《太上召诸神龙安镇坟墓经》

Before heaven and earth were opened and the Primordial Beginning had taken form, the Most High Lord of the Dao (Taishang Daojun, a revered deity of Daoism), together with the divine immortals and holy assemblies of all the heavens, came to the place beneath the Changsang grove, in the land of Yanggu. With sincere hearts they paid homage and addressed the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning:

“I have seen the people of the world. After their parents and kin have died, they bury them upon the hills, raising graves and establishing tombs, hoping that the ancestors may rest in peace and that their descendants may be safe and flourishing and their households distinguished. Yet some families instead meet with hardship: year after year things go ill, wealth and grain are depleted, unexpected calamities follow one after another, livestock fail to multiply, and fields and silkworm-mulberry do not thrive.

“Through the good affinities we received in the past, we have been blessed in this life, and today we are further fortunate to come before the Most Venerable. We earnestly beg you to take our perplexity to heart, to look with compassion upon the people of the world, and to bestow instruction. If we may receive your teaching, the withered bones of the dead will be as though nourished once more. This profound grace would be truly beyond repayment.”

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning said to the Most High Lord of the Dao: “The causes of these calamities of which you speak are indeed pitiable. You wish to awaken those sunk in confusion, so that all may walk the path of obtaining blessing. Please be seated, and listen carefully as I explain.”

The Celestial Worthy said: “That people of the world are poor in this life is, in some cases, because in a former life they did not revere the methods of the Dao (the Way) and did not plant good causes; in other cases, it is because, when burying the dead in the present life, they did not choose a favorable year and month, or, in building the tomb, they offended the celestial stars and terrestrial lodges of the four seasons—the stars that move according to the seasons and the directional spirit-influences of the earth—and thus brought these conditions upon themselves.

“Having now heard your petition, I am well pleased. From this time forward, if a household’s tomb is unsettled and calamity and decline follow in succession, one may seek out an accomplished Daoist priest and, in accordance with the Lingbao Keyi (liturgy, the classical ritual norms of the Lingbao tradition), broadly establish a ritual arena, repent of transgressions, and summon the Dragon Kings to pacify and secure the tomb. In this way, disasters will disperse and blessings will gather.”

The Supreme Lord of the Dao (the Way) and all the holy perfected rose together and paid their respects, each declaring a willingness to receive and uphold this Jing (scripture). Thereupon the Celestial Worthy summoned the great Dragon Kings and asked each of them to carry out rescue and protection: the Azure Emperor Dragon King of the East, the Red Emperor Dragon King of the South, the White Emperor Dragon King of the West, the Black Emperor Dragon King of the North, and the Yellow Emperor Dragon King of the Center, together with the divine Dragon Kings Xiuji, Shenlin, Duoshan, Hualiu, Gansi, Shanran, Boliu, Siqing, Lilong, Lailong, Yinglong, and Jianlong, among others, as well as the Divine Dragon Kings of the Thirty-Eight Mountains, the Divine Dragon Kings of the Twenty-Four Directions, and the Divine Dragon Kings of the Celestial Stars and the Bagua (Eight Trigrams).

The Celestial Worthy said, “Each of the great Dragon Kings has followers numbering in the tens of thousands. When calamity arises, one need only burn incense and summon them universally, and the Dragon Kings will descend and grant aid according to what is prayed for.” He then reiterated the names: the Divine Dragon Kings of the Year-Mountains, the Divine Dragon Kings of the Twenty-Four Directions, and the Divine Dragon Kings of the Celestial Stars and the Bagua.

The Celestial Worthy spoke again: “Each of the great Dragon Kings has followers numbering in the tens of thousands. When calamity arises, one need only burn incense and summon them universally, and the Dragon Kings will descend and grant aid according to what is prayed for.” He then proclaimed once more: The De (Virtue/Power) of the year can dispel azure demonic evils, and the Yinghuo star can dissolve calamities like flame; the Taibai star brings the seven treasures, and the Chen Gate welcomes auspicious signs on their return. The honored deity of the Center guards the Five Tombs, so that every evil affair is destroyed. When the divine dragons stand guard over the eight directions, myriad blessings descend in abundance.

The Dao Ancestor said: This is the true scripture (Jing) transmitted and proclaimed by the Celestial Worthy, in which the names of the Dragon Kings are recorded. If good men and faithful women, when burying their kin, violate taboos of celestial phenomena or geography, they should invite a Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) Daoist priest to recite this scripture, worship the divine dragons, and invite the divine dragons to come and pacify and secure the tomb. In this way, the household will naturally manifest brightness, and descendants will flourish and multiply.

The numinous efficacy of this scripture is beyond all measure. If anyone gives rise to disbelief and slanders this sacred classic, calamity will extend to posterity of the most remote ages.

At that time, when the assembly had finished hearing this scripture, all praised its principles as inconceivable; they then paid their respects and withdrew, bowed their heads in reverent offering, and practiced in accordance with the teaching.