《金箓玄灵转经早午晚行道仪》

Morning Ritual of Practicing the Dao (the Way) for Revolving the Xuanling Jing (scripture/classic)

The ritual service is performed according to the prescribed rite.

All who worship the venerable masters shall visualize in accordance with the ritual method.

Please recite the divine incantation:

The scene above the Nine Heavens transforms and gives birth to radiant splendor; its brilliance ripples through the Great Void and shines upon the true realm of Purple Tenuity. Reaching upward to the Central Sovereign, the host of deities descends in succession. It enables all living beings to cast off the roots of suffering and leave hardship behind; the Eight Difficulties (eight obstacles to cultivation) are suddenly dispelled; ancestors of seven generations are together raised and delivered, and blessings and felicity are vast. May I be granted to become a divine immortal and, observing the purificatory fast, ascend in flight within the Eight Effulgences (the immortal realms of which Daoism speaks).

Strike the ritual drum twenty-four times.

The Most High Lord Lao of the Mysterious Primordial Beginning Qi (vital energy)—the original primordial energy of which Daoism speaks—of the Unsurpassed Three Heavens summons forth, from within this minister’s body, the Three-and-Five Merit Officers (divine clerks who transmit documents and report affairs), the official envoys of the left and right, the dragon-mounted relay officers of the left and right who bear incense, the Golden Lads who attend the incense, the Jade Maidens who convey words and scatter flowers, together with the duty talismans of the Five Emperors and the incense officials assigned to the day, thirty-six of each. As they come forth, all shall compose their bearing, put on bright and solemn robes, don their caps, fasten their sashes, and let the cap-tassels hang down.

I respectfully report this to the Earth Deity of the Mysterious Altar (the local earth god who guards the altar) and to the spirits of this place. This morning your minister ascends the altar to practice the Dao, pays court to the divine perfected, reverently offers utmost sincerity, and seals and submits the memorial documents. I further pray that the Most High Utmost True Dao-Qi and the auspicious light of Lingbao (Numinous Treasure) descend and flow into the bodies of us ministers, so that the sincerity I report may be swiftly conveyed, reaching directly before the Utmost True and Limitless Great Dao, the Upper Sages of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the Star Lord of the Central Heaven, the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity, and the Nine Sovereign Star Lords of the Northern Dipper.

Please announce the ritual office of the one who reports the service.

We, the servant of established rank, of such-and-such surname, together with the officers of the same altar and the assembly of Daoists, sincerely submit this memorial and respectfully invite the Supreme Boundless Great Dao (the Way); the Ancestral Master of the Dipper Pole, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning; the Mysterious Master of the Dipper Pole, the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure; the Lineage Master of the Dipper Pole, the Celestial Worthy of the Dao and De (Virtue/Power); the Jade Emperor, Supreme Sovereign of Vast Heaven; the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity of the North Pole; the Celestial August Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity; the Exalted Jade Emperor Venerable Star Lord within the Dipper; the Jade Emperor of Grand Tenuity; the Great Emperor Lord, Mysterious Minister of the North Pole; and the star lords of the Northern Dipper: the Great Star Lord Tianying Tanlang, the Primordial Star Lord Tianren Jumen, the True Star Lord Tianshu Lucun, the Binding Star Lord Tianxin Wenqu, the Guideline Star Lord Tianqin Lianzhen, the Recording Star Lord Tianfu Wuqu, the Pass Star Lord Tianchong Pojun, the Left Assistant Star Lord Dongming, and the Right Aide Star Lord Yinguang. We further invite the Ladies of the Nine Sovereigns, the Inner Consorts of the Nine Yin, the Great Saint of Tiangang, the Emperor Lord of Kui Light who regulates the myriad perfected, the star lords of the Three Terraces and the Floral Canopy within the Northern Dipper, each person’s natal star lords, the Star Lord of Longevity and Virtue, the Old Man of the South Pole, the Star Lord of Blessing and Virtue of Upper Clarity, the Star Lord of Emolument and Virtue of Upper Clarity, the stellar governors who shine upon the imperial throne, the star lords of the Twenty-Eight Lodges, the star lords of the Sixty Jiazi, the holy assembly of officers of the mysterious bureau of the Dao and De, the Perfected Lord Great Ritual Master within the Mystery, the Perfected Lord Great Ritual Master of the Three Heavens, the ministerial elders of the Nine Provinces of the Central Heaven, the Left and Right Embroidered-Robe Emissaries, the Emissaries Qingyang and Tuoluo, the Four Duty Merit Officers of Jade Script, the Attendants for Communications, the thousand chariots and ten thousand riders within the Dipper, and all perfected spirits. We respectfully ask all of you, in your vast compassion, to descend and look upon us.

We have heard that the three luminaries—the sun, the moon, and the stars—shine forth in brilliance, and that the nine stars likewise cast their radiance. The earth deities (spirits of the earthly realm) uphold the throne of the Jade Bureau, and the operation of the Dao extends throughout the world. The Celestial Master (Tianshi) attends the honored gods within the Golden Portal, and the scriptural texts (Jing) glow with splendor. Daoist classics are like boats and bridges, helping men and women of all living beings to cross through hardship; Daoist clerical office governs the conveyance of messages and the command of immortal spirits. Of all who live between heaven and earth, who can stand outside the transforming and nurturing work of heaven and earth?

In former lives we accumulated good affinities and blessed felicity, and our names have already been entered in the registers of the divine perfected. We have taken part in the writings of the River Chart and Huoluo (Daoist ritual texts), and we wear and have received the registers of the Three and Five and the Armillary Sphere—Fulu (talismans and registers). We diligently cultivate and accumulate merit and practice, thereby assisting heaven and earth in giving life to and nurturing the myriad things. Now, reverently carrying out the sacred decree, we perform the Golden Register Retreat (a Zhaijiao, or purification ritual, established in Daoism to pray for blessings and avert calamity). Carefully following the scriptural instructions, we long ago established the numinous altar. Modeling ourselves on the earth and following the way of heaven, we kowtow facing the Purple Court (the place where the sovereign resides). With sincere hearts we pray to prolong life and increase the reckoning of blessings, writing our petitions upon cinnabar slips (vermilion documents used to record sacred matters). We hope to receive grace bestowed like rain and dew, so that Yin-Yang may move in smooth accord.

Now, at the morning audience, we ascend the altar to practice the Dao, and we ask the ritual assembly present to raise this first offering of incense. May the incense smoke rise into the void and be offered directly to the supremely true and peerless Treasure of the Dao, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning of the Daluo Heaven; the Celestial August Emperor of the Upper Palace of Purple Tenuity; the Two Emperors of the Jade Dipper; the Nine Sovereign Star Lords; and the perfected immortals and holy assembly of the Palace of Qingwei Heaven. We take refuge with body, mind, nature, and life, prostrating all five limbs upon the ground, and look up in reliance upon the Three Venerables of the Most High and the sages of the ten directions. By the merit of burning this incense, we offer prayers for His Majesty the Emperor: may heaven and earth display auspicious signs, and may the River Chart and the Luo Writing reveal fortunate omens; may the red geese, the white qilin, and other auspicious beasts leave records of blessings for all ages; may the branches and leaves of the imperial house flourish, and may an auspicious destiny of the realm be opened for ten thousand years. May the sacred longevity equal heaven, and may imperial grace shine everywhere like the light of the sun.

For this reason we burn incense, and from this moment take refuge in our teachers and the great holy assembly. We vow to practice the De of the supremely true, and, after attaining the Dao, to abide forever in heaven and become one with the Great Dao.

In this morning’s court ritual, the assembly ascended the altar to practice the Dao (the Way), performing a Daoist Zhaijiao (purification ritual), and the ritual clergy were asked to raise these two sticks of incense together. May the incense smoke rise into the air and reach the upper realms, offered to the Jade-Chen Lord of the Dao, the Unsurpassed Scripture Treasure of Supreme Truth; the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure; the Great Emperor of the Northern Pole of the Central Palace of Purple Tenuity; the Yuanchen stellar lords who govern the natal destiny of this life; the stellar officials who shine upon the imperial throne; and the perfected immortals and holy hosts of the Palace of Yuyu Heaven.

With body, Shen (spirit), and nature and life, we take refuge, prostrating ourselves and relying on the protection of the Three Venerables of the Most High, the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), and the sages of the ten directions. By the merit of burning incense, we respectfully pray for His Highness the Crown Prince: may a pure and upright wind of the Dao blow, and may the light of wisdom shine clear and unfold; may the heavenly realms send down auspiciousness, opening a realm of longevity between the Ji and Yi lunar mansions; may the stellar pivot of Purple Tenuity extend blessings and felicity, so that good fortune gathers like clouds among the irises and orchids.

