《黄箓九卮灯仪》

The Yellow Register Nine-Goblet Lamp Ritual is a ritual document, within the Yellow Register purification rites, for setting out nine divine lamps as offerings. The ritual is performed according to the regulations.

Incense is burned in offering to the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), Lords of the Dao (the Way); the Celestial Perfected of the Four Emperors; the Heavenly Worthies Who Save from Suffering of the Ten Directions; the holy multitude who have attained the Dao; the divine lords of the altar ordinances of the Nine Provinces; the underworld officials of the hells of the Ninefold Darkness; and the perfected divine sovereigns who govern the affairs of the Three Realms. The gods are respectfully invited to open their hearts of compassion, to examine this prayer and bear witness to it. The purification official, so-and-so, in accordance with the clearly established Keyi (liturgy), lights nine divine lamps. The lamplight shines upward to illuminate the halls of blessing in the heavens of the Three Realms, so that radiance spreads through the ten directions; in the middle it shines upon the Divine Continent of the Central Palace, so that demonic and evil Qi (vital energy) disperses and baleful calamities subside; and downward it shines into the hells throughout the nine strata of heavy Yin, so that wherever the sunlight reaches, the sufferings of sin are all pardoned. By the merit of this ritual service, both the living and the dead obtain blessing and protection. All those present are respectfully invited to join in praise.

The assembly chants the sacred title “Heavenly Worthy Who Saves from Suffering According to the Direction.”

The lamplight of the east shines toward the Zhen palace, of the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), at the Mao position. Upward it opens through the Gate of Azure Florescence and Primordial Yang. The clear and bright Qi shines upon the place of the Celestial Lord of the Nine Qi—the Azure Numen, the Primordial Elder, the Azure Emperor—and of the Perfected of Still Radiance in the realm of the Floriate Grove, making the Realm of the Limitless pure, tranquil, and majestic. In the middle it shines upon the Qingzhou field-allocation of the Third Palace, eliminating baleful calamities and sweeping away foul Qi. Downward it shines into the Hell of Wind and Thunder, dispelling the sufferings caused by flying dagger-axes and drifting halberds.

The lamplight of the southeast shines toward the Xun palace at the positions of Chen and Si. Upward it opens through the Gate of Initial Yang and Generating Qi. With the Qi of Brahma-conduct it shines upon the place of the Celestial Lord of Brahma-Qi and of the Perfected of True Peace in the realm of Cyan-Rosy Clouds, making the Realm of the Limitless silent, still, and majestic. In the middle it shines upon the Xuzhou field-allocation of the Fourth Palace, eliminating evil and driving away baleful calamities. Downward it shines into the Hell of the Bronze Pillar, dispelling the sufferings of the body burned, scorched, and charred to decay.

The southern lamp light illuminates the Li Palace (the palace of the south) of the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), corresponding to the wu position. Above, the lamp light reaches the Gate of Cavern-Yang Great Light. The Qi (vital energy) of Cavern-Yang shines upon the Cinnabar-Numinous True Elder, the Red Emperor, Celestial Lord of the Three Qi—the divine lords commanded by the Red Emperor of the south—upon the Perfected Chiming (Red Brilliance) in the realm of the Cinnabar Heaven, and upon the Realm of the Infinite, rendering them upright and majestic. In the middle, it illuminates the Yangzhou field allocation in the Ninth Palace, eliminating calamities and anomalies and sweeping away the evil influences of the wu position. Below, it illuminates the Hell of Obscuring Fire, helping to free beings from the suffering of being forced to swallow fire and eat charcoal.

The southwestern lamp light illuminates the Kun Palace, corresponding to the shen and wei positions. Above, the lamp light reaches the Gate of the Primordial August High Gods. The Qi of Brahma-Yang shines upon the Celestial Lord of Brahma-Qi, the Perfected of Jade Light in the realm of Radiant Truth, and the Realm of the Infinite, so that they receive rescue and are adorned with majesty. In the middle, it illuminates the Jingzhou field allocation in the Second Palace, issuing commands to seize and subdue violent evil and to drive out pestilence. Below, it illuminates the Hell of Slaughter, helping to free beings from the suffering of being hung upside down and having their bodies cut apart.

