《太上洞渊神咒经》Vol. 3

Among the beings between Heaven and humanity who belong to the class of terrestrial immortals, some have limited understanding. They can fly only among the Five Sacred Mountains, practice the art of corpse liberation, take medicinal substances, and refine and nourish the body. They do not revere the great wisdom and source represented by Lingbao, nor have they understood the nature of the true stillness of destiny and natural Wuwei. Their minds and spirits therefore cannot settle; they are easily confused and led astray by deluded thoughts, and disturbed by the six emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, love, and aversion.

At times they become attached to particular things, and their four kinds of views grow confused and unstable. Whether in Heaven or underground, they must suffer retribution according to the gravity of their own misdeeds and cannot free themselves. Their many kinds of suffering fill them with fear. The five spirits, corresponding to the body’s five organs, are sorrowful and terrified, with no idea how to respond. Each longs to flee in a different direction, yet none can leave. They can only continue to suffer retribution in proportion to the gravity of their misdeeds, enduring every kind of pain with hearts full of fear.

Looking at one another, they say, “Today we have encountered the Holy Venerable. Why, then, do we still suffer such dire retribution?” Their bodies and minds are shaken with fear and cannot find peace. They can only hope that the Celestial Worthy will take pity on them and rescue them, explain the Way of Primordial Beginning, and restore the source of their lives and their original nature of mind.

Among the assembled gods was a Flying God King who dwelt in the Nine Heavens, named Sanmei Weide. His wisdom was complete and his appearance majestic; his power was sufficient to subdue all manner of demons. He also understood the spirits, dragons, and ghosts, as well as the arts of incantation. Skilled at adapting to changing circumstances, he could benefit living beings according to their needs. He rose from his seat and, together with the Perfected Ones, King Weimingluo, and the lesser kings of the Thirty-Six Heavens, including King Julou, straightened their robes and headwear, stood, bowed, and prostrated themselves. Then they knelt and addressed the Lord of the Dao:

“We have cultivated good deeds for a long time and have been fortunate to serve the Great Sage. We have also followed the Immortals, the Perfected Ones, and the exalted adepts. The grace we have received is truly profound. We are unworthy to occupy the thrones of kings, each ruling over the heavens; our hearts are filled with joy and awe.

“Now we have again witnessed the sacred sovereign’s compassionate radiance, which opens the gate to even greater pardon. In obedience to the teachings, we have traveled through the Three Realms, the Thirty-Two Heavens, and the lands of the Ten Directions. We have also visited numinous mountains and sacred peaks, dragon palaces beneath the seas, and grotto-heavens and blessed lands. At times we have journeyed through the world and entered the human realm, adapting to local customs and living and working alongside its people, experiencing every condition, from high status to low, from wealth to poverty. At other times we have dwelt in secluded mountains, devoting ourselves to cultivation. We have entered every circumstance, from the lives of domestic animals and insects to the hardships of water and fire, and have seen them with our own eyes.

“We have seen many ordinary people, whether they study the Dao or not, disregard the causes and conditions of their past lives and fail to follow the scriptures and teachings. They become caught up in confusion, disputes, and muddled views, tainted by the six emotions—the desires of the six senses—and lose command of their own minds and spirits. They do evil without fear, yet when terror strikes, they cry out to gods and ghosts for help. Some even invoke the sun, moon, and stars, the Seven Ancestors, and the deceased to swear oaths, then fight endlessly with one another. Some go so far as to turn against their own kin and kill without restraint. In times of war and famine, some use their power to gather followers and slaughter the innocent.

“When people, ghosts, animals, and other beings approach death, they often cling to their homes and bodies, unwilling to let go. Some are driven by this attachment to form evil thoughts and make evil vows; they pursue old oaths and remain attached to places stained with corpse blood or bound to their flesh and bones. Whatever the breath and gaze touch may become entangled in the causes and conditions of evil karma. Souls and spirits influence one another, bringing on endless retribution. If they cannot enter well into the natural precepts of Lingbao wisdom, how can they be rescued and released?

“What are called the subtle essences and spirits are often difficult to perceive. They are stirred by sensations of light and shadow, sound, and breath. They also ride upon the old Qi of the Six Heavens, the hundred essences of the Five You, the Nine Chou, the Eight Winds, and the waxing and waning Qi of the Five Phases. Clinging to essential radiance, they bring about calamities. Thus plagues, pestilence, and every kind of illness arise one after another, along with the troubles of vengeful enemies, karmic debtors, quarrels, and slander. In cities and government offices, among villages, mountains, and marshes, cries of grief ring out without end as baleful and deviant Qi grows ever stronger. The more people’s hearts fill with fear, the more cold and heat arise within them, and illness then appears in their bodies.

“Some offer improper sacrifices to ghosts, seek blood offerings, and make reckless claims about good and ill fortune. They do not hear the right Dao or know where to turn. They neither encounter the scriptures and teachings nor recognize their original nature; they simply remain attached to a hundred kinds of spirits and monsters. In this way they incur guilt before the Three Offices, which govern the affairs of Heaven, Earth, and Water, and sink into the Five Paths, the five destinations of rebirth. Life and death follow one another, and they remain in bondage for a long time. The star officials of the Five Dippers also foretell calamities; floods and droughts, winds and rains, fall out of season. War, disease, and baleful and deviant Qi arrive together. Rulers are distressed, the people suffer, and no one comes to deliver them.

“Today, through the sacred sovereign’s might, we have received the office of God Kings. For the suffering we have seen with our own eyes and heard with our own ears, we wish to bring peace to living beings and repay the sacred grace we have received. We are willing to lead the lesser kings of the Thirty-Six Heavens and our eighty billion followers as we travel through the Ten Directions, treating illness and hardship, protecting the realm, nourishing living beings, and spreading the true teachings. Would this not be a fitting way to repay the sacred grace?”

At this time, the Perfected One Wei Mingluo arrived, leading a retinue of 4.9 billion Perfected Immortals. After them came the Three-Heavens True Kings and the Nine-Heavens Great Demon Kings, numbering 3.6 billion in all; the Divine King Gouminzi, whose supernatural powers were immense and wisdom exceptional, together with the Heavenly Strongmen, numbering 800 million; and 400,000 each of the Heavenly Prohibition Great Executioner Officers and the Heavenly Execution Troops. There were also 30,000 troops of the Upper Three Heavens Commandant Xuanren, 9 billion troops of the Nine Heavens, 490,000 Strongmen of the Three Caverns, and 80 million Strongmen of the Six Heavens. In addition, there were seventy-two lesser kings of the thirty-six heavens, including the demon king Goupenzi, as well as 360,000 others, among them the demon king Wulinzi and the great demon king Wuliuzi.

There were also 80 million Jade Maidens of the Three Heavens and Great Brahma Maidens; 300,000 Seven-Heavens Demon Kings; and 80 million generals who ranged far and wide to strike down their foes. The Azure Perfected Great Demon Kings Zizhen, Konglun, Wuyanshuai, and Chongquan, together with thirty-nine kings including Wuchuan, Lianzi, Wen Jixiu, and Feng Lianzi, numbered 36 million in all. Also present were 300,000 Strongmen of the Three Heavens and 300,000 Great Executioner Generals of the Ten Directions, charged with executing plague ghosts, dispelling baleful influences, and sweeping away evil and defilement. The Three-Heavens Demon King Gopoqiang also arrived with 120,000 followers. Wumingshou and forty-one other demon kings of the Radiant Heavenly Capital were responsible for destroying ghosts and monsters and curing illness. There were also 50 million in all: Strongmen of the Three Heavens, Red Troops of the Ten Directions, Jade Maidens of the Three Heavens, and Yaoyao Generals. They were often stationed at the Five Sacred Peaks—the five famous mountains revered in Daoism—to capture plague ghosts.

The Beak-Headed Demon King, the Great King Wuyan, the Great King Long Nose, the Great King Zhong □, the Great King Small Eyes, the Great King White Face, and the Great King Red Face each displayed their supernatural might. Prostrating themselves before the Most High, they jointly swore an oath. Together with the King of the Samadhi Divine Mantra, the revered deity who commands the power of divine incantations, they would travel through the Three Realms and, across the world below, through mountains, rivers, soil, and water, as well as grotto-heavens and numinous peaks, sweep away the Six Heavens and Nine Evils, the Five Plagues, and all rebellious, wicked influences. They would destroy uncanny calamities that harmed the people and forces that brought about war.

The assembled deities vowed that, through their own power, they could destroy these malign spirits, transform their intentions, and cut off every kind of demonic influence. They prayed that the Celestial Worthy would show compassion to them and all their followers, enabling them to ascend the ranks of the Dao and never fall back.

At this time, the Perfected One Weimingluo said to the King of the Samādhi Spirit Mantra, “We now intend to subdue and destroy the old, harmful energies, drive away demons and ghosts, and treat illness. We must therefore reveal the names of the ghosts that spread epidemics, so that people may recite and call out their names. When those ghosts hear their own names, they will feel ashamed and afraid. Before the Three Treasures (the Dao, the scriptures, and the masters) and the people, they will be too ashamed to have their evil deeds exposed, and so will not dare to harm anyone.

