reshaped and the grounds opened up; channels and watercourses have been cleared, and the steps and paths protected. Rushing waters cannot reach the halls, and flying stones can scarcely harm them. This work gives full expression to Your Majesty’s benevolent and wise intentions and displays achievements beyond the ordinary. Such extraordinary merit will endure for generations and add immeasurably to Your Majesty’s blessings and longevity.

I have been fortunate to belong to the Daoist community and have long received Your Majesty’s favor. I can only burn incense with devout sincerity to repay Your Majesty’s enlightened virtue and just governance. I am filled with trepidation.

Memorial for performing a Zhaijiao purification ritual at the new hall of Zhangren Monastery, enshrining the local earth deity, and giving thanks for the emperor’s grace

Your servant respectfully carries out the imperial command. Now that the new hall at the Abbey of the Elder of Zhangren on Mount Qingcheng has been completed, I have held a Zhaijiao purification ritual to give thanks for the gods’ grace. Your Majesty’s benevolence reaches across mountains and seas, and your favor extends to both Confucianism and Daoism. You have cared for this sacred mountain, Mount Qingcheng, and bestowed your grace upon the Abbey of the Elder of Zhangren. Its halls had fallen into disrepair with age, and the Daoist community lacked the means to rebuild them. Your Majesty issued an edict appointing a Daoist priest to oversee the work and provided the resources of the state for its construction. The new hall is magnificent and splendid, as if it had appeared from thin air; it rises in grandeur, worthy of comparison with the work of the gods. It will guard this place and receive blessings, enduring as long as Heaven and Earth. By Your Majesty’s favor, I have reverently established the ritual altar, burned incense and lit candles, performed the rites, and announced them to all the Perfected Ones and divine officials. Amid the rosy peaks and cloud-filled valleys, it seems that even the cry “Long live the Emperor” can be heard. May the jade calendar and golden talisman, tokens of Heaven’s mandate and auspicious favor, add a thousand years to Your Majesty’s life. After the ritual concludes on the twenty-third of this month, I shall return and respectfully present myself at the palace gate to pay my respects and report to Your Majesty.

“Memorial Presenting a Poem in Celebration of the Divine Sword’s Discovery”

Your servant reports: Today I saw Zhao Kuangye present a divine sword, saying that he had found it on the river at Hezhou. Your Majesty has already announced this matter to the court and the realm. I respectfully submit this report.

“Memorial Presenting a Poem in Celebration of the Divine Sword’s Discovery”

I, your servant, submit this memorial: I respectfully observe that today Zhao Kuangye presented a divine sword, said to have been found on the river at Hezhou. Your Majesty displayed it before the court and beyond because peace is about to come to the realm, and auspicious signs must surely appear. Now, just as the wicked rebels are to be swept away, this divine sword has emerged. It will aid the enlightened sovereign in achieving merit and cutting down disorder, and it also shows Heaven and Earth lending their support to the court.

Your Majesty’s achievements surpass those of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Your awe-inspiring renown reaches across the Four Seas; your benevolence moves the unseen realms, and your way of governing accords with Heaven and Earth. Thus, amid steep mountain cliffs, the rivers, mountains, forests, and valleys send forth golden flames; amid wind, rain, and thunder, a frosted blade gleams across ten thousand miles. The sword’s body is like a pool of autumn water, at first seeming to surge up from the earth. Its several feet of polished blade shine white and bright, as if it stood leaning against the sky. It also reveals many wondrous transformations, making its divine nature manifest.

Long ago, Qin Shi Huang (Ying Zheng) obtained a divine sword from the water and later indeed conquered the realm. Now Your Majesty has obtained this sword on the river and will surely rule the four quarters. Its edge is keen enough to sever bronze bells and ritual vessels and cleave fine jade. How could such power be compared with an ordinary weapon? As for the Horse-Slaying Sword and the Snake-Cutting Sword, they cannot compare with it either.

I am fortunate to have encountered this flourishing age and to have witnessed this extraordinary auspicious sign. I therefore offer a poem, hoping through it to express praise for Your Majesty’s sagely intent. I respectfully submit a poem of seven-character lines in four stanzas, extolling the sovereign’s virtue. I have presumed to present it and am filled with trepidation.

“Memorial Congratulating the Execution of Liu Zhijun”—a memorial celebrating the suppression of Liu Zhijun.

Your subject, so-and-so, respectfully received the imperial edict, which states that Liu Zhijun was executed for his violence and lawlessness, and for acting against all reason and proper order. His crimes were grave, and Heaven, Earth, humanity, and the spirits were all outraged. Your Majesty’s judgment truly accords with public opinion and has punished him with stern justice. Your subject rejoices from the heart, bows, and prostrates himself twice.

Liu Zhijun was by nature savage and deceitful, with only ordinary ability. Greedy and opportunistic, he knew nothing of gratitude. When his circumstances became precarious, he submitted to our dynasty. The court showed him favor and soon entrusted him with the important post of military governor. Your Majesty promoted him beyond the usual limits, placed no suspicion on him, and treated him with exceptional generosity, deliberately entrusting him with an independent command to lead campaigns. Yet he acted as he pleased, harbored a cruel heart, slaughtered the people, and disregarded the law. He defied the court’s intention to pacify the people and betrayed Your Majesty’s benevolent resolve to punish wrongdoing and bring peace to the realm. Having repaid such profound favor with betrayal, he could hardly escape severe punishment in the full view of all.

Your Majesty’s De (Virtue) is vast as Heaven and Earth, and your benevolence surpasses that of Yao and Tang. You follow the highest Dao, cherish life, and shine upon all things with the gentle favor of spring. The peoples beyond the frontier all know the depth of your loving care, while the sun, moon, and stars bear witness to your broad and embracing heart. Liu Zhijun alone defied your instruction and imposed cruel punishments without restraint, preventing distant peoples from submitting and obstructing the people of the four quarters from looking with admiration toward the transforming influence of royal rule. Now Your Majesty has issued a command with the force of thunder, raised axe and halberd to destroy the criminal, and extended to everyone under Heaven the grace of eliminating evil and punishing the wicked. Thus the fortunes of the dynasty will flourish and its blessings endure, while the people may live in peace.

Your subject has had the good fortune to witness Your Majesty’s awe-inspiring authority and sagacious judgment. He is overcome with joy and can scarcely contain himself.

“Memorial of Congratulations on the Withered Tree Growing Again at Heming Abbey”: a memorial congratulating Heming Abbey on the renewed growth of its withered tree.

Your servant respectfully reports that Zhang Jingzhou, Military Commissioner of Qiongzhou, has submitted a memorial stating that Guo Zhaomei, the Master of Mystery and Unity at Heming Monastery in Dayi County, observed seven branches inside an ancient cypress on the monastery grounds. Though dead for many years, they have now put forth leaves again and grown with extraordinary vigor. Officials of the prefecture sent people to inspect the tree and confirmed that the report was true.

A sacred mountain has shown an auspicious sign, and a fine tree has revealed a propitious omen. This accords with the sign that Your Majesty’s virtue moves Heaven and Earth, and it displays the merit of divine powers in spreading life. Your servant is overjoyed and bows twice in reverence. I have consulted the Illustrated Record of Auspicious Signs, which says that when an emperor’s virtue benefits plants and trees, and governance is just and the realm at peace, pines and cypresses remain evergreen and trees manifest auspicious wonders.

I respectfully reflect that Your Majesty has received the Mandate of Heaven and opened a new era of the realm, upholding its laws and principles while following Heaven’s intent. Through civil governance, you bring distant regions to peace; through military might, you have pacified the realm. Your kindness reaches plants and trees and extends even to the smallest creatures. Border peoples have undone their braided hair and submitted to benevolent rule; those from lands of fierce customs have crossed mountains to present tribute. Thus, beings of every kind have received your grace, and peoples of different origins have been moved by it. Snow hares and white birds gather in flocks, settling and flying with their forms close together; Yinglong, the Responding Dragon, and divine tortoises, too, often appear as auspicious signs.

Now, among the cloud-wreathed peaks and jade grottoes stands the ancient sacred monastery on the numinous mountain, where the Celestial Master cultivated the Dao in the Han dynasty, when the realm was at peace. The woods are spaced between thickets, and the clouds and rosy mists are brilliant. Moss lies like woven cloth on the green cliffs, where traces said to have been left by chariots traveling through the air are still visible. Sedge covers the emerald grass, and the site of the Crane-Transformation Altar remains. The ancient cypress before the rock had been withered and decayed for many years. Now, nourished by rain and dew, it has flourished again, sending out tender shoots and regaining its former vigor. Its high branches sway in verdant green, and its dense leaves gather into a canopy of shade.

Even the camphor tree seen by Wang Yi in Yuzhang could hardly rival its flourishing growth; nor could the immortal cypress of Laixiang match the auspiciousness it brings. These seven cypresses alone have flourished anew, in perfect accord with the propitious sign of the realm’s enduring fortune. No such event has ever appeared in the illustrated records of auspicious signs from past ages. Your servant is fortunate to have been born in a flourishing age and to have heard auspicious reports time and again. I therefore venture to offer a poem of praise, hoping its words will spread throughout the realm. With due reverence, I have composed a seven-character poem in four stanzas praising Your Majesty’s sacred virtue, and submit it as a congratulatory offering.

Memorial Celebrating the Audience of Western Regions Buddhist Monks

Your servant respectfully submits that Buddhist monks from Tianzhu in the Western Regions have come to court for an audience because Your Majesty’s grace reaches far and wide, inspiring people from distant lands to turn toward the throne. Foreign monks from beyond ten thousand li have therefore come to pay their respects to a sage ruler such as appears only once in a thousand years. The people of China and those of foreign lands alike have received instruction, and countless people rejoice together.