The western lamp light illuminates the Dui Palace (the palace of the west), corresponding to the you position. Above, the lamp light reaches the Gate of the Yin-Numinous Golden Portal. The Qi of Lesser Yin shines upon the Brilliant-Numinous White Elder, the White Emperor, Celestial Lord of the Seven Qi—the divine lords commanded by the White Emperor of the west—upon the Perfected of the Dharma Treasure in the realm of Golden Light, and upon the Realm of the Infinite, so that they receive benefit and are adorned with majesty. In the middle, it illuminates the Liangzhou field allocation in the Seventh Palace, sweeping away foul Qi and washing away violent disasters. Below, it illuminates the Diamond Hell, helping to free beings from the suffering of being struck by golden hammers and iron staves.

The northwestern lamp light illuminates the Qian Palace, corresponding to the xu and hai positions. Above, the lamp light reaches the Gate of Nine-Yang Brahma-Conduct. The Qi of Brahma-Origin shines upon the Celestial Lord of Blazing Qi, the Perfected Who Relieves Suffering in the realm of the Wondrous Dao (the Way), and the Realm of the Infinite, so that they receive the majestic protection of the true immortals. In the middle, it illuminates the Yongzhou field allocation in the Sixth Palace, sweeping away demons and evil creatures and destroying malign spirits. Below, it illuminates the Hell of Fiery Chariots, helping to free beings from the suffering of injury by weapons and of being crushed by wheels of fire.

Here, “illumination above, in the middle, and below” presents the three levels of prayer in the lamp liturgy: upward it reaches the gods and perfected beings of the celestial realm; in the middle it shines upon the directions and provinces of the human world; and below it illuminates the hells, so as to drive out evil, dispel calamity, and relieve suffering.

The lamp of the north illuminates the Kan palace at the position of the earthly branch zi. Its light rises to the “Gate Where Yin Is Born and Vast Numinosity Spreads,” and by the Qi (vital energy) of Cavernous Yin it shines upon the Mysterious Elder of the Five Numina, the Black Emperor and the Heavenly Lords of the Five Qi—the Black Emperor of the north and his divine lords of the five qi—upon the Perfected Who Saves from Suffering in the realm of True Emptiness, and upon the Realm of the Limitless, so that these places receive an adornment of solemn purity. The light reaches the middle region, the first palace, namely the fenye of Jizhou, washing away violence and evil and sweeping off calamity and dark gloom; it also reaches the Cold and Dim Hell below, helping the suffering escape the bitter torment of the ice pools.

The lamp of the northeast illuminates the Gen palace at the positions of the earthly branches chou and yin. Its light rises to the “Gate of the Forbidden Summit,” and by the Qi of Primordial Brahma it shines upon the Heavenly Lord of Burning Qi, the Perfected of Wondrous Sound in the realm of Enduring Joy, and the Realm of the Limitless, so that the place is majestically adorned throughout. The light reaches the middle region, the eighth palace, namely the fenye of Yanzhou, clearing pestilence and disaster and crushing violence and evil; it also reaches the Hell of Boiling Cauldrons below, helping the suffering escape the ordeal of being stabbed with iron forks and boiled and steeped in the scalding liquid.

The lamp of the center illuminates the central palace and shines upon the Heavenly Lords of the Twelve Qi. Its light rises to the “Gate of Soaring Brahma in the Daluo Heaven,” fully illuminating the Mysterious Metropolis, the Jade Capital, the Golden Towers, the Mysterious Terrace of the Seven Treasures, and the Celestial Emperors and Lords of the Three Realms. It also shines upon the supreme sages, the exalted perfected, and the Perfected of Spontaneity in the Formless Realm, so that the Realm of the Limitless is adorned in purity by the light of the Purple Empyrean. The light reaches the middle region, the domain of Shenzhou, the Divine Continent, namely the fifth palace and the fenye of Yuzhou, causing pestilential poison to disperse and evil to withdraw, the people to enjoy health and peace, the five grains to yield abundantly, auspicious blessings to arrive, and warfare to cease; it also reaches the central Hell of Universal Plunder below, helping the suffering escape the ordeal of the sword forest and the blade mountain.

When the recitation of the scripture (Jing) is complete, the merit is dedicated to the assembled deities.

(“Fenye” refers to the ancient regions in which earthly provinces were correlated with celestial lodges. According to the liturgy, the upper, middle, and lower illuminations point respectively to the heavens, the earthly regions, and the hells, expressing through the lamplight a prayer for salvation and the removal of disaster.)