“Now, by the grace of the Celestial Worthy’s compassion, and by command of his might, the Five Qi of the Three Heavens (the five kinds of primordial energy said to fill Heaven and Earth) and the spirits of Bright Authority and Righteous Power have investigated the various demons and revealed their names. I therefore command the officials in charge of registers to record each name, one by one, and make them known throughout the world to all men and women who have faith and willingly follow the Dao.”

Thereupon, the King of the Samādhi Spirit Mantra issued a proclamation to the kings of the ghosts and spirits governed by the Three Realms, the Five Roads, the Six Deng, and the Nine Dark Springs and Winding Depths, as well as to the Dragon Kings of the waters and earth and the kings of birds and beasts: all those who belong neither to Heaven above nor to Earth below, but wander in the human realm; who ride the Eight Winds and drive the Qi of the Nine Uglies; who dwell in trees, drain people’s Jing and Qi, and seek offerings of blood and flesh, thereby bringing calamity—must reveal their names and conceal nothing.

At this time, the Old Essences of the Five Directions and the Ghost Thieves of the Five Afflictions looked at one another and said, “We are merely petty ghosts of the mortal world, low in rank and lacking in authority and virtue. We have no power to protect ourselves, and do not know where we can flee. If we do not give our names, we will be destroyed, and even our dependents will suffer. We cannot escape calamity, whether we advance or retreat. We ask only that your great compassion spare us for now. Allow us to urge one another to abandon the mortal world, return to the Dao, and obey its teachings, so that from this day onward we will harm no one.”

Thereupon, the Evil Kings of the Three Heavens led four hundred and eighty thousand followers, together with the Evil Kings of the Six Heavens and the Great Evil Kings of the Three Heavens, in abandoning the mortal world, returning to the Dao, and obeying its teachings. From that day onward, they harmed no one.

Thus, the Three Heavens Evil King commanded 480,000 followers, while the Six Heavens Evil King and the Great Evil King of the Three Heavens had nine billion followers. There were also 80,000 one-legged ghosts, three feet tall, who gathered in groups and moved through the water, spreading disease-bearing vapors. The ghosts Shenyou Aizi, Jiao’er Pingwang, and A Xin Sanye, along with 30,000 red ghosts, brought the calamity of warfare. Forty-nine kinds of black crow ghosts constantly caused terror and unrest; 700,000 red crows flew in flocks, spreading pestilence. Thirty thousand Hu ghosts came together to kill people, bringing famine and an epidemic that drove people to flee. There were also 4.9 billion Red Ding Messengers.

Below were the ghosts of those wounded or killed in battle, each commanding 400,000 followers and spreading diseased vapors and poison. The Crow-Round Ghost King stood seven zhang and eight chi tall and commanded 90 million red troops and their dependents, spreading all kinds of pestilential vapors. The Nine Heavens Demon King, General Weidu, descended to inflict 9,000 kinds of illness.

There were also ghosts in various places. The ghost who guarded doorways was called Chengbo; the one who closed them was called Alunran. The ghost in a well was called Zhen Lianzi; the ghost on the surrounding fences, Shibogong; the ghost on the roads, Wu Ziding; and the ghost in a dwelling, Xuan Zidu. The Red Lian ghosts of the Ten Directions stood three chi and six cun tall and gathered in groups of a million. There were also 300,000 long-headed ghosts who carried red cudgels and violently beat and killed people. The ghosts of Li Zi’ao and others, who had died as strangers in warfare, traveled along the coast and in every direction, riding the wind and mounting sparrows to cause trouble and spread pestilence. The ghosts of Gaoyao’s wooden fetters and ropes mimicked punishments and lawsuits; all the instruments used to injure or kill people also became ghostly spirits. Lianzi ghosts brought malaria and sores.

The Ghost King Youlian stood three zhang and seven chi tall and carried a red rope, causing quarrels and unsettling people’s minds. Ghosts wearing red headcloths spread poisonous pestilential vapors in all eight directions. The 3,900 kinds of ghosts in mountains and forests, waters and fires, winds and clouds were ruled by a Ghost King called Du Nu Wenqingzi, and brought various mixed epidemics. Red Ding Fire Ghosts each commanded 700,000 followers and caused fever. Black-Foot Ghosts stood three zhang and six chi tall, with red-yellow eyes; sometimes they transformed into red crows called Rizu Ri and spread pestilence. The Ghost Lord Datou Lu led 80 million brothers and spread disease-bearing vapors. The king of the 490,000 black-faced ghosts was called Zhang Chi; he commanded 3.6 billion ghost troops and spread black pestilence. The Ghost King Baishou led 200,000 Red-Rope Ghosts and 390,000 female ghosts who spread disease.

Red Du Ghosts brought seventy-eight kinds of illness. Sometimes they took the form of magpies, circling people’s homes and spitting out diseased vapors. Red-Wall Ghosts stood eighty zhang tall. Sometimes they became flying birds and spread disease; they could also turn into dead fish, black beasts, or plants and fruits. Anyone who ate these things would be poisoned and fall ill. The Yellow Ox Ghost King Chishi commanded red-headed crows that flew about spreading poisonous disease. The trillion brother ghosts of Li Zi’ao joined together to kill people. The ghosts called Sanju Liuna each commanded 800,000 ghosts and spread all kinds of poisonous disease. The ghosts of Lord Deng and Liu Dou Wu also came to spread illness and harm the people.

Three-Legged Ghosts stood three zhang tall and rampaged in human form. The 360 Quyin ghosts, the Vertical-Eyed Ghosts, Xiao-Head Ghosts, and Dangjin Ghosts all spread pestilence. The Tou Ran and Red Canopy Ghosts carried white cudgels and long knives, spreading epidemics and killing people. Red Crows brought 30,090 kinds of illness. Black-Killing Ghosts were six zhang long; the Yingnü, Jiaozi, and Tuzi ghosts also had red eyes. There were also 170,000 Black Corpse Ghosts called Sheshe; pestilential ghosts with three legs and twelve heads; Red-Eyed Ghosts called Jiaozi; small-mound ghosts called Redhead; 930,000 yellow-bodied ghosts called Bailong; and the Red Lu Great Forbidden-Army Ghosts, eighty myriads in number and ten thousand zhang long.

The Dulu Na Ghost stood three zhang tall, with bulging eyes, a wide-slit mouth, and ears six chi long. It carried an iron staff and sometimes changed into a great crow to spread disease and kill people. The red-nosed giant ghost was called Fuzi. It stood nine chi tall and had three faces and one eye. The ghost with two heads and one body was called Red-Eyes; the one with three heads and one body was called Great Wild. There were also ghosts called Tianchi and Datou Xing, who incited warfare and killed people, and a ghost called Dadan, three chi tall, who killed people with a red cudgel.

White crows were shaped like wheels. They flew in flocks and killed people. Sometimes they also became large fish that had died in the water; anyone who ate the fish would die. Or they turned into wild birds dead in the grass; anyone who ate a bird would also die. Feng Zidu commanded 30,090,000 ghosts and caused sudden-death illnesses. In the clouds were 120 kinds of wandering hunter ghosts, seventy-two ghost kings, and the Hooked Star Ghost, the Wu Huo Ghost, the Night-Walking Ghost, and the Flying and Running Ghost, who brought madness and unnatural illness into the world.

The Nine Ugly Ghosts included such monsters as Di Xing and Kuang Yun. They came on fiercely, making sounds and cries like jingling bells and horses; there were nine brothers in all. Liu Yuanda, Zhang Yuanbo, Zhao Gongming, Li Gongzhong, Shi Wenye, Zhong Shiji, and Shaodu Fu each commanded 250,000 Five-Harm Ghost Spirits and spread pestilence.

When these ghost kings heard the Three Samadhi Divine Mantra Heavenly King, Perfected Mingluo, and the Many-Hearing Heavenly Maiden describe the past traces and names of those who caused harm among the evil ghost bandits, including the Evil Kings of the Three and Six Heavens, they were greatly terrified.

There were also ghosts called Youlie, Gouxing, and Jiujie, who spoke together: “Since former lives, our dependents have had no choice but to draw people’s Jing and Qi and eat the flesh and blood of the six domestic animals to sustain their bodies, satisfy their appetites, and preserve their lives. They have also compelled ghosts to serve them. If they now observe the precepts, they can no longer act without restraint. To let others live, they themselves would have to die. Even if they do not die at once, their bodies will grow thinner day by day, and it will become difficult to manage even the smallest affairs. Our dependents are therefore distressed and terrified; they cling to one another and weep. We beg the Great King and the gathered deities to show mercy and grant us a way to live.”

The King of the Samādhi Divine Incantations, a revered deity who presides over divine incantations, said to the ghost kings: “In the past, you did not believe in the utmost Dao or follow the true and upright Way. You harmed and killed one another, thereby forming grudges and suffering retribution in turn. After passing through kalpas, your karmic debts remain unsettled, and now you are about to endure great suffering in the Ninefold Abyss, the depths of the underworld. Even if you have dependents, could they suffer retribution in your place? There is simply no such principle.