Therefore we burn incense and respectfully pray for His Highness the Crown Prince. May a pure and upright wind of the Dao blow, and may the light of wisdom shine clear and unfold; may the heavenly realms send down auspiciousness, opening a realm of longevity between the Ji and Yi lunar mansions; may the stellar pivot of Purple Tenuity extend blessings and felicity, so that good fortune gathers like clouds among the irises and orchids.

Now, as incense is burned, we take refuge from this moment in the venerable masters and the great assembly of sages. May we obtain the De (Virtue/Power) of supreme truth; after attaining the Dao, may we long preserve our heavenly destiny and unite with the Dao to become perfected.

This morning we ascend the altar to perform the rite of the Dao (the Way), and we invite the ritual assembly to offer incense together according to the ceremony of taking up incense three times. May the incense smoke rise into the sky and reach directly to Heaven, to be offered to the supremely true and unsurpassed Teacher Treasure, the Mysterious Elder of the Five Numina; the Celestial Worthy of the Dao and the De (Virtue/Power); the Old Man of the Southern Pole, Star Lord of Longevity and Virtue; the Star Lord of Fortune and Virtue of Upper Clarity; the Star Lord of Rank and Virtue of Upper Clarity; and the perfected immortals and holy hosts of the Palace of the Great Scarlet Heaven.

With body and mind we take refuge, offering up our lives and prostrating with our five limbs upon the ground, reverently praying that the Three Worthies of the Most High and the holy multitudes of the ten directions will compassionately protect and bless us. May the merit of this incense offering be dedicated to our Three Teachers and Four Friends, our fellow students of the same lineage, and our pupils and disciples. May their innate nature be clear, bright, and pure, and their state of mind empty, luminous, and limpid. May the Golden Registers (the name registers and certificates of cultivation conferred by the Daoist teaching) that they have received remain secure and complete; may all eighty-four thousand kinds of affliction and worldly toil be entirely eliminated; may their names be entered on the Jade Tablets (the name rolls of the immortal realm); and may they perfectly fulfill the practice and observance of all one thousand two hundred precepts.

Therefore we burn incense and of our own will take refuge in the venerable masters and all the holy assembly. May we, relying on the De of the Supreme Truth, after attaining the Dao be preserved for long and never decline or perish, and at last become one with the Great Dao.

Celestial Worthy Who Covers and Protects through the Seven Primordials (the honorific title used when praying for the protection of the Seven Star Lords of the Northern Dipper)

Opening the Jing (scripture/classic)—beginning the recitation of the scripture.

I have heard that the scriptural instructions on natal destiny are a bridge to the unsurpassed Dharma. They are truly the fundamental purport of the Three Caverns (Dongzhen/Dongxuan/Dongshen), the system by which Daoist scriptures are classified, and the orthodox way that all living beings ought to follow. To open and expound this scripture enables a person to be born into the human world with outstanding intelligence; to uphold, recite, and practice it makes it a support for the whole of life, and blessings and longevity are thereby increased.

I, your servant, know my own endowment to be ordinary, yet I rejoice to have met with the nourishing transformation of the Dao (the Way). I receive the primordial Qi (vital energy) sent down by the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper, and I am grateful for the Jing (essence) and Qi bestowed by the two poles of Heaven and Earth. A person’s lifespan and heaven-allotted years are originally arranged by the presiding powers. Now, as I raise the altar, lay out the mats, and prepare the incense fire, I dare not act carelessly. Reverently obeying Heaven’s mandate, I carry out the Golden Register rite, a Zhaijiao (purification ritual) for invoking blessings and averting calamity: at morning, noon, and evening, following the secret canon, I practice the Way and proclaim the scripture, reciting the text through nine times and intoning it according to the cavern chapters, the liturgical writings within the Daoist scriptures.

The Mysterious Altar, the ritual space in which Daoist services are performed, thus opens the rite, and the Purple Pole, the celestial realm, widely bestows its grace. I pray that, by means of the wondrous Dharma of the One Vehicle, lifespan may be increased and years extended to ten thousand. Reverently I beseech the Mysterious Numina to display their radiance, and the stellar palaces of the Northern Dipper to stream forth their brilliance, to look down upon this single offering of pure incense and grant the bright lamps of the nine lights. May the sovereign be blessed and all under Heaven be at peace; may the protection of the myriad sages be received and the regard of the many perfected immortals be gained; may living beings reach the realm where life flourishes and pass in and out of the homeland of blessings and virtue. The assembly knocks their heads and takes refuge, and each one respectfully upholds the practice.

The Three Refuges

With a sincere heart I take refuge in the Treasure of the Scriptures of the ten directions. May all beings have their minds opened, awaken to the meaning of the scriptures, and receive, uphold, and recite the classics.

With a sincere heart I take refuge in the Treasure of the Dao of the ten directions. May all beings arouse the resolve of merit-dedication—turning the merit of cultivation toward what is wished for—and pay reverence to every method of the Dao.

With a sincere heart I take refuge in the Treasure of the Masters of the ten directions. May all beings universally ascend the bridge of the Dharma and meet no obstacles in cultivating the Dao.

Hymn on Destined Fate

The matters of destined fate indeed have their causes; yet those who are weak and lost—who have strayed from their original nature and forgotten the root—say that no such thing exists. People always wish to see with their own eyes what lies immediately before them; once the event has passed, they say it is remote and hard to believe. The great worthies understand the teachings of Daoism and take pity on the foolish. They never forget those people’s suffering, and they are constantly anxious on their behalf.

We, your ministers, respectfully note what the scripture says: Beichen (the Pole Star) dwells high in the heavens, and the host of stars circles about it. It is the pivot of the creative workings of Heaven and Earth, and the stellar deity who presides over both the human world and the realm of the gods. Beichen has the power to dispel calamity and carry one through adversity, and the efficacy to prolong life and increase blessings. Whether emperor or commoner, though their stations of honor and humility differ, the allotted span of life they receive does not differ.

Now, respectfully obeying the emperor’s edict, we solemnly perform the Jinlu Keyi (Golden Register liturgy, a Daoist rite for praying for blessings and dispelling disaster), offering prayers for the emperor’s longevity and good fortune. We, your ministers, respectfully lead the purified assembly at the altar and reverently recite the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing (Scripture of the Most High of Mysterious Numinous Power, the Northern Dipper, on Extending Life According to One’s Natal Destiny) once each, praying to the Great Sage of the Central Heaven, the Jade Dawn Lord Tianying Tanlang of the First Grand Commandant’s Office, and requesting that every calamity corresponding to Southern Li Nine-Purple and the Quail Fire celestial division be removed for the emperor. We earnestly beg the deities to look down in compassion and graciously grant what is sought. We, your ministers, grateful and sincere, respectfully practice in accordance with the scripture and its method.

Hymn for Spreading the Seat: the hymn sung when the scripture seat is laid out.

Inscribing the Jing (scripture): writing out the title of the scripture.

Recitation Complete: the recitation of the scripture is finished.

Hymn for Removing the Seat: the hymn sung when the scripture seat is taken away.

We, your ministers, earlier reverently led the purified assembly to ascend the altar and practice the Dao (the Way), offering wishes above for the sovereign’s myriad years of peace and health, and have already recited the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing once each, the sequence of the rite now complete. We respectfully invite the deities to bestow blessings and longevity and to protect life, so that good fruits may descend upon the person. Each, with a sincere heart, then circumambulates while chanting praise.

The Buxu is performed (the stepping and chanting of Daoist ritual), leading the assembly toward the south; after incense is offered they circle about and return to their original places.

Xuanling Ganying Tianzun (the Heavenly Worthy of Mysterious Numinous Response).

We, your servants, respectfully follow what the Jing (scripture/classic) sets forth: on a person’s own Benming day—the day corresponding to the heavenly stems and earthly branches of the year of birth—one should establish a Zhaijiao (purification ritual), pray to the Northern Dipper, and reverently invite the deities of the Three Officials and the Five Emperors, the Nine Bureaus and the Four Offices, and others, seeking the gift of blessings and the removal of calamity. Memorials are submitted and prayers offered with earnest urgency; the merit accumulated is profound and cannot be told in full, item by item.