Your servant congratulates Your Majesty. Your Majesty has inherited the succession of sage rulers, upholds the foundations of Heaven and Earth, and governs all beneath Heaven. Your kindness extends throughout Heaven and Earth, and your benevolence covers the four directions. The people of the Rong, Man, Yi, Di, and other regions all follow the court’s teachings. The virtue of the sage kings of the past—Shun, Yu, Shang, and Zhou—cannot surpass Your Majesty’s sagacity. Thus, treasures arrive in an unceasing stream like a river; envoys from every state cross mountains and seas and gather in great numbers; tribute is presented month after month, and the histories record these events without interruption.

Now Tianzhu lies far away on the frontier. The customs around the Congling Mountains are distant from those of the Central Plain, in a land beyond accumulated snow and drifting sands, among mountain peaks and islands. Its people gaze toward the heavens rising into the clouds and are moved to come before the Son of Heaven. Their journey requires many successive interpreters, and is estimated to take several years. They do not shrink from remote, desolate regions or rugged roads, but willingly crawl forward, seeking only to behold the sage ruler.

In the past, Fotucheng entered the lands of Xia but could travel no farther east than Yutian before taking his leave; Kumarajiva served in Qin, having come from north of Qiuci. A comparison with the routes they traveled is enough to show the monks’ devotion and diligence. Your servant knows that this reflects the loyal hearts of subjects, and is also truly the result of being stirred by Your Majesty’s sagacity. This event should be recorded forever in the national histories, adding luster to Your Majesty’s sacred virtue and achievements. Your servant is fortunate to receive the radiance of Your Majesty’s grace, and is filled with boundless gratitude.

Memorial Presenting a Portrait of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning and a Merit Memorial on the Birthday Festival of Longevity

Your servant respectfully submits that the nine-bend river runs clear, and the Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth harmoniously join. The starry river displays rainbow-like auspicious signs, while the pivot of the Northern Dipper reveals omens bright as lightning. Auspicious blessings endure for a thousand years, and joy spreads throughout the myriad kingdoms. I respectfully present this memorial of merit.

I respectfully observe that the waters of the nine-bend rivers run clear, and the Yin-Yang of Heaven and Earth blend in harmony. A rainbow appears over the Star Isles, heralding good fortune; a flash of lightning gleams at the pivot of the Northern Dipper, revealing an auspicious sign. Auspicious Qi endures for a thousand years, and joy spreads across the myriad lands.

Your Majesty has received the Mandate of Heaven and sits upright in the court, promoting the utmost Dao and carrying forward the achievements of the Three Sovereigns. Your lofty rule through De surpasses that of the Five Emperors. Your instruction reaches across mountains and seas, and your gracious influence extends over the Central Lands and the surrounding peoples. Distant peoples respectfully fulfill their duties of tribute, while even the farthest corners of the four quarters present their treasures.

Your Majesty has brought the six affairs of water, fire, wood, metal, earth, and grain into proper order, and thus Heaven has sent down extraordinary auspicious signs. Your beneficent De reaches deep into the springs beneath the earth, and the land, too, displays signs of good fortune. These portents are all recorded on jade registers: golden fish leap from the water, beasts make their appearance, birds spread wings white as snow, sacred fungi grow luxuriantly, and sweet dew falls abundantly. Immortals appear from time to time among the cloud-wreathed crags; steadfast cypress trees flourish anew in mist-filled valleys. Grain harvests are abundant year after year, and precious goods gather from every region. No household among the people lacks food and clothing or is left stranded in one corner; every family lives in peace and contentment, and customs shaped by deep moral influence take root.

Therefore, distant lands admire your sagely De, and foreign kingdoms come to pay homage. All rejoice and willingly submit to your instruction. From the regions of Sanggan and the vast northern desert, the monk Fajing bows in reverence; from Sindhu, Kapisa, and other lands, Sanmantu comes sincerely to present tribute. All together they look up to the North Star and pray for Your Majesty’s long life.

Now the sun shines bright and the eight directions are at peace; it is also the great festival for celebrating longevity and the birthday of the enlightened ruler. I have specially commissioned a portrait of Your Majesty’s sacred likeness, hoping thereby to augment your blessings and long life. Beginning on the first day of this month, I and the Daoist assembly of this monastery established a Lingbao ritual altar to pray for longevity. For seven days and nights without interruption, we have made clean offerings of incense, lamps, and candles, and devoutly burned incense and recited the scriptures. May we, through the merit of the Daoist rites, offer our lasting prayer that Your Majesty’s life know no bounds.

I now respectfully present the portrait described above together with a memorial recording the merits of this offering. I presume to submit this petition and humbly request that it receive the sacred attention. I am filled with trepidation.

Memorial of Gratitude for the Imperial Gift of Purple Robes to Lü Yanchang of Mount Yangping: A memorial expressing gratitude for the imperial favor of bestowing purple Daoist robes upon Lü Yanchang of Mount Yangping.

I, your subject, respectfully accept His Majesty the Emperor’s gracious decree, granting a purple robe to Lü Yanchang, master of Yangping Mountain, and appointing him to the distinguished post of Great Virtue in the Inner Palace, responsible for burning incense and cultivating the Way within the palace. This favor reaches as high as the heavens and brings honor to places of cultivation among the mountains and forests. The plants and trees seem thereby to shine with color, and the clouds and mists appear all the brighter. All who wear Daoist robes and dwell in the mountains and forests share in this great favor and its radiance. Your subject respectfully expresses his gratitude.

Your subject respectfully reports to His Majesty: You have wisely founded the empire, received the Mandate of Heaven, and brought all under your rule. Your benevolence extends throughout the nine provinces, and the people everywhere enjoy auspicious blessings. Your commands reach the four quarters, and the teachings of peace and harmony have spread throughout the land. Thus envoys from every region have come to present their reports, while guests from distant lands, whose words pass through many interpreters, have arrived at court. As the auspicious day for celebrating the Emperor’s sacred longevity has come, and the grand ceremony marking the springtime of his long life is being held, Your Majesty has bestowed generous favor upon both Buddhism and Daoism, extending imperial grace throughout the realm.

Lü Yanchang has long lived in seclusion in the mountains and is deeply versed in medicines and the healing arts. He has been devoting himself to repairs and restoration, yet never dared hope to receive imperial favor. He did not expect that Your Majesty would remember those who have rendered service and esteem Daoist arts and learning. Lü Yanchang’s medical prescriptions proved effective and cured Yanyin’s grave illness. Your Majesty has specially granted him generous favor, publicly bestowing official robes upon him. Faced with such profound grace, as vast as Heaven and Earth, even splendid robes and court tablets cannot express his gratitude. He will burn incense morning and evening, vowing in this way to repay Your Majesty’s kindness. Your subject and the Daoist community are profoundly grateful.

End of Guangcheng ji, juan two.

Guangcheng ji, juan three

Written by Du Guangting, who serves in the Upper Capital’s Taiqing Palace, is a Great Virtue for literary compositions presented in response to imperial commissions, and has been granted a purple robe

Memorial Presenting a Poem of Twenty Rhymes on the Indian Monk

Your subject respectfully observes that Sanmantuo, who has come from the Western Heaven, has arrived at court to pay audience to the Emperor. Your subject considers that to the north one reaches the Jade Frontier, and to the west one crosses the Golden River; the route passes through many successive barriers, and the journey extends as far as…

I, your humble subject, respectfully observe that Sanmantuo, arriving from the Western Heaven, has come to court for an audience. To reach the north, one has always had to pass through the Jade Pass; to reach the west, one must cross the Golden River. The roads wind through barrier after barrier, and the journey stretches for tens of thousands of miles. The route taken by Ban Dingyuan (Ban Chao, the renowned general of the Eastern Han) reached only as far as Wusun; Zhang Bowang (Zhang Qian), sent on a mission of exploration, went no farther than the region of Qinghai. In some places, snakes and insects abound amid desolate sand wastes, beyond the reach of human travelers. Elsewhere, snow fills the sky and shifting sands cover the ground, making even passage by horse impossible. Thus the degree to which the various lands have received the court’s civilizing influence has differed, and their tribute has been irregular.

The white jade rings of Mount Kunlun were first recorded in books of auspicious omens; the fiery jade of Mount Zhong was likewise expressly described as a precious portent. How much more so when Shendu, the ancient name for India, lies south of the Congling Mountains, while Khotan, an ancient kingdom of the Western Regions, is separated from us by snowy peaks. Tianzhu, the ancient name for the Indian lands, is far away, and the journey over mountains and rivers is arduous. Now, drawn by admiration for the ruler honored by the people of China, they have turned toward the enlightened sovereign of Great Shu and made the special journey to pay their respects. This is truly a splendid event worthy of praise in the histories.

I humbly pray that Your Majesty, endowed with the Way of Heaven and entrusted with its Mandate, will inaugurate an age of flourishing peace; that your virtue may surpass Fuxi and Zhuanxu, and your benevolence exceed that of Yao and King Tang. You govern distant frontier lands through civil virtue and pacify all beneath Heaven through military prowess. Thus the western kingdoms submit, and every region under Heaven knows that it should turn toward the court. To the south, the routes extend to Jiaozhi, in what is now northern Vietnam; to the north, the nomadic peoples gather. The regions of the world offer precious goods and present gifts, year after year without fail.