“I travel with the Celestial Worthy through the Three Realms, the Thirty-Two Heavens, the lands of the ten directions, and the Five Paths and Eight Gates. I have seen that the good and evil deeds of all beings receive their due, like an echo answering a sound; no one can escape. If you now warn all your dependents to stop harming the common people, I will have the people prepare food that suits local conditions and whatever each household can provide. In clean places such as cities, villages, and ritual lodges, they may set out food for you by day or by night, so that you can eat your fill and no longer suffer hunger or thirst. They will also give you clothing, money, and silk to take as you please. In this way, you will form no further deep grudges, and you will have food to sustain your lives. Would that not be good?”

At this, the King of Epidemic Spirits, who governs infectious disease, and all his retinue rejoiced. They bowed to the Dao Lord and the King of the Samadhi Divine Spell, who governs the divine spells of samadhi, and said, “If we can follow your instructions, we will certainly obey.”

The Perfected One Weiming Luo and the King of the Samadhi Heavens, acting on the Most High’s command, addressed the Director Gods of the Five Sacred Peaks, the Pavilion Chiefs of the Four Seas, and the local gods who guard villages and community altars: “You should now proclaim this widely throughout the world: if the Three Calamities are about to strike, a plague is about to spread, or illness appears somewhere at the start of a change of season, the local people, women and men alike, should pray together and respectfully invite Daoist priests. This applies in capitals, cities, and villages, and to people of every rank. Women and men should also wear and receive Fulu (talismans and registers), bathe in fragrant water, abstain from wine, meat, onions, garlic, and other pungent foods, prepare a pure offering, and bow in praise.

“A senior ritual master, who presides over important Daoist liturgies, should focus inwardly on the true gods, carry ritual implements, and wear ceremonial robes. Hang colored banners and jeweled canopies, burn incense, scatter flowers, and light lamps in reverence and thanksgiving. Music may also be performed to summon the spirits of the unseen and visible realms. Prepare pure, refined foods and offer them to the Three Venerable Ones and the natural gods of the Thirty-Six Heavens. Through incense, fasting, and cultivation, provide offerings for all the gods. Each place may act according to its means and local resources, expressing reverence with sincerity.

“You may walk in circles while burning incense, or sit quietly in silence, concentrating on the gods and envisioning them inwardly. Beat drums, regulate the breath through inhalation and exhalation, recite the names of the ghosts, and invoke the name of our divine king. Also devote yourselves to reverently bowing to the sovereign gods of the Three Qi and Three Heavens, and to the true officials and gods of the Primordial Beginning in the four directions, the Thirty-Six Heavens and Nine Palaces, and the Five Sacred Peaks. These gods, true to the natural order, are the source of great wisdom. They respond to circumstances, act with freedom and miraculous power, and possess immeasurable might and virtue. They will respond, descend upon the ritual ground, accept your petitions, and meet one another in harmony, bringing joy to humans and spirits alike so that they do not harm one another.

“When living beings hear the sound of the Teaching and are able to behold the Heavenly Books of the Three Sovereigns and the Jade Writings of the Five Chapters, they are nurtured by numinous Qi. Each becomes inwardly content and understands the Dao of nature. The four seasons will thereby come into harmony, and peace will prevail throughout the realm. Rulers and people alike will receive the Dao of Wuwei (non-action), and ascend…”

“Jade Clarity” is the revered deity of the Jade Clarity realm. The divine spirit meets with the true Dao, bringing peace and stillness to all things. At this time, the celestial maidens, the Great Brahma King, the lesser kings of the thirty-six heavens, the flying celestial god-kings of the three realms, the officials of the Five Sacred Peaks, the sons of the Brahma King, the Many-Hearing celestial maidens, and all the demon kings revere and admire the Heavenly Venerable. They have also heard that the King of the Three Samādhis’ Divine Spell has asked the Heavenly Venerable to expound the essential teachings of the Dharma, to save living beings and bring them blessings amid birth and death, and to gladden the gods and humans with cause for celebration. They praise these teachings, unheard of before and never seen before. The power of the Dongyuan Divine Spell is immense, beyond the reach of words. All rise together, bow, and kneel in sincere prayer, each vowing to cultivate the Way, so that all may awaken and gradually enter the realm of the utmost truth.

Then the King of the Three Samādhis’ Divine Spell commanded the flying celestial god-kings of the thirty-six heavens and the others to play together the grand music of Yunhe, Tianjun, and the like, in praise of the Dao Lord.

The Perfected One Weiming Luo sang:

The substance of utmost truth was originally without form or name. How could it ever have had a fixed title? It responds to all things and appears in their forms, dignified and majestic, foremost among all. Take refuge in utmost truth, and sins can be dispelled. Calamity gathers through one’s own doing; it is not caused by others. To call it “nonexistent” does not mean it is wholly absent; to call it “existent” does not mean it truly exists.

The Many-Hearing Brahma Maiden then sang:

Profound wisdom is ever clear and still, the most honored of all honored beings. It widely bestows the medicine of non-birth, so that all beings may together tend the undying soul. Its name is the Divine Spell; borne onward, it journeys forth, and even its very substance seems to move along with it. It enables people to leave forever the realm of the Five Sufferings and, in the end, enter the gate of nature.

The God-King Julu sang:

The Primordial Origin of Scarlet Chaos and Great Nonbeing bears the honored name Lingbao. Though the myriad things are many, their essence returns to Wuwei (non-action); within nature, there is only the true Dao. Goodness arises from within the heart and needs no help from others; evil arises from oneself and should likewise be examined by oneself. If one can see through the four delusions, why insist on cutting off the three afflictions?

The God-King Jumingzi sang:

Utmost truth has no form and no fixed name; people have reluctantly called it the Dharma King. It appears in different incarnations to meet the needs of living beings, and its means of saving them are without limit. Practice the Divine Spell with a kind heart, and ghosts and evil influences can also be transformed into goodness. So long as the six faculties and their feelings and thoughts—the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind—are not stained by external things, why worry that life will not endure?

The flying celestial Brahma Son sang:

How wondrous! In this land of Fangzhu—a Daoist paradise or blessed realm—good fortune descends, and the celestial immortals and perfected beings come here. Sadly, people in the world are busy chasing fame and profit. They neglect their own bodies and minds, yet prize what belongs to others. They do not understand the true principle, but imagine that they do; confused and wandering, they seek spirits outside themselves. People should return to the state of True Unity—the pure, original condition—and preserve their natural inborn nature. On hearing this, the celestial immortals and perfected beings all rejoiced and praised the teaching. They lamented that they had never before heard or seen such a teaching, then bowed and prostrated themselves again, all declaring it good and following its instructions.

The passage beginning “The Taishang body” repeats part of the preceding text. Its meaning is still to urge people not to seek spirits outside themselves in vain, but to return to True Unity and preserve their natural state.

End of volume eleven of the Scripture of Divine Incantations from the Grotto Abyss of the Most High. What follows is volume twelve, titled “Chapter on the Protection of the Body by the Assembly of Sages and the Elimination of Calamities.”

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, the supreme deity revered in Daoism, spoke to the Five Old Emperors, the Divine Kings of the Nine Heavens, the Perfected Ones of the Ten Directions, and the assembled gods, immortals, and sages:

I have observed all things in the Three Realms—the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm—as well as the Five Paths through which living beings cycle in rebirth and the Eight Gates that lead to different states of existence. In heaven and among humanity, all who are conscious and alive, male or female, experience heaven and hell, suffering and joy. These all arise from cause and effect, as an echo follows a sound. Fortune and misfortune depend on one another, and their transformations are endless. Living beings sink into birth and death, unable to free themselves. I have kept this in mind and, through teaching and guidance, led them toward the source of the Dao, so that those willing to return to the Dao may enter it.

Since time beyond reckoning, I have watched over all living beings in the Three Realms and Five Paths like a loving father and mother, teaching them without cease through countless eons. At times I have appeared in various forms and under different names, teaching through sounds and words suited to the capacities and responses of living beings. I have proclaimed the sacred teachings of the Three Caverns and the wondrous scriptures of the Ten Sections. I have raised the vessel of the Dharma to carry all beings and bring them aboard the heavenly vehicle leading to the Great Dao. In this way, they may escape the snare of craving and attachment and break through fixed notions that cling to “being” and “nonbeing,” and make distinctions between right and wrong.

Yet living beings often bind themselves again and again, life after life. Influenced by past causes and conditions, they fall into delusion and mistaken views. Their minds and nature waver; they are ignorant and unclear, and they obscure their own awareness. The Three Corpses and Nine Worms, impure forces said in Daoism to dwell in the body and hinder cultivation, are difficult to remove. Evil deeds bring fitting retribution, and living beings cycle repeatedly through birth and death, enduring chronic illness, prolonged calamity, and suffering of body and mind. Ghostly forces and malign spirits take advantage of accumulated faults and entangle them.

To dispel these afflictions, one should observe oneself, reflect on the origins of thoughts as they arise and fade, and discern good from evil, and when to advance or withdraw. Let scattered thoughts cease and the mind become empty and still. Keep the Three Treasures—the Dao, the scriptures, and the teachers—in mind. Cultivate compassion, frugality, and humility; turn toward the Seven Perfected Ones, the seven perfected figures revered in Daoism; and realize the ultimate truth of emptiness, the Dao within the Dao.

