《太上三元飞星冠禁金书玉箓图》

On Mount Heming, the Most High Lord Lao transmitted to Celestial Master (Tianshi) Zhang Daoling the ritual arts recorded in golden scriptures and jade registers. Zhang Daoling kowtowed and remained long on his knees, saying, “I am of humble origin, no more than an ordinary mortal barely clinging to life, yet I have received from the Most High the secret methods of the Upper Perfected. I see that good and evil are mingled in the world. At present the great demons submit to no prohibitions or precepts, and they constantly join with tigers and wolves, the five pestilences, and other evil Qi (vital energy) in harming the people. In every region, governing the populace is difficult. By good fortune I have met the Holy Worthy, and I earnestly beg your compassionate aid.”

The Most High Lord Lao said to Zhang Daoling, “The human heart is the master of the myriad transformations. If heart and Shen (spirit) can be settled, Shen will lodge within a person’s heart and become the master of the myriad transformations. If one recognizes one’s own Shen, Shen will guard the body; if one does not recognize one’s own Shen, Shen will leave the body. If one can remember and practice the words I speak, Shen will return to the body. When heart and Shen scatter, the Three Palaces—the dwellings of the divinities within the human body—cry out in grief, and the Five Spirits, who guard the five viscera, also depart from the body. This is demons arising from within and ghosts invading from without. Ghosts and demons then grow still more rampant, while the divinities instead become a source of harm. A person’s name is entered in the registers of life and death, and the time of death is recorded as well. The calamities of war and illness follow and injure the body—how, then, can one live long? For this I have always felt compassion. You now seek instruction from me, and I know your aspiration. I shall expound for you the Dao (the Way) of the Three and Five Covenanted Authority of Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity), that is, the methods of the Zhengyi tradition. You must believe and receive it with a sincere heart, and you must not transmit it to those who are unfit. By cultivating this Dao, one may seek long life, avert many calamities, remain untroubled by the Three Disasters, avoid the nine kinds of violent misfortune, and keep the disasters of water and fire from drawing near.”

Crowning the Five Stars and the Seven Primordials

Here “crowning” means placing the stellar deities, according to direction, upon the corresponding parts of the body. The scripture lists the correspondences as follows: Qian corresponds to Venus, the Metal Star; Yuan to Jupiter, the Wood Star; Heng to Mercury, the Water Star; Li to Mars, the Fire Star; and Zhen to Saturn, the Earth Star. The specific positions are Qian at the head, Yuan at the left ear, Heng at the right ear, Li at the right shoulder, and Zhen at the left shoulder.

Left shoulder, right elbow, right arm, left leg, the area above the abdomen, the area above the heart, and the place of the left breast. Visualizing in the order just given, the Five Dippers (Wudou) are formed. One silently recites the incantation: “The four spirits stand opposed to one another; the Five Dippers descend.”

Left shoulder, right elbow, right arm, left leg, the area above the abdomen, the area above the heart, and the place of the left breast. Visualizing once again in the order just given, the Five Dippers are formed. One silently recites the incantation: “The four spirits stand opposed to one another; the Five Dippers come forward to protect and aid. A thousand calamities disperse, and the ten thousand adversities are lifted of themselves. I now perform the rite, my back set against the Lonely Asterism (Guchen) and my face turned toward the Empty Direction (Xufang), according to the method of choosing an orientation in the numerological arts. What petty demon dares draw near my dwelling? Celestial stalwarts and mighty warriors (Tianding lishi)—the divine generals and strongmen of the heavens—at the first stir annihilate them all. Quickly, quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances (Jiji ru lüling, the closing formula of a Daoist incantation that urges immediate compliance).”

