《太上元始天尊说北帝伏魔神咒妙经》

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning said: Long ago, in the first year of the Longhan era, a Jiawu year, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright on a jeweled throne among multicolored auspicious clouds in the Hall of the Upper Origin, in the Celestial Capital of the Eight Radiances. Ten sacred spirit banners hung around him. Gathered at the assembly with him were the emperors of the thirty-two heavens, the Perfected Ones of the Ten Directions, jade boys and jade maidens, elders of the Three Radiances, and countless other spirits, including the mighty demon kings who served as guards, the Great Gods of the Eight Radiances, and dragon-riding officers. Heavenly songs drifted through the air, and celestial music rang out. The Celestial Worthy was expounding the “Wondrous Dharma of the True One,” the fundamental teaching of the Dao.

Just then, the northeast of the Celestial Capital of the Upper Origin suddenly shook, and the Gate of Heaven sprang open. Looking down, those gathered saw a dense stream of blood-red radiance mixed with shadowy Qi rising from the northeastern reaches of the human world straight toward the celestial palace. It curled and gathered, lingering for a long time. Its odor was rank and foul. Everyone was astonished and fell silent, not daring to ask what it meant.

Among those at the assembly was a Perfected One named Miaoxing, whose merit and De were complete. He raised his head, straightened his robes, and stepped forward. Holding a ceremonial tablet in both hands, he composed his steps, bowed, and knelt before the Celestial Worthy. “I have heard that the realm of utmost truth and wonder is luminous and pure, and that no ill omen appears there. The Land of Nonbeing, beyond the ordinary world, should be free of strange occurrences. I have served the Dao Lord through countless kalpas, yet never before have I witnessed an anomaly like this. Now, at this assembly, I see filthy, darkly poisonous blood-red Qi surging chaotically into the heavens. What calamity or auspicious event does this portend? I beseech the Most Holy Celestial Worthy to expound the wondrous teaching once more, so that everyone may dispel their doubts and learn its source, and so that all who cultivate the Dao may give rise to reverence and faith.”

At this, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning remained silent for a long time, then smiled slightly and said, “Settle your minds and steady your spirits. I will now explain this to you.

All beings of the Lower Origin—the level of the cosmos to which the human world belongs—were born into this world. They received the true form of harmonious, primordial unity, a genuine body formed from the gathering of primordial Qi. Within them are thirty-six thousand spirit-energies, the divine beings and vital energies that Daoism says reside in the human body. These spirit-energies were originally pure and clear, protecting the body and mind. But as time passed, Yin demons encroached. People then forgot their source and lost their foundation.

Now the cycle of three nines has come to an end, and ghosts and demons have begun to spread. People believe in deviant paths and do not follow the source of the Great Dao. Their bodies and minds are disturbed by disordered spirit-energies, Yin demons, and evil ghosts. They consequently develop cruel hearts and kill living beings. They identify themselves with ghosts and spirits, currying favor in the hope of gaining extra blessings. As the age of calamity nears its end, people become ever more frenzied and licentious. They are unfilial and disloyal, unkind and unrighteous, and delight in deviant paths.

Now the ghosts and spirits of the Six Heavens—the fierce and malevolent beings described in Daoist teachings—harm living beings at will. Men and women, young and old alike, are struck by sudden disasters and die before their allotted lifespans have run their course. The souls of the dead have not yet dispersed; their resentment gathers into baleful energy and surges upward in anger. You should understand the reason for this.”

After hearing these words, Miaoxing was greatly alarmed. He addressed the Celestial Worthy: “What powers and spiritual abilities do the ghosts and spirits of the Six Heavens possess, that they can inflict all manner of punishments and harm in the human world? They kill and injure the living without restraint, and no spells can stop them. I beg you, Celestial Worthy, to explain this to me in detail. Though I am dull-witted, I am still willing, with the aid of a sage’s power, to investigate their origins and go there to protect and save living beings, so that the people of the Lower Origin may be spared sudden disaster.”

The Celestial Worthy told Miaoxing, “Due north of this celestial realm…”

The Celestial Worthy told Miaoxing: “From here, travel due north through the heavenly realm, across the boundless Great Dark Sea and countless miles, to the northernmost reaches. There lies a world called the ‘Cavern of the Mysterious Heaven of the Five Qi,’ also known as ‘Yinshuo Danyu Jue.’ Its ruler is the Emperor Lord called the ‘Numinous Lord of the Mysterious Old Black Emperor of the Great Yin and Five Spirits.’ His assisting divine lord is called the ‘Heavenly Lord of Mysterious Nurture.’ The Supreme Numinous Lord serves the True Dao and sets Qi in motion, and gives birth to a Jade Maiden called the ‘Jade Maiden of Great Mystery and Night Radiance.’

“Together with the Numinous Lord and the countless Great Mystery Numinous Officers of the north, they opened the northern gate of Great Mystery, called the ‘Gate of Yin Birth and Vast Numinous Power,’ and proclaimed the scripture The Wondrous Scripture of Great Mystery and True Unity. It is used to subdue and command the Yin demons. When the people of the land hear the Dao teachings of this scripture, the dead can return to life and dry bones grow lush again. People do not die young or meet violent deaths.

“Beneath this land lies the vast, empty, primordial expanse of the Dark Sea, boundless in every direction. Its waters are foul and polluted, black, bottomless, and without visible shore. In the sea stands a great mountain that reaches upward to the blue firmament and descends into the springs of the wind. It is called Mount Fengdu Luo. The mountain rises 106,000 li and is 50,000 li around; its body extends 10,000 li down into the water. At the water’s edge, beneath the mountain, is a great cavern heaven called the ‘Kingdom of Yin Radiance.’

“Its ruler is the ‘Heavenly Lord of the Northern Yin, Water Emperor of the Great Yin.’ The cavern heaven extends 15,000 li around, and its palace is called the Palace of the Great Yin. Many divine officials assist him: the Lord of Vital Qi within the Eastern Dipper, the Lord of Form within the Western Dipper, the Lord of Prohibitions within the Southern Dipper, the Lord of Destiny within the Northern Dipper, and the Lord of General Registers within the Central Dipper. There are also minor officials who manage documents and affairs, the Masters of the Nine Commands, the Lords of the Five Sacred Peaks, Yin officials and Yang officials of the Twenty-Four Administrations, clerks of the rivers and seas, and divine officials who govern hills, ridges, streams, and ravines—countless in number. Strange ghosts and evil gods from the Six Heavens serve as guards.

“To the left and right of the Palace of the Great Yin stand thirty-six hells, each fifty li around. The plants and trees within them carry an innate poisonous force and grow in shapes as sharp as swords. Poisonous creatures, savage beasts, and raging fires abound there; black smoke and howling winds never cease, day or night. Dark, noxious vapors fill the air, blood-red light dazzles the eyes, and a foul stench is unbearable. There are also fire chariots, rivers of ash, iron rods, and copper hammers. Those undergoing punishment are beaten and tortured; their groans of pain shake the heavens. These are the places where the ghosts of guilty commoners from the lower realm—the human world—go after death.

“Outside the Cavern Heaven of the Great Yin, three smaller palaces stand to the left and right. Each is fifty li around and has its own ruler. The first is called the Palace of the Heavenly Official, the second the Palace of the Earthly Official, and the third the Palace of the Water Official. They are all important offices that govern life and death and summon souls. The mountain also contains six cavern palaces belonging to the Palace of the Great One’s Yin Cavern Heaven. Each is 5,000 li around, and together they form six offices of the underworld. A great demon king presides over and commands the servants in each palace, with 360,000 minor officials under each king. These ghosts and gods have fearsome, bizarre forms; some resemble fish or dragons and serve as guards.

“The cavern gates of the Six Heavens’ demon palaces lie in deep darkness, constantly shrouded by thick mist. None can reach them unless the Heavenly Emperor exerts immense power. These ghosts and monsters descend upon the human world when the minds of the living are confused. They devour the blood, Qi, and Jing of fetuses in pregnant women, causing people to have nightmares and wicked thoughts. At times they take the shape of cats or dogs to frighten women, leaving them sallow and weak, their blood and Qi exhausted; some even become delirious or debilitated, and their fetuses and offspring are harmed. Some children die without cause between the ages of one and ten.

“People in the lower realm may not yet have reached the end of their allotted lives. But through ignorance and delusion, they do not know how to nourish their spirit, extend their lives, or pray for protection. When demons attack them, they needlessly lose the years allotted by Heaven. The demons also ensnare the Nine Generations and Seven Ancestors—the generations of a person’s forebears—seize their years of life, and interrogate the living about their names. Ancestors and descendants alike are drawn into the affliction, bringing on all kinds of illnesses: swelling, wasting, discharge of mucus, saliva, pus, or blood, malignant sores, scabies, leprosy, madness, blindness, deafness, and blocked eyes and ears. The demons also use wind and water to cause mischief, making the soul wander restlessly and bringing endless nightmares. People feel as though they are being whipped with willow switches and bound in chains, and suffer from illnesses too numerous to describe.

“These ghosts and monsters take it upon themselves to report the living person’s current-year cycle and birth destiny, along with their Three Hun and Seven Po, to the Six Palaces. They enter the person’s name in the register of the living and then record it again in the register of the dead, leaving the person bedridden for years without recovery. They may even alter the person’s body, using this as a way to demand blood offerings.

“They also appear in many forms. At times they take the strange shape of a shaman woman ringing bells and beating drums, clinging to a great tree or an ancient one. At times they become images of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, or of ancient emperors, dressed in imperial robes and headdresses. At times they turn into the alluring, richly dressed demonesses of the Six Heavens. At times they become fierce generals and treacherous ministers from the history of the Nine Provinces, carrying halberds and swords. At other times they appear as great generals of the various heavens, riding the luminous Qi of the sun, moon, and stars as they travel through the human world. They may also take on the appearance of a living person’s ancestors seven generations back, or become wild beasts, birds, snakes, and rats. They show five-colored radiance, turn into bewitching boys and beautiful women, cling to strange trees and unusual stones, or hide in ancient caverns and spring sources. They change their forms in countless ways to harm people.

“If someone is harried by them and seeks other arts to ward them off, suppress them, or hunt them down, these ghosts and monsters will retreat into their caverns when outmatched, making it difficult to pursue them further. Ordinary evil spirits are hard to restrain, and their strength is difficult to match. More powerful ghosts can even move mountains, uproot trees, summon clouds, and bring down rain; they cannot easily be stopped. You should understand these matters.”

At this point, Miaoxing reported to Tianzun: “Although I am ignorant and unlearned, I still wish to rely on the power of the sage. Today I ask that the true immortals, flying immortals, and dragon riders of the Three Heavens be sent down to the human world to suppress these ghosts and monsters and keep the people of the lower realm from harm.”

Tianzun said to Miaoxing: “I do not forbid you to go, nor will I fail your sincerity. Since you wish to subdue evil spirits and seek merit through goodness, you should set out.”

Miaoxing then left the Dharma assembly, leading the Elders of the Three Heavens, the true immortals of the Ten Extremities, and the mounted officials and flying generals. With heavenly music leading the way, they proceeded due north, seeking the place where the black qi had gathered. When they were still several li from the human world, the dragons and immortal cranes stopped advancing, and the cloud chariots halted; the attending guards all shrank back as if something had offended them.

Among the immortals, a Perfected Lord riding a white horse and driving a plain chariot said to Miaoxing: “The lower human world is full of the stench of corpses and foul, impure qi; ghostly poison is spreading. We are all perfected deities of the realms of the Three Pure Ones, endowed with golden countenance and jade substance, pure and undefiled. Having been assailed by these foul vapors, we cannot descend. We wish to return to Heaven and can go no farther.”

Miaoxing led the assembled Daoists back to the Heaven of the Upper Origin, where they had audience with Tianzun. After bowing, he knelt and reported: “Yesterday I descended to the lower world with the Elders of the Three Heavens, the true immortals of the Ten Extremities and their retinues, intending to subdue ghosts and demons and rescue the people. When we reached that place, while still several ren above the ground, the dragons and cranes could not advance, and the attending guards and true immortals all shrank back. It turned out to be because they were driven back by the foul, poisonous vapors of the ghosts and demons. I do not know what ritual method to use to save the people from this calamity.”

Here “xiayuan” refers to the lower human world; “ren” is an ancient unit of length.

At that time, the Celestial Worthy said to Miaoxing, “At the summit of Mount Luoshan in Fengdu, in the northern reaches of the Void Origin, there is a numinous lord of the North, the Northern Emperor. He commands the countless mighty demon kings of the North, the Heavenly Warriors and Strongmen, and the divine officials who govern the realm of the dead and the thunder and lightning. His power is immense. Without the Northern Emperor, they cannot be subdued.”

Miaoxing asked the Celestial Worthy, “What Dao power must one rely on to summon the Northern Emperor to come and rescue people, so that they may be spared untimely death, the decay of their bodies, and unceasing harm?”

The Celestial Worthy then clicked his teeth, a ritual gesture used in Daoist visualization and ritual practice, and turned his thoughts toward the Northern Emperor of Great Yin in the northern heaven of the Five Qi. The Northern Emperor at once sensed the summons and led the Ten Demon Kings, the Great Gods of the Eight Luminaries, the Heavenly Warriors and Strongmen of the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens, the Three-Five Great Generals, the Great General of the Five Lakes with the Lofty Banner, the Great Generals of the Seven Origins of the Northern Dipper who command the Huo Luo, the Great God Who Guards the Numinous, countless thunder-flying and lightning officials, and other divine officials such as giant beasts and venomous dragons, together with the hosts of mighty flying ghosts of the Northern Yin, to the place of the ritual assembly.

The Northern Emperor straightened his sword and jade ornaments, put away his registers, performed the ritual steps, and bowed again. Then he said, “It has been ten kalpas since I left the seat at which I served the Celestial Worthy. Today I have received the secret command from afar and have been granted an audience with your sacred presence. What task has the Most Holy summoned me to perform?”

The Celestial Worthy said to the Northern Emperor, “Ghosts and demons of the Northern Yin have appeared among the people, killing them at will. The dead already make up more than half the population. Now is the year of ‘Three-Nine-Seven-Five,’ and people’s minds and spirits are in confusion; they are being slaughtered by ghosts and demons in especially great numbers. Many meet untimely deaths before their allotted lifespans are complete. Their souls cannot disperse and are forced to linger in the netherworld. Grievous spirits stretch without end, their resentment rising to the heavens. You may descend to the human world with the Ten Grotto Demon Kings and the Three-Five Officers and Generals to restrain and subdue the Yin ghosts. Once you have fulfilled your merit and accumulated De, you may ascend to the formless realm and naturally attain the ultimate state of the Truly Real.”

At this time, the Northern Emperor—the deity who rules the North and commands ghosts and spirits—bowed once more and received the Celestial Worthy’s command. He led the Ten Demon Kings of Heaven, the Three-Five Great Generals, the clerks and soldiers under the Three Masters, and divine generals such as the Heavenly Canopy’s Slaughtering Lad, the Northern Dipper’s Slaughtering Clerk, the Giant Beast Flying Clerk, and the Owl-Hook-and-Rope Flying Clerk. He also dispatched the Supreme True Spirits, the Heavenly Strongmen, the Heavenly Charioteers and Armored Troops, the Southern Dipper’s Ghost-Slaying Envoys, and the Northern Dipper’s Torch-Bearing Chariot Officers. Purple Qi surged ahead, while flowing flames stretched for ten thousand li; together, they descended into the human realm.