All of you—men and women, Heavenly Worthies of the Ten Directions, and divine beings such as the Eight Pure Ones of Great Simplicity and the Primordial Ladies of the Nine Qi—should focus your thoughts on their forms, bearing, and garments. Harmonize your breathing, exhale and inhale, recite the scriptures, and keep your attention undistracted. Receive and uphold the scriptures and talismanic tokens with reverence. Hang banners, arrange fresh flowers, burn incense, and light lamps. Quiet the mind and concentrate; with sincerity in heart and speech, make your prayers, repent, and pray for blessings for the living and the dead. Repent of past sins and karmic retribution, and calamities will gradually be dispelled.

When Daoist practitioners of the immortal way recite this scripture, it can open their wisdom and clarify their senses and awareness. Those suffering from chronic or intractable illness may recite it and draw support and nourishment from true Qi, gradually regaining their health. Those troubled by ghosts and malign spirits may recite this scripture, uphold the incantations, and purify themselves; by beating drums and striking bells and chimes, they can disperse spirits and settle the soul. When people spend the night alone in the wilderness and suffer from hunger, thirst, cold, or oppressive heat, they may recite this scripture, regulate their breathing, and swallow their saliva, praying for the gods to bestow an elixir that will warm the body and relieve thirst and hunger. When changes in heaven and earth, warnings from the Five Phases, unusual star signs, or strange manifestations from the netherworld appear, they may also recite this scripture to bring evil intentions into submission. When facing warfare, plague, or contagious disease, reciting this scripture expresses the prayer that weapons lose their edge and ghosts and demons are destroyed.

You true immortals, entrusted with governing these matters, should proclaim these essential teachings and aid living beings, so that those who sincerely aspire to the Dao may escape obstacles and distress, find peace in this life, and attain the truth of the Dao in the future. You should still and forget scattered thoughts, practice benevolence and filial respect, put others before yourselves, encourage good and transform evil. Ride the great vessel of the Dharma into the sea of wisdom, free yourselves from the three bonds spoken of in Daoist cultivation, uphold the True Unity of single-minded devotion to truth, return to the two modes of Yin and Yang, and bring body and mind into silent accord with the Dao of nature.

Then the Five Elders and Emperors (the revered deities of the five directions), the Ten-Directional Flying Immortals (divinities of the heavenly realms in every direction), and the Seven Sage Immortals all rose and paid their respects. They circled three times, then knelt for a long time before the Dao. Each recounted the essentials of the Daoist methods they had received in former times, the divine incantations, the methods for reciting Fulu (talismans and registers), and the true instructions.

After the Three Dragons, to save and aid living beings, any faithful man or woman who is sincere and earnest in prayer, gentle in disposition, diligent in practice, devoted to the Dao for many years without ever abandoning their original resolve, who values the Great Dao above wealth and is single-minded and steadfast, should follow the rules set out in the Clear Statutes of the Four Poles and the ancient canons of the Three Origins and purify the heart through fasting for three months. If duties to the ruler or other circumstances make a three-month fast impossible, they should still complete a period of one or three seven-day cycles. The scripture must be written down and carefully transmitted in secret. Those who disclose it recklessly or treat the scripture and its methods carelessly will suffer punishment like knives of wind. How could one fail to be cautious?

Meaning of the Hymn to the Divine Incantation of the Mysterious True Protective Talisman

Those who revere the Great Dao and are single-minded and steadfast should follow the Clear Statutes of the Four Poles and the ancient canons of the Three Origins, purifying the heart through fasting for three months. If duties to the ruler or other circumstances make a three-month fast impossible, they should still complete a period of one or three seven-day cycles. The scripture must be written down and carefully transmitted in secret. Those who disclose it recklessly or treat the scripture and its methods carelessly will suffer punishment like knives of wind. How could one fail to be cautious?

The Seven Perfected say: The high saints in the heavens of whom we speak are all perfected sages who have attained the Dao. Across countless generations, their teachings have been passed down, taught, and honored. Men and women, noble and humble, young and old—all who study the Daoist teachings should receive and keep this scripture in mind. They may recite it when ill, and also when facing calamity, danger, hardship, crisis, grief, or joy.

In the past, we explained the Scripture of the Spirits of the Three Treasures to Xuanzhen, and it already recorded these matters in detail. This scripture is recited to save people in the world. Those who aspire to cultivate the Dao should cherish it and wear it close within their robes with single-minded devotion, so as to preserve the body, nurture their nature, and ultimately cultivate the Dao of Wuwei (non-action).

May the Heavenly Perfected rescue me, the Upright Perfected uphold me, the Utmost Perfected guard me, the Mysterious Perfected bless me, the Wondrous Perfected keep me in mind, and the Jade Perfected protect me. May I wear this scripture close with single-minded devotion, preserve my body, nurture my nature, and cultivate the Dao of Wuwei. May the Heavenly Perfected rescue me, the Upright Perfected uphold me, the Utmost Perfected guard me, the Mysterious Perfected bless me, the Wondrous Perfected keep me in mind, and the Jade Perfected protect me; may the Golden Perfected aid me, the Seven Perfected guide and deliver me, and the Nine Perfected protect and preserve me. May the Dharma Mirror shine upon me, the Mysterious Spirit shelter me, the Flowing Gold blaze with light and illuminate me, the Dharma Vehicle carry me, the power of the Dharma defend me, and the merit of the Dharma bring me to completion. May the Morning Lamp light my way; may radiant brilliance shine upon me; may the vaporous Qi speed me on; may compassionate light cover me; and may the Cloud Encampment shelter me. May the Mysterious Sage comfort me, and the Dharma King receive and guide me. May the heavenly spirits dispel calamities for me, the myriad numinous beings release me from hardship, the earth spirits drive away evil, the myriad emperors remove danger, and the assembled sages ward off misfortune. May the Seven Perfected descend and bring peace to my body and mind; may the Nine Perfected watch over and protect me, so that I may endure for a long time.

The Hymn of Xuanzhen for Dispelling Calamity and Warding Off Misfortune says:

The Golden Perfected (noble true gods of the celestial realm) descend through the sky, while divine tigers inspect the heavenly troops encamped among the clouds. The Jade Emperor, cloaked in blue-green radiance, commands the gods and troops of the heavens to set out for battle. The Nine Luminaries (celestial stars or divine generals) turn their chariots back toward the High Palace. The myriad demons are bound, and the demonic beings reveal their true forms. The Nine Subtle Ones appear swiftly, and divine generals seize wicked spirits and monsters. The Nine Primordials open the cloud road; divine might summons the assembled spirits. Sacred fire courses through the heavens, blades are hurled, and every kind of evil harm vanishes of its own accord. Divine light shines upon the stars above, sweeping away ghosts and fearsome troops.

The Nine Luminaries turn their chariots back toward the High Palace. The myriad demons are bound, and the demonic beings reveal their true forms. The Nine Subtle Ones appear swiftly, and divine generals seize wicked spirits and monsters. The Nine Primordials open the cloud road; divine might summons the assembled spirits. Sacred fire courses through the heavens, blades are hurled, and every kind of evil harm vanishes of its own accord. Divine light shines upon the stars above, sweeping away ghost kings and fierce troops. The Qi of the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) transforms into wind and fire and sets them in motion; poison and harm are destroyed, and the Golden Horse appears. If any disaster dares to invade, the Northern Emperor will record your name. The sacred Way is vast and upright; divine might destroys ghosts, monsters, and evil spirits. Dragon riders from the ten directions arrive, and the Divine Empyrean (the celestial realm of the Divine Empyrean) encircles the ghost city. The sage taught me to recite this incantation; the flying talisman goes wherever it is commanded, speeding through the heavens. The spirits of the ten directions protect me through times of calamity, bringing me success and good fortune as I uphold what is right.

The “Verses on the Talisman of the Mysterious Sage for Dispelling the Evil Gods and Ghosts of the Five Directions” say:

The ritual drum shakes Heaven and Earth; divine incense subdues the Nine Perfected (celestial spirits). Flowing golden light is hurled down in a sudden flash, and majestic divine might appears with lightning. Demonic winds no longer obstruct the course of Heaven; the Cloud Lord (the god who governs clouds) releases bright fire bells. Divine power shines forth and captures evil spirits; the stars above move without loss or excess. Swiftly, the fiery-armored troops surge forth, and divine lightning destroys ghosts and monsters. Purple light shines, poisonous dragons stand guard, and the wicked are sent to the northern frontier.

Divine winds raise storms from the nine quarters, and the roads in the eight directions become clear of their own accord. The Nine Heavens suddenly open, and the ghosts’ wailing immediately ceases. Hundreds and thousands of ghosts submit, while tens of thousands of evil spirits do not linger. Entrust the talisman to the celestial beings; reciting its incantation will preserve long life. In the end, one attains the blessing of being free from calamity. Only with a compassionate heart can peace prevail throughout the world. By keeping pure abstinence and maintaining quiet and stillness, one can receive lasting blessings. The power of the talisman spreads in every direction like lightning, bringing benefit to all the gods of Heaven through your name. Let each person recite it once, and it will protect their descendants with lasting peace and health.