The method of adding and donning the Seven Dippers (Qidou) is as follows. The first Dipper takes, in order, the left hand, the left elbow, the left shoulder, the area above the heart, the right shoulder, the right elbow, and the right hand. The second Dipper takes the right hand, the right elbow, the right shoulder, the area above the heart, the left shoulder, the left elbow, and the left hand. The third Dipper takes the left hand, the left elbow, the left shoulder, the area above the heart, the right leg, the right knee, and the right foot. The fourth Dipper takes the right hand, the right elbow, the right shoulder, the area above the heart, the left leg, the left knee, and the left foot. The fifth Dipper takes the left foot, the left knee, the left leg, the area above the heart, the right shoulder, the right elbow, the right side… (the original is missing characters or is corrupt at this point) the left leg, the left knee, and the left foot. The original text then lists the fifth Dipper once more: the left foot, the left knee, the left leg, the area above the heart, the right shoulder, the right elbow, the right side… (“you wu” is suspected to be a corrupt reading and cannot be interpreted with certainty). The sixth Dipper takes the right foot, the right knee, the right leg, the area above the heart, the left shoulder, the left elbow, and the left hand. The seventh Dipper takes the left foot, the left knee, the left shoulder, the area above the heart, the right shoulder, the right elbow, and the right hand.

Following the method above, one adds and dons them seven times, visualizing the stars of the Dipper as they encircle the body. In this way the myriad ghosts are subdued and the hundred numinous spirits stand guard. One’s name is inscribed and one’s merits recorded on the Jade Register (Yuli, the heavenly ledger that governs registers of names and allotted lifespans), and further years are entered into the reckoning of life, so that one lengthens one’s years and increases one’s longevity, the bones are transformed into true gold, and one ultimately ascends into the high heavens. Cultivated over a long time, there is nothing that fails to prove efficacious. Do not transmit this method to those who are unsuitable. Be cautious; be cautious.

“Five Houses” refers to the stations occupied by the stellar lodges of the five directions. The phrase “Qian yuan heng li zhen” borrows the language of the Classic of Changes to indicate that the Qi (vital energy) of the primal Qian flows freely and possesses the virtue of steadfast uprightness. After “the Seven Origins,” seven characters are missing, and the meaning of the original cannot be recovered on that basis. Once xiucun—visualization together with the holding and guarding of Shen (spirit) and Qi—has been completed, one next brings the Five Dippers (the Northern Dipper and the other stellar dippers) and the Twenty-Eight Lodges into the visualization.

The Method of Crowning with the Five Dippers and the Twenty-Eight Lodges

Here the parts of the body are matched with the stellar lodges and used as points of placement during visualization.

In the first group, the Horn star is at the left hand, the Neck star at the left elbow, the Root star at the left shoulder, and the Room star and the Heart star above the center of the chest; the Heart lodge corresponds to the right thigh, the Tail lodge to the right knee, and the Winnowing Basket lodge to the right foot.

In the second group, the Dipper lodge is at the right hand, the Ox lodge at the right elbow, the Girl lodge at the right shoulder, and the Emptiness lodge above the center of the chest; the Rooftop lodge corresponds to the left thigh, the Encampment lodge to the left knee, and the Wall lodge to the left foot.

In the third group, the Legs lodge is at the left foot, the Bond lodge at the left knee, the Stomach lodge corresponds to the left thigh, and the Hairy Head lodge is above the center of the chest; the Net lodge is at the right shoulder, the Turtle Beak lodge at the right elbow, and the Three Stars lodge at the right hand.

In the fourth group, the Well lodge is at the right foot, the Ghost lodge at the right knee, the Willow lodge corresponds to the right thigh, and the Star lodge is above the center of the chest; the Extended Net lodge is at the left shoulder, the Wings lodge at the left elbow, and the Chariot lodge at the left hand.

The star names of the fifth group are missing in many places. One can only see that lodges are set at the head, the left and right shoulders, the left and right thighs, the left and right feet, and similar sites; the specific correspondences cannot be determined from the text that survives. The original then repeats the content of the fourth and fifth groups.

The above is the method of visualizing the stellar lodges upon the parts of the body and carrying out “star crowning.” The scripture calls this a superior method of the Dao (the Way). Its mysterious crux lies in holding it in the heart and putting it into practice; in this way one can fulfill the methods of the Dao and subdue ghosts and spirits, with effects beyond measure. It is therefore said to be a text secretly transmitted by the immortals. The scripture warns that those who obtain this method must not transmit it casually. If it is passed to an unsuitable person, disaster will fall upon oneself and extend to the seven ancestors (seven generations of forebears). One should cultivate this method diligently, so as to attain immortality at an early date.