Now we, your servants, respectfully carry out the edict of the court and perform the Golden Register Purification Rite, a Zhaijiao in Daoism for praying for blessings and averting disaster, so as to wish long life and blessings upon His Majesty. We carefully lead the pure assembly of the altar—the Daoist clergy taking part in the liturgy—to recite together, once through, the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing (the True Scripture of the Most High, Mysterious and Numinous, of the Northern Dipper for Extending Life according to Natal Destiny). We pray and invite the Great Sage of the Central Heaven, the Jade Dawn Lord Tianren Jumen of the Second Supreme Minister’s Bureau, to remove on people’s behalf the many calamities associated with the northeast Gen position—the northeast among the directions of the Bagua (Eight Trigrams)—with Eight White and Zhemu, “broken wood,” with the Xingji astral field, and with what belongs to them. We earnestly beseech the deities to look with compassion and to grant assent and protection. With hearts of utmost sincerity, we respectfully carry out the method of the scripture.

Hymn for Spreading the Seat: the hymn of praise chanted when the ritual seat is laid out.

Announcing the Scripture: the proclamation of the scripture’s title.

The recitation of the scripture is complete.

Hymn for Dismissing the Seat: the hymn of praise chanted when the ritual seat is withdrawn.

We, your servants, have just respectfully led the pure assembly to ascend the altar and practice the Dao (the Way), performing the liturgy according to the ritual order. We have offered prayers for His Majesty, wishing him peace, health, and ten thousand years of life, and together we have recited once the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing; the rite is complete. We respectfully hope that blessings and longevity will increase, that Heaven’s mandate will rest secure, and that good fruits will descend upon the person. Each one stirs a sincere heart, then moves in circuit, chanting hymns of praise.

The Buxu is paced—the walking chant of Daoist ritual—leading the company to the northeast. After incense is offered, they circle about and return to their original places.

The Greatly Compassionate Heavenly Worthy Who Extends Longevity.

We, your servants, respectfully follow what the scripture says: if one meets with danger and distress, how is one to be rescued and the harm resolved? One must at once pray and make report to the Northern Dipper, the star lords of the Northern Dipper, establish an offering, worship and give thanks to the True Lords, and recite the true Jing (scripture), recognizing and reverently honoring one’s own Benming True Lord, the star lord who governs a person’s allotted destiny. Only thus can one obtain peace and safety, and thereafter health and flourishing.

Now, respectfully carrying out the decree of the imperial court, we hold a Golden Register Zhaijiao (purification ritual), a Daoist rite for praying for blessings and averting calamity, to seek longevity and good fortune for His Majesty. We, your servants, respectfully lead the pure assembly of the altar, the Daoist clergy taking part in the liturgy. Each recites once the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing, the Most High Mysterious and Numinous Northern Dipper True Scripture of the Natal Destiny Star for Prolonging Life, and respectfully invokes the Great Sage of the Central Heaven, the Third, Jade Dawn Lord Lucun of the Heavenly Pillar of the Sikong Bureau. We earnestly beg this star lord to remove every disaster and affliction in the field allocation of Western Dui and Daliang, the ancient division by which stellar lodges correspond to regions of the earth. Looking upward, we hope the star lord will look down in compassion and graciously grant assent. We, your servants, are sincere and earnest, and deeply grateful, and we respectfully practice the scriptural method according to the rite.

In the original, the passage from “cultivating and practicing the Jing of the Dipper, of natal destiny and the prolongation of life” to “cultivating and practicing the scriptural method” occurs more than once. What follows preserves the ritual content according to the original.

Hymn for Spreading the Seat: a hymn chanted when the ritual seat is laid out.

Inscribing the Scripture: the title of the scripture is written.

Completion of the Scripture Recitation: the recitation of the scripture is finished.

Hymn for Dismantling the Seat: a hymn chanted when the ritual seat is withdrawn.

We, your servants, have just led the pure assembly to ascend the altar and practice the Dao (the Way), reciting scripture and offering worship according to the rite. Respectfully wishing His Majesty long life, peace, and health, all have each completed one recitation of the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing. We respectfully pray that fortune and lifespan may be increased, and that good fruits may descend upon each person. Everyone sincerely makes a vow, and then chants praise while proceeding.

They recite the Buxu, the hymn of Daoist ritual sung in time with the walking steps, leading the assembly toward the west. After offering incense, they circle in procession and return to their original places.

The Three Hearings of the Scripture: three times the wishes that follow the hearing of the scripture are proclaimed.

After hearing the scripture, may Heaven and Earth long endure, the four seas be at peace, and all under Heaven be tranquil.

After hearing the scripture, may His Majesty enjoy a myriad years of peace and health, and may the foundation of the imperial court stand firm.

After hearing the scripture, may the descendants of the imperial house flourish, and may the destiny of the state long prosper.

Making Vows: the assembly makes vows.

Visualizing the Spirits and Burning Incense: the divine True Ones are visualized, and incense is burned.

The envoys of the Incense Officials, the Dragon and Tiger Lords of the left and right, divine generals who guard the incense fire and the ritual altar, and all the spirits who attend the incense—here the wording of the original is unfinished, and the text then continues:

After hearing the scripture, may the descendants of the imperial house flourish, and may the destiny of the state long prosper.

Making Vows: the assembly makes vows.

Visualizing the Spirits and Burning Incense: the divine True Ones are visualized, and incense is burned.

Envoys of the Incense Officials, Dragon and Tiger Lords of the left and right (divine generals who guard the ritual space), and all the numinous officers in attendance on the incense: permit this subject, in the place where the morning audience of turning the scriptures and practicing the Way was just performed, to have golden liquor, cinnabar-red and jade-green radiance, and blossoms of the zhi arise of themselves (numinous things that symbolize immortal medicines and auspicious signs). The hundred numina and the host of the perfected (the many spirits and realized persons who have attained the Dao (the Way)) all assemble here, before the incense burner. May this subject’s sincere devotion move and reach the gods, and may the grace received spread far and wide unseen; may the sovereign’s life be peaceful and long, and the foundation of the state firm and enduring. May the immortal lads and jade maidens of the ten directions come to attend, so that the incense smoke may carry the sincerity this subject has already presented and speed it directly into the presence of the Supreme Perfected, Limitless Ultimate Dao, the Supreme Sages of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity and the Northern Culmen, and the Nine Sovereign Star Lords of the Northern Dipper.

Hymn for Leaving the Hall (the hymn chanted when the rite of practicing the Way comes to an end and one leaves the hall).

Rite of the Morning Audience for Turning the Scriptures of the Mysterious Numen and Practicing the Way.

Rite of the Noon Audience for Turning the Scriptures of the Mysterious Numen and Practicing the Way.

The ritual service is performed in accordance with the rite.

Each person bows in reverence to the master and, following the method, enters into visualization.

Please recite the divine incantation:

Most High, Mysterious Unity; the Nine Sovereigns emit Jing (essence). Through transformations of three, five, and seven, one sees through into the dark and hidden. Sun and moon let down their light, shining all the way into the spirit court. Their radiance fills the six directions; Grand Unity and the sovereign are at peace. At the Imperial Lord’s golden gate-tower, the golden writ does not incline. The Five Elders present the talisman.

Each person bows in reverence to the master and, following the method, enters into visualization.

Please recite the divine incantation:

Most High, Mysterious Unity; the Nine Sovereigns emit Jing. Through transformations of three, five, and seven, one sees through into the dark and hidden. Sun and moon let down their light, shining all the way into the spirit court. Their radiance fills the six directions; Grand Unity and the sovereign are at peace. At the Imperial Lord’s golden gate-tower, the golden writ does not incline. The Five Elders present the talisman, and Heaven and Earth are brought to completion together. Keep me free from delusion, so that I may reach the true numina. Drive back and restrain the ten thousand evils, so that misfortune and harm are all brought to peace. Ascend in audience before the Celestial Sovereign, and return from old age to infancy. The Great Emperor has issued a command; the hundred spirits listen with reverence.

(The general sense of the incantation is this: one prays that the Most High, the Nine Sovereigns, and the various gods manifest their divine power and see into the deep and hidden, so that the light of sun and moon shines through the spirit court and illumines every direction; one wishes the celestial realm to be at peace, the divine talismans efficacious, and Heaven and Earth joined as one. One prays that one’s own person not fall into delusion, that one may behold the true numina, dispel evil influences, and quiet misfortune and harm, and that one may gain audience with the Celestial Sovereign and recover youth. The Great Emperor has already issued his decree, and all the gods ought to heed it with reverence.)