At that time, before the Yin ghosts had even seen the heavenly troops, they had already been struck, ten days earlier, by the Northern Emperor’s Great Mystery Slaying Qi—the force he wielded to subdue demons and evil spirits. The Southern Dipper’s Ghost-Slaying Envoys, the Northern Dipper’s Torch-Bearing Chariot Officers, and the others led the assault. Purple Qi cleared the way, and flowing flames spread across ten thousand li. The Yin ghosts were first struck in the head, which split open; more than half were already dead.

As the Northern Emperor descended, his force swept across heaven and earth. A heavenly net spread above, and an earthly mesh was laid below. Heavenly charioteers and fierce beasts raced in every direction, while heavenly strongmen and flying clerks hacked and hammered at the demons. Some demons had nowhere to hide before they could even reveal their true forms. Some turned into dragons and snakes; others became demon beings in the likeness of young girls. All were restrained and subdued within seven days.

At this time, the Northern Emperor led the heavenly troops back to the Hall of Eight Luminaries and Jade in the Upper Origin Heaven. He paid homage to the Celestial Worthy and reported: “Your servant received the holy command and descended to the lower realm to capture and subdue the Yin demons. Within seven days, the six ghost palaces of Mount Luo in the Northern Fengdu should be brought to an end.” The Northern Emperor then assigned one powerful demon king to each place to guard and suppress it.

At this time, the Northern Emperor, the Daoist sovereign deity of the north, reported to the Celestial Worthy: “In certain years of the Lower Origin, people in the world often accumulate evil deeds and offenses. Their hearts become deeply deluded, and they thereby attract demons from the caverns. When people are weak, these demons secretly enter the human realm. Some have not yet been fully subdued; for some people, their allotted lifespans are nearly over, and the underworld caverns open of their own accord. Unless they are restrained, these demons will roam the human realm. The Four Seas and Five Lakes, the Seven Marshes and Nine Rivers, the Five Sacred Peaks and the Twenty-Four Daoist administrative centers, as well as mountains, rivers, ravines, valleys, and caves, may all become sources of calamity in the world. I command three hundred thousand soldiers and officers to patrol the human realm at all times and pursue demons that bring sudden hardship to people. When people recite my divine name and chant a spell once, the demons will hear it and die with their skulls split open.”

The Northern Emperor continued: “If, during the Lower Origin, a human realm suffers years of disaster and famine, poor harvests, the three calamities of flood, fire, and wind, war, or epidemic, bringing death and injury to the people and widespread bloodshed, then people should observe fasting and purification and invite Daoist masters of the Three Caverns—ritual masters versed in the Three Caverns scriptures. They should establish an altar to the Seven Primordial Lords of the Big Dipper at the capital’s north gate, light lamps, scatter flowers, perform Daoist rites, submit memorials, and recite my Six Heavens spell for dispelling evil and averting calamity. They should circumambulate the altar and perform the rites for seven or fourteen days, or even forty-nine days.”

At this time, the Northern Emperor commanded the Three-Five Great Generals, the troops of the Heavenly Marshal, the Ten Demon Kings, countless soldiers, the mighty celestial troops, cavalry that rode thunder and lightning, the divine kings and officers of the Owl, Hook, and Rope Cavalry, as well as the great gods of the Southern Dipper who wielded mighty swords and the envoys of the Northern Dipper. Purple Qi and streaming flames flickered all around, sweeping away demons, epidemics, bloodshed, and pervasive foulness, until everything was restored to purity.

The Northern Emperor says: During the Lower Origin period, some women repeatedly miscarry after becoming pregnant, failing to deliver a child nineteen times in succession. They may miscarry after one or two months, lose the child close to term, or have a child die in the womb after birth. Some children reach the age of seven or ten, yet die without apparent cause. The scripture attributes these misfortunes to “blood impurity” in the women, saying that demonesses and ghost mothers from the Six Grotto Heavens follow them and suck away their Jing (essence) and Qi (vital energy). This repeatedly harms the fetus and leaves the women sallow and thin, often troubled by frightening and uncanny dreams. The scripture also says these ghostly beings take the forms of cats, mice, civets, and dogs, and devour people’s offspring in dreams.

In such cases, the main hall should be cleansed, and a Daoist priest should establish an altar according to the Keyi (liturgy). A purification ritual should be performed for the Seven Lords of the Northern Dipper, the deities associated with its seven stars. Incense should be burned and lamps lit, the Northern Emperor’s divine incantation recited, and the rites performed with confession and repentance. The ritual may continue for one to seven days. The scripture says that the Northern Emperor will send twelve Dark Mystery Radiant Jade Maidens to protect the pregnant woman from harm and allow the fetus to develop safely.

If a dangerous situation arises during labor, the scripture says that ghost mothers will obstruct the birth, while filthy ghosts from the northern land of Yin will come demanding food and devour the birthing woman’s blood. She may suffer unbearable pain for a day or as long as seven days, groaning in agony by day and night. At such times, the courtyard should be cleansed, an altar set up, and the incantation recited as the rites are performed. The scripture says that the Northern Emperor will send the Nine Mystery Slaughtering Youths and the Six Ding Jade Maidens, Daoist guardian generals, to protect the woman and spare her intense pain. The children born, whether boys or girls, will be outstanding in appearance, dignified, and intelligent, and will later attain honor and success.

The Northern Emperor said: If people born in the Lower Origin period—the Daoist term for those born during, or governed by, the Lower Origin—encounter natural disasters or widespread epidemics, deadly illness, or raging toxic vapors, leaving everyone bedridden, or suffer one mishap after another; if evil spirits invade their homes, or calamities are recklessly brought upon them in their birth-year cycle, subjecting them to shackles and punishment, lawsuits, imprisonment, or confinement for many years, with roads blocked in every direction; if they lie ill for a long time while demons hold their souls captive in the underworld’s official courts; or if spirits of depletion obstruct them, causing them to lose their wealth and see their official standing and fortune decline, so that their undertakings cannot succeed, they should follow the prescribed liturgy and formalities to submit memorials and petitions, perform a purification ritual, and worship the Seven Lords of the Northern Dipper, the Five Planets, and the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions. They should perform the rites, recite incantations, light lamps, and scatter flowers for one, three, or seven days, or for forty-nine days. I will command the Lord of Fate of the Northern Dipper, who oversees the registers of destiny, to erase their names from the black register, and the Lord of Prohibitions of the Southern Dipper, who oversees the registers of life, to amend the records of life and death, granting them more years and a longer life, and turning calamity aside and releasing them from adversity. All frenzied, wicked demons and spirits will be driven out and destroyed by the Great Demon Kings of the Six Heavens and the Three-Five Great Generals, so they can cause no further harm.

The Northern Emperor said: If people born in the Lower Origin period wish to cultivate and study the Daoist arts but cannot persevere, giving up halfway and growing lax; if their minds and spirits are confused and forgetful, clouded and unclear, they should fast, bathe, and recite my divine incantation from seven times up to one hundred times. Wherever they walk, dwell, or pause, even if they encounter something unclean, they need not stop. They need only keep the incantation in mind and recite it. Then the Seven Lords of the Northern Dipper will descend, sending pure Qi into their hearts to dispel inner demons. The hundred spirits will protect them, their internal organs will be at peace, the openings of their hearts will be clear, and their spirits will become lucid and bright, enabling them to succeed in whatever they study.

The Northern Emperor said: If people born in the Lower Origin period travel by boat on the open sea, rivers, or lakes and encounter wind, thunder, or lightning strikes, facing the danger of drowning in their terror; or if they are in the mountains…

The Northern Emperor said: In the Lower Primordial period, some people travel over the open sea, rivers, and lakes, where fierce winds and lightning may strike and they may drown in their panic. Others walk through remote, perilous mountain forests and valleys, or travel after dark and sleep outdoors, where they may encounter all manner of terrifying things, such as jackals, wolves, tigers, leopards, dragons, snakes, and ghosts. When faced with such dangers, they should purify their minds, sit upright, and silently recite my spell twenty-one times. Then the Six-Heavens Demon Kings and General Tianpeng will lead their divine troops, together with the Great Gods of the Wilderness, the Divine Kings of the Eight Radiances, the deities of the Five Sacred Peaks and Four Great Rivers, the spirits of rivers, streams, and ravines, and the local earth gods. They will answer the call of the mind and descend to protect the person, dispelling fear and bringing safety, peace of mind, and joy, while driving away evil influences.

The Northern Emperor said: In the Lower Primordial period, some people conceive but are unable to give birth. This is because the cave-heaven demonesses, the Ghost Mother, the Celestial Wolf, and the Greedy Dog consume the fetus’s Jing, bringing an end to their line of descendants. Those who wish to have children should set up an altar of lamps to the Northern Dipper in the main hall of their home.

The Northern Emperor said: In the Lower Primordial period, some people conceive but are unable to give birth. This is because the cave-heaven demonesses, the Ghost Mother, the Celestial Wolf, and the Greedy Dog consume the fetus’s Jing, bringing an end to their line of descendants. Those who wish to have children should set up an altar of lamps to the Northern Dipper in the main hall of their home. A ritual master should perform the rite according to the liturgy, burn incense, scatter flowers, recite my divine spell ten thousand times, and perform a Zhaijiao offering to the Northern Dipper, bowing and praying to its stellar deities. Then twelve Jade Maidens of the Azure Waist will descend to protect the fetus and grant the request. The child will be born safely and, upon growing up, will be noble and intelligent. Whether boy or girl, the child will enjoy a long life.

The Northern Emperor said: In the Lower Primordial period, those who can keep body and mind pure and recite this spell regularly—seven times, or as many as one hundred times, while walking, staying still, rising, or resting each day—will find that their undertakings succeed. They should recite it in the morning and evening. Even when taking part in gambling games, seeking profit, or meeting kings, nobles, and other eminent people, they will often be well received, their wishes will be fulfilled, and their relationships will be harmonious.

The Northern Emperor said: In the Lower Primordial period, if locusts or other disasters destroy the Five Grains growing in the fields, an altar should be set up in the fields, and the spell recited according to the liturgy seven times or forty-nine times. I will command the local earth officials of the Nine Provinces and the Earth Sovereigns of Houtu, the deities who govern the land, to suppress the disaster for three days. The insect plague will then disappear of its own accord.

The Northern Emperor said: If the five grains planted in the fields are damaged by locusts or other calamities, an altar should be set up in the fields, and the incantation recited seven or forty-nine times according to the ritual instructions. I will command the local officials who oversee the Earth Gods of the Nine Provinces and the Earth Kings of Houtu, the spirits who govern the land, to suppress the calamity for three days. The locusts and other sources of damage will then perish on their own.

The Northern Emperor said: These are the Demon Kings of the Six Caverns. They often bring six kinds of calamity upon people in the world below.

The first palace damages people’s property, leaving them to waste their resources and lose their wealth. The second palace damages their lives and prospects, keeping their names from distinction and hindering their official careers. The third palace damages their rank and stipends, obstructing them at every turn and cutting off their paths in all directions. The fourth palace damages their fields, residences, and homes, bringing repeated deaths, disasters, and hauntings by ghosts and spirits into the household, so that its occupants cannot live in peace. The fifth palace damages people’s wives and concubines, causing them to die one after another, sometimes taking as many as seven in succession. The sixth palace damages people’s children, making it difficult for them to have offspring or causing their children to die of illness, until their lineage comes to an end.

These six calamities are all secretly orchestrated by the demons of the Six Heavens. They block the living from communicating with the Six Offices within the caverns, which oversee the six kinds of calamity, and thereby bring disaster upon people. Those who resolve to dispel these calamities may set up an altar and perform the rites in a quiet mountain wilderness, at an ancient altar, or in a secluded chamber. They should follow the ritual instructions and continue for three, seven, or as many as forty-nine days. When the rites are complete, they should submit one memorial, accompanied by a purification offering, called “The Offering of the Memorial to the Six Harms.”

They must also pray to the Six Jia, the deities of the sexagenary cycle, the Five Planets, the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, and the palaces of the Sun and Moon, and wear one copy of the Great Register of the Three and Five for Dispelling the Six Harms, a talismanic register used to avert these calamities. At the appointed time, one hundred and twenty Jade Youths of the Nine Palaces, the Great General Who Dispels Harm, the great deities of the Northern Dipper, and the forces of the Celestial Peng Division will descend. They will investigate the places in the Yin Palaces of the Six Caverns where the calamities originate, resolve them one by one, and end the disasters forever, so that they no longer afflict the human world.

The Northern Emperor said: People of the Lower Origin—the third cycle in the Daoist calendar—who are rulers or nobles should, when going out to war, wear the “Nine Palaces Ward Off □, Six Palaces Repel Corpses Great Register” (a protective talismanic register; one character in the original is damaged). They should make offerings to the Seven Primordial Lords of the Northern Dipper, write this incantation on the register, and wear it on the left shoulder. When facing the enemy in battle, they should silently recite the divine incantation seven times. The Six Heavens’ Demon Kings, the Great Deity Tianpeng, the Northern Dipper messengers, and the Three Origins generals will secretly protect them, keeping them from harm and granting peace and good fortune, so that they forever avoid bloodshed and calamities of untimely death.

The Northern Emperor said: People of the Lower Origin who fear that evildoers may harm them can visualize those people standing beneath their left foot, then recite the incantation 130 times. This can turn the evildoers’ ill intentions toward them into good fortune.

The Northern Emperor said: People of the Lower Origin who know the names of the officials of the six caverns of Fengdu need not fear harm from any of the hundred ghosts. Each night before going to sleep, they should first face north, click their teeth seven times, and then softly recite the incantation three times:

I am a subject of the Sovereign Lord, my name recorded in Jade Clarity, and I command the Six Heavens of the lower realm. The Northern Emperor’s ghost palaces all lie within my jurisdiction. In the territory I command, which ghost would dare cause mischief? I wear Huoluo on my left and carry the Fire Bell on my right. I hurl flames that reach ten thousand miles; my might is enough to subdue the myriad spirits. Those who offend are slain; those who transgress are punished. By the Sovereign Lord’s command, they are seized at once, without delay. In the territory I command, which ghost would dare cause mischief? I wear Huoluo on my left and carry the Fire Bell on my right. I hurl flames that reach ten thousand miles; my might is enough to subdue the myriad spirits. Those who offend are slain; those who transgress are punished. By the Sovereign Lord’s command, they are seized at once, without delay. Heaven’s light thunders, and the host of demons flee; ghosts and monsters are destroyed, and I attain long life. Swiftly obey the Sovereign Lord’s command!

According to the Shangqing Scripture of the Three Diagrams of the Celestial Pass, Mount Fengdu lies in the northern quarter of Gui. For this reason, the northeast is called the “Ghost Gate,” the source of deathly energy. Mount Fengdu is 2,600 li high and 30,000 li around. Beneath the mountain is a cavern palace, 15,000 li around. Palaces inhabited by ghosts and spirits stand both on and beneath the mountain: the twelve palaces above govern ghosts, while the twelve below govern spirits. Each palace extends for 1,000 li. Six palaces stand on either side of the upper palace, and six on either side of the lower palace, making twenty-four palaces in all.

The six palaces above are named as follows:

The first is the Heavenly Palace of Severed Yin of Zhou; the second, the Heavenly Palace of Supreme Slaughter and Just Administration; the third, the Heavenly Office of Dawn’s Brightness, Endurance, and Martial City; the fourth, the Heavenly Office of Tranquil Illumination and Sinful Qi; the fifth, the Heavenly Office of Ancestral Spirit and Seven Transgressions; and the sixth, the Heavenly Office of Bold Command, Linked Gardens, and Repeated Arrivals.