The “Verses on the Seven Perfected Commanding the Ten Emperors of Heaven to Subdue the Ghost Troops of the Six Heavens” say:

I command the Ten Heavenly Emperors, rulers of the celestial realms in the ten directions, to display their might. Divine generals fill the roads of the earth, subduing the six kinds of ghosts and spirits of Fengdu, the legendary city of the underworld. Incense smoke rises into the void, and clouds like brocade drift on spirit winds. Above, they protect the blessings of the heavens, so that wondrous celestial signs may endure; in the middle, they secure the foundations of emperors, so that the teachings of the spirits may spread like the sound of a bell; below, they rescue the people between Heaven and Earth, sending flying cavalry to subdue demon kings. The radiant light of the Seven Luminaries—the sun, the moon, and the five planets of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—shoots forth, leaving a hundred kinds of evil unable to cause harm. The Ten Heavenly Emperors set forth under talismanic commands, and the myriad emperors answer like cloud dragons. The spirits pass lightly through the Eight Difficulties, bringing blessings to all the Five Paths of rebirth. The Five Emperors then proclaim their commands, swift as water, fire, and wind. They protect all beings through the Three Calamities, bring peace and prosperity to the ten directions, and bestow blessings and boundless protection throughout the world.

The Seven Perfected say: If the spirits of Heaven and the people of the world take refuge in this practice and uphold it, they may copy a talisman to wear separately and recite the accompanying incantation. At the time of death, the talisman will protect them, keeping their souls from undergoing the Ten Sufferings, Eight Difficulties, Three Paths of Woe—the realms of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals—the Five Paths, and the Six Destinies of rebirth. After death, in accordance with the proper rites, the talisman will convey their souls upward to the blessed halls of Wuwei in the ten directions. Recite it nine times, and the soul is settled; recite it ten times, and the soul is clear; recite it a hundred times, and calamities disperse; recite it a thousand times, and disaster will not befall you. Whether wearing the talisman or reciting the incantation, you will be honored by the myriad spirits. Practice steadfastly day and night, and your limbs and body will be at peace. Recite it often, and your body will be healthy and secure through ten thousand kalpas; a hundred kinds of evil will crumble, and all the heavens will hear. When the ghost kings of the ten directions hear the recitation, they will not dare to act recklessly.

The Seven Perfected say: Now we transmit this method to later generations, so that the countless celestial beings and living creatures throughout the endless kalpas may receive its protection and deliverance.

At this time, the Celestial Attendants, strongmen, Ju Minzi, and others among the assembly rose together and bowed twice. Kneeling, they addressed the Celestial Worthy with focused attention: “We reflect that only after countless eons of karmic conditions and destinies have we been able to behold your venerable presence and attend this great assembly. We have heard the various kings explain the essentials of cultivating the Dao and their wish to save living beings, free them from suffering, and bring them into the Dao. Our hearts are filled with joy.

“Previously, while in the Kingdom of Xiutuoluo, we received divine incantations taught by the Perfected Ones of the Nine Heavens. Though we heard their instruction, we were dim-witted and could not understand. Later, we maintained sincere devotion for a long time, diligently following the oral instructions, bowing and reciting the incantations without letting our thoughts lapse. As our devoted sincerity accumulated, it moved and reached through to the Dao Qi—the breath and power of the Dao—and we gradually came to understand. Yet our awareness remained unclear. When we examined ourselves and our minds, everything seemed indistinct and illusory, which made us even more afraid; we did not know where to turn. So we came once more before the True Sovereign, asking for compassionate aid.”

The True Sovereign remained silent for a long while, his gaze fixed upon them. Then, smiling, he said: “You ghost kings have come and gone since ancient times with the gathering and dispersal of Qi. Your transformations are wondrous, and you imagine that you can endure forever without perishing. Yet your minds are unsettled. You make baseless distinctions, setting emptiness against existence and right against wrong, while clinging to birth and death, cause and effect. Karma binds you to a cycle of coming and going, leaving you confused and driven onward. You seek to harm others, but end up injuring yourselves. You cling to the Five Destinies—the five realms in which beings are reborn—and are confined by the Eight Gates, the barriers that bind living beings. How could you possibly escape?

“If you can keep the Six Emotions—the six senses and their desires—from stirring thoughts, accord with the Two Existences, the opposing views of existence and nonexistence, and cultivate the true Dao without giving rise to deluded thoughts or clinging to approach or withdrawal, acceptance or rejection, or distinctions, then you may be said to have entered the Dao. One who truly enters the Dao does not cling even to the name ‘entering the Dao.’ Accord with the myriad things and conform to nature, and there is no need for fear. Your body and mind, and what you call existence and nonexistence, are all provisional combinations of causes and conditions, not reality. Why let deluded thoughts give rise to terror?”

Ju Minzi said, “Now, thanks to the Celestial Worthy’s renewed instruction, we understand the principles of a life that neither arises nor perishes, the method of not clinging to thoughts, and the key to being free from fear. On this basis, we establish true faith, remain untroubled by choices and rejections, and practice with flexibility without being tainted by external things. We join with others in common purpose and guide them into the source of the Great Dao.

“Now we proclaim a divine incantation, bestowing it universally upon the heavenly realms and the human world. All who sincerely turn toward and revere the Great Dao may thereby find peace and happiness. The incantation is as follows:

“At the beginning of chaos, the Great One (the source of the cosmos) gave rise to the Nine Qi. The radiant essence of the divine beings shone in every direction; the bell of Metal and Fire turned and gleamed. Divine Qi welled up in abundance, brilliant and splendid, containing the moon and bringing forth the stars. The venomous dragon spat out raging flames; Wumu held a precious vase. Summon and subdue the Six Feng, the abode of underworld spirits, and destroy demons and monsters. A’na beat the drum; the Divine Empyrean raised the ritual bell. Search the heavens and wield the axe; the long-toothed divine general donned his tasseled sash. Bind the winds and fire, and pursue evil spirits and monsters. Gather the radiance of the sun, moon, and stars, recording all of them together, whatever their names. Where among the old, evil Qi of the Six Heavens is there any disorder or injustice? The Five Emperors issue talismanic commands; the Golden Horse carries their documents. Swiftly carry out the orders of the Most High!”

The Three Heavens True King proclaimed a divine incantation to dispel pestilence and counter disturbances among the stars:

“King among the radiant essences, whose might shakes the Nine Heavens. The Metal Tiger veils the sun; the flying dragon coils around the vault of heaven. The Yellow Spirit wields a great axe; the Green-toothed Divine General swings his long whip. The officials of the Northern Dipper and the Golden Horse carry the documents. Swiftly carry out the orders of the Most High!”

The Three Heavens True King again proclaimed a divine incantation to dispel pestilence and counter disturbances among the stars:

“King among the radiant essences, whose might shakes the Nine Heavens. The Metal Tiger veils the sun; the flying dragon coils around the vault of heaven. The Yellow Spirit wields a great axe; the Green-toothed Divine General swings his long whip. The officials of the Northern Dipper and the Five Dippers harmonize the divine stars of the Seven Origins. Seize the nine kinds of baleful spirits and destroy the evil Qi of the Six Heavens. Hold the three lights of the sun, moon, and stars; tread upon the mysterious realm of the Nine Heavens. The Eight-Might Divine Generals breathe out their fearsome power, with the heavenly troops leading the way. Search out evil spirits and monsters, and escort them down to the Nine Springs. May the heavenly realms of the ten directions protect the state and bring peace to all things.”

The Three Heavens Perfected One said, “In later ages, men and women of good faith who seek the Dao and cultivate perfection may hold official positions, withdraw to mountain forests, or live in seclusion amid the court and the marketplace. When they encounter times of decline and disorder, when fortune and misfortune turn, their allotted years approach their end, and calamities arrive one after another, they may face war, disasters of fire and flood, pestilence, and famine.”

When disaster arises, steady your heart and strengthen your resolve; there is no need to blame others. In stillness, perform a purification ritual, burn incense, and light lamps. You may also visualize and preserve the spirits within, regulate your breath through breathing practices, and sound ritual instruments such as drums, bells, and chimes. Bow once with each recitation of four characters, joining the spirits within and without. Nine rays of light appear above your head, illuminating the Three Realms—the heavens, the human world, and the underworld. The Big Dipper rests above your head, guarding the way before you.

Cloudlike radiance, like the aura of an emperor, issues from the Five Viscera, surrounds your whole body, then expands to fill the eight directions and their farthest reaches. It transforms into dragons, tigers, lions, and pixiu—auspicious beasts that ward off evil—which race before and behind you. Each appears in the color corresponding to its direction, exhaling powerful, awe-inspiring vital energy and unleashing divine might like golden light and fire bells to dispel disaster.

Then the gods of the heavens and the most holy perfected immortals descend in great numbers. Dragons, tigers, lions, and pixiu race before and behind you, appearing in their respective directions. They exhale powerful, awe-inspiring vital energy and wield divine might like golden light and fire bells to dispel disaster.