Strike the ritual drum twenty-four times (beat the drum twenty-four times according to the rite).

We respectfully invite the supreme and unsurpassed Most High Lord Lao of the Three Qi (vital energy) of the Mysterious Primordial Beginning of the Three Heavens, and summon from within this minister’s own body the Merit Officials of the Three and the Five, the emissaries of the bureaus of the left and the right, the dragon-mounted courier officers of the left and the right who bear incense, the Golden Lads who attend the incense, the Jade Maidens who transmit words and scatter flowers, together with the duty-talisman officers of the Five Emperors and the incense officials on duty for the day—thirty-six of each—to come forward and take their places. As they come forward, all are to set their attire in strict order, with robes and caps bright and clear, caps properly worn, sashes properly fastened, and the cap-tassels left to hang naturally.

We now announce to the earth deity of the Mysterious Altar (the altar ground on which Daoist rituals are performed) and to the spirits of this locality: at this moment, availing himself of the midday sunlight, this minister ascends the altar to practice the Dao (the Way) and to pay homage in audience before the various imperial Perfected. With reverent and sincere intent, this minister has written out, one by one, the matters to be prayed and announced, sealed them in a document, and presents it. May the Qi of the Most High ultimate true Dao and the auspicious radiance of the Numinous Treasure descend and flow into the bodies of this minister and those with him, so that the sincerity hereby announced may swiftly ascend and reach directly into the presence of the Upper Sages of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) of the ultimate true and limitless Great Dao, of the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity and the Northern Pole, and of the Nine Sovereign Star Lords of the Northern Dipper. Let each divine Perfected report his own name and sacred office.

The officials whose names are entered, together with all who take part at the ritual altar, with one sincere heart respectfully address the Supreme Boundless Great Dao (the Way); the Patriarch of the Dipper Pole, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning; the Mysterious Master of the Dipper Pole, the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure; and the Ancestral Master of the Dipper Pole, the Celestial Worthy of the Dao and De (Virtue/Power); as well as the Jade Emperor of Vast Heaven; the Great Emperor, Celestial Sovereign of Purple Tenuity; the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity of the North Pole; the Exalted Jade Emperor Venerable Star Lord within the Dipper; the Jade Emperor of Grand Tenuity; the Great Emperor-Lord of the Mysterious Ministers of the North Pole; the Star Lords of the Northern Dipper; the Ladies of the Nine Sovereigns; the Inner Consorts of the Nine Yin; the Emperor Lord of Kui Radiance, who regulates the myriad perfected of Tiangang; the Star Lords of the Three Terraces and the Canopy within the Dipper; each person’s Star Lord of Natal Destiny; the Old Man of the South Pole, Star Lord of Longevity and Virtue; the Star Lord of Blessing and Virtue of Supreme Clarity (Shangqing); the Star Lord of Emolument and Virtue of Supreme Clarity; the Star Lords of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions; and the Star Lords of the Sixty Jiazi; together with all the official lords and holy assemblies of the divine bureaus of the Daoist pantheon, the Perfected Lords who are masters of ritual, the immortal officials and envoys of the heavens, the merit officers, the communicating attendants, the ceremonial guards and soldiers within the Dipper, and every perfected spirit. We respectfully hope that all of you, with hearts of vast compassion, will clearly observe what is performed within the altar.

We, your servants, have heard that the governing ordinances of the ten directions gather into pure essence, and that at the beginning of Heaven and Earth the image of the Primordial Beginning appeared; that the empty and mysterious primordial Qi (vital energy), in the age of Chiming (Red Brilliance), nurtured the sacred treasures; and that the sage of perfected embodiment, in the realm of Yongshou (Eternal Longevity), proclaimed the true scriptures (Jing). They established teachings for all living beings, so that beings, relying on the great sages, might come to commune with the divinities. The transformations of Yin-Yang turn with subtle precision upon the scales of the balance, and the fortune and misfortune of the human world are all held by those who preside.

We, your servants, take our places in ranked order on the right of the altar to carry out the rites, and on the left we register names, hoping to assist the spread of the true teaching and to make the light of wisdom manifest. We cultivate and practice with eager devotion, vowing that the methods of the Dao may circulate widely. Now, respectfully carrying out the edict of the court, we perform the Golden Register Retreat, a Zhaijiao (purification ritual) held in Daoism to seek blessings, dispel calamity, prolong life, and the like. We carefully keep the mysterious instructions and have always followed the clearly established Keyi (liturgy). With clear water and fresh flowers we set out offerings, raise a splendid jasper altar, and pray to the divinities; seeking longer life and added blessings, we bow toward the celestial palace and respectfully invite the gods to descend.

We hope the divinities will not overlook our meager offerings, and will also look down upon a devotion like that of the sunflower following the sun. Today, at the noon audience, we ascend the altar to practice the Dao. We ask all who take part in the ritual to take incense and offer the first stick. May the smoke of the incense rise into the air and reach the heavens, in offering to the Unsurpassed Supremely True Treasure of the Dao, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning of Daluo; the Great Emperor, Celestial Sovereign of the Upper Palace of Purple Tenuity; the Two Emperors of the Jade Dipper; the Star Lords of the Nine Sovereigns; and all the perfected immortals and holy assemblies of the celestial palace of Qingwei.

We, your servants, take refuge with body, mind, nature, and life, bowing our heads in prostration and relying on the Three Venerables of the Most High and the holy assemblies of the ten directions. By the merit of this stick of incense, we pray to the Two Emperors, the Star Lords of the Nine Sovereigns, and all the perfected immortals and holy assemblies of the celestial palace of Qingwei. We likewise take refuge and prostrate, respectfully wishing for His Majesty the Emperor: may His Majesty’s Dao and De accord with the Yin-Yang of Heaven and Earth, and may his grace nourish the four quarters; may body and mind ever remain pure and still, so that every region under Heaven is bathed in harmonious teaching; may the institutions of the realm be unified and its culture and teaching interconnected, so that the four seas share together in abundant harvests and auspicious signs.

Now, as incense is burned, we your servants take refuge in the masters and all the great sages. May we, by the De of the Supremely True, after attaining the Dao long endure in Heaven and become one with the Great Dao.

At the hour of the noon court today, we ascend the altar to perform the Xingdao ritual (the rite, within Daoist Keyi (liturgy), of ascending the altar to recite scriptures and pay homage to the gods). We ask that each member of the ritual assembly offer incense twice. May the incense smoke rise and reach directly to the heavens, in offering to the supremely perfected and unsurpassed Scripture Treasure, the Jade-Chen Lord of the Dao; the Lingbao Tianzun, Heavenly Worthy of Numinous Treasure; the Great Emperor of the Northern Pole in the Central Palace of Purple Tenuity; the Star Lord of the natal Yuanchen who governs each person’s own destiny (the stellar deity in charge of one’s natal fate); the stellar governor of the Imperial Seat who shines down upon us; and the host of perfected immortals and holy beings of the Yuyu Heavenly Palace.

With body, Shen (spirit), and life together we take refuge, prostrating our five limbs upon the ground, and we rely upon the Three Venerables of the Most High and the holy multitude of the ten directions. May the merit of this incense ascend to His Highness the Crown Prince. We respectfully wish that he may bathe in the Qi (vital energy) of Great Harmony and receive a flourishing destiny; that the years of the palace court may be long, and that he may widely receive an inexhaustible source of blessings; that spring warmth may fill the inner palace, gathering a rich abundance of joyous Qi. Now, as the incense is burned, from this moment we take refuge in the venerable masters and the great holy assembly. May we receive the De (Virtue/Power) of ultimate perfection and, after attaining the Dao (the Way), abide forever in heaven, uniting with the Great Dao to become perfected.

At the hour of the noon court today, we ascend the altar to perform the Xingdao ritual, and we ask that each member of the ritual assembly offer incense three times. May the incense smoke rise and reach directly to the heavens, in offering to the supremely perfected and unsurpassed Teacher Treasure, the Mysterious Elder of the Five Numina; the Daode Tianzun, Heavenly Worthy of the Dao and its De; the Old Man of the Southern Pole, Star Lord of Longevity and De; the Shangqing Star Lord of Fortune and De; the Shangqing Star Lord of Emolument and De; and the host of perfected immortals and holy beings of the Dachi Heavenly Palace.