The six palaces below are named as follows:

The first is the Heavenly Palace of Restful Brightness, Total Spirit, and Cavernous Heaven; the second, the Heavenly Palace of Dark Command, Dual Rectitude, and Ancestral Spirit; the third, the Heavenly Palace of Uniting the Immortals, Raising the Spirit, and Rarefied Subtlety; the fourth, the Heavenly Office of True Rectitude, Shao’s Spirit, and the Garden Command; the fifth, the Heavenly Palace of Cloud Tower, Jade Record, and Brightness; and the sixth, the Heavenly Palace of Reverent Emptiness, Red Reflection, and Cloud Fields.

When the incantation is recited once, Heaven and Earth tremble, and all demons are bound. When it is recited a second time, the kinds of ghosts and monsters are extinguished, and the death registers of those in the Six Heavens—the celestial offices governing ghosts and spirits—are erased. If people in the world who cultivate the Dao do not know the names of the palaces of Fengdu or understand who governs the spirits and ghosts, they cannot block the source of death; later students will then find it difficult to achieve success.

The Northern Emperor said: Whether male or female, people in the lower realm—that is, living beings in the human world—who recite the names of the Six Heavenly Palaces while walking at night or sleeping will cause ghosts and demons who hear them to become subjects of the blood ghosts’ authority of their own accord. If the source of death is not blocked, later students will find it difficult to achieve success.

The Northern Emperor, a deity who rules the north and commands ghosts and spirits, said: People of the Lower Origin—the Lower Origin in Daoist teaching’s Three Origins, often associated with the human realm and people’s livelihood—whether male or female, may recite the names of the Six Heavenly Palaces while walking at night or sleeping. When ghosts and monsters hear them, they will all turn into bloody pulp and make disorienting sounds. Do not recite the names loudly: the louder you speak, the greater the harm to the ghosts and monsters. If you have suffered no misfortune and recite this spell simply for its own sake, first make a vow. The spell of the Six Heavenly Gates’ names that I have transmitted is meant to calm the souls; it does not harm the beings of the underworld. The spell reads:

The Emperor of the Morning Standard of Zhoujue,

Liangshi, Gouzhong, and Chong’er.

Like a wedding in the heavens’ midst,

Surging like radiant splendor.

Wucheng, a single divine peak,

Quietly shining, swallowing the Blue River.

The Gate of Heaven overlooks the Cinnabar Well;

The Cloud Gate rises in lush, rugged heights.

The Seven Nonentities pass through the wondrous canopy;

Lianwan, too, spreads forth the demons.

The Six Heavens stretch across the northern road—

This is the dwelling place of ghosts and spirits.

King of Poisonous Tigers who Repels Them, King of Ghosts of the Six Heavens, Zhen Shiluo Ling, Demon King of the Northern Emperor, Bright Crystal of the Four Heavens, Ghost Minister of Fengdu, Choubo of Bayuan, and Registrar of the Nine Heavens: you command all demons. How dare you not obey the order?

The Northern Emperor said: The spell I have spoken names the places where ghosts and spirits dwell.

King of Poisonous Tigers who Repels Them, King of Ghosts of the Six Heavens, Zhen Shiluo Ling, Demon King of the Northern Emperor, Bright Crystal of the Four Heavens, Ghost Minister of Fengdu, Choubo of Bayuan, and Registrar of the Nine Heavens: you command all demons. How dare you not obey the order?

The Northern Emperor said: “The spell I have transmitted is called the ‘Northern Emperor’s Divine Spell.’ It can destroy, slay, and devour the demons and spirits of the Six Heavens. People in the Lower Origin—the human realm among the Three Origins in Daoist teaching—whether old or young, male or female, rich or poor, can recite this divine spell while walking, sitting, lying down, or resting, and whatever they seek will be accomplished. All manner of demons will retreat, and a person’s Shen and Qi will in turn flourish. With focused and unwavering intent, there will be no hindrance, and what one seeks will accord with the principles of the Dao.

“When reciting the ‘Divine Spell of the Northern Black Emperor, the Great Dark Elder of the Five Spirits,’ first visualize the Heavenly Canopy Divine General, a Daoist protector general. He has four faces and six arms and holds weapons including a halberd, sword, bow and arrows, golden spear, and lance. He stands fifty zhang tall, wears golden armor, and shines with a light that reaches ten thousand li. He roars and shouts in fury, his might shaking the four quarters. Leading three hundred thousand divine soldiers, dressed in black and wearing black Xuan caps, he descends to subdue and destroy evil demons and monsters.

“Then knock the left teeth thirty-six times, followed by the right teeth thirty-six times. Next, sound the Heavenly Drum twenty-four times, using the fingers to tap the two sides of the back of the head, as in the traditional method of guiding and nourishing the body. After this, turn to face north, then sit facing the direction of Jianwang. Break the earth, and recite the spell in a low voice, saying:”

The Celestial General Tianpeng commands heavenly troops in the four directions, forty thousand in each, whose cries roar like fierce tigers. The Ninefold Mystery Slaying Youth are heavenly troops summoned and deployed by military talismans in the ritual traditions of Shangqing Yu Yutian and Dachitian. They belong to the Three Caverns of Shangqing and oversee the countless troops commanded by the Great God of Heavenly Sha.

The Five Ding Commanders are the divine troops summoned when the Six Ding goddesses chant beneath the Three Heavenly Gates. Each of the thirty-six bureaus has sixty thousand troops, who arrive swiftly at the summons. The Northern Emperor’s Three Sha divine troops number one hundred and ten thousand. Gao Diao Beigong also refers to these Three Sha troops in the Northern Emperor’s celestial realm, numbering one hundred and ten thousand.

The Seven Luminaries and Eight Spirits are the Northern Emperor’s seven stellar perfected beings. There are seven thousand four hundred of them, and they remain beside the ritual master, watching over good and evil. The Supreme High and Vast Fiery Ones are the Three Supreme Generals. They command thirty million troops, stand before the ritual master, and drive away evil spirits.

The Long-Skulled Great Beasts are the forty-four hundred divine troops commanded by the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas. They subdue and destroy mountain spirits and wild ghosts. “Holding the Emperor’s Bell” refers to the great gods of the Five Sacred Peaks, rivers, lakes, and seas, each commanding fifty thousand troops. During purification rites and ritual practice at a forbidden altar, the practitioner should visualize these deities.

The Three Gods of the Plain Owl and the Harnessed Kui Dragons refer to the Three Heavenly Demon Kings and their three thousand troops. They constantly listen for people’s good and evil deeds on earth and in the sky. If someone in the ritual hall becomes doubtful, they may visualize these deities to bring peace and stability to the place.

The Mighty Sword God-Kings who slay evil and erase its traces refer to the Wind God and the Lord of the Sea, each commanding eight thousand troops. They should be visualized when praying for rain. “Purple Qi Ascending to Heaven” refers to the Commander of the Demon Troops, who oversees people’s registers as well as calamities and baleful forces in the world. When visualizing him, one should chant in a low voice.

The Scarlet Clouds, Brilliant and Rising, refer to the Great God of Xuandu, who carries the decrees of Nüqing and commands countless troops. During a Lingguan petition rite, a purification ritual in which petitions are presented to the deities, one should visualize him always nearby. The Demon-Swallower and Ghost-Eater, who stretches out his body to drink the wind, refers to the twenty-four Heavenly Ghost Gods. They subdue and destroy evil and false beings. When summoned by command, they may be visualized to treat illness and plague, and to address disputes and accusations in official or community settings.

The Azure Tongues, Green Teeth, and Four-Eyed Old Men refer to the kings of the sun, moon, and stars, each commanding eight thousand divisions. These deities may be visualized when there is a need to move mountains or fill in the sea. The Heavenly Strongmen, who awe the south and ward off calamity, and the Heavenly Riders, who stir up fury and confront enemies in the north, are all divine generals in the Shangqing tradition. Each group numbers twelve hundred and constantly attends the ritual master. They should be visualized while reciting scriptures.

Three hundred thousand troops guard and surround me, protecting the ninefold precinct, driving corpse-spirits a thousand miles away, and sweeping away inauspicious forces. These divine troops belong to the Great Gods of the Six Ding and Eight Scribes, each commanding eighty-five thousand. They should be visualized while reciting scriptures or transmitting talismans and registers.

If a petty ghost dares to appear, use the great axe of Heaven to sever its form. These troops are the armies of the Five Emperors and the Heavenly Officials of the Three Caverns, numbering thirty million in all. They constantly attend the ritual master and should be visualized during the cultivation of the Dao.

The Yan Emperor rends the blood of evil demons; the Northern Emperor burns their bones. The Four Brightness Gods shatter their remains, and the Heavenly You God destroys their kind. These are the envoys of the Four Brightness Merit Officers, numbering three thousand six hundred. They attend the ritual master and watch over good and evil. One should maintain right-mindedness at all times and never give rise to evil thoughts.

With a single sweep of the divine blade, ten thousand ghosts scatter of their own accord. This is the Great King God of the Northern Emperor’s Black Sha, who destroys ghosts and evil forces and watches over good and evil. When visualizing this god-king, one should also maintain right-mindedness and never give rise to evil thoughts. As the divine blade falls, the sound of ghosts wailing may seem to ring through the air.

In all matters, obey swiftly the commandments of the Supreme Lord Lao.

The formula on the right consists of thirty-six lines. Recite one line at a time, striking the teeth once with each line. The Northern Emperor said: “Recite my divine spell, follow this method, and carefully observe the ritual rules and taboos. I will have the Celestial Lords of the Northern Region’s thirty grotto-heavens, the Great General Tianpeng, and the great spirits from the farthest reaches in the ten directions and the celestial realms of the eight directions—flying gods and fierce beasts who can become invisible—guard the living without leaving their sides, surrounding and protecting them so that desires and attachments no longer stand in their way.

“You may recite this spell seven times, or as many as forty-nine or one hundred and twenty times. After reciting it, strike the teeth, sound the Heavenly Drum (gently tap behind the ears with your fingers to make a sound), and strike the Heavenly Chime (tap the chime that symbolizes the celestial realm), thirty-six times each. Then recite the spell that follows three or seven times. Afterward, it is all right to sleep outdoors. This spell is called the ‘Spell for Purifying Heaven and Earth.’ If the place where you live is filthy or evil, recite the ‘Spell for Dispelling Defilement and Repelling Corpses’ regularly. According to the scripture, when striking the teeth, make the inner and outer realms empty, bright, and unobstructed, and keep the sound so soft that it seems only you can hear it.”

Within the cavern, profound mystery lies deep; radiance illuminates the primordial beginning. Mighty spirits of the eight directions, let me accord with nature. By the command of the Lingbao talisman, I proclaim this throughout the nine heavens.

“Spell for Repelling Corpses”: According to the scripture, when striking the teeth, make the inner and outer realms empty, bright, and unobstructed, and keep the sound so soft that it seems only you can hear it.

Within the cavern, profound mystery lies deep; radiance illuminates the primordial beginning. Mighty spirits of the eight directions, let me accord with nature. By the command of the Lingbao talisman, I proclaim this throughout the nine heavens. Qianluo Dana, Donggang Taixuan. Cut down the demons and bind the evil spirits; destroy countless ghosts and monsters. The divine spell of Zhongshan is a jade text handed down by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. Reciting it once drives away ghosts and monsters and lengthens life. It patrols and inspects the Five Sacred Mountains, and its power is heard throughout the eight seas. The demon king submits, guarding my carriage. Baleful forces and foul Qi disperse; the Dao’s Qi remains for a long time. Swiftly, swiftly, act in accordance with the statutes and commands.

The scripture says: This spell is a secret teaching transmitted by the Northern Emperor. If people obtain it and put it into practice regularly, they can subdue every kind of evil, increase their blessings and lengthen their lives, pass their years in peace and overcome calamities, dispel disasters and avert misfortune, and protect and save the living from undeserved harm. Men and women, young and old, may all practice it.

The Perfected One Tao (Tao Hongjing) said: “In the past, when I was studying the Dao on Mount Tiantai, before my cultivation was complete, mountain spirits often tormented me. They took visible form, appeared naked, and came in turns to frighten me. I had often heard of this divine incantation, but had never used it. After observing the prescribed fast and cultivating for seven days, I walked around the place where I lived. About a hundred paces from the house, I saw blood streaming across the ground, while the stench of corpses filled the valley. I also heard someone weeping in complaint, speaking in a voice full of grief and anguish: ‘Tao Hongjing, Tao Hongjing, you have taken my dwelling and wounded my life.’ After that, the mountain spirits no longer made trouble so loudly. If one recites this incantation over a long period, it seems possible to roam together with the hundred deities and thereby seek long life.”

The Perfected One Wang said: “My former master, the Celestial Master Zhang, carried out the command of the Most High—a Daoist title of reverence for the supreme deity—to subdue and seize the encampments occupied by ghosts and spirits in the twenty-four administrative centers of Shu Commandery, thereby saving and protecting the people. In a single battle, the great ghost commanders of all twenty-four centers surrendered at once, and their followers were confined beneath the centers. They have since become the twenty-four ghost prisons in the mountains and have never been able to emerge. This was all because the Most High bestowed the Northern Emperor’s divine incantation, an incantation for subduing demons. Whenever my former master recited the incantation before the ghosts and spirits, heavenly troops, the Three-Five Generals, and the soldiers of the Tianpeng division would all descend together, and everything in their path would submit. Tianpeng is the ninth star of the Northern Dipper.”

Zheng Siyuan said: “I once heard that the Supreme One, the Immortal of Northern Florescence, transmitted this Daoist method to beginners and taught them to recite it ten thousand times. This could first dispel demons and avert calamities, allowing one to grasp the true Dao soon afterward. I had long hoped to obtain this method, but had no opportunity to hear it.

Later, I met the Immortal Elder Zuo at Mount Donghua. He said to me: ‘If you wish to receive the diagrams, registers, and divine spells of the Great Emperor of Mount Northern Fengdu, to drive away evil and banish ghosts through memorial offerings and purification rites, and thereby cultivate the true Dao, you must offer silk and fragrant oil as tokens of faith and swear an oath on your life. Only then will I transmit it to you. This is the Daoist method of the Primordial Lady of Great Simplicity, the Mysterious Mother. It must not be casually transmitted to those whose minds are confused, or to people who possess only an outward form and have no foundation in cultivating the Dao. If you fail to revere this method, calamity will befall your ancestors.’

I accepted the transmission and thereby came to grasp the true Dao. I have not set down here all its subtle and secret details; more can be found in the Jade Writ of Hidden Texts of the Jade Clarity, on the Divine Wisdom of the Jade Emperor of Highest Clarity Who Dispels Demons. The related ritual procedures are recorded in the following volume.”

The Immortal of Northern Florescence told Zheng Siyuan: “Recite one sentence of the divine incantation and gently click your teeth once to keep a steady rhythm. This is a method of cultivation. If you recite it without interruption day and night, you need not click your teeth after every sentence. If someone is troubled by ghosts, they should sit upright and click their teeth once for every four characters, following the method. Another way is to click your teeth seven times and recite the incantation three times; then click your teeth seven times and recite it three times again; then click your teeth seven times and state the wish in your heart. The scripture says that any ghosts causing trouble will die with their eyes rotted away. The names mentioned in the divine incantation belong to divine officials charged with cutting down ghosts and evil spirits. They are secret words of the Northern Thearch.”

“Once people in the world have received this method, they can, by practicing it regularly and abstaining from meat, fish, and other mixed foods, ward off all forms of evil, increase their blessings and years of life, prolong their lives, and pass through times of misfortune. They can also avert calamities and dangers, rescue and protect living beings, and keep people from sudden disaster. The scripture says that when clicking the teeth, the sound should ring clearly inside the mouth, as though one could hear it oneself.”