Anyone who wishes to cultivate immortality and study the Dao may, before the first day of the first lunar month, stand in a pure and quiet place, face north, and make four bows to the Yuanjun. Yuanjun refers to the spirit of Yuanshi who opened heaven, also called the Holy Mother. The scripture once again urges diligent cultivation, so that one may attain immortality at an early date.

Anyone who wishes to cultivate immortality and study the Dao (the Way) may, before the first day of the first lunar month, stand in a pure and quiet place, face north, and perform four bows to Yuanjun, a revered deity of Daoism. Yuanjun is the deity who opened heaven at the primordial beginning, also called the Holy Mother. If one does not worship the Holy Mother, the study of the Dao cannot succeed.

After the bows, one should make this report: “I am a person of the lower realm, born ordinary and lowly, my body mixed with foul and turbid Qi (vital energy), constantly disturbed by the dust of the world. This gasping, decaying body of mine is nothing more than a mortal life born amid rank blood. Only through the shelter of the mysterious and wondrous have I been able to continue living. I have also received the blessings left to later generations through successive ages of reverence for the Great Dao. Disregarding my own defilement and unafraid of Heaven’s majesty, I love the Great Dao and long to become an immortal, and with a heart of utmost sincerity I entreat the mysterious Dao. I humbly pray that divine light may secretly shine upon me, so that I may transcend life and death. I earnestly beg the Most Holy to bestow grace and protection, to drive away calamity, and to enable me to unite with the Great Dao.”

One then knocks the teeth three times and silently visualizes the five stars. First visualize the Year Star (Jupiter) in the left hand, colored like a blue-green gem; next visualize the Great White Star (Venus) in the right hand, colored like a white gem; then visualize the Dazzling Deluder (Mars) above the head, colored like a pearl of fire; then visualize the Quelling Star (Saturn) in the heart, colored like yellow gold; and finally visualize the Chronograph Star (Mercury) beneath the feet, colored like black jade. Imagine their divine light shining through the whole body, and then silently recite the incantation: “The five stars guard my bodily form; their radiance illuminates the dark and mysterious realm. A thousand spirits and ten thousand sages protect my true spirit. The fierce beasts of vast heaven subdue all weapons. The demons of the five heavens perish in body and form. Wherever I may be, the myriad spirits come to receive and protect me. Quickly, quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.”

After putting on the Five Dipper Crown, a Daoist headdress associated with belief in the Northern Dipper, one again visualizes the five stars transforming upon the body: the Year Star in the left hand becomes a wheel of wind; the Dazzling Deluder above the head becomes fierce flames encircling the whole body; the Quelling Star before the heart becomes golden chain mail wrapping and protecting the whole body; the Great White Star in the right hand becomes a vajra divine sword, its blade keen and giving off firelight; and the Chronograph Star beneath the feet suddenly turns into river water and, in an instant, becomes a great sea, within which five dragons appear.

After the visualization of the various deities is complete, silently recite the incantation: “The Five Stars guard and secure my bodily form; their radiance illuminates Huojing, the Fire Jing (essence; the name of a related deity or asterism). Protect my five limbs (the various parts of the body), and subdue and gather my myriad spirits. If the demons of the Six Heavens disturb Chenxing, they will suddenly turn into river water and, in the blink of an eye, become a great sea, within which five dragons appear.”

After the visualization of the various deities is complete, silently recite the incantation: “The Five Stars guard and secure my bodily form; their radiance illuminates the Fire Essence. Protect my five limbs, and subdue and gather my myriad spirits. Once the demons of the Six Heavens rise in disorder, cut down their forms. Quickly, quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances (jiji ru lüling).”