With body, Shen, and life together we take refuge, prostrating our five limbs upon the ground, and we rely upon the Three Venerables of the Most High and the holy multitude of the ten directions. May the merit of this incense be transferred to the Nine Provinces and the Four Seas, to the common people of the myriad surnames, and to the farmers. We respectfully wish that the grace of the gods and spirits may spread over all the world, warming and moistening it like sunlight; that the elderly may be safe and well, and the young at peace in heart; that the fields may receive the transforming influence of governance by Wuwei (non-action), that people may plow and eat, dig wells and drink, and that the villages may sing the praises of rulers who possess the Dao. Now, as the incense is burned, from this moment we take refuge in the venerable masters and the great holy assembly. May we receive the De of ultimate perfection and, after attaining the Dao, abide forever, uniting with the Great Dao to become perfected.

The Three Refuges (the ritual of taking refuge in the Three Treasures: the Dao, the Jing (scripture/classic), and the Master).

With utmost sincerity we take refuge in the Scripture Treasure of the ten directions, wishing that the minds of all beings may be opened, that they may comprehend the meaning of the scriptures, and that they may receive, uphold, and recite them.

With utmost sincerity we take refuge in the Dao Treasure (Dao, the Way) of the ten directions, wishing that all beings may arouse the mind of merit-dedication (turning the merit of cultivation toward others or toward a particular aspiration) and pay reverence to all.

With utmost sincerity we take refuge in the Master Treasure of the ten directions, wishing that all beings may everywhere ascend the bridge that leads to the true teaching, and that their cultivation meet with no obstruction.

Hymn of Karmic Destiny

We, your servants, respectfully follow what the scripture states: on the Three Primordials (the three festivals of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Primordials), the Eight Nodes (eight nodal points of the solar terms), one’s Benming Yuanchen (the star corresponding to one’s own birth time), and the days when the stellar lords of the Northern Dipper descend, an altar should be solemnly established and a scripture-revolving Zhaijiao (purification ritual of reciting scripture together with a retreat and offering) performed, practicing the Way according to the ritual procedure, so that the blessings obtained are without limit.

Now we, your servants, reverently carry out the sacred command and perform a Golden Register rite (a Daoist Zhaijiao for praying for blessings and averting calamity), invoking long life and an increase of good fortune. We respectfully lead the pure assembly at the altar in reciting once the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing (True Scripture of the Most High, of Mysterious Numinosity, of the Northern Dipper, on Natal Destiny and the Extension of Life), reverently praying to the Great Sage of the Central Heaven, the Fourth Lord of the Youji Office, Tianxin Wenqu Yuchen (the title of a Daoist deity).

We pray that the honored deity expunge for us every calamity corresponding to the Qian position in the northwest among the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), to Six White, and to the astral fields of Zouzi and Jianglou (celestial regions divided according to constellations and directions). We earnestly beg the honored deity to look down with compassion and discernment and to grant what we, your servants, request. We are urgent in the extreme, and respectfully carry out the scriptural method.

At this point the original text again repeats the sentences invoking the honored deity and praying that calamity be removed, and once more writes: “We, your servants, are overcome with the utmost urgency, and cultivate the scriptural method.”

Hymn for Arranging the Seat (the hymn chanted when the ritual seat is laid out)

Inscribing the Scripture (writing the title of the scripture)

Recitation of the Scripture Completed

Hymn for Dismissing the Seat (the hymn chanted when the rite of the seat is brought to a close)

We, your servants, have just reverently led the pure assembly up to the altar to practice the Way, praying that the sacred longevity be peaceful and enduring, and have recited once the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing; the rite is hereby complete. We respectfully ask that blessings and long life be bestowed, that lifespan be increased, and that good fruits descend upon us. May each person, with a sincere heart, then move in circuit and chant the hymn.

Perform the Buxu (the walking recitation of Daoist ritual), lead the assembly to the northwest to offer incense, then circle back to the original place.

Heavenly Worthy of the Sheltering Protection of the Seven Primordials (an honorific praying for the protection of the seven stellar lords of the Northern Dipper).

We respectfully follow what the scripture says: one may pour water and offer flowers, gather in the mind and Shen (spirit), face the Northern Culmen—the pole star and the deities it represents—bow in homage, and recite the name of the Benming Zhenjun, the True Lord who governs a person’s natal destiny and protects the span of life. In this way one does not let the term of one’s natal destiny pass in vain, but may lengthen life, increase blessings, remove calamities from the body, and obtain immeasurable blessed reward.

Now we reverently carry out the emperor’s edict and solemnly hold a Jinlu Daochang, a Golden Register ritual assembly—a Daoist Zhaijiao (purification ritual) for invoking blessings and averting disaster—to wish people longevity and extended fortune. We respectfully lead the Qingzhong, the pure company of Daoists taking part in the rite, each to recite once the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing (the Supreme Mysterious and Numinous Northern Dipper Scripture on Extending Life according to Natal Destiny). We pray the Great Sage of the Central Heaven, the Tianqin Lianzhen Yuchen Jun of the mansion of the Fifth Dipper Lord—one of the stellar deities of the Northern Dipper—to expunge for us every calamity within the Shen palace and the Five Yellows field allocation, the regions of direction and constellation as divided by the arts of stellar fate. We earnestly beg the deities to look down in compassion and grant their assent. Our sincerity is extreme, and we carefully practice according to the ritual procedure.

Hymn for Setting Out the Ritual Seat. A hymn chanted when the ritual seat is arranged.

Inscribing the Scripture Title. The name of the scripture is written out.

End of the Recitation. The recitation of the scripture is concluded.

Hymn for Dismissing the Ritual Seat. A hymn chanted when the ritual seat is withdrawn.

We have just reverently led the pure assembly to ascend the altar and perform the Dao (the Way), praying that sacred longevity be peaceful and enduring. Each has recited the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing once, and the rite is now complete. We respectfully ask the deities to bestow blessings and prolong life, so that good fruits may descend upon everyone. May each person sincerely direct their thoughts, and then in due order offer homage and praise.

The Buxu—hymns chanted in time with the pacing steps of a Daoist Zhaijiao—is recited, leading the assembly toward the Shen palace; after incense is offered they circle about and return to their original places.

The Greatly Compassionate Life-Extending Tianzun, an honorific for the Celestial Worthy who in compassion protects and extends life.

We, your servants, respectfully follow what the scripture declares: the name and title of this True Lord (Zhenjun), a venerated deity of the Dao, were never such that people could ordinarily hear them. All who have the affinity to hear that name and are able to uphold and recite the scripture possess a profound heart of the Dao and formed good karmic ties in the past; the merit gained thereby cannot be measured.

Now we, your servants, respectfully carry out the mandated charge and perform a Golden Register (Jinlu) rite, a Daoist Zhaijiao (purification ritual) for invoking blessings, to wish long life and pray for blessings on behalf of the honored one. We respectfully lead the pure assembly (Qingzhong) of the altar—the Daoist clergy taking part in the rite—in jointly reciting once the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing, the Scripture of the Most High of the Mysterious Numen of the Northern Dipper on Prolonging Life According to One’s Natal Destiny. We pray the Great Sage of the Central Heaven, the Jade Dawn Lord of Heavenly Assistant and Martial Melody of the Sixth Bureau of Grand Constancy, to remove on a person’s behalf every calamity linked with the southeast Xun position of the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), the Four Azure Longevity Star, and the Chunshou celestial field, the ancient correspondence between stellar lodges and earthly regions. We earnestly beg the venerated deity to look down in compassion and grant what is sought. We are utterly sincere and earnest, and we carefully practice according to the ritual method.

The ritual seat is laid out.

The title of the scripture is proclaimed.

The recitation of the scripture is completed.

The ritual seat is withdrawn.

Earlier we led the pure assembly to ascend the altar and practice the Way—worshipping and reciting according to the rite—to wish the honored one a secure and healthy sacred longevity; we also jointly recited once the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing, and this has now been brought to completion. We respectfully request the bestowal of blessing and long life, an increase of years, and the descent of good fruits. Each person concentrates in sincere reverence, and then circumambulates while offering praise.

The Buxu, “Pacing the Void,” the hymn sung while walking in a Daoist Zhaijiao, is chanted, leading the assembly toward the southeast; after offering incense they circumambulate and return to their original places.

“Hearing the scripture” (Wenjing), an announcement within the rite, is proclaimed three times.

After hearing the scripture, may the mandate of Heaven be preserved and good fruits descend. Each person concentrates in sincere reverence, and then circumambulates while offering praise.