The Celestial Worthy told the Immortal of Northern Florescence: “In cultivation and recitation, the mind must be pure and wholly focused. Do not mix in other activities, and do not combine this practice with evil arts. The scripture calls these prohibitions commandments guarded by the wicked spirits of the Six Heavens. If people treat this as something to chant casually in their spare time, without reverence, and show disrespect for the true words, Tianpeng will become enraged and bring endless calamities. Therefore, you must be cautious and reverent.”

At that time, the great holy assembly of the various heavens heard the means of rescue and protection taught in this scripture. All rejoiced and, aspiring to the supreme Dao, naturally advanced in their level of cultivation. They received the might of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Origin, bowed their heads, and faithfully carried out his teaching.

End of Volume One of The Wondrous Scripture of the Supreme Celestial Worthy of Primordial Origin on the Northern Thearch’s Divine Incantation for Subduing Demons

The Wondrous Scripture of the Supreme Celestial Worthy of Primordial Origin on the Northern Thearch’s Divine Incantation for Subduing Demons, Volume Two: The Chapter on the Seven Primordial Secrets

At that time, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning traveled through the heavens, opening and establishing many realms, saving their people, and widely proclaiming the wondrous teachings. He saw that the people of the lower realm—the human world—were beset by calamities: strange demons and ghostly influences were spreading, and the spirits of the Nine Uglies, who brought disaster, were unjustly harming the virtuous. He thought: “The beings of the Three Realms endlessly cycle through rebirth, and the grudges they accumulate against one another grow ever greater. The lands are unsettled, and wars break out again and again. What means can be used to save the people and protect all beings?” So he summoned the Perfected Lord of the Northern Emperor and ordered him to explain how to save living beings.

The Northern Emperor said: “This is the sacred decree governing my affairs in Fengdu, the Daoist underworld. Establishing the Seven Primordial Altar, a ritual altar for subduing ghosts and dispelling demons, honoring the Seven Primordials of the Northern Dipper, and warding off evil, can protect households and bring peace to the realm. This is a method practiced by the Great Sage, capable of summoning and bringing down the perfected spirits.” Hearing the secret method in the Northern Emperor’s reply, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning resolved to follow and practice it.

The Northern Emperor said: “This spell is extraordinarily efficacious and subtle. One should observe purification and recite it over an extended period; this can grant longevity to the body and enable one to ascend into the sky.”

The Northern Emperor’s Incarnation Spell says:

I reverently command the true officials of the five parts of my body (the spirits who govern its different regions): the Hun is the father of Heaven, the Po the mother of Earth; the head is the Thunder Duke, the hair the Dark Clouds, the crown of the head the Bright Star, the brain the Vermilion Bird (a divine bird), the brows the Qilin (an auspicious beast), the eyes the sun and moon, the nose the Tiger Warriors (brave soldiers), the upper lip the Wind Earl, the lower lip the Rain Master, the tongue the governor of the Nine Provinces, the throat the Jade Pivot (the name of a constellation), the left arm the Jade Balance that repels enemies, the right arm the Jade Balance that defeats enemies, the palms the Fire Chariot, and the fingers the armored troops.

The breasts are immortal youths, the skull the Crosswise Mountain, the spine Peng Mountain, the ribs the Famous Mountains, and the abdomen the Golden City. The liver is the Azure Emperor, the kidneys the Dark Emperor, the spleen the Yellow Emperor, the heart the Red Emperor, the lungs the White Emperor, the gallbladder the Great One, the intestines dragons and tigers, the armpits the Forbidden Prison, the navel the rivers and lakes, the testicles the Weaving Maiden, the bladder the River Earl, the blood the river waters, the blood vessels the Teng Snake (a divine serpent), the stomach Gouchen (a star spirit), the skin the Heavenly Net, the muscles the Earthly Mesh, the buttocks the Dark Warrior, the genitals the Eight Barbarians, the legs the Twin Youths, the knees the Fierce Wind, the calves the Lions, and the feet the White Horses. The two hands are three generals, each commanding seventy million troops.

These soldiers draw their blades and swords, mount the Fire Chariot, and charge out from my body. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes! (A phrase in Daoist incantations commanding an order to be carried out at once.) This incantation can subdue all ghosts and spirits. If you encounter madness caused by evil influences, recite it three times. In milder cases, do not recite it, lest you harm your Hun and Po. Be sure to exercise caution.

The Tianpeng Marshal’s Incantation for Commanding Water to Enter a Room and Drive Away Illness (an incantation used by the Tianpeng Marshal to consecrate water when entering a room and expelling illness):

Ha! I am the son of the Supreme One, the Heavenly Emperor. I act under the command of Lord Lao. The sun and moon crown my head, and the Northern Dipper hangs at my waist. Countless celestial troops stand at my sides as guards. Before me is a great cauldron of boiling water; behind me are golden battle-axes. When I paid audience to the Supreme One, I met a divine general. He taught me how to drive out and destroy ghosts and demons, and passed on arts for slaying evil spirits. I wear a Taisu talisman, used to capture and restrain baleful forces, and can subdue every inauspicious thing. I report to the Heavenly Emperor and summon the officials and troops of the celestial realm. A canopy of state crowns my head, and my feet tread the star positions of the Northern Dipper, as in the Daoist ritual of pacing the stars. What spirit would not flee at the sight of me? What ghost would dare stand in my way? I will bind you fast and punish the harm you have caused.

The sick person has done no wrong. How dare you wantonly harm someone virtuous? I hold the righteous Qi of Heaven and Earth within me, and chant a spell to shatter the calamities brought by evil ghosts. I curse a spirit, and it destroys itself; I curse a ghost, and it perishes of its own accord. Carry this out at once, in accordance with the statutes and commands!

When the spell is finished, take a mouthful of water and spray it toward the sick person.

Then chant:

Evil spirits of the east, south, west, north, and center—Ha! You may be fish like the yangli, water plants like duckweed, or creatures bred in stagnant water. You may be softshell turtles, alligators, turtles, tortoises, finned fish, rays, eels, or other aquatic creatures; you may be the spirits of trees, or yaomei wangliang. You take human form and attach yourselves to people, bewildering men and women. The Northern Emperor, the deity of the north who commands the forces that drive out evil, heard of this and flew into a rage. He therefore sent me, leading generals and an army of thousands, to slay you evil ghosts. Why have you not yet fled at once? Carry this out at once, in accordance with the command of the Northern Emperor, the Divine King of the Awe-Inspiring Sword!

When the spell is finished, take water into your mouth and spray it toward the sick person three times.

Then chant:

I am the son of the Supreme One, endowed with the divine Qi of the Celestial Master, and I travel throughout the world. In the east, there is an illness … an army of thousands, to slay you evil ghosts. Why have you not yet fled at once? Carry this out at once, in accordance with the command of the Northern Emperor, the Divine King of the Awe-Inspiring Sword!

When the spell is finished, take water into your mouth and spray it toward the sick person three times.

Then chant:

I am a Celestial Master (Tianshi), a Daoist ritual master and son of the Most High, endowed with spirit and Qi. I travel throughout the world. If there is illness in the east, I can cure it; if there is illness in the south, I can cure it. I can also cure illness in the west, the north, and the center. I have rules for treating illness and methods for healing the sick. I wear a crown that reaches to Heaven and a robe of red Yang. In my hand I hold a jade-cutting sword shaped like a dragon’s head. I slay ghosts and bandits; even if they number in the thousands or tens of thousands, I do not question each one about its crimes. This matter must be carried out immediately in accordance with the statutes and commands.

Spray water three times, then perform the rite facing each of the five directions in turn. Take seven steps of the Seven-Origin Pace (a prescribed ritual step), face the appointed direction, and recite the Tianpeng incantation three times in a single breath. Knock the teeth together once after every four characters. This is the ritual method, used to subdue all evil ghosts. Do not knock the teeth together casually in daily life, lest you damage your spirit and Qi. After finishing the recitation, immediately form the hand seal, a ritual gesture made by pressing and pinching the fingers together.

After forming the seal, recite the incantation:

“Ha! The Essence of Light stands at the center, its might shaking the Nine Heavens. The golden tiger screens the sun, while the flying dragon coils around the heavens. The Yellow Spirit wields a great axe; the Green-Toothed Spirit raises its whip. With the stars of the Northern Dipper, regulate the Seven Origins; seize the Nine Ugly Ones and destroy the evil ghosts of the Six Heavens. Hold the Three Lights in hand and tread upon the Nine Mysteries. The Eight Mighty Spirits breathe forth their fierce power, and the celestial troops lead the way. Patrol and inspect the demons, and send them to Winding Spring. Protect the lands of the ten directions, and keep the many companions safe.”

Then recite another incantation:

“Celestial fire rains down in profusion, its light illuminating the four quarters. In accordance with the Ghost Statutes of Nüqing, slay evil spirits and calamities. I now perform this rite to bind and restrain you; how dare demons and ghosts resist? Depart at once, depart at once; subdue the chiefs of the ghosts. This matter must be carried out immediately in accordance with the statutes and commands.”

Next, recite the incantation that issues commands to the Five Directions.

The Blame Spirits of the East are vital essences of decaying trees, brought forth in spring from the stale Qi of the Nine Yi, an ancient name for peoples of the east. They do not nurture their spiritual Qi within themselves; instead, it transforms outward into evil essences that invade the human body with the Qi of the Five Poisons, causing alternating chills and fever and unease throughout the body. The Nine Ugly Demons know your name; the Northern Emperor’s divine incantation therefore seizes your Jing and Qi. The divine light of the Four Luminaries smashes your physical form, and the stars of the Northern Dipper shine forth. With a sweep of the divine sword, the myriad ghosts are punished of their own accord. The evils of cold damage and headache must not arise unchecked. The Qi of Metal in the west destroys your bodily form, making you lie hidden in the liver and forbidding you to move. Urgently, in accordance with the law!

The Red Demons of the south are spirits of scorching heat and Fire Qi, brought forth in summer from the stale Qi of the Eight Man, an ancient name for peoples of the south. They do not nurture their spiritual Qi within themselves; instead, it transforms outward into evil essences that invade the human body with the Qi of the Five Poisons, causing alternating chills and fever and unease throughout the body. The Nine Ugly Demons know your name; the Northern Emperor’s divine incantation therefore seizes your Jing and Qi. The divine light of the Four Luminaries smashes your physical form, and the stars of the Northern Dipper shine forth. With a sweep of the divine sword, the myriad ghosts are punished of their own accord. The evils of cold damage and headache must not arise unchecked. The Qi of Water in the north destroys your bodily form, making you lie hidden in the center of the body and forbidding you to move. Urgently, in accordance with the law!

The White Demons of the west are spirits of declining Metal Qi, brought forth in autumn from the stale Qi of the Six Rong, an ancient name for peoples of the west. They do not nurture their spiritual Qi within themselves; instead, it transforms outward into evil essences that invade the human body with the Qi of the Five Poisons, causing alternating chills and fever and unease throughout the body. The Nine Ugly Demons know your name; the Northern Emperor’s divine incantation therefore seizes your Jing and Qi. The divine light of the Four Luminaries smashes your physical form, and the stars of the Northern Dipper shine forth. With a sweep of the divine sword, the myriad ghosts are punished of their own accord. The evils of cold damage and headache must not arise unchecked. The Qi of Fire in the south destroys your bodily form, making you lie hidden in the lungs and forbidding you to move. Urgently, in accordance with the law!

“Urgently, in accordance with the law!” is a common closing formula in Daoist talismans and incantations, indicating that the command must be carried out at once.

The Northern Black Demon is a spirit creature formed from the gathered Qi of Yin Water, one of the five directions’ demonic Qis. It arises with the winter season. When the spirit and Qi within a person’s body have not been properly nourished, evil Qi takes shape outside the body as a spirit creature. The Qi of the five toxins enters the body, making a person alternately chilled and feverish, and uneasy throughout. The demons of the Nine Uglies, a class of baleful spirits in Daoism, know your name. The Northern Emperor’s spirit incantation, a spell used to expel evil, will seize and restrain your Jing and Qi. The power of the Four Brightnesses shatters your bodily form, while the light of the Northern Dipper shines down. With one sweep of the divine blade, the myriad demons are punished of their own accord. Symptoms such as cold damage and headache must not be allowed to arise. The central Earth Qi will destroy your form; you shall remain concealed in the kidneys and not stir. Hasten and obey this command as the law requires.

The Central Yellow Demon is a spirit creature formed from the gathered Qi of excrement and soil. It arises as the Qi of the four seasons and eight seasonal divisions, the seasons and solar terms, runs its course. When the spirit and Qi within a person’s body have not been properly nourished, evil Qi takes shape outside the body as a spirit creature. The Qi of the five toxins enters the body and afflicts the person. The central Earth Qi will destroy your form; you shall remain concealed in the kidneys and not stir. Hasten and obey this command as the law requires.

The Central Yellow Demon is a spirit creature formed from the gathered Qi of excrement and soil. It arises as the Qi of the four seasons and eight seasonal divisions runs its course. When the spirit and Qi within a person’s body have not been properly nourished, evil Qi takes shape outside the body as a spirit creature. The Qi of the five toxins enters the body, making a person alternately chilled and feverish, and uneasy throughout. The demons of the Nine Uglies know your name. The Northern Emperor’s spirit incantation will seize and restrain your Jing and Qi. The power of the Four Brightnesses shatters your bodily form, while the light of the Northern Dipper shines down. With one sweep of the divine blade, the myriad demons are punished of their own accord. Symptoms such as cold damage and headache must not be allowed to arise. The Eastern Wood Qi will destroy your form; you shall remain concealed in the spleen and not stir. Hasten and obey this command as the law requires.

Once the ritual for slaying pestilence, a rite that uses ritual arts to drive out the evil of epidemics, is complete, first recite the Celestial Warrior’s Upper Incantation. Those who have completed the prescribed number of daily recitations, wear the Great Register, a Daoist register symbolizing the ritual office and authority of its recipient, on a Jiazi day, and establish the Seven Luminaries Altar, a ritual space for venerating the Northern Dipper and other deities, should first recite “I Command the Five Sacred Peaks’ Water Incantation.”

I am a servant of the Most High (Taishang, a revered Daoist deity). My name is listed in the Jade Clarity realm, one of the celestial abodes of the Three Pure Ones, and I command the six heavens above. I built the Northern Emperor’s palace of ghosts, and all the ghostly host falls under my command. Which ghost would dare stir up trouble? I wear Huoluo, a Daoist ritual implement or protective talisman, on my left, and carry a fire bell on my right. I hurl flames that reach ten thousand miles; their might is enough to subdue a thousand spirits. Whoever offends me, I kill; whoever breaks the prohibitions, I punish. When the Emperor issues an order, I pursue and capture without pause. Heavenly light blazes and thunders, its sound shaking the four quarters. All evil beings are bound in body; ghosts, monsters, and demons are wiped out. Thus I attain long life. Let this be carried out with all haste, in accordance with the statutes!

The Emperor said: After reciting the spell, continue by reciting my invocation of the Ten Heavenly Demon Kings, the Eight-Scenery Great Deities, the mighty divine powers of the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens, the Heavenly Officers and Mighty Warriors, the Generals of the Three-Five Prohibitory Qi, the Great Guardian Spirits, and the gods who ride on flying thunder and lightning. It says:

Luo Tian poison beasts guard the gateways in the four directions. Thousands upon thousands of divine troops gather, while the Nine Ugly Ghost Spirits mass in great numbers. They open their mouths wide as if to swallow the heavens, and fierce warhorses gallop toward us. Poisonous dragons brandish their claws; golden-headed monsters charge wildly, devouring everything. Tens of thousands of mighty divine troops, acting under talismanic orders, inspect the immortal officials. The ghosts and spirits of the Six Heavens run unchecked, banding together to do evil. Demons, sorcerous spirits, and gu parasites cause harm everywhere, while foul vapors fill the air. Ballads drift down from the sky, and strange fragrances scatter like clouds. Lesser ghosts transform their shapes and wait for a chance to enter the life gate, the portal through which vital energy flows.