I reflect that, amid the demands of governing, Your Majesty often extends kindness, promotes the teachings of Daoism and Buddhism, and encourages people in their practice. Buddhist monasteries are solemn and pure; Daoist temples are splendid and imposing. The two teachings join in praying for the court, and both flourish under its care. Immortals of the Purple Cloud Cavern reveal auspicious signs, while monks from Tianzhu come bearing tribute. All are grateful for Your Majesty’s benevolence and join in wishing the dynasty lasting prosperity. The officials and people throughout the realm are filled with joy and raise their voices in celebration.

My learning is shallow. I am but a humble student in the fields of Zhitian, a solitary practitioner among the peaks of Pengshan. By the grace of the Son of Heaven, I have been entrusted with respectfully proclaiming the imperial decree. In accordance with the metrical rules, I have composed a poem of twenty seven-character couplets in praise of the sovereign’s virtue. I presume to present it before Your Majesty, filled with utmost dread and trembling unease.

Memorial Congratulating the Investiture of the Princes Zi and Zhong

Your subject has respectfully learned that an edict has been issued investing the Princes Zi and Zhong. The command was proclaimed with distinction, and the ceremony was conducted with solemn dignity. The ancestral temples and state altars have thereby gained blessings, and the people throughout the realm rejoice. Your subject offers congratulations and respectfully reflects that Your Majesty, the Emperor, extends benevolence through devotion to family, follows the Great Dao, and steadfastly renews the affairs of state. Thus the realm’s allotted years of flourishing are prolonged, and the imperial house is firmly established for generations to come. The edict conferring the investitures makes the princes’ honor all the more resplendent. Festive auspiciousness rises to the heavens, while glory gathers over their princely residences. Your subject is fortunate to live in this enlightened age and to behold this solemn ceremony, and can scarcely contain his joy.

Memorial Congratulating the Completion of the Newly Built Hall of Heavenly Bestowal

Your subject has respectfully learned of the gracious edict: the new palace hall has been completed and granted the name “Hall of Heavenly Bestowal.” The palace’s main hall has been renewed, and it has received an auspicious name. Your subject is fortunate to live in this enlightened age and to behold this solemn ceremony, and can scarcely contain his joy.

I respectfully observe that Your Majesty has issued an edict naming the newly completed palace within the inner precincts the Hall of Heaven’s Bestowal. The old palace has been renovated and given this auspicious name. All within and beyond the court praise it, and people near and far rejoice all the more. I respectfully offer my congratulations to Your Majesty.

Your Majesty has received the Mandate of Heaven and set the state’s fortunes in motion. You rule all under Heaven with effortless grace, govern the Nine Provinces, and open the gates wide in every direction, bringing harmony throughout the realm. Following the Way of Heaven, Your Majesty has built palaces and raised a splendid imperial residence in the capital. Its foundations have been greatly extended so that the palace may endure for generations. Before the halls stand gate towers shaped like elephants; the deep, spacious courtyards resemble a dragon’s court. The lofty, elegant gate towers gather the radiance of the sun and moon, while the broad windows and corridors seem to reflect the stars’ auspicious light. The palaces rise high over the regions associated with the Shen and Jing constellations; their halls soar in forms aligned with the Di and Fang constellations.

As the hall was built, the mountain spirit brought a stone stele, the river spirit offered timber, and the people eagerly came to lend their labor; the spirits, too, aided the undertaking. Even the palaces of Haojing in the Zhou dynasty and those of the state of Lu cannot compare with it; the palace gates of the Han and the halls of the Zhou are still less its equal. Now the work is complete, and a new plaque has been inscribed above the hall. Its name declares this to be a grace bestowed by Heaven. The state’s great fortunes will shine in every direction, and the achievements of sacred virtue will endure through the ages.

Your Majesty surveys the seas and mountains, inspects treasures, convenes the feudal lords, and receives the homage of the many states, preparing to hold a grand ceremony that will bring blessings to all under Heaven. May all this accord with the auspicious signs of divine protection, and may Your Majesty’s life endure as long as Heaven and Earth. I am fortunate to live in this enlightened age and to witness these wondrous achievements; my heart is filled with reverence and gratitude.

“Memorial of Congratulations on the Emperor’s Gradual Recovery”: a memorial offering congratulations on the emperor’s gradual recovery.

Your servant humbly reports: I have heard that, since yesterday, Your Majesty’s health has rapidly recovered. I am truly overjoyed and bow twice. Your Majesty’s profound benevolence and virtue guide the realm, and through the utmost Dao you transform the people. Your kindness reaches in all directions and nourishes all things. By day and night, Your Majesty diligently attends to affairs of state, laboring with concern until your health became unsettled. You often had no time to eat at the appointed hour and worked through the night, while worry and changes in cold and heat also took their toll. Now divine spirits secretly protect you, mountains and rivers manifest their power, the ancestral temple brings auspicious signs, and Heaven bestows its blessings. Your Majesty has rested and recovered in peace, your radiance shining more brightly than before. May you receive abundant blessings and celebrations, and enjoy ever longer life. All throughout China and in distant regions, people rejoice, and the populace joins in acclaim. For the past ten days, my eye ailment has shown no improvement, so I cannot reach the palace to bow and offer congratulations at the court steps. I can only gaze from afar toward the palace, my heart troubled by shame and unease.

Memorial Congratulating the Emperor on His Recovery

Your servant humbly reports: I have heard that Your Majesty’s health has recovered, and that officials within and beyond the court are all greatly pleased. I am sincerely overjoyed and bow twice. I have heard that the Five Planets (Wuwei) move across the heavens, yet even their courses may stray; and that as the four seasons turn, cold and warmth may sometimes fall out of balance.

Memorial Congratulating the Emperor on His Recovery

Your servant humbly reports: I have heard that Your Majesty’s health has recovered, and that officials within and beyond the court are all greatly pleased. I am sincerely overjoyed and bow twice. I have heard that the Five Planets (Wuwei) move across the heavens, yet even their courses may stray; and that as the four seasons turn, cold and warmth may sometimes fall out of balance. Untimely cold and heat are common changes in Yin-Yang. Your Majesty governs and teaches in accord with the times, ruling the people through virtue. Attending to countless affairs each day, you are constantly burdened by cares; thus the Six Qi—climatic influences such as Yin and Yang, wind and rain, darkness and brightness, which affect human health—have fallen slightly out of balance, and your body has felt their effects. Now the divine spirits jointly protect you, the ancestral temple sends down auspicious signs, and Heaven grants blessings and celebration; Your Majesty has recovered in peace. May you carry forward the achievement of Tang Yao, who unified the realm, and enjoy the long life of the Zhou sovereigns. Your Majesty has rewarded the physicians for their service and bestowed blessings; your grace spreads throughout the realm. The drums sound as rewards are distributed from the treasury, all things rejoice, and their acclaim reaches the skies. Since the third month, I have occasionally been ill and cannot join the others in bowing and offering congratulations before the Steps of Yao. My heart is both joyful and apprehensive.

Memorial of Thanks for the Imperial Edict

Your subject humbly reports: Today I respectfully received the emperor’s gracious decree and learned that, because I submitted a memorial on the eleventh of this month congratulating him on his recovery, His Majesty has specially bestowed a handwritten edict commending and admonishing me. Imperial favor descends from the palace, bringing grace like an edict sealed with purple clay. I receive the emperor’s kindness with gratitude, while recognizing my own limited abilities. Your subject feels honored, yet apprehensive and uneasy, and bows twice.

I come from a humble and distant village, yet through imperial grace I was admitted to the ranks of the court. Though I burn incense and practice cultivation in my daily life, often praying for the emperor’s good fortune, I should also attend court morning and evening to pay my respects. Later, illness kept me from court for a time. Yesterday I learned that His Majesty, burdened with the many affairs of state, had briefly taken ill and then quickly recovered. I bowed my head and cried out in joy, then promptly submitted a memorial of congratulations. This is the proper duty of a subject and a customary court observance. I did not expect the emperor to extend such exceptional favor and specially bestow an edict of commendation. I have burned incense and bowed on my knees to receive it with reverence. My gratitude for imperial grace and my admiration for His Majesty run deep; my heart is stirred and unsettled, and I can scarcely compose myself.

Memorial of Thanks for the Imperial Grant of Funds for the Daoist Ritual Venue

Your subject humbly reports: Today I respectfully received the imperial decree. Because, beginning on the twenty-first of last month, I gathered the Daoist community and senior practitioners of this monastery at the altar of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) to pray for … I have burned incense and bowed on my knees to accept the decree with reverence. My gratitude for imperial grace and my admiration for His Majesty run deep; my heart is stirred and unsettled, and I can scarcely compose myself.

Memorial of Thanks for the Imperial Grant of Funds for the Daoist Ritual Venue

Your servant respectfully submits: Today I received, with reverence, the imperial decree. Since the twenty-first day of last month, I have gathered the Daoist clergy of our monastery, including its senior and long-serving members, at the altar of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) to establish a Lingbao ritual gathering for reciting scriptures and performing rites of worship, seeking the Emperor’s protection from calamity. In accordance with Lingbao liturgy, we have chanted scriptures and bowed in prayer. Your Majesty has graciously bestowed twenty strings of cash. The court has granted this favor, and the Inner Treasury has disbursed the funds. I receive the sovereign’s kindness with gratitude that far exceeds the ordinary.