The Buxu is chanted, leading the assembly toward the southeast; after offering incense they circumambulate and return to their original places.

“Hearing the scripture” is proclaimed three times.

After hearing the scripture, may Heaven and Earth endure, the four seas be at peace, and the world be tranquil.

After hearing the scripture, may sacred longevity be secure and healthy, and the foundation of the state be firm.

After hearing the scripture, may the descendants of the imperial house flourish and the fortune of the realm long prosper.

Vows are declared.

The deities are held in contemplative visualization, and incense is burned.

Envoys of the Incense Officials, Dragon and Tiger Lords of the left and right (divine generals who protect and uphold the ritual precinct), and all the numinous officials who attend the incense: may this servant, in the place where the noon audience of turning the scriptures and performing the Way has just been held, naturally bring forth golden liquor, cinnabar-and-azure radiance, the flowering essence of the zhi, and other auspicious signs of the immortals. The hundred numinous beings and the host of perfected ones will all assemble here and come before the incense burner. May this servant’s single-hearted sincerity commune with the spirits (Shen), so that vast grace is quietly bestowed, the sovereign enjoys peace in every respect, and the realm remains long secure.

May the immortal lads and jade maidens of the ten directions come to attend, and, bearing the smoke of orchid incense together with the sincerity this servant has just presented, swiftly convey it into the presence of the Supremely True and Limitless Great Dao (the Way), the exalted sages of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity and the Northern Culmen, and the Nine Sovereign Star Lords of the Northern Dipper.

Hymn for Leaving the Hall

Ritual of the Mysterious Numen for Turning the Scriptures and Performing the Way at the Noon Audience

Ritual of the Mysterious Numen for Turning the Scriptures and Performing the Way at the Evening Audience

The ritual service proceeds according to the rite.

Let all bow in reverence to the masters and, in accordance with the method, quiet the mind and visualize inwardly.

Please Proclaim the Divine Incantation

High in the northern sky the Great Mystery is deep and far-reaching; the five primordial Qi (vital energy) circulate back and forth. Precious blossoms rise layer upon layer, and streaming light shines forth; the numinous and wondrous scene is lush and fair, its brightness illuminating the Grand Tenuity. Looking upward, I draw in this numinous light and infuse it into my body, so that the viscera within are clarified and opened. I settle and guard the numinous dwelling, causing the myriad Shen all to return and abide within it; I cause this body to put forth a feathered robe, to rise aloft, and to ascend in flight as an immortal.

Sound the ritual drum twenty-four times.

The Most High Lord Lao of the Unsurpassed Three Heavens and of the Three Qi (vital energy) of the Mysterious, the Primordial, and the Beginning—one of the highest deities revered in Daoism—summons the Merit Officers of the Three and the Five within my body, the official envoys of the left and the right, the incense-bearing mounted officers of the left and the right who ride the postal dragons, the Golden Lads who attend the incense, and the Jade Maidens who carry messages and scatter flowers, together with the on-duty talisman officers of the Five Emperors and the incense officials on duty for the day, thirty-six of each, to come forth together. Once they have come forth, they are to set their attire in strict order and dress with solemn gravity, put on their caps properly, fasten their sashes, and let the cap-tassels hang down naturally.

They are then to report to the earth god of the place where the Mysterious Altar (the altar ground on which Daoist rites are performed) stands, and to the spirits of this locality: tonight I shall ascend the altar to practice the Dao (the Way) and pay homage to the Imperial Perfected; every kind of sincere intention offered with a reverent heart has already been written out in full in the documents. May the Most High Utmost True Dao-Qi (the supreme and pure vital energy of the Dao) and the auspicious light of the Numinous Treasure descend and flow into our bodies, so that the sincere intentions I report may quickly ascend and be delivered directly before the Utmost True Limitless Great Dao, the Upper Saints of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity and the Northern Culmen, and the Star Lords of the Nine Sovereigns of the Northern Dipper.

Please proclaim the ritual office.

The minister of the appropriate rank (the Daoist priest presiding over the rite; the name is for the moment left blank), together with the officials and the Daoist assembly at the altar, sincerely presents this memorial and respectfully addresses the Supreme Limitless Great Dao (the Way); the Dipper-Pole Patriarch, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning; the Dipper-Pole Mysterious Master, the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure; the Dipper-Pole Ancestral Master, the Celestial Worthy of the Dao and its De (Virtue/Power); together with the Jade Emperor, August Lord of the Vast Heaven; the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity, the Heavenly Sovereign; the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity of the North Pole; the Exalted Jade Emperor Venerable Star Lord within the Dipper; the Jade Emperor of Grand Tenuity; and the Great Emperor-Lord, Mysterious Minister of the North Pole.

We further respectfully address the star lords of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper and their attendant stars: the Celestial Excellence, Greedy Wolf, Great Star Lord; the Celestial Duty, Great Gate, Primordial Star Lord; the Celestial Pivot, Preserver of Emolument, True Star Lord; the Celestial Heart, Literary Melody, Binder Star Lord; the Celestial Bird, Pure and Steadfast, Guideline Star Lord; the Celestial Assistant, Martial Melody, Regulator Star Lord; the Celestial Onrush, Breaker of Armies, Pass Star Lord; together with the Cavern-Bright Left Assistant Star Lord and the Hidden-Light Right Aide Star Lord; the Ladies of the Nine Sovereigns; the Inner Consorts of the Nine Yin; the Great Sage of the Heavenly Dipper-Handle, Regulator of the Myriad Perfected, Emperor-Lord of Kui Radiance; the Star Lords of the Three Terraces and the Floral Canopy within the Northern Dipper; each person’s natal star lord; the Old Man of the South Pole, Star Lord of Longevity and De; the Star Lord of Blessing and De of Upper Clarity; the Star Lord of Emolument and De of Upper Clarity; the star stewards who look down upon and illumine the imperial seat; the star lords of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions; the star lords of the Sixty Jiazi; the sacred host of official lords of the Mysterious Bureau of the Dao and De; the Perfected Lord, Great Ritual Master within the Mystery; the Perfected Lord, Great Ritual Master of the Three Heavens; the elder ministers of the Nine Departments of the Central Heaven; the Left and Right Envoys in Embroidered Robes; the Qingyang and Tuoluo Envoys; the Jade-Script Merit Officers on duty through the four watches; the Attendants Who Transmit Affairs; and all the perfected spirits of the thousand chariots and ten thousand riders in the Dipper Bureau.

We respectfully ask all of you, in your vast compassion, to look down upon this place. Your servant has heard that the radiance of the Central Heaven streams forth in light, and that the star officials of the Left Wall shine in splendor. The Dao of Primordial Unity opens the turning of cosmic cycles and manifests the auspicious sign of Crane-Cry Mountain and the Jade Bureau; the orthodox transmission of Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) is received and handed on, setting forth the mysteries of the precious texts of the Dragon-Han era. By means of these scriptures (Jing) and ritual formulas, the methods of the Dao extend throughout Heaven and Earth. Those who cultivate the orthodox Way may enter the ranks of immortals and perfected beings; the people of Heaven are thereby delivered, and they come to understand the profound methods. The light of sun, moon, and stars shines upon all, and the grace of rain and dew draws no distinction between near and far.

We, your servants, have been fortunate to encounter these methods and to follow the teaching of the sages. Having received the bright instruction of the sovereign Way, we ought to proclaim the transforming virtue of the emperor. Now, reverently carrying out the imperial command, we hold a Golden Register Zhaijiao (purification ritual—a Daoist rite for invoking blessings, averting calamity, and offering prayers for the state and all living beings). We solemnly set in order the precious palace, establish the jade altar, and prepare every kind of incense and flower, thereby expressing our sincere plea for protection and the bestowal of grace. Looking up toward lofty merit, we hope for lengthened years and an increase of blessings. We bow our heads and pray to the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, hoping that the sagely and enlightened sovereigns will graciously take heed.

This evening we perform the rite of the evening audience, ascend the altar, and practice the Way. We invite the ritual assembly present to light, in due order, the first stick of incense. May the smoke of the incense rise into the void and be offered directly to the unsurpassed and supremely true Treasure of the Dao—the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning of the Daluo Heaven, the Great Canopy; the Great Heavenly Sovereign Emperor of the Upper Palace of Purple Tenuity; the Two Emperors of the Jade Dipper; the Nine Sovereign Star Lords; and the perfected immortals and sacred host of the Palace of Clear and Subtle Heaven.