The Spirit King issues a command, and none can fail to hear it: inspect the Six Qi above and examine the river’s source below; throughout the Five Sacred Peaks and the Four Great Rivers, swiftly distinguish good from evil. The myriad spirits of every rank are to come before me and submit to questioning. The Five Emperors shall inspect them against the registers, showing leniency to all who have rendered merit. Fierce demons and divine generals alike will have their bodies bound and be flogged without mercy. Whoever dares disobey the command will be utterly exterminated. Their livers will be split and their gall bludgeoned; their heads will be severed and their forms destroyed. They will be punished with the northern pickaxe execution and purifying broth, then burned in the fires of the Southern Mound. The Golden Perfected will destroy the evil vapors, and the flowing bells will pursue and capture their souls. Not one demon or sinister spirit will remain; the roots of evil will be swept away completely.

Wear the Heavenly Writ and follow the righteous Way; cleanse the Nine Qi so that the Three Origins—the realms or energies of Heaven, Earth, and humanity—may be clear. The Mysterious Spirit shall raise the Perfected Ones, bringing them into accord with the Way of nature above. No one may offend them; any transgressor will be executed, and the matter reported to the Heavenly Court. Hasten, hasten, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

The Northern Emperor said: Once you have finished reciting the “Southern Spirit-Guarding Incantation,” proceed to recite the Incantation for Sealing the Altar:

The Vermilion Bird Lingguang, the god of the southern Vermilion Bird, is filled with awe-inspiring power. The gods who guard the mountains, river sources, and the four directions stand at their posts, while demons and specters flee in every direction. The divine pool breathes forth numinous energy, and evil spirits and monsters hide themselves away. The Soul Terrace shines on all sides, and the jade gates ring clear. The exalted Jade Perfected sits solemnly in the Hall of Light, waving his hand through purple clouds, divine radiance crowning his head. He recites the Cavern Scripture, in thirty-nine chapters.

The scripture contains methods for driving out evil: dragons and tigers wield the Dipper-Slaying blade; fierce beasts and galloping oxen carry knives in their mouths and devour evil beings. Divine beasts such as Mountain-Lifter, Cauldron-Heaven, the Divine Sparrow, and the Poisonous Dragon display their might. The Six-Jawed One breathes fire and devours the ghost king. The Lightning Boar and Thunder Father move as swiftly as lightning, drawing the stars across the sky; strange beasts called Owl, Clatter, Bó, and Blaze race against the wind. The celestial birds array themselves in formation, all at my side. They spew flames ten thousand feet high to clear away calamity. Hosts of spirits open the way and seal off the mountains and wilderness; a thousand gods and ten thousand numinous beings bow together. The Marsh Commandant holds the incense burner and burns incense for me. Wherever I go, ten thousand gods greet me along the way. Celestial beasts come to guard me; every kind of spirit and monster is subdued with fear and dares not trespass upon my aura. By the urgent command of the law!

After leaving the room, stand again.

Talismans for Driving Locusts from the State

The Northern Emperor said: If locusts descend upon the prefectures and counties of the realm, leaving the people terrified and unable to work in peace, set up a Seven-Star Altar before the northern gate of the prefectural city, perform Daoist rites, and prepare two of my numinous talismans.

Make one from wrought iron and cast it into the river of the prefecture. It will turn into black vapor and shoot straight into the sky, after which sweet dew will fall. Make the other from catalpa wood, write on it with orpiment, and bury it in the Earth God’s shrine, one foot and two inches beneath the ground. The locusts will then immediately disappear and die.

The talisman described on the right is made from a piece of wrought iron, written in cinnabar, and cast into the great river of the realm.

The Northern Emperor said: Once the altar rites are complete, perform the Daoist rite and pray. The essential point is to keep the mind wholly focused.

Make a board from catalpa wood, one chi and two cun long. Write the talismanic characters on it, then bury it in the Earth God’s shrine. It is said that this will make insect pests disappear.

Seal for Slaying Ghosts of Beifeng

The Northern Emperor said: If people born in the Lower Primordial era, whether men or women, are afflicted by mountain demons, ancient spirits, shrine and village gods, or uncanny beings and wild monsters, and fall ill—speaking incoherently, becoming mad, or even leaping into water without regard for life or death—imprint the Beifeng seal on the patient’s chest over the heart. It is said that the illness will then be cured at once. The seal must be carved from the heartwood of a jujube tree, and may be used only after three ritual offerings have been performed that year.

The Northern Emperor said: In the previous scriptures, I have already explained the many hardships that people born in the Lower Primordial era will face. If they encounter lawsuits and disputes, illness and disaster, or find themselves in battle about to be attacked by the enemy, or suffer from epilepsy, they need only carry my talisman with them; it is said that they will recover that very day. Those entering battle should carry the talisman on their heads. It is said that one person can then withstand a hundred, remain forever unharmed by blades, and receive the protection of divine soldiers.

The Northern Emperor said: If people born in the Lower Primordial era are troubled at heart and repeatedly face the calamity of death; if women cannot conceive, or children are in danger of dying young; or if they are framed by wicked people, cursed, or punished, they need only use my Fire-Bell Imperial Register, a Northern Emperor talismanic register, to suppress these calamities. It is said that great good fortune will follow.

The talismanic registers above come from the Hengshan Record.

The Northern Emperor said: To seal off mountains, command ancient temples, summon the gods of the Five Sacred Peaks, learn of events before they occur, move mountains and overturn seas, or drive away uncanny beings, write this talisman in cinnabar on a mirror and hang it above the Seven Stars altar, two hundred chi from the altar. Recite the Tianpeng Incantation at the altar. It is said that ghosts and gods will appear in person, respond within moments, and reveal what is to come.

The Northern Emperor said: Whenever one performs rites for the people of the world, one should choose a Jiazi or Gengshen day. If these arts are passed on to an unsuitable person, they may drive that person mad, make them ill, or even cause their death. They must therefore be practiced with care and reverence. If, while reciting the incantation, one has eaten the pungent foods known as the Five Acrid Foods—such as scallions and garlic—or one’s mouth is unclean, the Heavenly Canopy General will glare in anger and display his might, causing one’s spirit and soul to fall into madness and disorder. Such a condition is difficult to cure.

After ordinary people have made offerings to the Seven Spirits (seven numinous deities), they may drink the seven cups of wine set out on the mat. After seven days, it is said, spiritual powers will manifest of their own accord, wisdom will arise in the heart, and luminous splendor will shine with solemn majesty. This matter must be kept secret; efficacious events should not be disclosed lightly.

Hand-Seal Diagram for Practice at the Ritual Altar (a diagram of hand signs used during ritual services)

The Northern Emperor said: The wondrous scripture I have expounded can dispel calamities above and protect and secure the emperor below. The seals and hand signs recorded in it can eliminate ill omens. They should be made known to the people so that they may keep good intentions in their hearts. If a state possesses this text, the whole realm can receive its blessings; if it circulates in the world, Dragon Spirits will protect it; if it is kept hidden in the mountains, all manner of evil spirits will be subdued. Whenever its spiritual powers are invoked, three hundred thousand troops will accompany and guard the practitioner.

The words spoken in this scripture are no ordinary words; its intent is fierce and resolute. It must not be passed on or divulged rashly, nor should it be betrayed or treated carelessly. Those who do not follow the orthodox scriptures…

At that moment, the Four Assemblies (the four groups of Buddhist monastics and lay followers) and the Perfected Ones addressed the Northern Emperor: “What should this scripture be called?” The Northern Emperor replied: “Call it The Supreme Scripture of Divine Incantations, Wondrous Methods, Seals, and the Seven Primordials’ Subjugation of Demons. It should be transmitted in secret and practiced throughout the myriad kalpas.”

The Taishang Beidi Suling Zhanxie Mie Mo Shagui Yufu (Jade Talisman of the Most High Northern Emperor, Su Ling, for Slaying Evil, Quelling Demons, and Killing Ghosts) says: Whoever can wear this talisman can preserve life and prolong their years. Affixing it to a doorway can drive away all kinds of evil spirits, ghosts, and demons. The emissaries named in the talisman will slay evil and banish ghosts, bringing great good fortune to the household.

The First Divine Talisman of the Great Mystery Northern Emperor is a talisman used by practitioners during the Lower Origin period. If a disciple can wear it at all times, it can grant a long life and sustained vitality, keep corpse spirits at bay, and cut down evil influences, malevolent spirits, and demons. Posted in a hall, it can drive away all kinds of evil spirits and ghosts; the divine messengers within the talisman will cut down evil and destroy ghosts.

The Second Talisman of the Northern Emperor, also called the Supreme Clarity Divine Talisman of Fengdu, is a Great Register for Repelling Corpse Spirits, used to subdue them. Drawing on the Yin-Yang power of the Supreme Three-Five Elixir, it drives out and subdues evil spirits. It is said to overturn Heaven and Earth, cut down all kinds of demons, and bring them one by one under control. This talisman can be used for protection, to prolong life, and to drive away and destroy ghosts and monsters.

The Third Talisman of the Northern Emperor is used to treat all kinds of illness. Wearing it can protect a person’s body and life, restrain all kinds of ghosts and monsters, cut down evil influences, bind malevolent spirits, avert disasters and misfortune, and drive evil away and restore what is right. It also preserves the body and grants a long life with sustained vitality.

The Fourth Talisman of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning is the Northern Emperor’s true jade-text register for repelling corpse spirits, intended to relieve the people’s illnesses and calamities. Bringing down this divine talisman in jade script can destroy evil spirits and ghosts. Worn on the head, it is said to make corpse spirits retreat a thousand miles, drive evil away and restore what is right, protect the body, and grant a long life with sustained vitality. It can also be posted in a hall or house to cut down and destroy evil spirits and ghosts.

The Fifth Talisman of the Northern Emperor is used to cut down flying corpses, ghosts, and evil spirits. Those affected by malign influences during a funeral or after someone has died in the household can wear it for protection and to preserve their lives, bringing good fortune.

The Sixth Talisman of the Northern Emperor is used to confront disasters such as floods and fires. It can be worn on the body or posted on a door to protect the home and pray for great good fortune.

The Seventh Talisman of the Northern Emperor is used to counter epidemics, miasma, and the pestilential Qi spread by demons. Those afflicted by these can wear it; it is said to bring lasting peace and destroy evil ghosts.

The Eighth Talisman of the Northern Emperor is used to dispel foul Qi, ward off evil, and drive away evil influences and ghosts, preventing them from harming people. This talisman can preserve life, protect the body, prolong life, and bring good fortune.

These first eight talismans come from the Five-Spirit Mysterious Elder Emperor. They can rescue all beings and shield them from disasters, epidemics, and other illnesses. Those who wear my jade talismans, written in gold, will enjoy peace and well-being. They will preserve their lives, protect their bodies, and gain longevity, good fortune, and success.

These eight talismans come from the Five-Spirit Mysterious Elder Emperor. They can rescue all beings and shield them from disasters, epidemics, and other illnesses. Those who wear my jade talismans, written in gold, will enjoy peace and well-being. Their efficacy is immense, and their power is far beyond the ordinary.

On Slaying Demons in Fengdu

The scripture says: At that time, the Northern Five-Spirit Emperor was seated upright on a jeweled throne on the Mysterious Terrace, within the Cloudview Hall and Five-Brightness Palace, at the summit of the divine elixir. Ten numinous banners of the Ten Absolutes hung in the hall. The Emperor wore a robe of parted silk, a jeweled crown adorned with radiant flowers, a flying-phoenix feather skirt, and shoes decorated with jade blossoms and pearl designs. He held a green-jade tablet. Before him stood a seven-jeweled casket, a cloud-brocade table patterned with phoenixes, and a crystal pendant; beside him was a jade-phoenix incense burner. A sword of intertwined dragons and divine tigers rested at his side, along with a jade table patterned with flying clouds, phoenix energy, and bright light. A green-feathered whisk adorned with auspicious lin was also displayed nearby. Perfected Ones stood in attendance on his left and right, arranged in order, gazing up at the Emperor’s noble countenance.

Northern Emperor’s Hand Seal: Lightly touch the Rat position with the thumb, press the thumb down with the fourth finger, and extend the second, third, and fifth fingers.

At that moment, the Northern Five-Spirit Emperor suddenly smiled and uttered a mighty ritual sound. His divine radiance blazed brightly, shining across the boundless worlds in all ten directions. The Eastern Nine-Qi Heavenly Lord arrived with nine hundred billion attendants, true officials, and mounted guards, and took his seat. The Southern Three-Qi Heavenly Lord arrived with three hundred billion attendants, true officials, and mounted guards, and took his seat. The Western Seven-Qi Heavenly Lord arrived with seven hundred billion attendants, true officials, and mounted guards, and took his seat. The Northern Five-Spirit Emperor ordered the Perfected One of the Northern Mystery and the Jade Boy who served him to attend beside the seats.

In an instant, the palaces, halls, terraces, and pavilions became solemn and splendid, adorned with crystal, colored glass, coral, amber, and other precious materials. Golden qilin and lions filled the banquet area. The Northern Five-Spirit Emperor first paid his respects to the Eastern Nine-Qi Heavenly Lord, then to the Southern Three-Qi Heavenly Lord, and then to the Western Seven-Qi Heavenly Lord. The gods each took their seats and together reviewed Fengdu’s registers of the lives and deaths of men and women in the Lower Origin.

Suddenly, they heard wronged souls under trial in the prisons of the dead crying out in anguish. They also saw some deceased souls with nowhere to turn, trapped in darkness, and not entered in the registers by the ghost officials.

Then the Western Seven-Qi Heavenly Lord, seated at the banquet, asked, “What wrongs did these sinners commit to deserve such retribution? The deceased souls are being tortured and interrogated, and their suffering is unbearable.”

The Northern Five-Spirit Emperor replied, “When ordinary people of the Lower Origin die, their souls are tortured and interrogated because in their previous lives they were unfilial and disloyal, failed to uphold proper conduct between ruler and subject, lacked affection between father and son, showed no reverence for the sun, moon, stars, and other Three Lights, and did not believe in the unseen workings of cause and effect. They deceived their teachers and elders, slandered the Great Dao, and turned against their clan and relatives. They also killed living beings on a vast scale and gave free rein to greed and sexual excess. Therefore, Fengdu shortens their allotted years, causing them to die in middle age. After death, their souls must still undergo retribution; even when their cycles of punishment are over, they cannot escape.”

The Heavenly Lord of the Seven Qi asked again, “When the souls of the dead have nowhere to dwell, and the ghost officials do not enter them in their registers, why is this?”

The Northern Emperor replied, “In life, this person was fond of wine and meat, killed living creatures without restraint, accumulated no good merit, and devoted himself to acts that violated the right way. His allotted lifespan had not yet run its course, but the demons in the Cavern Palace of the Six Heavens seized upon his sins and unleashed a deadly plague, causing him to die prematurely. Disasters of water and fire, the ravages of bandits, outbreaks of disease, and the weapons of war can all threaten human life. Lawsuits and disputes, quarrels and accusations, shackles and hardship can also keep people from succeeding in their affairs. Such misfortunes occur every year, and many people suffer them.

“I possess the Scripture of the Three Protective Divine Spells of Fengdu. This is the Northern Emperor’s method. If someone can purify the mind, devote themselves wholeheartedly to my Dao, and cultivate in accordance with the scripture, they should establish an altar to the Seven Primordial Lords, burn incense and light lamps as offerings, and recite my divine spells without pause, day and night. They should visualize the True Gods and allow no worldly affairs to distract them. Then I will send the divine troops of Tianpeng, the red slaying officers and soldiers of Dongyuan, the spirit-guarding divine generals, and the soldiers of the Seven Primordial Lords to protect them. In this way, all kinds of illness can be dispelled and those receiving treatment can recover. The poor can become prosperous, those in danger can find safety, those of low status can gain honor, and their wishes can be fulfilled.