Next, visualize the Qi (vital energy) of the Great Sha of Tiangang (the baleful spirit, or spirit-sha, in the Tiangang direction) descending from the Tiangang direction. This Qi is yellow within and black without, and comes all the way to before me. I inhale it through the nose for twelve breaths (one breath being roughly a single respiration), and silently recite the incantation: “True Qi of the Great Sha, Yin within and Yang without (yin-yang). Protect my body and my life, drive out deviant Qi, and turn aside calamity. Mountain Jing and wangliang (essence-sprites of the mountains and forests), earth deities and Diqiang □, red mouths and white tongues (gossip and dispute), insects, snakes, tigers, and wolves—all who harm me must die, and all who plot against me must perish. Those who care for me obtain good fortune; those who revere me obtain flourishing. Let the myriad spirits destroy the deviant hauntings and cause them to lie hidden beneath Tiangang. Quickly, quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.”

Press the left hand over the heart, and rub the crown of the head with the right hand. Inwardly visualize the □ star in the right hand, the □ star in the left hand, and the □ star before the chest, then silently recite the incantation: “Kuixing and the Great Sha (the divine power of Kuixing and the Great Sha), guard and secure my heart-spirit (shen). Outwardly, ward off blades and soldiers; inwardly, expel the five pestilences. Those who stand in my way will fall into confusion; those who plot against me will meet with baleful disaster. Rebellious ghosts and vicious persons—what can they do to me? Quickly, quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.”

Press the left hand over the heart, and point the right hand toward Tianyin (the Tianyin direction, or a dark and yin place). Visualize Kuixing in the right hand, the □ star in the left hand, and the □ star at the heart, then silently recite the same incantation: “Kuixing and the Great Sha, guard and secure my heart-spirit. Outwardly, ward off blades and soldiers; inwardly, expel the five pestilences. Those who stand in my way will fall into confusion; those who plot against me will meet with baleful disaster. Rebellious ghosts and vicious persons—what can they do to me? Quickly, quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.”

Press the left hand over the heart, and point the right hand toward Tianyin. Visualize Kuixing in the right hand, the □ star in the left hand, and the □ star at the crown of the head, then recite the incantation: “True Qi of Yangming, envelop my Zhuyang (here this may refer to yang Qi, or to the body). Drive out every harm, and even force back the adverse □. Thieves and violent persons, insects, snakes, tigers, and wolves—all who plot against me must die, and all who injure me must perish. Let gossip and dispute subside, and let deviant hauntings lie hidden beneath Kuigang. Quickly, quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.”

In the original text, “□” marks a missing or illegible character. The relevant star names and the corresponding places in the incantations cannot be restored with certainty, and the above retains them as they stand.

With the fingers of the right hand pointing backward and the back of the hand facing the heart, point the fingers of the left hand toward the heart. In the mind, silently visualize the Kuixing (Star of the Dipper's Head) in the right hand, □ above the head, and the □ star in the left hand. Then silently recite the incantation: "Radiant and upright Qi, the master presiding in Heaven is the Kuixing star. Guarding the Crimson Palace (the dwelling place of the heart-spirit), drive away calamity. What spirit dares to linger? What ghost or demon dares to approach? A thousand sages and ten thousand ghosts alike must submit to my Tiangang (the spirit of the Northern Dipper). Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances."

With both hands, hold up the Santai stars (the three stars near the Northern Dipper) and imagine them becoming a canopy (a protective umbrella-like cover over the head). In the mind, silently visualize the Upper Terrace star official Xujing in my left hand; then visualize the Middle Terrace star official Liuchun and the Lower Terrace star official Qusheng beneath the two knees, on the right. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.

With both hands, hold up the Santai stars as a canopy, and in the mind silently visualize the Upper Terrace star official Xujing in my left hand; then visualize the Middle Terrace star official Liuchun and the Lower Terrace star official Qusheng beneath the two knees, on the right. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.

I wear the canopy on my head and tread upon the Kuixing. The nets of the earth spread across the eight directions, and the nets of the heaven open on all four sides. May the Northern Dipper send down the Qi of death to remove calamity; may the Southern Dipper send down the Qi of life to lengthen my years. May all that is sought be fulfilled as wished, and may every place I go be auspicious and smooth. Within and without, the strong □ — with a single movement, all is destroyed. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.