We, your servants, take refuge with body, spirit, and life together. Casting our five limbs upon the ground, we rely on the Three Supreme Venerables and the sages of the ten directions. May the merit of burning incense bring blessings upon His Majesty the Emperor: may the stars of the eight directions encircle the North Pole, and may the spirits of Heaven and Earth assist the emperor’s virtue; may auspicious signs, like the turtle-script of the Nine Norms revealed when the river runs clear, proclaim omens of sagely brilliance; may ministers and people offer the homage of ten thousand years, and may the emperor open and safeguard a vast domain.

Now, as the incense is burned, from this moment we take refuge in the honored Master and in all the great sages. May everyone, by the De of the supremely true, cultivate and attain the fruit of the Dao; and, having attained the Dao, may they long endure between Heaven and Earth, body and mind made one with the Dao.

This evening we hold the rite of audience and ascend the altar to practice the Dao (the Way). We ask all members of the ritual assembly to offer incense twice. May the smoke of the incense rise aloft, straight into the heavenly realms, to present offerings to the Unsurpassed, Supremely True Scripture-Treasure (Jing), the Jade-Court Lord of the Dao; to Lingbao Tianzun, the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure; to the Great Emperor of the Northern Pole in the Central Palace of Purple Tenuity; to the Stellar Lord of the Natal Destiny of this birth; to the Stellar Governor of the Imperial Seat who shines upon us; and to the true immortals and holy hosts of the palace of Yuyu Heaven.

We reverently take refuge in body, Shen (spirit), and nature and life. Bowing our heads, we prostrate ourselves upon the ground and look up in reliance upon the Three Venerables of the Most High and the sages of the ten directions. By the merit of burning incense, we respectfully wish for His Highness the Crown Prince that his blessed fortune grow greater day by day, and that his good deeds continually put forth shoots like buds in spring; that Heaven bestow profound blessings, bringing him into accord with the orthodox Qi (vital energy) of the Seven Primordial Stars; and that the Celestial Emperor grant him long life, so that he is bathed in the numinous light of the ten directions. May the golden cauldron receive and carry on the treasure of the Void, and the jade field merge with the mysterious precious pearl; may grace like sweet dew fly and scatter through the clouds, moistening the moon palace and the stellar enclosures, so that all things rest in peace and harmony; and may auspicious clouds gather at dawn, sheltering the imperial clan and keeping it in lasting tranquility.

May Heaven bestow profound blessings, bringing him into accord with the orthodox Qi of the Seven Primordial Stars; and may the Celestial Emperor grant him long life, so that he is bathed in the numinous light of the ten directions. May the golden cauldron receive and carry on the treasure of the Void, and the jade field merge with the mysterious precious pearl; may grace like sweet dew fly and scatter through the clouds, moistening the moon palace and the stellar enclosures, so that all things rest in peace and harmony; and may auspicious clouds gather at dawn, sheltering the imperial clan and keeping it in lasting tranquility. Now, as we burn incense, we take refuge in the revered masters and the host of great sages. May we receive the De (Virtue/Power) of the Supreme Truth and, having attained the Dao, abide forever in heaven, becoming one with the Great Dao.

This evening we hold the rite of audience and ascend the altar to practice the Dao. We ask all members of the ritual assembly to offer incense three times. May the smoke of the incense rise aloft, straight into the heavenly realms, to present offerings to the Supremely True and Unsurpassed Master-Treasure, the Mysterious Elder of the Five Numina; to Daode Tianzun, the Celestial Worthy of the Dao and De; to the Old Man of the South Pole, Stellar Lord of Longevity and De; to the Shangqing Stellar Lord of Fortune and De; to the Shangqing Stellar Lord of Emolument and De; and to the true immortals and holy hosts of the palace of Dachi Heaven.

We reverently take refuge in body, Shen, and nature and life. Bowing our heads, we prostrate ourselves upon the ground and look up in reliance upon the Three Venerables of the Most High and the sages of the ten directions. By the merit of burning incense, we transfer it to the nine provinces and the four seas and to all living beings, whether animal or plant. May the transforming teaching of the orthodox Dao moisten the world, and may mysterious grace extend to all things; may those who come from afar turn toward the teaching and look up with admiration to the rites of the Daoist tradition.

Wherever the influence of transformation through rites and music extends, the living beings of mountains, forests, lakes, and marshes alike partake of benevolent grace and cast off the bonds imposed by bodily forms such as scales, shells, and feathers. Therefore, today we burn incense and take refuge in the venerable teachers and the great assembly of saints (the exalted deities and sages of Daoism). May we receive the De (Virtue/Power) of ultimate truth, be nourished and protected by the Dao (the Way), and be favored with mysterious grace. May living beings from afar come as if by ladders and boats, turn toward this teaching, and look up in admiration to the robes, caps, and ritual order of the Daoist tradition.

Wherever the influence of transformation through rites and music extends, the living beings of mountains, forests, lakes, and marshes alike partake of benevolent grace and cast off the bonds imposed by bodily forms such as scales, shells, and feathers. Therefore, today we burn incense and take refuge in the venerable teachers and the great assembly of saints. May we receive the De of ultimate truth; and, having attained the Dao, may we forever preserve long life and unite in truth with the Dao.

The Three Refuges

With one heart we take refuge in the Scripture Treasure of the ten directions (Daoist Jing, scriptures and classics). May all living beings have their minds opened and comprehend the true meaning, and be able to uphold, read, and recite the scriptures.

With one heart we take refuge in the Dao Treasure of the ten directions (the Great Dao and its principles). May all living beings give rise to wholesome intentions, dedicate their merit to all living beings, and offer reverence with sincere hearts.

With one heart we take refuge in the Teacher Treasure of the ten directions (the teachers who transmit the Dao, together with the assembly of saints). May all living beings universally ascend the bridge leading to the orthodox teaching, and may the path of cultivation be free of obstruction.

Hymn of Natal Destiny

We, your servants, respectfully follow what the scripture states: when the day of one’s natal destiny arrives, one should report to the Yuanchen and Yima who preside within the body (deities bound up with a person’s allotted fate), praying that the three calamities and nine adversities be removed and that the kin now before one be kept safe and well. By repenting of faults with a devout and reverent heart, one may gradually draw near to the fair fruit of the Dao.

Now, reverently carrying out the proclaimed command, we perform the Golden Register purification rite (a Daoist Zhaijiao, purification ritual, for praying for blessings and averting disaster) in order to invoke longevity and extended fortune for a person. We, your servants, respectfully lead the pure assembly of the altar, recite once the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing (the Perfect Scripture of the Supreme Mysterious and Numinous Northern Dipper on Natal Destiny and the Prolongation of Life), and pray to the Great Saint of the Central Heaven, the Jade Dawn Lord Tianchong Pojun of the Bureau of the Seventh Thearch (one of the stellar deities of the Northern Dipper), beseeching that all calamities corresponding to the eastern Zhen position, the Three Green, and the field allocation of the Great Fire be removed for us. Looking upward, we hope the deity will look down in compassion and graciously grant assent. With earnest hearts, we, your servants, cultivate the scriptural method according to the rite.

Hymn for Arranging the Seat, Inscribing the Scripture Title, Conclusion of the Recitation, and Hymn for Withdrawing the Seat

These are the names of Keyi (liturgy) segments within the ritual: the hymn offered when the scripture seat is laid out, the inscribing of the scripture’s title, the completion of the recitation, and the hymn offered when the scripture seat is withdrawn.

We have just reverently led the purified assembly up to the altar to practice the Dao (the Way), offering prayers above for the emperor’s health, peace, and a lifespan of ten thousand years. We have recited once through the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing, the Jing (scripture) of the Most High, Mysterious and Numinous Northern Dipper, on Original Destiny and the Prolongation of Life, and the recitation is now fully complete. We reverently hope that merit and longevity will increase, and that good fruits will descend upon us. Each person, with a sincere heart, offers praise within the rite of circling procession.

The assembly chants the Buxu (Pacing the Void), leading the procession to the east. After offering incense, they circle about and then return to their original places.

Qiyuan Fuhu Tianzun, the Celestial Worthy of Sheltering Protection by the Seven Primordials, is a hymn in praise of the Seven Primordial Star Lords of the Northern Dipper, who protect all living beings.