“Men and women in the Lower Origin period—the period governed by the Water Official, one of the Three Origins in Daoist teaching—who suffer from madness, disturbance by ghosts, or other strange afflictions need only follow my ritual prohibitions, recite the divine spells, perform the astral steps that trace the positions of the stars, align the Seven Stars with the Dipper, and concentrate on making the hand seals. The divine troops will then descend at once and protect them.”

The Northern Emperor continued, “In later generations, Daoist practitioners whose cultivation is not yet complete must make a divine seal according to my method for summoning and registering the ghosts and spirits of Fengdu. The seal may be carved from red date wood and should measure five inches long and four inches wide. Carve it on a Renchen day in the northern outskirts, in a place unknown to both people and dogs. After completing the offerings of seven cups of wine and seven portions of dried meat, bury the seal in the Gui direction, the direction corresponding to Gui. The spell is:

‘Northern Emperor’s divine seal, worn to receive the protection of the numinous and true. The Three Masters descend and follow the instructions I give. Accept the offerings of my sacrifice; may blessings and longevity come. Carry this out at once, in accordance with the Great Emperor’s spoken command.’

This means: Wear the Northern Emperor’s divine seal to receive the protection of the numinous and true. Let the Three Masters descend and act as I direct. Accept the offerings I have presented, and bring blessings and longevity. This must be carried out at once in accordance with the Great Emperor’s spoken command.”

The Northern Emperor said: After the seven portions of sacrificial offerings have been presented, they may be buried in the Gui direction, the direction marked by the Heavenly Stem Gui. Recite the incantation:

“The Northern Emperor’s divine seal: wear it, and you will gain access to the numinous and true. May the three honored masters descend and take their places according to my instructions. Please partake of my Zhaijiao (purification ritual), and bring blessings and long life. I respectfully obey the Great Emperor’s oral command. Act swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.”

The Northern Emperor said: To cure illnesses of every kind, visualize the gods in your mind. First beat the Heavenly Drum three times, then the Heavenly Bell three times. Next, visualize the Guiding Master, the teacher who leads practitioners, at your left and right. Beat the Heavenly Drum nine more times, close your eyes, and visualize yourself suspended in the air.

Visualize the Northern Pole Numinous Lord descending to the ritual altar, wearing a great dark crown and brightly shining feathered robes. Then visualize the seven star deities, childlike in appearance, wearing red robes and red headcloths, descending together to the altar.

Next, visualize the General Who Conceals the Immortal Body above and to the left, positioned over the index finger. This general’s surname is Tang and given name Hong; his courtesy name is Wenming, and his home is in Kuaiji. He is eighty zhang tall, wears a celestial crown and red headcloth, and is dressed in a deep red ceremonial robe and brightly shining feathered robes. He carries a precious sword and commands three hundred thousand soldiers. They emerge from the left kidney, descend, and attend you before and behind.

Then visualize the General of Numinous Radiance above and to the right, positioned over the middle finger. This general’s surname is Ge and given name Yong; his courtesy name is Wendu, and his home is in Yuzhang. He is seventy-two zhang tall, wears a celestial crown and red headcloth, and is dressed in a deep red ceremonial robe and feathered robes. He carries a jade halberd and commands three hundred thousand soldiers. They emerge from the right kidney, descend, and attend you before and behind.

Then visualize the General Who Stores the Spirit and Reveals the Body above and in the center, positioned over the ring finger. This general’s surname is Zhou and given name Wu; his courtesy name is Wugang, and his home is in Wu Commandery. He is ninety-six zhang tall, wears a celestial crown and red headcloth, and is dressed in a deep red ceremonial robe and feathered robes. He carries a jade poplar branch and commands three hundred thousand soldiers. They emerge from the heart, descend, and attend you before and behind.

Next, visualize the Azure Dragon General in the Mao position, the east. He wears a celestial crown and black headcloth, is dressed in blue, and is eighty-two zhang tall. He carries a bow and arrows and commands four hundred thousand soldiers dressed in blue, with brightly shining feathered garments. They emerge from the liver, descend, and attend you on either side.

Then visualize the White Tiger General in the You position, the west. He wears a celestial crown and black headcloth, is dressed in white, and is thirty-six zhang tall. He carries a bow and crossbow and commands four hundred thousand soldiers dressed in white. They emerge from the lungs, descend, and attend you on either side.

Then visualize the Vermilion Bird General in the Wu position, the south. He wears a celestial crown and black headcloth, is dressed in a deep red ceremonial robe, and is sixty zhang tall. He carries a long drum and a horn and commands four hundred thousand soldiers dressed in vermilion. They emerge from the heart, descend, and attend you before and behind.

Then visualize the Dark Warrior General in the Zi position, the north. He wears a celestial crown and black headcloth, is dressed in black, and is twenty-five zhang tall. He carries bells and drums and commands four hundred thousand soldiers. They emerge from the kidneys, descend, and attend you before and behind.

Then visualize the Qilin General at the base of the middle finger. He is seventy-two zhang tall, wears a celestial crown and black headcloth, and is dressed in a deep red ceremonial robe. He carries the Kui-Gang, a symbol of the Northern Dipper stars, and commands four hundred thousand soldiers dressed in yellow. They emerge from the spleen, descend, and attend you before and behind.

Next, visualize the Generals of the Eight Spirits and Eight Fiends, summoning them according to the “Instructions for the Eight Generals Who Search the Mountains.” They are positioned at the written formula at the base of the ring finger. The Celestial Strongmen and Ghost-Capturing Messengers all wear celestial crowns and red headcloths, and are dressed in red and feathered robes. They emerge from the pores throughout the body, descend, and attend you before and behind.

First form the Two Thunder hand seal, with the Thunder Gods held aloft on the left and right. Then form the Tianpeng seal with both hands and visualize the Tianpeng Divine General with four faces and eight arms. Next visualize the Great General Tianpeng: he is over ten thousand zhang tall, forms the Dipper seal with both hands, wears dragon-scale armor, and carries a Seven-Star Sword. He commands hundreds of thousands upon millions of cavalry, sits upright, and transforms his waist and hips, fists and arms, into a Dipper-shaped ritual seat.

Then visualize the Great Generals of the Seven Origin Forces of the Huoluo, the Divine Generals of the Dongyuan, the Thunder Master, and the Lightning Master. They form the Thunder seal with both hands. First cover your ears and listen inwardly for thunder; then close your eyes and perceive the flash of lightning. These generals wear brightly shining feathered robes and each carries a golden sword. They emerge from the face, descend, and attend you before and behind.

Next visualize General Yuyi in the left eye, and exhale once, naming the breath Pengzhi. Visualize General Jielin in the right eye, and breathe out once with a “he” sound, naming the breath Pengjiao. Their feathered robes shine brightly, illuminating within and without. Each commands one hundred and twenty thousand soldiers. They emerge from the two eyes, descend, and attend you before and behind.

Then set the officials and soldiers in motion. Tilt your head back and recite the incantation: exhale once and visualize the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning before you. Then breathe out toward yourself and visualize a Perfected One within the breath. This is your own self, named “Son of the Celestial Emperor.”

“Ha! I am the Son of the Celestial Emperor, acting on the command of the Venerable Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun). The sun and moon rest upon my head, and light shines from my eyes. I wear the Northern Dipper on my body; from every pore emerge celestial soldiers by the tens of millions, guarding me on either side. Before me stands a vast cauldron of boiling punishment; I raise my hand and snap my fingers. Behind me are golden battle-axes. At dawn, on the road from the Northern Dipper to Mount Tai, I met the Eastern Royal Lord, a revered Daoist deity. He taught me how to slay demons and monsters and gave me the arts for commanding spirits. I report upward to the Northern Emperor, ruler of the north and commander of spirits and ghosts, and summon the divine officials and generals to carry out my orders. I wear a canopy-like standard on my head, form the Mountain-hand seal, and tread the steps of Kui and Gang, the constellations of the Northern Dipper. On my left, the Six Jia spirits lend their aid; on my right, I command the Six Ding spirits. What spirit cannot be subdued? What ghost or monster would dare oppose me? Haste, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances!”

The Northern Emperor said: “If people in the Lower Realm know the names of the seven stars of the Northern Dipper, then when they face calamities or illness, they need only call out the stars’ names: a hundred kinds of evil spirits will scatter, and whatever they hold in their hearts will come to pass.” The incantation says:

“In accordance with the statutes and ordinances.”

The Northern Emperor said: “If people in the Lower Realm know the names of the seven stars of the Northern Dipper, then when they face calamities or illness, they need only call out the stars’ names: a hundred kinds of evil spirits will scatter, and whatever they hold in their hearts will come to pass.” The incantation says:

The Zi position is occupied by the Star of Greedy Wolf, whose sacred name is Yangming. Countless divine beings come to protect my body. The Chou and Hai positions are occupied by the Star of Great Gate, whose sacred name is Yinjing; the Yin and Xu positions by the Star of Prosperity and Preservation, whose sacred name is Zhenren; the Mao and You positions by the Star of Literary Song, whose sacred name is Xuanming; the Chen and Shen positions by the Star of Integrity and Chastity, whose sacred name is Danyuan; the Si and Wei positions by the Star of Martial Song, whose sacred name is Beiji; and the Wu position by the Star of the Army Breaker, whose sacred name is Tianguan. Countless divine beings associated with all these stars come to protect my body.

At a single command, the seven exalted star deities and countless troops form ranks around me. To the left is Mengzhang, the Azure Dragon deity, corresponding to the Mao position; to the right is Jianbing, the White Tiger deity, corresponding to the You position; before me is Lingguang, the Vermilion Bird deity, corresponding to the Wu position; and behind me is Zhiming, the Black Tortoise deity, corresponding to the Zi position. Guizi, the deity of the spleen, enters the Central Palace, the central direction. Mengzhang and Jianbing lead the way, while Lingguang and Zhiming guard the rear. They carry tally tokens and banners, and bear bells and drums on their backs. They encircle me in countless layers on every side, before and behind. Let it be done swiftly, in accordance with the statutes! After visualizing the generals of the four directions arrayed in formation, exhale a breath of turbid Qi to the northwest, then inhale a breath of clear Qi from the southeast.

The Northern Emperor said: Next, visualize and perform the Big Dipper’s seven-star stride, stepping in the positions of the seven stars. Step first on Greedy Wolf, then Great Gate, Prosperity and Preservation, Literary Song, Integrity and Chastity, and Martial Song, and finally Army Breaker. Then take up the sword from the ritual altar and return to your seat. Determine which star lodge corresponds to the patient, and you may write a seven-star talisman for the patient to wear or swallow. Then await the divine response.

Divine talisman diagrams and seal script:

Star Lord of Greedy Wolf, Star Lord of Great Gate, Star Lord of Prosperity and Preservation, Star Lord of Literary Song, Star Lord of Integrity and Chastity, Star Lord of Martial Song, Star Lord of Army Breaker.

People born in the jiazi or jihai years belong to the chou position; those born in the bingyin or wuxu years belong to the yin position; those born in the dingmao or jiyou years belong to the mao position; those born in the wu chen or gengshen years belong to the chen position; those born in the jiwei year belong to the wei position; and those born in the gengwu year belong to the wu position.

The Northern Emperor said: The talisman of the seven stars of the Northern Dipper, which takes the Big Dipper as its symbol, may be used by both men and women. If someone is troubled by various evil spirits and loses their senses, or suffers from distention in the five viscera and alternating bouts of chills and fever, they may swallow this talisman; it is said to take effect quickly. When the various evil spirits see the talisman, they all turn to blood. Wearing it can also prolong life and preserve good fortune.

The talismans of the Greedy Wolf Star, the Great Gate Star, the Wealth Store Star, the Literary Song Star, the Chaste Star, the Military Song Star, and the Army Breaker Star.

These talismans are used to drive away fox spirits, subdue the spirits of wells and stoves, bring benefactors and auspicious signs, summon deities, pursue and capture the ghosts of the hundred kinds, and bring wealth. Carry them on your person when encountering thieves or going to war.

The Flying Pillar talisman, the Mars talisman, the Saturn talisman, the Mercury talisman, the Horn Star talisman, the Red Spirit talisman, and the Great Clarity talisman.

The Flying Pillar talisman can summon fox spirits. When worn by a sick person, it can put an end to rat infestations and protect silkworms and mulberry trees. The Mars talisman is written in cinnabar. The Saturn talisman is used to treat illnesses in cattle and horses; once written, it is affixed to their horns. The Mercury talisman drives away lurking corpse ghosts—spirits hidden in a household. The Horn Star talisman puts an end to wasting ghosts, which cause losses. Swallowing the Red Spirit talisman brings good fortune. The Great Clarity talisman drives away spirits formed after the death of household servants; wearing it brings good fortune.

The Heavenly Granary talisman, the Morning Star talisman, and the Venus talisman.

The Heavenly Granary talisman helps one attain an official post and stipend. Wearing the Morning Star talisman brings good fortune. Wearing the Venus talisman wards off gossip and disputes, suppresses conflicts involving the authorities and troublesome ghost-demons, and brings great good fortune.

The talismans of the Neck Star, Root Star, Chamber Star, Heart Star, Tail Star, Well Star, and Ghost Star.

If a woman is troubled by cat demons or spirits, she may swallow the corresponding talisman. If she has been bound by sorcery, the talisman can release her and turn her fortune toward the auspicious. If she is often troubled by sorrow, she may wear a talisman.

The Harmonizing and Uniting Husband Star talisman, the Well Star talisman, and the Ghost Star talisman.

If a woman is troubled by cat demons or spirits, she may swallow a talisman. If she has been bound by sorcery, the talisman can release her and turn her fortune toward the auspicious. If she is often troubled by sorrow, she may wear a talisman.

Wearing this talisman brings good fortune. It can also harmonize a married couple and resolve astrological conflicts between them.

Wearing this talisman can summon all manner of strange beings. Writing it on a board of catalpa wood can treat various kinds of swelling; swallowing it can treat edema, and is said to be effective.

The Talismans of the Ji, Liu, Xing, Sui, Zhang, Yi, and Zhen Stars are most auspicious when written and pointed toward the east. They benefit silkworm raising and bring a good harvest, and can also gradually increase one’s wealth. These talismans can summon the Twelve Spirits, subdue foxes that enter the home, and master various demons. Wearing one can summon Yin beings who have been subjected to curses.

The Talismans of the Kui, Lou, Mao, Mao, Bi, Zi, and Shen Stars are used in several ways: when servants flee, write the talisman beneath a bed leg; to summon a bamboo or tree spirit, place it on a table; to summon a dog spirit or a dragon spirit of the earth, place it beneath an incense burner; and to summon a stone lion spirit, place it underfoot. When a corpse buried in an ancient tomb causes disturbances, writing the talisman beneath the patient’s left foot can subdue it. The talisman can also prevent pheasants from flying into the home and summon wealth.

The Talismans of the Dou, Niu, Nü, Xu, Wei, Shi, and Bi Stars can prevent pheasants from flying into the home and summon the ghosts of the Five Plagues, spirits associated with epidemic disease and pestilence. They can also dispel the calamity of cattle dying from an epidemic and restore the animals to life. In addition, they can subdue dog spirits, ward off the ill omen brought by the calls of magpies, and suppress the ghosts of guests who died in the home.