Your servant offers thanks. I am fortunate to serve as the religious leader and to enjoy the nation’s favor. Burning incense and practicing cultivation are duties I perform each day; I never expected Your Majesty to grant this special gift as well. Merely beholding the Emperor’s majesty has already filled me with honor; holding the money bestowed from the palace, I sincerely pray all the more for Your Majesty’s health and long life. I have knelt to receive the full amount as granted and distributed it among the Daoist clergy. They and I are moved by gratitude and overcome with awe, scarcely able to contain ourselves.

Memorial of Congratulations on the Succession

Your servant respectfully submits: I have just learned that today the imperial heir has ascended the throne. I sincerely pray all the more for Your Majesty’s health and long life. I have knelt to receive the full amount of the money granted and distributed it among the Daoist clergy. They and I are moved by gratitude and overcome with awe, scarcely able to contain ourselves.

Memorial of Congratulations on the Succession

Your servant respectfully reports: Today, the heir to the throne has ascended the imperial throne and now rules the realm in glory. People across the four quarters cheer, and all under Heaven rejoice and celebrate.

Your servant respectfully offers congratulations. I have heard that King Cheng of Zhou succeeded to the throne and established fine achievements praised through the ages; Emperor Shun succeeded to the imperial throne and continued its sage rule, becoming a model for rulers of every generation. Their deeds followed Heaven’s mandate above and accorded with the people’s wishes below.

I respectfully pray that Your Imperial Majesty’s virtue may equal that of Tang of Shang, and your benevolence resemble that of Yu the Great. Your virtue accords with the celestial signs, and your destiny accords in secret with the Way of Heaven and Earth. Thus you have inherited the legacy of your ancestors and ascended the imperial throne. The governance of the state displays the promise of renewing what is old, while its grand foundations point toward enduring prosperity. May the realm’s decrees be unified and every region at peace; may the central lands and distant territories alike enjoy tranquility. May warfare cease within the Nine Provinces and incursions end across the Four Seas. May you restore the court’s guiding principles and secure the state’s great enterprise for generations to come.

Your servant is fortunate to have been born in a flourishing age and to hold a place among the court officials. Gazing up to the Son of Heaven, I feel reverence as though bearing up the sun, and rejoice like a dancing turtle. Yet I regret that I cannot come to offer congratulations, nor hurry forward like a wild duck to attend upon you. I gaze toward the Son of Heaven and long for your sage presence, my heart filled with both emotion and trepidation.

“Memorial Congratulating the Issuance of a Benevolent Edict”

I, your servant, respectfully report: Today the emperor held court and announced a gracious edict in the hall. I have heard that the virtue of a sage ruler follows the course of Heaven, accords with the seasons, and nurtures all things; that wondrous achievements embody the Great Dao and move with the four seasons, bringing all things to life. Grace reaches the Nine Li, an ancient general name for the southern peoples, and favor is bestowed upon every realm. All who live between Heaven and Earth rejoice.

Your servant respectfully offers congratulations and reflects: Your Majesty, seated at the center of the realm, shines upon all quarters like the sun. You prize frugality and dwell simply; you quiet the mind and nourish the spirit, discerning all things like a lofty, suspended mirror. Thus even the remote frontier lands come in tribute, while envoys from distant Jilin, an ancient name for the Silla region, cross mountains and rivers to reach you. The realm flourishes under rule through Wuwei (non-action), and the people rejoice in governance guided by the Dao.

Now Your Majesty has proclaimed teachings of virtue throughout the realm, in accord with the life-giving force of Yang. You comfort the people in every region and create for them a life of peace and longevity. By holding court and governing from the new palace hall, you spread the influence of benevolence and harmony even further. You show compassion for the forced labor imposed on the frontier commanderies, relieving the counties of heavy taxes and corvée. Those exiled to distant places for their crimes have all received pardon and clemency; prisoners confined in jails have likewise been released under the law’s generous and discerning provisions. Your Majesty has granted repeated amnesties, seeking to bring the realm into unity.

Your servant, beset by illness, has been unable to join the others in paying respects and offering congratulations before the jade steps. My heart leaps with joy, yet I am also filled with apprehension; I cannot put my feelings into words.

Another memorial congratulating the proclamation of imperial grace

I, your servant, respectfully report: Today the emperor held court and announced a gracious edict in the hall. Imperial grace is like thunder and rain, dispelling stagnation, and its profound beneficence spreads far and wide. Yet your servant, beset by illness, has been unable to join the others in paying respects and offering congratulations before the jade steps. My heart leaps with joy, yet I am also filled with apprehension; I cannot put my feelings into words.

Another memorial congratulating the proclamation of imperial grace

Your subject, so-and-so, reports: Today, the emperor issued a gracious edict in the hall. Like all things spreading out after thunder and rain, abundant favor has descended everywhere, reaching across the Nine Provinces so that the people may all live in peace and ease. Among the countless people of the Central Plains and the border regions, who would not cry out with joy?

Your subject, so-and-so, respectfully offers congratulations to the emperor. I humbly reflect that Your Majesty has inherited a sagely and enlightened lineage, holds the authority of state, and rules all under Heaven. With profound filial devotion, you continue the work of your ancestors, like Emperor Hui of Han honoring the ancestral temples; you conduct yourself with cautious respect, like a Zhou king who has inherited the throne. Through civil virtue, the emperor embraces distant lands; through military force, he pacifies the border regions. Having received the Mandate of Heaven, he spreads instruction far and wide, and his benevolence reaches throughout the realm.

Now the emperor has brought peace to all under Heaven and proclaimed favor in the main hall, allowing people everywhere to live and work in peace and to enter a state of long life and well-being. He has also scattered the Son of Heaven’s kindness among the people, causing a gentle and harmonious spirit to flourish. The emperor has shown compassion for the hardships of those guarding the frontiers and taking part in campaigns, and has remitted overdue taxes. Those banished to distant places, those resettled elsewhere, and prisoners confined in cells and wearing shackles have all received amnesty; throughout the state, laws of clemency and discernment have been put into effect. Cheers have carried beyond the borders, and the air of celebration seems to rise among the clouds. People look forward to the day when the tracks of carts are unified and written characters are standardized, bringing unification at last; they also hope that the state’s fortune will endure and its calendar be passed down for a thousand years.

Your subject is old and frail, yet has been fortunate enough to encounter a sagely ruler in person. I am now ill and cannot go myself to the steps before the emperor to bow and offer congratulations. I can only gaze from afar, cherishing the emperor’s gracious kindness. My heart is stirred with joy and trepidation, beyond what words can express.

“Memorial of Thanks for the Imperial Reply”

Your servant humbly reports: I respectfully received the gracious edict. On the second day of this month, I submitted a memorial congratulating Your Majesty on ascending the throne, and Your Majesty specially sent a reply praising and encouraging me. Favor descended from the heavenly court, and glory shone upon the Daoist community. The Emperor’s resplendent edict was issued from within the palace and proclaimed throughout the realm. Its brilliance, like the sun, illuminated the fields of lingzhi, the immortal’s place of cultivation. Overwhelmed by this favor, I scarcely knew what to do. I could only offer my joyful thanks in obeisance, unable to express what I felt.

I respectfully say: At Your Majesty’s birth, auspicious signs appeared. Endowed with the Mandate of Heaven, Your Majesty’s divine nature was extraordinary. Like the rising sun in the east, Your Majesty brought renewed light to all under Heaven, succeeding to the imperial line and inheriting the sages’ Virtue. Your Majesty’s conduct surpasses that of the worthy ancient rulers Qi and Song; through filial Virtue, you govern the realm. Your bright Virtue carries on the legacy of Xun and Hua: you enact enlightened governance and rule over the four quarters. Your profound kindness reaches far in every direction and extends throughout the realm. The people rejoice, their cheers rumbling across the fields like thunder; their joy gathers in the sky, as though forming an auspicious canopy. People everywhere look toward the court, longing for the favor of the Emperor.

Because I am old, frail, and ill, I can only gaze from afar toward the palace and offer sincere prayers; I cannot take part in the rites of celebration. So I submitted a memorial to convey my feelings from a distance. I never expected Your Majesty to praise me especially and grant me a reply in your own hand. Its fine phrases flourish like auspicious dew and are fragrant like clouds of good omen. As I read the imperial words, I felt that even the heights of Mount Song and Mount Heng could not express the depth of my reverence; in contemplating your kindness, I felt that even the ocean could not convey its measure. As small as a wren, I find the boundless kindness of Heaven and Earth impossible to repay. I have received the gracious reply with incense burning and in reverent kneeling, grateful beyond words.

Memorial of Consolation for the Zhongxiang or Daxiang Rite

Your servant bows his head and pays obeisance twice: Time passes without pause, and the late Emperor has, alas, reached the time for the Zhongxiang or Daxiang memorial rite. I respectfully reflect that Your Majesty grieves in mourning, your sacred heart unable to find peace. Yet, considering what is owed above to the ancestral temples and altars of state, and showing compassion below for the people of the realm, you have striven to complete the rites, so that the realm may long enjoy their blessings. Because I am old and sickly, I cannot follow custom and come to court to offer my condolences. In grief and fear, I scarcely know how to conduct myself. I respectfully submit this memorial to express my condolences.

I bow repeatedly and respectfully submit: Time has passed, yet the passing of the late emperor—the emperor who has just died and has not yet received a posthumous title—seems as though it happened only yesterday. The funeral rites have now concluded, but I cannot attend the customary court audience to offer condolences to Your Majesty. My heart is overwhelmed with grief and apprehension. I respectfully submit this memorial to express my sorrow and offer comfort.