Then the gods of the heavens and the most holy perfected immortals descend in great numbers. The Five Emperors, the celestial rulers of the five directions, guide and protect you, freeing you from calamity and miasma and returning you to the source of the Great Dao. They proclaim to all virtuous men and women of later generations: whoever sincerely turns toward the Great Dao will surely attain peace and joy. Nourish your spirit through the Dao of Wuwei (non-action), and take refuge in the Three Treasures I have taught: the Dao, the scriptures, and the masters. Gather your thoughts and keep them from scattering; persist for one seven-day period, two seven-day periods, or even three months.

Burn incense and bow in reverence to the High Jade Emperor, the Eight Pure Dao Lords, the Ten-Directional Celestial Worthies of Limitless Numinous Treasure, the Taiching Spirit Officials of the Nine Palaces and Four Extremes, and the assembly of saints who have attained the Dao. Recite their names, then expound and chant the scriptures. Cultivate virtuous conduct in body, speech, and mind, so that it reaches the hidden, dark, and remote realms. If your heart is sincere, a response will naturally come; the Great Dao does not forsake the people of this world.

Then the Celestial Worthy praises the Three Revered Ones—the Dao, the scriptures, and the masters—and chants:

The Great Dao has neither coming nor going, yet all things follow their own courses, responding to and accompanying one another. The Great Dao is silent and still, beyond the reach of names; the breath of human beings may be taken as its name. The Great Dao endures forever, moving and responding—when could it ever have first come into being? I now bow in reverence and entrust my life to the Jade Emperor’s Court, the heavenly court where the Jade Emperor resides.

The Dao’s talismanic script shines brightly, like dragons and phoenixes reflected in one another, its august radiance illuminating the ten directions of heaven. When the response departs, the Golden Register, a treasured book of Daoist teachings, conceals itself from view; when the proper moment arrives, the Jade Chapters, precious Daoist writings, open. In the void, abundant, far-reaching sounds arise. Manifestation and concealment become the means by which one advances in cultivation. Reciting incantations and singing of the heart and nature bring body and mind into harmony and ease, gradually leading into realms of profound mystery.

The Dao and De are noble and majestic; merit and cultivation have reached completion. May the revered spirits descend and guide me, and may masters and protectors together lend me their support. May the Dharma’s compassionate water wash away my ignorance and confusion, so that I may cross forever to the far shore of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), and long leave behind the muddy realm of the Five Turbidities, the five forces that pollute the world.

The True Emperor then praised the Three Venerable Ones and made this vow: “For the sake of generations to come, I have today used the true Dharma to nourish and protect living beings, taught in accordance with worldly customs, and practiced the Mahayana path. I adapt to beings in every place, living and acting alongside them; following causes and karmic results, I use skillful means to benefit them. I establish purification rites and cultivate the Dao, enabling people to uphold their vows and right mindfulness, so that the Four Great Elements—earth, water, fire, and wind, which make up body, mind, and all things—may harmonize and return together to the source.”

First vow: May the Great Dao be profound and subtle, its true source empty, luminous, and clear. Though worldly circumstances rise and fall, may wisdom neither increase nor diminish.

Second vow: May the Nine Heavens be clear and bright; may the sun, moon, and five planets—the Seven Luminaries—shine high above. May primordial essence harmonize and descend, nourishing all beings and things.

Third vow: May the Nine Earths be at peace, their mountains, rivers, and soil fertile. May every kind of plant flourish continually, and sweet springs flow without cease. May all beings with life and form be carried and nurtured by the earth.

Fourth vow: May the Celestial Emperor govern, with True Sages assisting in the affairs of the age, and may blessings reach even the netherworld. May animals and plants each thrive in their proper place; may a generous and harmonious spirit flourish and endure, and may the foundations of the state be protected and made secure.

Fifth vow: May the Three Masters, who transmit the Dao, and their fellow cultivators widely attain the Six Spiritual Powers, the six extraordinary abilities attributed to practitioners. May their virtue be abundant and their wisdom eloquent, enabling them to guide the ignorant. May all things in the world, both manifest and hidden, live in harmony; may their thoughts be pure and unstained, and their bodies ascend through the sky.

Sixth vow: May the inspections, judgments, and interrogations at the Eight Gates and Five Roads, the checkpoints and paths associated with the netherworld and the souls’ destinations, all be dispelled. May harmful conditions be severed forever and good fortune endure for ages. May souls find peace and enjoy clothing and food supplied by the heavenly kitchens.

Seventh, may all living beings—birds, insects, and others, whether already born or not yet born—be nourished by Original Essence (the primordial vital energy), preserve their nature, find peace of mind, and enjoy happiness and flourishing.

Eighth, may all beings be protected and supported, so that together they ascend to Jade Clarity (the Daoist celestial realm of Subtle Clarity) and their minds return to mysterious stillness. May people in the world fulfill themselves through the Dao and share in its blessings, allowing the Dao’s Qi (primordial energy of the Dao) to sustain life.

Divine Spell of the Five Elder Emperors for Protecting the State, Learning the Way, and Dispelling Calamities

At this, the Five Elder Emperors rose together and bowed again. They adjusted their robes and headwear, composed their expressions, knelt before the Venerable One, and declared: “Through countless kalpas, we have appeared and withdrawn in keeping with the tides of time. We received the Lingbao scriptures and have often used skillful means to aid living beings, guiding them into the true teaching of natural Wuwei (non-action). We have helped people understand the beginnings and endings of all things in the world, their causes and conditions, and the principles of arising, passing away, and karmic retribution.

“Long ago, when we received the true scriptures and spells, we kept them silently in our hearts and passed them on only by word of mouth; we did not dare to speak of or reveal their chapters lightly. Now that we have received an edict and instruction, we dare not conceal them any longer. Here is a divine spell for protecting the state and bringing peace to the world. It is the subtle foundation of the Three Caverns (the Daoist classification of scriptures), contains the essence of the Nine Qi (the nine primordial energies that constitute all things in Heaven and Earth), and can harmonize the spirits. Its inner names are deeply concealed, and its merit and wisdom are complete and radiant. Other scriptures have also explained that reciting this spell while practicing the Dao allows one to illuminate body and mind and to dispel calamities that come from outside.

“Only the Highest Perfected and Great Sages—those accomplished in cultivation—can fully understand its mysterious and hidden meaning; it is not revealed to those whose cultivation is shallow. In later generations, those who study the Dao, though ordinary and unenlightened, may also proclaim this spell, provided they truly believe, accept it, and devote themselves to practicing it. They should cleanse themselves through fasting, sit quietly in silence, visualize the spirits and Qi, sound the drums, regulate their breathing, and recite with focused attention. Then the True Spirits will respond and descend, and they will swiftly ascend to immortality. And surely lesser calamities and dangers can be averted as well. If one is focused and sincere, a response will naturally follow; the Dao does not fail people. We shall now recite it with care:”

Primordial essence gathers in chaos as green Qi disperses. Twelve divine youths guard and calm the liver and the ethereal soul. The numbers two and seven, four and five join together, their transformations moving like clouds. The gods of the Nine Hearths and Nine Altars appear, and even ancient trees are no longer disturbed by malign influences. The divine tiger spits out poisonous Qi; a treasured sword is hurled, and fierce flames follow, sweeping away the Green Curse—harmful malign Qi or illness—as well as apparitions and demonic miasma. When the mind no longer stirs in delusion, it can safely protect the Sovereign Lord.

The Qi of Scarlet Radiance opens the divine chart, while fiery essence stirs the wind. Three youths guard a household, shining brightly as they float into view. The spirits who oversee good and evil, gain and loss, and all the Heavenly Emperors come to pay homage. The Vermilion Phoenix breathes flames, melting even metal and stone. The Flying Bell, a ritual implement for driving out evil, spins like lightning and slays the Scarlet Demons within the realm. The Nine Ugly Ones, nine classes of evil spirits, are bound, covered with ash, and burned with fire. In this way, the imperial fortune is cleansed, allowing virtuous rule to remain peaceful and enduring.

Once golden essence is set in motion, the radiance of the planet Venus spreads in all directions. White clouds drift and flow through the Sovereign Lord’s numinous palace. Dragon spirits are summoned to bear the waters and extinguish the red smoke. Beasts with long tusks set out in pursuit of the vicious and evil. The hundred spirits settle into their posts, and I am thereby able to accord with nature.

Mysterious radiance suddenly appears, and the Five Qi—five kinds of primordial energy—circulate. The Supreme Emperor dwells above the twin towers, from which the myriad spirits take form. Settle the will and hold fast to wisdom; look down and gather the fiery essence. The Azure Dragon breathes lightning, striking down the Yellow Soldiers, while Bright White Crystal, a radiant, pure-white essence, stirs the treasured sword, sending sparks flying in every direction. The Three Heavens’ Mighty Warriors, divine guardians of the heavens, subdue and destroy the myriad evil spirits. They protect the household and bring peace to the state, so that the world under the rule of the Dao remains at peace.