The Tianhe Star Talisman, Seven Star Talisman, and Jade Emperor Talisman for Red, Painful Eyes: write the talisman on paper, then wash the characters off with water. Washing the eyes with this talisman water can treat redness and pain; the scripture says the effect is remarkable. This talisman can also summon the Spirit of Floating Clouds: write it on the bottom of a basin, and it will manifest. Writing it on the wood of a pen can prevent epidemics among cattle and sheep. Write the talisman and place it in a basin-shaped tube on an altar to summon the Five Dragon Kings. Another method is to have the patient swallow the talisman.

It takes effect immediately.

If a snake enters a household, drinking this talisman water can cure headaches and toothaches. Those who learn this method can become intelligent by swallowing the talisman.

A talisman for suppressing evil spirits. It brings great good fortune. If a sick person swallows it, it works wondrously at once; place the talisman in a bodily orifice, and the pain and illness will stop. Swallowing it brings great good fortune. Swallow seven talismans each day, and divine Qi will enter the heart. Swallowing them can make a person markedly intelligent and grant long life.

The four longevity talismans described above may be swallowed at the four seasons, the eight seasonal festivals, and on the last and first days of each lunar month, to prolong life and increase one’s years.

The Northern Emperor, the divine sovereign who governs the ghosts and spirits of the north, said: “The true talismans I transmit number sixty-six. They are all efficacious talismans used by the Northern Palace to slay demons and treat illnesses. As long as your intentions are sincere, you prepare the five-colored destiny patterns in accordance with the prescribed method, and you go with a focused mind to your master to receive the transmission and wear them, you can repay the state’s benevolence above and protect all the people below. Dragon spirits will guard you, and even enemies who bear grudges against you can be reconciled. When the immortals carry out their teachings, ghosts and demons will be unable to harm people.”

Recite the incantation for activating the talismans:

“The Black Emperor of the North is revered by all the holy ones. The Six Jia of Taiwei and the numinous lords of the five Qi shine like the sun and moon, their might reaching throughout Heaven and Earth. The flying talismans are dispatched to subdue and slay evil spirits and seal off the gates of the ghosts.

Wielding divine power, they scatter primordial Qi and drive away the five pestilences. Attendants and troops on the left and right, along with the Three-Five Generals, follow and protect. The Thunder Lord crashes like a thunderclap; lightning circles round, and fierce winds race. Swords and blades fall like rain, while ceremonial ranks gather like clouds.

Holding the Emperor’s bell and wearing the Kunlun crown, they patrol the world and seize ghosts and spirits. The local earth deities of the Nine Provinces and the spirits who receive sacrifices must not disobey. Whoever dares resist and act violently will have his hands bound by the Star of Restraint, and his soul seized by the Northern Emperor. The gods of the Three Terraces and the Seven Stars wield their swords and destroy him.”

Those who too readily declare others guilty and subject them to harsh interrogation and punishment will bring calamity upon their descendants. Demonic spirits and mountain sprites—the strange beings of mountains and rivers—dare not even hear my name.

Those who hear my words yet persist in defying them will be slain and annihilated, their lineage cut off, their skulls split open, their brains bursting forth, and their bodies scattered like fine dust.

You must swiftly obey the commands and statutes of the Supreme One’s true talismans.

The Northern Emperor said: Among the people born in the Lower Era, whether men or women, all who receive and uphold my secret methods, or use them to treat the people’s illnesses, must keep themselves pure, cleanse body and mind through bathing, perform the rites according to the prescribed rules, and establish a Zhaijiao offering to the Seven Primordial Spirits, deities associated with the Big Dipper. The altar must be clean and solemn, furnished with wine, dried meat, five kinds of fruit, incense, and lamps. Wear my divine talisman, recite my divine incantation, and focus your mind without distraction. Then the Seven Perfected Ones, the seven true deities, will descend, and divine generals will secretly assist you; whatever you seek will come to pass. If someone receives and upholds this method with an impure heart and insincere intent, then even if they set out wine, dried meat, five kinds of fruit, incense, and lamps at the altar, wear the talisman, and recite the incantation, they will only waste their possessions and will never receive a divine response.

The Northern Emperor said: I command the Six Ding officers and generals, protective deities in Daoist tradition, to seize and execute ghosts and spirits and drive away demons. If people of the Lower Era seek to study this method and aspire to accord with my Supreme Dao, they must first master its talismans and seals, using them to subdue external demons and treat all manner of illness. They may also summon the officials of Fengdu, the Daoist underworld, who administer its registers of the dead, enabling practitioners to rise in the ranks of the immortals and have their names entered in the Jade Registers of Immortals. Never pass these arts casually to those who are unworthy. Otherwise, the recipient’s seven generations of ancestors will be tortured in Fengdu, and the life span of the person who transmitted the methods will also be shortened.

At that time, after hearing the Northern Emperor expound the secret methods of the demon-subduing divine incantation, talismans, and seals, the Emperors of the Four Directions all praised the subtle and wondrous, inconceivable power of the Five numinous Emperors, sovereigns who command the five directions and possess divine might. They bowed in reverence. The six heavens trembled, and the gods transmitted these methods to the perfected practitioners.

The Taishang Yuanshi Tianzun Speaks the Wondrous Scripture of the Northern Emperor’s Demon-Subduing Divine Incantation, Volume Three, concludes.

The Taishang Yuanshi Tianzun Speaks the Wondrous Scripture of the Northern Emperor’s Demon-Subduing Divine Incantation, Volume Four: “Guarding Against Calamity.”

At that time, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning had finished teaching the Dao and its precepts to the heavenly youths in the Fragrant Grove Garden. The Lord of the Dao stepped forward, bowed, and said to the Celestial Worthy: “Today, as I served here among the assembly, I heard the twenty-four precepts that clarify the truth. I also came to understand the causes and conditions of good and evil, and their karmic retribution. My heart is joyful and at ease; all doubt and obstruction have fallen away. You have also revealed the Zhai method for rescuing departed souls. It can deliver souls in the unseen realm from the suffering of the long night and raise them to halls of blessing, where food and clothing are naturally abundant. This method is widely available to all, and the departed can all benefit from it.

“Yet among men and women in this life and lives to come, some have never encountered the scriptures and precepts. Their strength is slight, making it difficult for them to practice; they are therefore unable to ward off calamity. Evil ghosts and demons often roam the world, causing harm and cutting people’s lives short before they can reach their full span of years. With great compassion, the Celestial Worthy has already taught and transformed living beings, bringing aid to both the living and the dead, who all receive your grace. I beg you to extend your compassion once more and show people in this life and lives to come how to protect their bodies and preserve their lives, so that they may escape calamity. When faced with the Three Calamities and Nine Sudden Misfortunes—many kinds of disasters and unforeseen calamities—the Five Pestilences and Seven Afflictions, the baleful Qi of illness and plague, and disasters brought by all manner of evil spirits and strange beings, how can people preserve their lives and remain unharmed? If you will take pity on me, I will respectfully receive your sacred grace.”

The Celestial Worthy then replied with delight: “Good, good. What you ask is indeed of great importance. I pity all living beings as parents cherish their children. Now I will explain this to you. Listen carefully, keep it in your heart, and do not forget my words.”

At that moment, all the assembled holy beings rejoiced and praised him, returning their hearts to him as one. The Celestial Worthy said again: “Good, good. What you ask is indeed of great importance. I pity all living beings as parents cherish their children. Now I will explain this to you. Listen carefully, keep it in your heart, and do not forget my words.”

At this, all the assembled sages and perfected beings rejoiced and offered congratulations, devoting themselves wholeheartedly to the Celestial Worthy. The Celestial Worthy said:

“In ancient times, people were simple and honest. They did not harm one another, and accepted the length of their lives as fate determined. Everyone lived out their natural span; no one died before their time or met an unjust death, and ghosts and spirits did not injure people without cause.

“Now, customs have grown corrupt and people’s hearts have fallen into decay. Feelings of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are tangled together, and suspicion arises everywhere. People act without sincerity and take crooked paths. They turn their backs on what is true and follow what is false; they heed neither justice nor compassion. They defy the principles of Heaven and Earth and damage the roots of things. They are disloyal and unfilial, and lack kindness. They deceive the people and cruelly abuse them; they kill living beings and destroy life. In this way, they accumulate all kinds of sins and incur boundless resentment. As a result, they often suffer calamities in this life: some are robbed and killed by bandits; some lose their lives to evil ghosts. Some are harmed by snakes, tigers, wolves, or poisonous creatures. Others become entangled without cause in lawsuits and disputes, are thrown into prison, and suffer flogging, beating, or hard labor. Some households are struck by pestilence: people fall ill, family members of all ages become sick, people die, and relatives are scattered. These many calamities are all caused by the evil Qi of the Six Heavens, the six celestial realms described in Daoism. The Northern Feng Emperor, the ghost commanders of the Eight Divisions, the human-world generals of the dead, and the gods of the Five Weapons roam throughout the world. They take advantage of people’s accumulated sins and grievances, spreading poisonous Qi to kill the wicked. Year after year and month after month, many people suffer calamity; their fates become entangled with one another, and they die. The living can scarcely escape such suffering. It is truly heartbreaking.

“Now I will explain to you the Northern Emperor’s Spirit Mantra of Fearlessness and the names of the Six Palaces. If you believe in it, take refuge in it, and recite it with single-minded devotion, you will surely be freed from every kind of calamity, live your whole life in peace and without misfortune, and receive this blessing.”

The mantra says:

“I am a disciple of the Most High, ruler of the Six Heavens. I govern all the palaces and offices belonging to the Six Heavens. They are not only under my authority; they are also ruled by the Most High. Because I know the names of the palaces and offices of the Six Heavens, I attain long life. Whoever dares to trespass against them will be cut down by the Most High. Execute this at once in accordance with the statutes and commands.”

First Palace: Heavenly Palace of Zhu Jue Yin.

Second Palace: Heavenly Palace of Tai Sha Liang Shi Zong.

Third Palace: Heavenly Palace of Ming Chen Nai Fan Wu Cheng.

Fourth Palace: Heavenly Palace of Tian Zhao Zui Qi.

Fifth Palace: Heavenly Palace of Zong Ling Qi Fei.

Sixth Palace: Heavenly Palace of Gan Si Lian Wan Lü.

The Northern Emperor said: If someone knows the name of the Ghost King of Fengdu and the names of the six palaces, all ghosts will be subdued. When faced with ghosts, demons, or evil influences, one should recite the words silently, with focused sincerity. On hearing the incantation, demons and ghosts will all turn to blood. One may first face north and recite softly, never aloud. The incantation is:

“Ha! I wear the Vermilion Bird (the divine bird of the south) upon my head and tread upon the Black Tortoise (the divine beast of the north). The Azure Dragon guards me on my left, and the White Tiger stands watch on my right. Before me is a cauldron of boiling broth holding ten thousand stones; behind me are golden battle-axes. The Heavenly Charioteers and armored soldiers guard me before and behind. Let plague spirits and the myriad ghosts flee ten thousand miles from me. Hasten, hasten, in accordance with the statutes and commands.”

Then recite:

“Within the cavern, mystery, emptiness, and stillness; radiant light shines forth in the Great Beginning. May the mighty spirits of the eight directions naturally protect me. Let the commands of the Lingbao talismans and registers proclaim their authority throughout the Nine Heavens. Qian Luo Da Na, Dong Gang Tai Xuan. Cut down the demons and bind the evil spirits; destroy the countless ghosts and apparitions. These are the divine incantation of Zhongshan and the jade text of the Primordial Beginning. Reciting them once drives away ghosts and prolongs life. As they travel across the Five Sacred Peaks, they are known throughout the Eight Seas. May the Demon Kings lay down their hands and obey, guarding my carriage. Let malevolent forces and defilements disperse, and may Dao Qi endure forever. Hasten, hasten, in accordance with the statutes and commands.”

At the end, it says again: “Then recite the incantation:”

I am the Emperor Lord, whose name is recorded in Yuqing, the Daoist heaven known as the Clear Subtlety Heaven. I govern the six heavens of the lower realm. The Northern Emperor’s ghost palaces are all under my authority, and the hosts of ghosts obey my command. Which ghost would dare cause disorder? I wear the Huoluo, a Daoist ritual implement, on my left and carry the Fire Bell on my right. When I hurl it, its flames reach ten thousand miles, with enough force to awe the gods and spirits. Whoever offends me will be killed; whoever defies me will be punished. By the Emperor Lord’s command, seize them at once—do not delay. The light of Heaven shakes the world; demons are bound and ghosts eradicated. Thus I attain long life. Swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands!

Another spell says:

The Most High Lord Lao taught me to destroy ghosts and evil spirits, and passed on to me wondrous arts. I summon the Jade Maidens above and seize creatures of ill omen. When climbing mountains, I hold the left tally, used in Daoist magic to summon gods and command ghosts, and wear a seal. A canopy of glory protects my head, while my feet tread the stars of Kui and Gang, the ritual steps known as pacing the Dipper. The Six Jia spirits guard my left, and the Six Ding spirits my right. The Yellow Spirit is before me, and Yuezhang, a divine guardian general, behind. The divine master attacks ghosts and evil spirits, never overlooking even the slightest malign force. First I kill the lesser ghosts, then Yeguang, a ghostly spirit. Which god would refuse to obey? Which ghost or monster would dare resist? Swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands!

The Great Spell for Slaying Ghosts of the Northern Black Emperor, the Elder of the Five Numina and Mystery:

First click the teeth thirty-six times, then recite the spell of divine protection:

Tianpeng, Tianpeng, Child of Slaughter of the Nine Mysteries. The Five Ding Commanders, Gao and Diao, of the Northern Palace. The Seven Regents and Eight Spirits, the Most High’s radiant might. Long-skulled, gigantic beasts, holding the Emperor’s Bell. The three Su Xiao spirits, riding in solemn array on Kui dragons. The Divine King of the Awe-Inspiring Sword, who cuts down evil and erases its traces. Purple Qi rises to Heaven; cinnabar clouds surge fiercely. They devour demons and ghosts, and face the wind with outstretched bodies. With blue tongues and green teeth, they are the Old Man of Four Eyes. The Ding and Jia warriors of Heaven’s realms awe the South and ward off malign forces. The heavenly Zou steeds are swift and fierce, guarding the North. They command an army of three hundred thousand and protect my ninefold heavenly realm. Let corpse-demons flee a thousand miles; drive away all ill omens. Should a lesser ghost dare show itself, cleave its body with a great axe. The Flame Emperor makes its blood burst forth; the Northern Emperor burns its bones. The Four Bright Spirits smash its remains; the Heavenly You Spirit annihilates its kind. When the divine blade falls, ten thousand ghosts scatter of their own accord. Swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands!

The Celestial Worthy again told the Most High Lord Lao: If an epidemic spreads in a given year, ghost troops roam everywhere, and plague breaks out repeatedly across the nation, its provinces and counties, its villages and neighborhoods, leaving nowhere to hide, then those who wish to escape the disease should recite this passage three times each day with undivided attention and sincerity. The passage says that those who recite it may share a bed and meals with the sick without fear, for no disease or evil spirit can harm them. In the end, they will pass through safely, and the Three Calamities and Nine Afflictions—an expression for all kinds of disasters and misfortune—will naturally dissipate.

Those who recite it regularly can also turn danger into safety, restore the sick to health, and bring the poor to prosperity. No disaster will trouble them; what they seek will go smoothly, and their wishes will come true.

At that time, the Most High told the assembled Perfected Ones: “If you wish to practice this method of long life and immortality, first visualize and calm the gods within your body, nurture the roots of life, circulate your breath, and then call upon the gods by name. First visualize the five spirit beasts guarding you. Then sound the Celestial Drum (gently tap behind the ears with your hands to make a drumlike sound). Next, visualize Heaven and Earth, the sun and moon, enduring together with you.