Memorial Offering Comfort After the Mourning Garments Are Set Aside

I bow repeatedly and respectfully submit: Time has passed, yet the late emperor’s passing seems as though it happened only yesterday. The prescribed mourning period has now ended. I think of Your Majesty’s unceasing remembrance of the late emperor and of grief that cannot be dispelled. The period during which the officials and people of the realm wear mourning garments has also ended according to ritual. I look up toward Your Majesty’s countenance, yet cannot see you in person; though there is land beneath my feet, I have nowhere to make my home. Weakened by illness, I cannot go to court to mourn. Grief chokes my voice, remembrance rends my heart, and I can scarcely bear it. I respectfully submit this memorial to express my sorrow and offer comfort.

Memorial Offering Comfort on the Conferral of the Temple Name

I submit: On a certain day this month, the court bestowed a posthumous title and temple name upon the late emperor. I reflect that the late emperor was born in accordance with Heaven’s mandate, possessed exceptional wisdom, and, answering the moment, established the foundations of the realm. He rose to achievement as Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han, had risen from Feng and Pei, yet his accomplishments surpassed those of Emperor Gaozu. He arose in the region of Bin and Qi as King Wen of Zhou had done, yet his benevolence surpassed that of King Wen. He took Emperor Yao of Tang as his model, earning renown for governing well and assisting in the administration of state; he followed the illustrious and exalted title of Emperor Shun of Yu. Now the court has solemnly bestowed an honorific title upon him, thereby proclaiming the late emperor’s sagely virtue and achievements. The countless people grieve, and all beneath Heaven share in sorrow.

I think of Your Majesty’s boundless grief and rule of the realm through filial devotion. Gazing upon the bow and sword left by the late emperor, I know he cannot be brought back; reading the decree of investiture deepens my sorrow still further. Throughout the world, near and far, grief and pain are equally profound.

Memorial Offering Comfort on the Opening of the Temporary Mausoleum

I submit: I have heard that on a certain day this month the late emperor’s temporary mausoleum will be opened, in preparation for moving the coffin for burial. The officials grieve, and cries of anguish rise from the inner palace. I think of Your Majesty’s remembrance of the late emperor and unceasing lamentation; the sacred heart is stricken with grief and knows no rest. Facing the bow and sword left by the late emperor, I feel sorrow anew. Time’s passing fills my heart with grief. Weakened by illness, I cannot go to mourn as custom requires. My grief and apprehension are beyond measure.

Memorial Offering Comfort After the Rite of Enshrinement in the Ancestral Temple Is Complete

Your subject, so-and-so, bows his head twice as he reports: I have learned that the ceremony installing the spirit tablet of the late emperor in the ancestral temple has been completed. The ancestral rites were conducted with great solemnity, in accordance with the system that orders the ancestral generations. Your Majesty has carefully followed the prescribed rites of sacrifice, making the merits and virtues of the spirits manifest. In accordance with the ritual texts, Your Majesty has shown reverence and clear understanding, and made your filial virtue renowned. You have properly observed the rites of the spring Di sacrifice and autumn Chang sacrifice, performing the ceremonies in which the ancestors are honored alongside Heaven and the Sage Ancestor is worshiped. In this way, auspicious blessings will gather, and the ancestral temple will long remain honored. The people throughout the realm deeply mourn and remember the late emperor.

Memorial of Consolation on the Naming of the Mausoleum

Your subject, so-and-so, bows his head twice as he reports: I have learned that the mausoleum of the late emperor has been named Such-and-Such Mausoleum. The late emperor received Heaven’s auspicious mandate, and auspicious signs appeared at his birth. He grasped the principles of good governance, opened a new age, expanded the realm, and laid its foundations. Unsatisfied with a world divided among Wu and Wei, he spread benevolence and instruction far and wide. He sought to unite the Central States and distant peoples, bringing the systems of chariot tracks, writing, and other institutions into uniformity. The formal naming of the mausoleum now truly accords with the late emperor’s sage virtue. Your Majesty has inherited the imperial succession and taken on its great responsibilities. First, you have recalled and honored the late emperor’s achievements, further illuminating his legacy and making the funeral rites more solemn. As you look upon the late emperor’s noble deeds, your grief may find some measure of solace. The officials, too, deeply mourn and remember the late emperor.

Memorial of Consolation on the Funeral Procession’s Departure

Your subject reports: The funeral cortege of the late emperor will set out on a certain day this month. As the officials look upon the late emperor’s noble deeds, their grief and remembrance are profound.

Memorial of Consolation on the Funeral Procession’s Departure

Your subject reports: The funeral cortege of the late emperor set out on a certain day this month. Yin and Yang in Heaven and Earth respond to one another; the sun and moon seem to have lost their light. The people throughout the realm are overcome with grief, and even the clouds and rosy sky appear mournful. Your subject chokes with sorrow and bows his head twice. Your Majesty thinks of your imperial father with endless filial devotion; the grief of your sacred heart leaves you unable to find peace. Watching the cortege recede into the distance and hearing the funeral songs deepens your sobs. Grief at the memory of the late emperor cannot cease, and your cries of mourning and longing are almost too much to bear.

Your servant, so-and-so, says: I have respectfully heard that on the ninth day of this month, the emperor held court and attended to affairs of state in the Hall of Bright Virtue. The court’s ceremonial rites and honor guard had just been arrayed before the jade steps, while civil and military officials stood in orderly ranks before the hall, their bearing solemn. Within the court and beyond, all rejoiced together; throughout the realm, all joined in celebration. My heart leapt with joy, and I bowed my head twice.

I respectfully reflect that Your Majesty, the emperor, was born in answer to Heaven’s decree and grasps the principles governing the movements of the sun, moon, and five planets. Holding the jade dipper that symbolizes Heaven’s mandate, Your Majesty occupies the imperial throne and brings peace to the Four Seas. With the celestial instrument for observing the heavens in hand, Your Majesty orders the myriad phenomena between Heaven and Earth and governs all under Heaven. Your Majesty carries forward the civilization established by the former emperor and strives to achieve the moral virtue and accomplishments of King Cheng. Now the clouds and mists have dispersed and the sky is clear; all look up together to their honored sovereign, as to the North Star. Rosy light shines over sea and sky, and all under Heaven share in Your Majesty’s blessings, as in the sun’s warmth. Grace spreads to the four quarters, and Virtue reaches every land. I dwell in the Fields of Immortal Mushrooms, a legendary Daoist realm, and have the good fortune to witness this age of peace. Yet grief weighs on my heart, and I cannot go to the Han palace to pay my respects. Looking up to Your Majesty, as wise as Emperor Yao, I cannot help leaping with joy; my excitement and reverence are beyond my control.

Memorial of Consolation After the Imperial Mausoleum Burial

Your servant, so-and-so, says: I have respectfully heard that the burial rites at the former emperor’s mausoleum have been completed. The tomb chamber is now sealed for all time, and the former emperor’s spirit has at last come to rest. The people throughout the realm cry out in grief and longing. I respectfully reflect that Your Majesty, the emperor, remembers the former emperor with unceasing sorrow, and that Your sacred heart cannot find peace. Before the tomb, shaped like a horse’s mane, grief deepens; remembering the former emperor brings everlasting anguish. His clothes from life remain, but his immortal carriage has gone far away. Recalling his wisdom and august bearing, grief and longing can do nothing to bring him back. Because of my old age and illness, I cannot go to court to offer my condolences. I grieve so deeply that I weep and choke with sobs. I therefore submit this memorial with due reverence.

Memorial Requesting Permission Not to Attend the Imperial Mausoleum Burial

I humbly submit: I have heard that, with the imperial tombs close at hand, Your Majesty grieves for the late emperor and feels an unending longing for him, and intends to travel there in person. I respectfully received this instruction from the palace and was deeply shaken by it. Everyone who has heard of the matter has likewise been troubled and perplexed. In fear and trembling, I bow my head twice.

In my view, an emperor’s filial devotion should take Heaven’s Way as its model and accord with human feeling. Rituals should be established in keeping with reason, so that the people may be settled and compliant and the ancestral temples remain secure for generations. I have never heard of an emperor expressing the sincerity of his grief by wearing a bow and sword and going in person to the imperial tombs. Nor have I heard of an emperor seeking to imitate those who carried personal filial devotion to the utmost, such as Zeng Shen and Min Ziqian. What is more, this would require mobilizing the ceremonial retinue and guards, and personally overseeing the tomb offerings and repairs.

I earnestly ask Your Majesty to consider the established rites followed by emperors of past dynasties and abide by the precedents handed down through the generations. Please reconsider this decision and act in accordance with ritual. Observing the accepted standards of antiquity will also set a fine example for emperors to come, make the tradition of governing through filial devotion more visible, and comfort the people throughout the realm. I submit this appeal with deep sincerity and reverence, and urgently await Your Majesty’s judgment. I respectfully present this memorial to state my request.

This concludes Volume Three of the Guangcheng Ji.

Volume Four of the Guangcheng Ji

Written by Du Guangting, Palace Attendant at the Taiqing Palace in the Upper Capital, Grand Virtuoso of Composition in Response to Imperial Commands, and Bearer of the Purple Robe

“Prayer Text for the Ministry of Revenue Minister Zhang’s Ritual of Relocation and Deliverance for Mingzhen”

I have heard that the Most High Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun) revealed the scriptures, and the Primordial Sovereign expounded the teachings. The Three Registers established the rites for elucidating the Way of Golden Radiance, whose merit benefits both the human realm and heaven. In the Ninefold Darkness, the realm of the netherworld, Jade Coffer liturgies bring blessings to the living and the dead alike. I have carefully examined the meaning of the scriptures and followed the instructions of the mysterious texts. Humbly seeking the grace of deliverance and salvation, I respectfully set forth my sincerity in repentance and prayer.