After donning the crown and summoning the stars, silently recite this incantation each night at bedtime; first perform the Yubu (Steps of Yu, a form of pacing the Dipper in Daoist ritual) before the bed, or else the Nine-Trace Step.

At bedtime, before the bed, silently recite the incantation: "Stepping in reverse, my back to the bed, I drive out evil influences and destroy misfortune. Officers of the prison of the Celestial Emperor, forbid ghosts and demons to walk by night. Those whose offenses are grave are cut in two at the waist; those whose offenses are light have their lives spared; those whose offenses are neither grave nor light have both arms of the demon cut off. On the right is the moon, on the left is the sun, each two and a half cun from between my brows. The seven stars of the Northern Dipper encircle the whole room. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances."

Laozi (Lord Lao) told Daoling: "If you wish to undertake great works, you must..." The scripture then repeats the earlier incantation: "Those whose offenses are neither grave nor light have both arms of the demon cut off. On the right is the moon, on the left is the sun, each two and a half cun from between my brows. The seven stars of the Northern Dipper encircle the whole room. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances."

Note: The original text has missing characters at the places marked "□," and the line "Within and without, the strong □" is also damaged, so they are preserved as they appear; their meaning cannot be determined.

Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun) told Zhang Daoling: “If you are to accomplish great undertakings, you must cultivate the method of worshipping the stars (a ritual practice of paying homage to the stars). If you do not know this method, you will not receive the protection of the celestial deities; malevolent spirits will come to do harm, and wicked people will plot against you. The seasons of Heaven may send down poisonous vapors, and warfare and disorder will break out from time to time. If a person is injured on this account, he will in the end die. Therefore one ought to cultivate this supremely wondrous method, practicing it with diligence, and one must not transmit it to those who have accumulated evil. If one rashly divulges this true writ, calamity will fall upon oneself and even implicate seven generations of ancestors. You must be cautious; you must be cautious.”

Lord Lao spoke again: “This is the method cultivated by the host of immortals. If you can practice it, you will be able to enjoy long life and enduring vision in the world. People cannot live long because celestial demons cause them to incur karmic offenses. Cultivate my method, and you will be spared every kind of calamity, your lifespan will be prolonged, and blessings will pass on without end to later generations.” When he had finished speaking, Zhang Daoling reverently accepted the instruction, bowed his head to the ground, and undertook to carry it out.

The Formula for Pacing the Nine Palaces and the Dipper (an oral formula for treading the Mainstay and pacing the Dipper according to the stellar positions of the Nine Palaces)

The Dipper method is subtle and exquisite, bound up with the twelve spirits. Following the course of Tiangang (an important stellar deity among the stars of the Northern Dipper), it displays majestic authority. The circulation of Qi (vital energy) resembles floating clouds: transforming seven times, it moves, and at last comes to rest in the position that corresponds to the patterns of Heaven.

One who understands the transformations within it can distinguish good fortune from ill. Treading the positions of the Dipper lodges (the stellar lodges of the Northern Dipper), one arrives before Tianguan; one enters the Six Pitch-pipes (the six pitch positions of antiquity, used to fix musical pitch and also symbolizing the rhythms of heaven and earth) and upholds the Four Prohibitions (the four prohibitions observed in the ritual). Passing through Tianying, one treads upon Tianren; embracing Tianzhu, one joins with Tianxin. Continuing forward from there, one ascends Tianqin; leaning upon Tianfu, one gazes afar toward Tianchong. One enters Tiannei and then emerges from Tianpeng.

The Dao (the Way) of the Dipper method penetrates heaven and earth, bringing the firm and the yielding into harmony with one another. Thereby one obtains the riches, honor, blessings, and emoluments bestowed by Heaven, and enters a realm of clarity, stillness, and hidden depth; going deep into places obscure, mysterious, and remote, one’s lifespan extends for ten million years.