Within chaos, the Primordial One, the original and undivided source, appears, while yellow forms move in profusion. The True Elder, a Daoist deity who communes with and encompasses all things, transforms into the form of an infant. Nurture the Nine Qi, allowing fetal breathing to give rise to the two poles of Yin and Yang. The sun and moon move above, while the stars are arrayed below. Wind and fire clash, and swords fly in every direction. The Six Heavens and Nine Ugly Ones—the evil spirits and wicked beings—are shattered. The mind and spirit become clear and no longer scatter. The Most High issues a talismanic decree; who would dare disobey? All beings thus find peace, enter the Dao, and return to Wuwei (non-action).

At that time, the Perfected Yu Mingluo, acting on the command of the Heavenly Honored One, addressed the assembly:

"Perfected and immortals, if in later ages you wish to widely aid the host of immortals, relieve calamities, cure illness, and hold purification rites (Zhaijiao) to practice the Dao, you should recite incantations and perform obeisances, and prepare cinnabar, clean paper, and ink to paint the divine talismans (Fulu). The talismans may be hung up to guard and protect, or carried on the person. They may also be used to submit memorials and petitions, to summon the divine officials, clerks, and soldiers of Taiqing and Taiji to provide protection, and to punish fierce spirits, demons, and thieves.

These heavenly-script talismans are profound and abstruse. They contain the subtle images of the Nine Qi (the nine primordial vital energies) and the names of the hundred spirits, and they also record the forms and omens of divine transformations. Their strokes are winding and obscure, holding hidden inner names, and their power and efficacy are established by the spirits themselves. The talismans can dispel disasters and anomalies, nourish the Yuanhe (the harmonious and balanced vital energy within the human body), and guard the twelve periods of the day as well as doorways, wells, hearths, and privies.

The reason is this: ordinary people sometimes fall into confusion of mind and become troubled and uneasy. If they have not yet entered the Way of Orthodox Unity and Covenant of Majesty (Zhengyi Mengwei), the transmission of the Zhengyi school, or the Lingbao Huiyuan (the Lingbao teachings of Benevolent Source), their natures are easily drawn toward external things, their minds cannot settle, and fear arises without cause. The Six Heavens and Nine Ugly Ones (the evil spirits named in the scriptures) sense the agitation of human hearts and seize the opportunity to bring calamities. Therefore the talismans must be used to guard and protect, sustaining people with true qi so that they accord with the natural Way and become steady.

Those who suffer from illness should also swallow talismans, practice visualization and recitation, and perform the Way three times a day. Facing the north of the courtyard, they should summon the officials and soldiers with their mouths, so that memorials ascend and requests are transmitted. At the same time they should burn incense, light lamps, and hang colored silks, banners, and floral ornaments, circling and chanting as they go. The entire ritual and its etiquette must follow the precepts and liturgical regulations (Keyi), such as the Three Records and the Four Poles and Clear Perfection. If one carelessly divulges these teachings or neglects them, the calamity will extend to nine generations of ancestors.

Yu Mingluo then walked before the assembly, bowed twice, and knelt at length. He lifted the jade table, opened the golden chest, burned the hundred treasure incenses, struck the drum and held his breath, demonstrating for the assembly the rules of the rite. Afterward he unrolled a jade tablet, wrote out its contents, and transmitted them to the assembly."

"At that time, the Kings of the Thirty-Six Heavens, including King Juelou, rose together, bowed again to the Heavenly Venerable (Tianzun), and said: 'The essential methods and incantations we received in the past have now all been fully set forth. May the gods, immortals, and multitudes of the heavens each, according to their station, aid those in distress, revive the sacred Dao, protect the state, and bring peace to the people, so that the Dao may spread widely and deliver countless beings.'

'We solemnly inform the men and women of the later age, the age of decline, that whoever is willing to turn toward the Dao and devote themselves wholeheartedly to its faith should prepare the mingzeng (silk cloth used in ritual offerings) and danqing (painted offerings or ritual implements), take vows and establish a zhaijiao (purification ritual), and report to the spirits in accordance with the Mingzhen Keydian (the procedural code of the Daoist zhaijiao ritual). They should also present superior offerings of rare, fine, and sweet fruits and the like, and hold a jiao (offering rite) to the Five Emperors, the Lords and Elders of the Thirty-Six Heavens, and the Natural Venerable Gods, in order to petition for the fulfillment of their wishes.'

The True Kings, filled with joy, sang in one voice in praise:

'Wisdom runs as deep and clear as the great sea, and the waters of the Dharma (symbolizing the power of the Dao to save) never run dry. When the Dao is still, no one praises it; once it responds and manifests, merit and renown arise. Sacred incantations are raised according to the forms and natures of all things, so that the teachings of the Dongyuan Jing (Scripture of the Abyssal Cavern) become clear. Seeing beings suffer from calamity, the Venerable Gods respond by revealing their forms, descending to every quarter to transform and teach, and then ascend to the Jade Capital (the capital of the immortals).

'The Dao neither comes nor goes; it neither perishes nor is born. The dragon and phoenix patterns shine with radiance, and the lines of the sacred talismans cross and part. Worldly people distinguish between noble and base, yet the Dao shows no partiality based on wisdom or foolishness. Those who are sincere and undivided will receive response and blessing; those who are arrogant and idle will find no good fortune. Good and evil do not come from the treatment of others; rising or sinking follows from oneself. In the end, those who take refuge in the Three Treasures of our Daoist tradition (the Dao, the scriptures, and the master) will receive aid and grace in the realm of the dark.

'Now we have been able to encounter this rare sacred talisman and scripture of the Dao, and this is truly cause for rejoicing. Even after passing through ten thousand kalpas, it would be a rare good fortune. Sentient beings will naturally respond and receive it, while those without a mind to seek the Dao will have no connection that allows them to encounter or hear this teaching. The Eight Gates (symbolizing the open paths of cultivation) no longer invite retribution, and the Nine Ancestors (a general term for ancestors) are also delivered and elevated. The assembly gathers and disperses in joy, singing praises, and bows in reverence to the Lord Emperor.'

When the assembly was about to end, the Heavenly Venerable ordered the Five Venerable Lords to descend to the ten directions. The immortal Perfected rose together, bowed again, transformed into bodies of the Eight Radiances (manifest forms of the immortals), and ascended on cloud-chariots. All shone with joy, sang in unison, and bowed in reverence to the Lord Emperor."

The assembly was about to end. The Honored One of Heaven (Tianzun) ordered the Five Elders (wulao), the spirits who rule the five directions, to descend to the ten directions. The assembled immortals (xianzhen) all rose and bowed twice. They then transformed into the Eight Scenes (bajing), the varied sights that accompany an immortal's ascent, and rose on cloud-chariots and flying carriages, shining brightly while celestial music resounded. Perfected beings (tianzhen) went before them to lead the way, and they returned through the empty sky to Yuqing Heaven (Yuqing Tian), the pure celestial realm revered in Daoism.

_Taishang Dongyuan Shenzhou Jing_, End of Scroll Twelve

_Taishang Dongyuan Shenzhou Jing_, Scroll Thirteen

Chapter on the Dragon Kings (Longwang Pin)

The Dao says: In the past, the Honored One of Heaven looked down upon the human world from above the Three Heavens (san tian). He saw pestilential qi (yiqi) spreading, the common people suffering from many illnesses, the land scorched by heat and drought, the five grains failing, and people helpless to respond. At that time, the Honored One descended to the human world riding on five-colored clouds. He displayed great spiritual powers, manifested radiant light, and, together with the Dragon Kings of the heavens and some seven thousand two hundred immortal youths and jade maidens, proclaimed the correct Dharma and broadly aided all living beings. Thereupon, abundant rain fell in due season and nourished the earth. Do not harbor doubts. If you do not believe and receive this teaching, calamity will reach your Nine Ancestors, causing the spirits of your forebears to suffer, and their names will be entered in the registers of the ghost officials, with no release for hundreds of kalpas and thousands of lifetimes. But if you sincerely uphold, recite, and read this scripture, you will accumulate profound merit, spare the common people from disaster, and each will prolong their years and avoid unforeseen harm.

The Dao says: If a state meets with calamity, with wars rising on every side, the people devouring one another, heaven and earth trembling, and the sun and moon losing their light, then within the realm, in an auspicious and blessed place, within palace grounds or beside a spring or pool, one should establish the Nine Dragon Seats (jiulong zhi wei), altars for offering to the Dragon Kings, and place images of the Five Sages (wusheng zhi xiang), the divine beings of the five directions. Recite this scripture and pay homage to the Xuhuang Shangdi (August Emperor of the Void), the sovereign of the celestial realm revered in Daoism, in order to secure and stabilize the state. The celestial dragons will then protect it, the baleful qi will dissipate of its own accord, the wars will cease, and ruler and minister will each keep to their proper Way. With the De (virtue) of the dragons assisting all under heaven, the state will be at peace, and its rulers and ministers will long enjoy their offices and emoluments. At this, the immortals who heard this proclamation all received benefit and nourishment, and all living beings together performed the rites and expressed their wish to uphold this scripture.