“Then visualize the gods in each part of your body: the seven gods of the hair are named Xunchang; the three gods at the crown of the head are named Dong Wangfu; the seven gods at the back of the head are named Yuanguang; the god between the eyebrows is named Tianjun; the four gods of the ears are named Jiaonü; the six gods of the eyes are named Yingming; the god of the nose is named Tongling; the god of the mouth is named Danzhu; the god of the tongue is named Huangren; the thirty-six gods of the teeth are named Guards; the god of the throat is named Huben; the gods of the shoulders are named Yijue; the gods of the hands are named Poyin; the god of the lungs is named Honghong; the god of the heart is named Xuxu; the god of the liver is named Linlin; the god of the gallbladder is named Huohuo; the god of the stomach is named Dada; the god of the spleen is named Bibi; the god of the kidneys is named Piaopiao; the god of the navel is named Yuling; the god of the Dantian (the place within the body where Qi gathers) is named Danjing; the gods of the knees are named Ougong; the god of the neck is named Jing Suiduo; and the gods of the feet are named Pillars of Heaven, the Mighty Ones.

“When preparing to sleep, call upon these gods in order from head to toe, repeating each name three times. If any part of the body is ill, call upon the god associated with that part, and let the god treat the ailment. Lie on your back with your eyes closed and visualize the gods; the illness will then be cured.

“Visualize these gods every day, as well as on the new moon, the full moon, and the Eight Seasonal Festivals (important dates in the Daoist calendar). In this way, you will naturally attain the state of corpse liberation, leaving the physical form behind, and eliminate the Three Corpses (beings said in Daoism to reside within the body and cause illness or hinder cultivation). During practice, remain focused. Have the Four Gods face the principal god, regulate your breathing, swallow your saliva, and circulate Qi throughout your body; only then can you attain long life. Afterward, do not allow distracting thoughts to disturb your mind. Otherwise, all manner of evil will seize the opportunity to assail you and ultimately harm you.”

The Northern Emperor said: Cultivating body and mind and seeking magical arts serve to subdue evil demons and monsters rightly. First, make the mind and spirit single-minded: visualize the gods and devoutly recite the Dao. Burn incense by day and light lamps at night. Set aside all other concerns and practice with full attention, without slackening. Recite scriptures and chant incantations to keep free from faults of body, speech, and mind. Keep body and mind pure; when your practice is complete, your wishes can be fulfilled. The gods of the upper realms will know of your cultivation and bring blessings to you, while your good intentions and deeds continue to grow.

Immortal boys and jade maidens will also accompany practitioners at their sides. The divine kings of great power within the incantation will observe a practitioner’s enduring resolve and secretly protect them, so that all they seek may be fulfilled.

Before reciting the Northern Emperor’s Demon-Slaying Incantation, knock the teeth together thirty-six times, then recite:

The two Qi turn and wheel, overturning all;

They gather the essence of the Mysterious One.

The Seven Spirits guard life;

They ascend to pay court to the Three Pure Ones.

The Three Sovereigns drive away evil.

The Luo troops shine with mighty power:

Three hundred thousand in all,

They guard the divine encampment.

A hundred-zhang giant beast breathes forth its might

And subdues evil spirits.

Wield the precious sword to drive out demons;

Cut down the heads of demon spirits.

The incantation spoken by the Divine Earl

Destroys every kind of demon and fiend.

Hasten and carry this out in accordance with the statutes.

The Jade Emperor’s Incantation for Long Life is as follows:

The Nine Heavens—the divine realm that governs the heavens—received an order to submit a memorial to Jade Clarity, the exalted celestial realm in Daoism, and urgently summon the assembled True Gods to the Imperial Court. Taiyi, a deity, descended from the upper realm to inspect the situation. The Two Emperors changed their forms to keep watch over all kinds of evil spirits, regulate the breath, and protect life. If an inauspicious being offended the gods, the Azure Emperor would order the divine troops to be put in order. Seven divine generals, carrying battle-axes, set out under the mandate of Heaven, clearing the way with their swords as the Fire Bell appeared with a thunderous roar. Orders were then issued to the Jia Zou, celestial cavalry or attendants, the armed troops, and the heavenly soldiers: they were to awe the Six Heavens, one of the celestial realms in the Daoist pantheon, and subdue Guangling below. Once the evil spirits had been brought under control, ghosts and monsters were cut down and their forms destroyed. Divine halberds swept through like lightning, leaving no place for treacherous demons to survive. The Immortal Emperor held the tally and issued commands; no one dared to obstruct him. Anyone who disobeyed the tally and refused the order was to be executed, one by one. All sides must act with reverence and care, joining together to protect the peace of the Imperial Court. The Nine Heavens issued another command: let all the gods listen. Urgently, in accordance with the statutes!

At that time, the Lord of the Dao, the Most High, and countless holy beings of the celestial realm heard of the Northern Emperor’s true words and methods for protection and warding off calamities. They were greatly delighted. Rising to pay their respects, they praised the merit and subduing power of the wondrous art of the Five Spirits, and said: “Now that we have received this great teaching, we hope to help living beings in the future. All men and women who practice it must cultivate it diligently and never fall away. Each should receive and uphold it, and follow it joyfully.”

End of Fascicle Four of The Wondrous Scripture of the Divine Incantation of the Northern Emperor, Spoken by the Most High Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning.

The Wondrous Scripture of the Divine Incantation of the Northern Emperor, Spoken by the Most High Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, Fascicle Five

Chapter on the Divine Seal.

The Northern Emperor, the principal deity of the north and a revered Daoist god, said: “The contents of the Wondrous Scripture of the Secret Divine Incantations of Fengdu are words for cutting down ghosts and evil spirits, as well as formulas for commanding the gods. I have transmitted them to disciples in later generations who are destined to receive them. Those who obtain this method and practice it regularly can set out on the path to immortality.

“To practice this method swiftly, when walking along a dangerous road, passing a ghost temple, or encountering a place that is strange and hard to understand, first turn your tongue toward it and spit in that direction three times. Then, with your left hand, pinch the area below your nostrils, inside the middle diaphragm, thirty-six times. Keep your hand pressed there without lifting it. When you have counted to thirty-six, click your teeth seven times. Then lift your hand to cover your nose, close your eyes slightly, and softly recite the incantation: ‘The Fire Bell seal points toward the Horse hour and snaps.’

“Zhuque Lingguang, the Vermilion Bird deity of the south, appears in majesty, its divine power issuing from within. It guards the mountains, rivers, and four directions; ghost soldiers flee in every direction. The divine pool exhales numinous Qi, and the roots of evil lie hidden away. The Soul Terrace shines on all sides; its jade gates ring clearly. The Jade Perfected sits high above, presiding over the Hall of Light. A hand waves the purple clouds; divine radiance crowns the head. Recite and uphold the Cavern scriptures, thirty-nine chapters in all.

“The scripture contains methods for driving out evil and the might of the Dragon and Tiger who cut through the stellar asterisms. Fierce beasts and charging bulls carry blades and swords in their mouths and devour weapons. Divine birds that can shake mountains and split open the sky, and venomous dragons with six jaws, spew fire and devour the kings of ghosts and evil spirits. The Thunder Boar and Thunder Father streak across the sky, swift as if drawing the stars along behind them. Owls cry out fiercely, clattering and rattling, while blazing flames sweep against the wind. The nets of Heaven and the formations that seize and capture are all at my side. I breathe out ten thousand fathoms of raging fire to sweep away ill fortune. All the spirits clear the way and seal off the mountains and wilds. A thousand gods and ten thousand numinous beings join in, clasping their hands and bowing their foreheads. Zewu holds the incense burner and burns incense for me. Wherever I am, wherever I pass, all the gods come to welcome me. Heavenly beasts come to guard me; a thousand kinds of spirits are awed and subdued, and dare not violate my Qi. Haste, as commanded by the statutes!”

The Northern Emperor, the ruling deity of the north, said: This incantation is called the “Great Spirit Incantation of the Southern Fire Bell.” In times of calamity, illness, or terror, simply visualize my form and that of General Tianpeng, a divine commander under my authority, and recite the incantation once with undivided attention. The soul and vital spirit will naturally return to the body, the various evil entities will be subdued, and all manner of misfortune will be dispelled.

If warfare breaks out across the country and the people are under threat, and you wish to avert calamity, establish an Altar of the Seven Primordial Lords at the northern gate of the capital, dedicated to the deities of the seven stars of the Big Dipper. Hold Daoist rites there at the appointed times, lighting lamps, burning incense, and reciting this incantation. The commanders of Tianpeng will descend and advance bravely against the opposing wind. The southern pool of fire will also send up flames and vital energy reaching ten thousand fathoms, driving away ill omens. The fighting will subside, harm from bandits will be brought to an end, danger will turn to good fortune, and calamities born of unrighteous conduct will cease. Three hundred thousand soldiers and commanders will draw on the might of the Fire Bell to strengthen their power.

The Northern Emperor said: My Fengdu divine seals, associated with Fengdu, comprise twelve designs. Their efficacy is wondrous, and their transformations without limit. They can command the gods, drive away evil and expel spirits, capture ghosts, and heal illness, as well as bring peace to the state and tranquility to the home. If one cultivates according to the prescribed methods, all calamities can be dispelled. Once one’s merit is complete and one has mastered the Daoist arts, one can move freely through water and fire, roam at ease, and attain longevity. The divine seals must be made from the heartwood of red jujube. Carve the characters according to the liturgical rules, and arrange the Zhaijiao rites in the prescribed manner, leaving nothing out. When calamity strikes, carry out the rites with full concentration to dispel disasters from Heaven and resolve misfortunes on Earth. The seals may also be used to treat illness, and their efficacy will be divinely demonstrated.

First Northern Emperor Seal for Subduing Demons and Spirits

Carve the seal from wood struck by lightning. It should be three inches long and two inches and one fen wide, and is used to treat all kinds of pestilence. Jujube or cypress wood may also be used.

Northern Emperor Fengdu Seal for Summoning Ghosts and Spirits

Carve the seal from the heartwood of red jujube. It may be used to treat all kinds of pestilence. After using the seal on a sick person, the scripture says, the person will surely be safe.

Heavenly Emperor’s Divine Incantation

Used to capture evil entities and subdue demons, bringing good fortune and smooth passage.

Heavenly Warrior Seal for Subduing Illness Spirits: Worn on one’s person, it is said to bring great good fortune. The seal should be carried at all times; it can help one live longer, keep the home peaceful, and bring good fortune to the household.

Tianpeng Seal: Used to counter all illnesses caused by dog spirits. It is said to make the patient describe their illness of their own accord. After cultivation is complete and one has joined with the Dao (the Way), this seal can be used to ascend to Heaven. The seal is three inches long and three inches and one fen wide.

Hojun Seal: When worn, it is said to bring esteemed people to one’s door and great prosperity.

Taiwei Emperor Lord Seal: When worn, it inspires awe and can summon numinous spirits, all of whom will submit. All the seals mentioned above should be carved on an auspicious day.

Northern Prison Envoy Seal: It may be worn or swallowed. It is said to dispel epilepsy and other illnesses. When worn, it should be tied to the right elbow to bring good fortune.

Great General Seal: When worn, it is said to subdue powerful enemies; used in battle, it ensures victory in every engagement. It should be worn on the right shoulder.

Strong Warrior Spirit Jade Seal: It may be used for any purpose. First write a prayer, stamp the seal on it, and then wear it; this is considered auspicious.

Taiwei Emperor Lord Seal: When worn, it brings respect and helps one connect with esteemed people. The seal is one cun and two fen long and should be carved on a day of the Six Harmonies, an auspicious day for conducting the relevant rites.

The Northern Emperor said: These divine seals can eliminate the Three Calamities, protect the sun, moon, and stars, benefit the people, remove misfortune, and drive away inauspicious influences. If you practice with sincere devotion, you will soon behold the true Great Dao. Excellent, excellent.

The Northern Emperor said: This seal of the Great God of Xuandu will be distributed throughout the Six Harmonies, the four directions of Heaven and Earth, to relieve calamities, resolve misfortune, treat illness, and subdue demons. I hope that you who cultivate the Dao will not show it to those unfit to see it. The spell for invoking the seal is: “The Wu sign.”

The Most High Divine Spirit was formed from the vital essence of the Flame Emperor. Radiance shimmers around his whole body like clouds at sunset; he flashes like lightning, and his brilliance shines throughout the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the three highest deities revered in Daoism. His divine fire surges across ten thousand miles, leaving demons and spirits nowhere to hide. Once his divine seal is applied, evil spirits and monsters turn to ashes.

The Three-Five Generals and the Huoluo officers and troops, divine generals and their subordinates in Daoism, wield swift and fearsome power, as if bringing Heaven and Earth to order. They never cease slaying demons and spirits. They send Fulu (talismans and registers) flying and wield their seals. Wearing crowns marked with the Five Stars, they hurl flames forward to destroy and subdue ten thousand demons and a thousand spirits. The bandits and demons of the Six Heavens are handed over to the generals and Huoluo officers and troops for punishment: they shake Heaven and Earth with their might, slay demons without pause, send Fulu flying, wield their seals, wear crowns marked with the Five Stars, and hurl fire to destroy ten thousand demons and a thousand spirits. In the end, the bandits and demons of the Six Heavens are given over to the divine soldiers of Heaven.

The True Elder of the Five Spirits is my Celestial Master (Tianshi), a revered deity of Heaven. His divine powers know no limits, and he can make all spirits submit. Evil demons are utterly destroyed, and every ill omen is driven away. The power of the Central Yellow Nine Paths reaches in every direction. All hidden baleful Qi is subdued and destroyed, without a trace left behind. I can destroy the Five Pestilences and Seven Afflictions, baleful forces associated with epidemics and contagious diseases. What spirit would dare resist? What spirit would dare spy on me? Fengdu, the Daoist realm of the dead, annihilates demonic forms; the Northern Dipper cuts down demonic corpses. As the divine blade falls, ten thousand demons vanish. By the command and decree of the Most High Northern Black Emperor, Lord of the Five Spirits and Five Qi, let this be carried out at once.

Another incantation says:

The Great Dao has a spirit named Tianding. He carries out the commands of the Nine Heavens and answers the summons of the Three Pure Ones. He descends into the human realm to patrol and hunt down demons, monsters, and evil spirits. When the Spirit King grows angry, even the Five Sacred Peaks seem to collapse. He campaigns against the demons of the East, leading the Huoluo ghost troops. He cuts off demons’ heads by the thousands and removes evil forms by the tens of thousands. If Luofeng, the realm where the underworld lies, dares to test him, the Northern Capital will deal with it together. The wicked are slain; the good live in peace. The sunken souls of the Six Heavens are each entered into the register. Those who oppose the Dao die; those who follow the Dao live. If roaming calamities and baleful spirits dare to take the form of netherworld demons, they too will be driven out and swept away. Once every demon and monster has been cleared, the human realm will be at peace. By the decree of the Northern Emperor, Lord of Spirits, whose seal commands the slaying of demons, let them be driven out by command at once.

The Northern Emperor said: This divine incantation and seal are a secret transmission of the Northern Mystery, a method revered by the highest sages. I instruct later practitioners of the Dao to cultivate it with single-minded focus and follow it with reverence. Raise my divine image and display its fearsome power, so that netherworld demons dare not cause trouble; sweep away all demons and monsters, and bring peace to the human realm. By the decree of the Northern Emperor, Lord of Spirits, whose seal commands the slaying of demons, let them be driven out by command at once.

The Northern Emperor said: This divine incantation and seal are a secret transmission of the Northern Mystery, a method revered by the highest sages…