The twenty-fifth day of this month is the anniversary of the death of my late mother, Lady Liu, formerly Lady of the Tang State of Chu and later posthumously ennobled as Grand Lady of the State of Shu-Song. The thirtieth day of this month is the anniversary of the death of my late father, who served in the Tang dynasty as chief minister and Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince, and who, after retiring from office, was posthumously granted the title of Grand Marshal in Shu. With reverence, I have prepared oil lamps, candles, incense, and offerings, and have held a Lingbao Rite of Illuminating the True at the Northern Emperor Temple of Yuju Bureau, Chengdu Prefecture, for a full day and night. Fourteen Daoist priests have been appointed to perform ritual processions and prostrations at three periods of the day, and to recite scriptures at three periods.

I lay bare my thoughts before the celestial powers and send this memorial upward on the incense smoke. I respectfully beseech the Supreme Divine Ones to look upon us with compassion, the assembled sages and perfected beings to send down their numinous light, and the Four Offices, divine bureaus overseeing these matters, to proclaim this petition throughout the Three Realms, including heaven, earth, the human world, and the netherworld. May the command of the Nine Dragons descend and open the cold, dark domain of the netherworld. May the bodies and souls of the departed be refined and cleansed, and their spirits delivered: may they leave the Palace of Profound Yin and enter the Palace of Grotto Yang; may their offenses be erased and their grievances resolved; may their names be removed from the registers of the underworld and entered into the immortal registers of the Daoist ranks; may they pass into a realm of blessing and goodness and ultimately ascend to the ranks of the immortals. May the spirits of all nine generations of ancestors and kin in the netherworld receive deliverance and elevation. I vow to practice diligently and serve the Dao, repaying in this way the beneficence of the True Spirits.

A prayer text for the Yellow Register Retreat, held at the family residence by Grand Lady Zhang.

The mysterious Dao and wondrous Daoist practices can bring aid to the age and support the state; the secret teachings concealed in the true scriptures can relieve all things and save all beings. Countless eons ago, the Dao established its grand order, and its teachings spread throughout the ten thousand heavens. Those who honor the Dao can gather auspicious blessings and receive protection; those who cultivate the Dao can ride the clouds and rosy mists and ascend to the heavens. A study of the writings of past and present makes these principles clear.

The Zhang family has been fortunate to receive auspicious blessings and to live in a wise and enlightened age, bathed in Heaven’s grace and favored by the emperor’s kindness. Reflecting on my station and duties, I am ever mindful of reverence and apprehension. I examine myself and cultivate virtue, repeatedly using these thoughts to keep myself alert. I fear that the wrongs accumulated in past lives have not yet been repented, and that the offenses of this life will only deepen. In the underworld, records of wrongdoing and documents for pursuing lawsuits are kept; in the realm of darkness, ledgers also determine the length of one’s life.

Moreover, the Zhang family faces an unfavorable destiny this year: the Heavenly Talisman star occupies the position of the Wood Tomb, while the hidden dark star rests in a year of transformation; the Fire star shines upon the Palace of the Self, and one’s nature and fate accord with conflict and harm. The major cycle has reached a position of flourishing Metal, weakening the Fire somewhat; the minor cycle lies in a place that generates Metal, and the Qi of Wood has grown thin. These calamities and ill-fated cycles deepen my concern. The Dao is vast and boundless, extending its grace to all. I therefore pray with reverence, hoping to receive auspicious blessings.

With a sincere heart, I purified myself through fasting and performed the Yellow Register Retreat, a Daoist rite for praying for blessings, warding off calamity, and guiding the deceased. I solemnly arranged the altar according to the rites of the Jade Terrace and laid out the offerings as recorded in the Jade Register. With sincere intent, I reported my wishes to the heavens, lighting an orchid-oil lamp at midnight; I made my vows known to the Three Realms—Heaven, Earth, and the human world—and burned sandalwood and sweet rush incense at the ninth watch. I earnestly set forth my hopes, seeking grace and forgiveness for my sins.

I respectfully invite the Most High and exalted ones, the myriad sages and a thousand perfected beings, to look with compassion upon these prostrations and prayers and to bestow their abundant grace. May they command the celestial offices and the prefectures of the earth, instructing the officials of the underworld and the divine officers of the living world: remove the name from the Black Register and enter it in the immortal registers of the Azure Palace, where the immortals dwell; settle debts and lawsuits, and resolve old grievances. May the Northern Capital, the Daoist underworld in the north, erase cases of detention, confrontation, and deception, and lengthen the span of life. May the Southern Pole, governed by the Great Emperor of Longevity, set a date for extended life and increase blessings and prosperity. May the Five Phases erase records of calamity and obstruction, and may the Nine Luminaries—the sun, moon, and five planets among the celestial bodies—cease bringing misfortune by shining upon the body.

May peace and prosperity prevail continually among humankind; may the family live in comfort and health, and may the descendants be loyal and filial. May the Nine Generations of the Mysterious Ancestors and Seven Generations of Forebears, a collective term for distant ancestors and those of past generations, together with all deceased family members, be able to rely on the power of the Dao to journey onward successfully, if they still linger in the shadowed realms and have not yet reached the path of blessed peace. May living friends and kin receive benefit and protection, and truly enjoy security and good fortune. May even beings in the Three Evil Paths, the six realms of rebirth, and the cold regions of the underworld, through the conditions created by repentance and purification of sins, ultimately attain freedom and liberation.

May the officials of the realms of Yin and Yang, and the dragon spirits who guard dwellings, enjoy lasting joy and peace, and may calamity and decline fade away and subside. Above all, may the nation’s borders be vast and its ruler’s life long; may the nation’s fortune surpass that of the Zhou dynasty and its blessings exceed those of the Han dynasty. May the realm be unified, with roads and systems of writing brought into accord. May all people share a heart of loyalty to the ruler and receive the protection granted by Heaven.

I humbly understand that the Dao, in its essence, is originally Wuwei (non-action: neither acting recklessly nor forcing what cannot be forced). Yet it gives forth primordial Jing, which transforms into the Yin and Yang Qi of Heaven and Earth. Only once the myriad phenomena of Heaven and Earth exist can the stars follow their courses and the myriad things take shape. The Earth takes form in dependence on the celestial bodies, and its movement does not depart from the calendar. The flourishing of Yang Qi and the austere decline of Yin are both regulated by natural law. Thus good and evil alternate, while fortune and misfortune depend on one another. The Qian trigram symbolizes strength and vigor, and the Kun trigram symbolizes receptivity and support. Even Heaven and Earth cannot alter the appointed sequence of the Yin-Yang changes represented by the numbers nine and six. Nor can the waxing and waning of the Moon or the movement of the Sun change the course of increase and decline. How much less can the myriad things, formed by receiving the Qi of Heaven and Earth, escape change? Each person’s three allotted destinies, which shape the course of a lifetime, also have their own fixed measure. The affairs of the world have always followed the principle of change and transition. Therefore, people should examine themselves with care, inspect their failings, recognize their errors, and continually encourage themselves, hoping to move the true spirits to look upon them with favor.

In my early years, I received the protection of the Mysterious Gate and long enjoyed its generous kindness. In this enlightened age, I was fortunate to be entrusted with favor and weighty responsibility. I have served with loyalty and exerted myself to the utmost, yet have not fully discharged my duty to assist the state and correct the ills of the times. In assisting the Sovereign and upholding the court, I have repeatedly received extraordinary favor. The court granted me a general’s altar and the seal of a chancellor, and its trust in me grew ever deeper. I set out to lead the troops wearing blue-green jade, and my honors became ever more conspicuous. Though I have often been wary that excess brings loss, I do not know how to repay the kindness of my ruler and parents. I fear that my daily conduct and efforts may have fallen short of what is proper, or that my thoughts and intentions may have offended the spirits. Perhaps in matters of state I have meted out rewards and punishments unfairly, or made mistaken judgments while leading others. Perhaps errors from a former life remain unatoned, or grievances and debts accumulated over many lives have yet to be resolved. Even one such failing is reason to repent and cleanse myself.

This year, both of the two annual cycles used in fate calculation fall in a tomb position, and the Flying Heaven encounters the Fire Star. Although the auspicious positions of the Canopy and the Virtue of the Emolument are present, I remain concerned that a configuration of punishment and affliction may bear upon me. For this reason I am filled with apprehension and pray with still greater sincerity. Xu’s annual fate this year also shows calamity and obstruction: both the greater and lesser cycles indicate that the forces of Metal and Fire are weak; the flying palace encounters Jidu, an inauspicious star in astrological fate calculation; and the Heavenly Talisman falls in the birth month. I fear calamity and obstruction may follow. I therefore devote myself to repentance and prayer, respectfully prepare the sacrificial rites, and perform purification with reverence.

Following the rites of Xuandu, I establish a Yellow Register Daoist altar, a Zhaijiao purification ritual performed to pray for blessings and avert misfortune. For two days and six watches, I respectfully arrange incense and flowers and invite the true and holy beings of Heaven and Earth to descend. I focus my spirit and wholeheartedly present my earnest wishes. I humbly pray that the myriad saints shine down upon me and the assembled perfected beings look upon me with understanding; that they take pity on my sincerity and grant auspicious blessings. May they pardon past offenses and dispel future calamities and obstructions. May baleful stars and dark influences cease to bring harm; may conflicts and harmful conjunctions among the Three Destinies and the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) be dissolved. May enmity be reconciled and disputes brought to an end; may descendants flourish, and longevity, blessings, and emoluments increase. May the Nine Profound Ones, the ancestors and departed spirits in the unseen realms, receive blessings, and may even the darkest places be filled with light. May my family be safe and the Dragon Spirits at peace.