We carefully follow what the scripture says: the allotted span of a person’s original destiny may be improved by dispelling calamity, repenting transgressions, praying for blessings, and extending life. Reciting this true scripture, and performing, according to one’s own means, a zhangjiao—a Zhaijiao (purification ritual) of the Daoist tradition for seeking blessings and averting disasters—can increase merit and virtue. Now, in obedience to the imperial edict, we hold a jinlu service, a large-scale Zhaijiao offered for the state and the people, so as to pray that the emperor’s life be long and that blessings and good fortune continue. We reverently lead the purified assembly of the altar in reciting once more the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing, respectfully saluting the Great Sage of the Central Heaven and the Jade Dawn Lord who assists within and without the heaven of the Eighth Jade Emperor’s bureau. We pray that every calamity corresponding, for those assembled, to the Kun position in the southwest, to the Two-Black Quail’s Tail, and to the Shichen celestial field-allocation be removed. Looking upward, we hope the venerable deity will show compassion and pity and graciously grant our petition. Our gratitude and earnestness are of the utmost, and we carefully practice the scriptural rite according to the liturgy.

The Fuzuo Zan, the Praise for Spreading the Seat, is the hymn sung when the ritual seat is laid out.

Tijing, Inscribing the Scripture, is the ritual segment in which the scripture’s title is written or the scroll is marked.

Songjing Bi, Recitation Complete, marks the end of the scripture recitation.

The Jiezuo Zan, the Praise for Dismantling the Seat, is the hymn sung when the ritual seat is removed.

We have just reverently led the purified assembly up to the altar to practice the Dao, offering prayers above for the emperor’s health, peace, and a lifespan of ten thousand years. We have recited once through the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing, and the recitation is now fully complete. We reverently hope that merit and longevity will increase, and that good fruits will descend upon us. Each person, with a sincere heart, offers praise within the rite of circling procession.

The assembly chants the Buxu, leading the procession to the southwest. After offering incense, they circle about and then return to their original places.

Daci Yanshou Tianzun, the Celestial Worthy of Great Compassion and Prolonged Life, is a hymn in praise of the Celestial Worthy who compassionately protects living beings and grants them extended life.

We, your servants, respectfully follow what the text of the Jing (scripture/classic) states: whether man or woman, on the birthday governed by one’s own natal destiny and on the various days of fasting and abstinence, one should purify body and mind, burn incense, and recite and uphold this true writ, while praying with undivided attention and making report to one’s own Star Lord of Natal Destiny of the North Pole (the stellar deity of the North Pole who governs an individual’s natal destiny). If the prayer is offered with a sincere heart, every good wish that is sought will be fulfilled without fail.

Now we, your servants, reverently carry out the decree and perform the Golden Register purification rite, a Daoist Zhaijiao (purification ritual) for praying for blessings and extending life, offering wishes of longevity and blessing for the honored one. We respectfully lead the pure assembly of the altar to purify body and mind, burn incense, and recite and uphold the true writ, praying with undivided attention and making report to the Star Lord of Natal Destiny of the North Pole, and praying that every good matter will be answered. We also reverently recite once the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing (Supreme Mysterious-Numinous True Scripture of the Northern Dipper for Extending Life According to Natal Destiny), praying to the Great Sage of the Central Heaven, the Jade Dawn Lord Tianpeng, Inner Assistant of the Palace of the Ninth Great Emperor, and seeking that every calamity governed by the northern Kan One-White and the Xuanxiao astral division (the range in which the northern stellar region corresponds to direction) be removed for all. Looking upward, we hope the deities will show compassion and, looking downward, bestow their approval. We are utterly sincere and earnest, and we carefully cultivate ourselves in accordance with the scriptural method.

Hymn for Arranging the Seat: the hymn sung when the ritual seat is laid out.

Announcing the Scripture: the liturgical section that states the title of the scripture, or that begins its recitation.

Recitation Complete: the recitation of the scripture comes to an end.

Hymn for Dismantling the Seat: the hymn sung when the ritual seat is withdrawn.

Previously we led the pure assembly to ascend the altar and practice the Dao (the Way), praying for the sovereign’s sacred longevity and well-being, and each has recited once the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing, so that the ritual sequence is complete. We reverently pray that blessings and longevity increase and that good fruits descend upon everyone; may each person, with a sincere heart, continue to chant and offer praise in accordance with the rite.

Perform the Buxu (the melody chanted while walking in Daoist ritual), proceed toward the north, offer incense and then circumambulate, and return to the original place.

Celestial Worthy of Myriad Longevity of the Mysterious Capital.

With reverence we pray and invite the Great Sages of the Central Heaven and the Exalted Perfected of the Dipper Pole, the honored deities of the stellar realm of the Northern Dipper. May you all bring forth great compassion and deign to look upon our prayers. Previously, in reverent obedience to the proclaimed mandate, we established a Golden Register ritual arena—a Daoist rite for seeking blessings and averting calamities, in the tradition of the Dao (the Way)—and, on behalf of others, offered wishes of long life and prayers for blessing, reciting the Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing, the Most High Mysterious-Numinous True Scripture (Jing, scripture/classic) of the Northern Dipper on Natal Destiny and the Extension of Life. After the scripture had been recited nine times, we prayed upward to the Nine Sovereigns, the Jade-Dawn Dao Lords, honored deities associated with the Northern Dipper, that every calamity corresponding to the nine palaces and their allotted terrestrial fields might be removed. This rite has now been brought to perfect completion.

We earnestly beseech all you honored deities to hear us unseen and to see clearly into our prayers. May the radiance of the star bridge shine through and join throughout; may the Jade Balance—Yuheng, the name of one star among the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper—turn in secret between Kui and Gang, the bowl and the handle of the Dipper. May the Silver River wheel about, clear and bright; may the Heavenly Quadriga—Tiansi, four stars in the heavens—like the trace-horses beside a carriage, take their places on either side of the wheels. May the Six Jia and the Six Ding, guardian spirit-generals in Daoism, come forth to protect us, and may the souls and spirits of the Dipper, deities associated with the Northern Dipper, guard the ritual altar. May the Twenty-Four Numinous Officials of Calamity, spirit-generals who preside over disaster, form ranks to escort the rite, their ceremonial array solemn and stately. May countless breaths of Dao-Qi—the primordial energy of which Daoism speaks, Qi (vital energy)—become banners of manifest radiance. Do not fail the prayers we offer from so near at hand; fulfill the supplications we have earnestly made again and again.

May we enjoy the flourishing symbolized by the nine-five blessings within the Nine Categories of the Hongfan, and may our lifespan be as long as the eight thousand years of which the Zhuangzi speaks. May Heaven above protect us, so that all is auspicious and proceeds smoothly, with nothing that is not favorable. We bow our heads and take refuge, hearing the scripture recited and offering praise.

Hearing and Reciting the Scripture Three Times

After the scripture has been heard and recited, may Heaven and Earth long endure, the four seas be at peace, and all under Heaven be tranquil.

After the scripture has been heard and recited, may His Majesty enjoy health and long life, and may the foundation of the state stand firm.

Once More, Hearing and Reciting the Scripture Three Times

After the scripture has been heard and recited, may Heaven and Earth long endure, the four seas be at peace, and all under Heaven be tranquil.

After the scripture has been heard and recited, may His Majesty enjoy health and long life, and may the foundation of the state stand firm.

After the scripture has been heard and recited, may the descendants of the imperial house flourish, and may the destiny of the realm be long and prosperous.

The Declaration of Vows

Visualize the deities; burn incense and pray.

Envoys of the Incense Office, Dragon and Tiger Lords of the left and right (deities in Daoism who safeguard the incense fire and guard the ritual space), and all the spirit officials who attend the incense: please let the place where this servant has just performed the evening court, the turning of the scriptures, and the walking of the Dao (the Way) naturally bring forth auspicious numinous things such as golden liquid, cinnabar-red and blue-green, and the flowering essence of sacred mushrooms. The many deities and Perfected Ones all gather before this incense burner. I respectfully pray that this servant’s utter sincerity may reach and move the upper realm, so that vast grace quietly descends; may the Sage abide in complete peace, and may the foundation of the state long remain firm.

May the immortal lads and jade maidens of the ten directions (female immortals who attend the immortals and the Perfected) come to serve, and let the incense smoke convey the sincere heart that this servant has just set forth in memorial, so that it swiftly arrives directly before the Most True and Limitless Great Dao, the Supreme Sages of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity and the Northern Pole, and the Nine Sovereign Star Lords of the Northern Dipper.

Hymn for Leaving the Hall

Liturgy of the Mysterious Numen for Turning the Scriptures and Walking the Dao at the Evening Court