I also pray that the Sovereign enjoy boundless longevity and that the great enterprise of the state prosper for long ages. May the fame of its civilizing influence spread throughout the nine provinces, and may the people rejoice in the grace of an enlightened ruler. May the institutions and culture of the realm be unified, and may all four quarters share in benevolent government. May the hundred grains yield abundant harvests, and may the Six Qi—the natural forces of Yin, Yang, wind, rain, darkness, and light—flow in harmony. I vow to repay the Sovereign’s kindness with loyalty and filial devotion, to preserve my sincerity and dedication to the utmost, and to look up to the true spirits for their protection.

A prayer composed by Shangguan Zirong for a Yellow Register Retreat (Huanglu zhai), a Daoist purification ritual (Zhaijiao) for praying for blessings and averting calamities:

The merit and virtue of the Great Dao are mysterious and inexhaustible; the responses of the utmost true Dao are profound and wondrous. It bestows grace as each place requires, answers people’s prayers with compassion, supports the state and aids the people, and extends its kindness to all living beings. It drives away calamities and grants blessings, extending its grace even throughout the netherworld. Whatever is prayed for will surely be clearly discerned.

A certain person fears that this year, in both major and minor fortunes, the Three Destinies—a system for assessing fate, longevity, and fortune or misfortune—are weakened. They also fear that the movements and positions of Yin-Yang and the lunar mansions, including the Five Planets’ paths and influences, are unfavorable and may bring calamity, yet they have nowhere to turn for help. Having heard that the merit of the Yellow Register Retreat is vast, that no disaster cannot be resolved and no misfortune cannot be averted, they pray with sincere devotion, hoping to receive the protection of the mysterious divine powers. They now respectfully establish an altar in accordance with the prescribed liturgy, burn incense and lamps for three days, and perform rites of repentance at nine appointed times, praying that the utmost true Dao will respond unseen and that their petitions will reach it.

With reverence, they pray that the heavens of the Three Realms and the assembled high perfected beings and sages will send down boundless grace and offer wide protection. May they release this person from sins accumulated over many lifetimes and debts of resentment incurred across many lives, allowing them to dissolve and subside through repentance and to be cleansed away in good time. May their family remain safe and secure, and all public and private affairs proceed in harmony and peace. This person vows to devote themselves wholeheartedly to loyalty and filial devotion, and to honor the sacred Dao forever.

A petition by a descendant of the Tang imperial house, the Flying Dragon, and a Vice Minister who received the Zhengyi register.

It is said that when Heaven and Earth had not yet taken shape and all things rested in deep stillness, the primordial state of undifferentiated unity prevailed. The Dao gave rise to a single Qi, which then divided into the two primal forces of Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang rose and fell, changing in turn, while clear and turbid Qi came to distinguish the immortal from the mortal. Thus the Purple-Clear Golden Palace, the celestial palace of Daoist belief, stands high in the Court of Supreme Mystery, while the Yellow Axis Wind Gate, the pass leading to the netherworld, guards the depths of the dark springs.

All beings are clouded by the circumstances they encounter, and so they become uncertain about advancing and retreating in life. Caught in its rises and falls, they suffer the pain of drifting and loss. Since people are not born enlightened, someone must show them the way through confusion. In the late Eastern Han, the August Emperor of Dark Origin, an honorific Daoist title for Laozi, opened the treasure repository of the Southern Palace and first transmitted the true Fulu (talismans and registers), to offer aid widely to all beings. By cultivating them, one may ride the light and ascend into the void; by putting them into practice, one may aid the people and support the state. At times they are used to dispel disasters and ill omens; at times, to punish wicked demons and evil spirits. They restore order to the movements of the sun and moon, ensuring that wind and rain come in season and all things flourish as they should. They quell calamities and baleful influences among humankind, so that plants and trees may grow unharmed. This Daoist method has been honored throughout the ages, and the blessings it brings are without end.

In my early years, I received the protection of the Daoist teachings and the favor of imperial grace. My service has been meager, yet the kindness I have received grows ever greater; my abilities are limited, and I have not yet repaid my sovereign or my parents. I have often sought to obtain and study the secret Fulu, and to honor and receive the wondrous scriptures. Morning and evening, I diligently burn incense and light lamps, praying and making supplication with wholehearted devotion. My hope is that both household and state may receive blessings and good fortune.

Now I have respectfully prepared the offerings and rites required for a Zhaijiao (purification ritual), solemnly opened the altar, and spent the night repenting and cleansing my sins, bowing my head in refuge. Orchid lamps illuminate the netherworld at night; sandalwood incense rises at dawn toward the Three Realms, the three celestial levels in Daoist belief. With reverence and earnestness, I pray that my sincerity may reach the honored spirits.

I respectfully invite the Three Venerable Ones of the Most High, the Great Emperor of Dark Origin, the sages of the ten directions, and the awe inspiring spirits of the Three Caverns, who preside over Daoism’s Three Caverns scriptures and teachings, to witness this wholehearted devotion and grant a response. I pray that the numinous officials and true Qi be bestowed together, so that inwardly I may preserve my safety and well-being, and outwardly dispel calamities; that my name be entered in the registers of Daoism, and my sins erased from the underworld. May the Nine Generations of Ancestors, the departed forebears and spirits of the clan, leave their long endured darkness and dwell forever in lasting joy. May the entire clan enjoy boundless blessings and goodness, and receive for generations the bright and beautiful gifts of fortune. May life be prolonged, and may public and private affairs alike be peaceful and secure.

I also pray that the imperial foundation endure, that the fortunes of the state continue unbroken, and that the sovereign’s sacred life span without limit, lasting as long as Heaven and Earth. May imperial grace reach every part of the realm and bring peace to the lands within the Four Seas. May all under Heaven follow together the way of the utmost Dao and jointly spread the teaching of Wuwei (non-action).

I have heard that the Lingbao school’s purification rites can, through fasting and purification, make contact with subtle and mysterious signs. Daoist scriptures of the True Writings establish teachings and methods by which people can cultivate body and mind in every step forward or back, every movement and pause. These methods arise from the heart and aim to spread the Great Dao. They may be used to pray to Heaven with sincere devotion, sending profound wishes on high, or to express heartfelt intentions and seek the lasting descent of blessings. I have long held to a pure and faithful conviction, and now respectfully offer this Zhaijiao (purification ritual and sacrificial rite).

The emperor established the dynasty and pacified the realm, emulating Heaven in sheltering and nurturing all things. After bringing disorder to an end, he received the virtue of Earth; by illuminating the True Way and revealing sage-like wisdom, he also accorded with the Metal Phase. Your Majesty conducts affairs with such care that you seem to tread on thin ice or hold a rotten rope, ever alert to danger. You labor day and night, enduring hardships like wind and rain. After many years of this, you have grown ever more diligent in revering Heaven and cultivating De. Thus the harvests are abundant year after year, the state is prosperous, and its armies are strong. The borders are secure: the frontier of Shu-Han is held, and the vital routes through Qian and Wu are guarded. Your Majesty combines civil governance with military prowess, keeping the bonds of order in place; you act with fairness and impartiality, making the governance of the state your foundation. The people of the four quarters admire your virtue and righteousness, while those in distant lands submit to your benevolent rule. However high the mountains or deep the waters, travel and communication remain unobstructed, and the laws and teachings of the various regions are brought into harmony. All this is the result of the protection of the spirits of the Nine Heavens and the unseen support of the Great Dao: the imperial foundation grows ever more flourishing, and imperial plans endure. The people’s reverence deepens, and their desire to conduct themselves with greater care becomes more urgent.

Recently, the movements of the stars have stalled and the appointed days have been delayed. Observations of the regions associated with those stars show that prayers and rites to avert misfortune are indeed needed. For this reason, we have cleansed our minds and dispelled distracting thoughts, and invited Daoist ritual masters from the Ten Isles—the immortal beings said to dwell in those paradisal realms. Following the subtle liturgy of the Three Caverns, the Daoist scriptural classification, we have respectfully established a pure fast and conducted a grand Jiao, a large-scale Daoist sacrificial rite and prayer ceremony.

We respectfully invite the Most High Perfected Ones, beings of the highest rank among the immortals, to descend and look upon us; may all the sages show compassion and turn the pivot of transformation within the Mysterious Gate, so that the radiance of the Elixir Way may appear. May every calamity and anomaly be dispelled, and every auspicious sign descend through resonant response. May Your Majesty’s sacred life extend beyond a thousand years, and may the emperor’s virtuous governance spread throughout the realm. May your lifespan be as deep-rooted and steadfast as the Five Sacred Peaks, and your blessings wider than the Eight Seas; may you be as enduring as Heaven and Earth and as radiant as the sun and moon. May this rite accord with the devotion of the Chinese realm and the peoples who have come from the four quarters, and fulfill the earnest hopes of ministers who depend upon their sovereign.

We have exhausted our knowledge and learning, carefully seeking to accord with Your Majesty’s wishes, and have presumed to pray to the True Immortals. At this moment, our hearts are full of reverent awe, humility, and urgent sincerity. We have respectfully appointed the Purple-Robed Master Deyi, Zhang Maoqing, and thirteen others to conduct the rites with devotion, and earnestly beseech the divine Perfected Ones to look upon this sincere offering.

The Dao, the origin of the cosmos, blends into the void. From it emerge Heaven and Earth and Yin-Yang, marking the beginning of the Nine Mysteries, the hidden and wondrous realms described in Daoism. The forms of all things take shape in a dim, indistinct state, and the transformations that bring them into being become manifest. Thus Heaven and Earth bear all things, while the sun and moon shine in every direction. The Three Powers—Heaven, Earth, and humanity—follow the Great Dao together, while Yin and Yang, hardness and softness, each fulfill their roles. All things arise one after another, and good and evil emerge with them.

Then Heaven appoints rulers and fathers to govern and teach the living, and ministers to assist them. A ruler should model himself on the High Emperor, who practiced compassion without deliberate action, and embody the grace of the Great Emperor, who warmed all things without teaching through words. In this way, he can secure the realm and shelter the people.

With reverence, we reflect that His Majesty the Emperor has come into the world in response to Heaven’s Mandate and received that Mandate to govern the state. He is endowed with the essence of the sun, moon, and stars, and holds within him the numinous Qi of mountains and rivers. He accords with the sun, moon, and stars and follows the course of the seasons. He has received the support of Heaven, humanity, and the people, all of whom turn toward him, and auspicious signs of many kinds have appeared. Now, mindful of the state’s decline and turmoil, he comforts the people and steadies the commanderies, restoring peace to the divided realm. In his tireless governance, his achievements rival Yu the Great’s control of the floods; his teaching reaches far, and his Virtue rivals that of King Cheng of Zhou. He labors day and night, undaunted by hardship, solely to bring peace to all under Heaven and secure lasting order.

For this reason, we have chosen the first month, when Yang Qi is flourishing, to hold a purification ritual. At this time, the Yin and Yang Qi are about to meet, and it is also the height of summer heat symbolized by the Horse position. We hope to increase blessings and pray for the Emperor’s longevity. We have therefore established a Golden Register sacred altar for a Daoist rite of blessing and averting calamity, and adorned a Jade Capital sanctuary with solemn splendor.

We respectfully pray that the Emperor’s wisdom shine clear as the cassia tree in the moon, and that his life endure as long as the celestial elm. May he hold the reins of government and rule all under Heaven, bringing peace and prosperity to countless people. May he lower the beads of his imperial crown to hear sound counsel and behold the loyalty of Yuan Kai, the legendary worthy ministers. May he occupy the imperial throne, harmonize Yin and Yang, and receive the assistance of Kui and Long, the legendary worthy ministers. May the state remain secure for generations and all under Heaven enjoy peace without worry.

We look up in reverence to the Void Emperor, the supreme deity honored in Daoism, and humbly ask Heaven to bestow its grace. May the spirits accept our sincere prayers and grant what we earnestly implore.

Vast and boundless, nurturing all things between Heaven and Earth, is the supreme Dao (the Way). All-embracing, it sets the transformations of the myriad things in motion through its profound and mysterious workings. The Dao gathers Qi (vital energy) into a single breath, bringing forth Heaven, Earth, and humanity—the Three Powers—and moves through the Six Directions, above and below, the four quarters, enabling all things to grow and change. Thus the ancient emperors, from the Spring Sovereign and Autumn Emperor to the rulers of the Cloud Era and the Fire Office, received the Dao’s mysterious Way to govern the world, and followed the principle of Wuwei (non-action) in ordering Heaven and Earth.

They ever maintained a calm and upright De (Virtue/Power), sitting solemnly in tranquil palaces and governing all realms by upholding the Great Dao. Even in years of calamity, when heat was fierce enough to melt gold and stone, Shang Tang’s virtuous rule shone all the brighter. Even when floods surged over mountains and submerged high ground, Emperor Yao’s benevolent influence spread still farther.

The emperor followed Heaven’s mandate and ascended the throne, ruling Heaven and Earth through Wuwei. Receiving an auspicious mandate in the form of a sacred chart, he sat behind the imperial screen to hear affairs of state and establish his realm. He admired Laozi, honored as Xuanyuan, for his compassion and frugality, and revered the model of rulership embodied by the Yellow Emperor in the land of Huaxu. Day after day he remained vigilant, never growing complacent despite his accomplishments. Thus the court’s teachings spread far and wide; granaries were full and harvests abundant; the people lived in ease and joy, and the realm was at peace. Neighboring states dwelt in harmony with his court, while people from distant regions came bearing tribute.

The emperor therefore grew still more reverent toward Heaven’s mandate and humbly received its protection. Recently, strange portents had appeared in the heavens, and the stars shone as a warning. Though the positions of the constellations might not correspond to the divisions assigned to this region, the emperor still prayed with sincerity and diligently burned incense and observed ritual purification.

A grand altar was then respectfully established to seek abundant blessings. With bowed head and devoted heart, the emperor looked upward to the mysterious power of transformation in Jade Purity, the celestial realm revered in Daoism. A Golden Register ritual altar was set up for prayers seeking blessings and averting calamity, and the heart was purified as vows were made. The prayer was that this sincerity might reach the azure heavens, that the emperor’s life might be blessed with longevity like the sun and moon and endure alongside Heaven and Earth.

The memorial of blue words, a prayer addressed to the celestial realm during a Daoist purification ritual, was presented before the throne, causing the Golden Wisdom to gather in its radiance. The vermilion memorial of cinnabar, conveying the petition to the divine and perfected beings, was made known, bringing the pearl pouch of auspiciousness into accord with Heaven’s mandate. May calamities cease for a long time, and auspicious portents descend often. May the calendar and the seasons be in harmony, and may war no longer trouble the borders. May the government attain the flourishing prosperity of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and may the fortunes of the realm endure for countless generations. Though I occupy the position of heir apparent, my heart yearns for the immortal realms. With sincere devotion, I humbly seek the mysterious grace of compassion.

It is said that the supreme Dao is formless and soundless, subtle, mysterious, and still. Before Heaven and Earth separated from chaos, it spread its transformative power and nurtured all things; before the Taiji—the source from which Heaven, Earth, and the myriad things differentiated—came into being, it gathered the light. The Dao dispersed the fundamental simplicity and purity, secretly bringing forth the order of the myriad things. It stirred the three primal forms of Qi that generate Heaven, Earth, and all things, thereby governing the world. Thus, rulers who rose by riding dragons and responding to Qi, and sage kings who drew the trigrams, let their robes fall in repose, and began the work of teaching and transformation, all followed and proclaimed the essentials of the Dao, establishing the foundations of imperial rule. They extended the Dao’s wondrous efficacy, bringing blessings to all under Heaven; they put divine merit into practice, benefiting the people. Their imperial achievements thus shone forth, as did the splendor of ritual, music, and literary culture. All this truly depended on an enlightened court: it was the result of Heaven’s favor and of a ruler born in answer to the times.

The Emperor received the Mandate of Heaven and, following the course of the times, established the foundations of the state. He inherited the numinous origins of the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan and Emperor Zhuanxu, and carried forward the lofty De (Virtue/Power) of Zhifu and King Wen of Zhou. He took up the destiny of Earth’s De and brought the emblem of Metal’s De to full brilliance. With dignified bearing, governing through stillness, the Emperor looked to the virtuous rule of Tang Yao and Yu Shun and sought impartiality and clarity. He aspired to bring about great unity throughout the world and peace and well-being for the people of the nine provinces. Year after year, the harvests were abundant; both the lands of Huaxia and the border regions were at peace. The Crown Prince shone like the sun and moon together, and even distant lands praised the court’s righteous rule. All within and beyond the court were at peace, and the people lived and worked in contentment.

Now is the season of the Three Primal Festivals—the Upper, Middle, and Lower Primal observances, when Zhaijiao purification rituals are held to pray for blessings—and it is also an auspicious day of amnesty. It is fitting to observe purification with devotion and join in wishing long life for the ruler and his family. Let the altar built of jade be swept clean, and let worship be performed; let the rites be arranged according to the Golden Register purification liturgy, a Daoist Zhaijiao ritual for invoking blessings and dispelling calamities. Let dragon-patterned silk display our sincerity, and prepare incense and flowers as offerings. Light the nine-rayed lotus lamps to illuminate the shadowy realms; burn the sandalwood of the Three Su, sending its fragrant smoke upward to the abode of the immortals.

We earnestly entreat the Three Heavenly Venerables to send down their protection, and all the myriad saints to bestow their compassionate grace, so that the state’s ancestral temples may flourish and the imperial foundations remain secure. May the sage ruler’s life endure as long as Heaven and Earth, and may his enlightened radiance shine as long as the sun and moon. May civil and military achievements bring peace to the four quarters. May the descendants of the imperial house flourish through the generations, and may the Crown Prince enjoy long life and ever uphold the great enterprise of the state. May the consorts and empress possess pure and admirable virtue and together support the court. May the princes’ residences and the court be clear and harmonious, continually receiving good fortune and blessings; may the outer vassals and ministers at court also grow in honor. May all people enjoy lasting peace and contentment, with ample means and long lives.

May calamities and transgressions accumulated in past lives, debts and enmities formed in the past, and misfortunes arising from one’s birth date and destiny, as well as ill omens in the years allotted to one’s life, be confessed and atoned for through this rite, and wholly dispelled and brought to rest. We also pray that the revered spirits of the ancestors in the ancestral temples, the life-giving spirits of the Three Realms, and our own Nine Profound and Seven Ancestral generations—all our ancestors across nine and seven generations—may receive blessings in the heavens. May good fortune and auspicious signs pass to future generations and continue without end. Finally, we pray that the heavens remain clear and the stars follow their courses in peace. Return to the Zhi Talisman.