_Taishang Dongyuan Zhao Zhu Tianlong Wang Weimiao Shangpin_ (Superior Subtle Chapter on Summoning the Dragon Kings of the Heavens)

The Azure Dragon King of the Azure Emperor of the East, the Vermilion Dragon King of the Vermilion Emperor of the South, the White Dragon King of the White Emperor of the West, the Black Dragon King of the Black Emperor of the North, and the Yellow Dragon King of the Yellow Emperor of the Center.

There are also the Dragon King who governs the sun and moon and the Dragon King who governs the stars; the Heavenly Palace Dragon King, the Dragon Palace Dragon King, the Heavenly Gate Dragon King, the Yama Dragon King, and the Hell Dragon King; the Yellow Dragon King; the Heavenly Virtue Dragon King and the Earthly Virtue Dragon King; the Celestial Person Dragon King and the Flying Person Dragon King; the Lotus Flower Dragon King and the Flower Forest Dragon King; and the Five Peaks Dragon King and the Mountains and Rivers Dragon King.

In addition, there is the Ghost-Slaying Dragon King, who destroys demons and specters, and the Garuda Ghost-Devouring Dragon King, who swallows ghosts; the Lesser Auspicious Dragon King and the Greater Auspicious Dragon King; the Golden Light Dragon King and the Golden Color Dragon King; the Yang Qi Dragon King and the Yin Qi Dragon King; the Medicine Dragon King and the Lion Dragon King; and the Nation-Guarding Dragon King, who protects the state, and the Household-Guarding Dragon King, who protects the home.

The Dragon King who governs wealth and the Dragon King who governs wells and stoves; the Gold and Silver Dragon King and the Treasure Dragon King; the Storehouse Dragon King, who oversees the keeping of granaries and treasuries, and the Wealth and Honor Dragon King, who brings prosperity and rank; the Five Ridges Dragon King and the Five Grains Dragon King, who governs the cereals; the Golden Head Dragon King and the Clothing and Food Dragon King, who governs apparel and sustenance; and the Official Rank Dragon King, who governs office, and the Official Emolument Dragon King, who governs salary.

Also there are the River Sea Dragon King, the Cloud Sea Dragon King, the Huai Sea Dragon King, the Mountain Sea Dragon King, and the Abyss Sea Dragon King; the Land Dragon King, who governs territory, the Prefecture and County Dragon King, the City Dragon King, and the Numinous Altar Dragon King. There are the Wind Elder Dragon King and the Thunder Quake Dragon King; and the Cloud and Rain Dragon King, who governs clouds and rain, the Great Rain Dragon King, the Scattering Water Dragon King, and the Heavenly Rain Dragon King.

Dao says: Tell all beings that the Wondrous Scripture of the Mantras of the Spirits of All the Heavens and the Dragon Kings that I proclaim should be burned in incense and recited for three consecutive days and nights, in order to summon the heavenly dragons widely. When drought strikes, rain will fall; even when thunder and lightning appear, no harm will come. Once the Dragon Kings descend, they will act in accordance with people's wishes. Whether one seeks blessings, merit, and longevity, marriage and harmony between men and women, advancement in office, or, on behalf of the common people, the healing of illness, peace for one's dwelling, and the resolution of enmity and lawsuits, all will bring good fortune.

If demons, demon kings, and evil ghosts still refuse to depart upon hearing this scripture, their heads will split into seven pieces, and their very roots will be cut off. The scriptural method I speak can subdue the evil spirits that must be restrained and drive away the calamities that must be averted.

If a certain state, city, or village is repeatedly scorched by heavenly fire, one may first write the names of the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas at the four corners of each household's dwelling, then burn incense and uphold this scripture, and water dragons will come to guard the place.

In the East there is the Dragon King of the East Sea; in the South, the Dragon King of the South Sea; in the West, the Dragon King of the West Sea; and in the North, the Dragon King of the North Sea. The Dragon Kings of the Four Seas each rise into the sky and display their divine powers and transformations, and within a moment they can spew forth vast quantities of water, causing the fire-spirits, upon meeting the water, to sink a thousand feet beneath the earth.

Moreover, there is a Great Water Dragon King who guards the center, and who, according to each direction, guards every place and sweeps away inauspicious things.

The Dao said: Good sons and good daughters who venerate the Dragon Kings may copy this scripture and place it where the Dragon Kings are ordinarily honored, or store it in a storehouse. They should offer it clear water and clean fruits at the appointed times. On the first and fifteenth days of each month, the days for sacrificing to the dragons, they may recite the text and invite the Dragon Kings to attend. Those who do so will find their households prosperous and honored, their goods will not be lost without cause, and their granaries will be full and abundant. The wondrous efficacy of this scripture is beyond measure.

At that time, the fourfold assembly (the four categories of listeners in Buddhist usage) heard this teaching and rejoiced greatly. The eighty-four thousand Dragon Kings all rejoiced together, heaven and earth trembled, and the dragons gathered and sent down great rains that formed torrents and widely aided all beings. Heavenly beings and mortals alike also received the blessing of full storehouses. The wondrous efficacy of this scripture is beyond measure. When the fourfold assembly heard the teaching again, they rejoiced once more without limit. The eighty-four thousand Dragon Kings all rejoiced together, heaven and earth trembled, and the dragons gathered and sent down great rains that formed torrents and widely aided all beings. Heavenly beings and mortals praised together, bowed in reverence, and carried out the teaching as instructed.

The Dao declares that Wang Lu and Li Zhong have ordered the Daoist priests, female officiants, and all the Daoist laity of the Nanhu and Hailing regions to be fully informed of this matter.

Since I received transformation, fifty-three years have passed. During this time I have traveled the Five Sacred Peaks under the command of Taishang (the Most High), going out to teach and transform all beings. I have journeyed throughout the world and reached every place, hoping to open a Great Peace (Taiping) in which the emperor governs the realm through the Way of Wuwei (non-action). Yet people's natures today are shallow, few do good, and many do evil. From now until the year Renwu, I will send seventy-two disciples to travel through the world, teaching and transforming living beings, and I will bestow upon them Daoqi (the transforming vital power of the Dao, dào qì).

Some, however, covet wealth, profit, and beauty, falsely claim to be sages, and deceive and disturb the common people. They speak thousands of words without receiving any response or sign of spiritual resonance. Since the year Jiazi, I have taught and transformed beings in the world, bestowed Daoqi, and dealt with such people according to the law. Now only thirty-six remain. I will grant them Daoqi so that they may protect the sovereign and the people. You should show them proper reverence.

At that time the age was in urgent distress, and evil people were numerous. In the third month of the year Jisi, on the third day, I dispatched the ghostly soldiers of the ten directions (the spirit armies from all quarters), who set out from Huayin on the Western Peak to drive out the wicked and remove them from their former dwellings. Almost none were left behind, and corpses lay strewn across the land, too many to count. Do you not yet know this? Now, every year on the third day of the third month, I send out a million ghostly soldiers from Songyue (the Central Peak), setting out from the regions of Nanji, Dingguo, Huangbao, and Hanjian to drive out the evil and uproot their old homes, leaving scarcely a single person. When they reach the Northern Peak at Hengshan, the wicked will surely be swept away entirely.

I tell you now: the ignorant, whose understanding reaches no more than a hundred people and whose movements extend less than a thousand li, nevertheless imagine they understand matters of the distant past. The worldly common folk turn a deaf ear to this, which is truly lamentable. From here southward to Qingqi, and across the Yangzhou and Northern Yan regions, all these lands are blessed places. You should diligently cultivate your zhai merit (the purification practice combined with religious observances), sweep and clean the altars and sanctify the ritual grounds, and do not treat them carelessly as you ordinarily might.

In the jiashen year (jiashen, one of the years in the ganzhi sexagenary cycle), I will send a great flood to sweep away evil people and evil affairs. When that time comes, all the myriad people will suffer calamity. I now particularly inform you who follow the Daoist methods (daofa), so that you may understand the reasons. I instruct the Daoist community (daozhong) and admonish those within the lineage of the methods (famai): all of you must apply your hearts and not act as you usually do.

I can see your intentions. The incense money you have received in the past has often been used to support your families and maintain your livelihoods, and you have not been people who truly revere the Dao. I earnestly advise you that from now on each of you should reform yourselves and apply your hearts. Give generously to help the poor, do not use unrighteous wealth, and do not squander money without basis. Poverty and lowliness are not without destiny, and wealth and nobility are not obtained through scheming. These all arise from my sending down Dao-qi (the transforming vital force of the Dao) and protecting with my awesome spiritual power.

I come out of emptiness and gather from qi. I move without trace and stop without form or shadow; no sound can be heard, and no body can be seen. At times I am three chi above Heaven and three chi below Earth; at other times I am three chi above a person's head, able to observe everything within the great earth beneath Heaven. Where could there be anything I cannot see? How do you know whether my divine power is near or far from you? I do not reach up to Heaven nor down to Earth, drifting beside the Gates of Heaven and the Milky Way. What would I seek or desire? I am only concerned that the common people are lonely and without refuge. The flood is coming, a thousand disasters arrive together, and when the evil gangs are driven out, the multitude will be nearly all killed or wounded, with few able to escape.

When the age of Great Peace (Taiping) appears, you must heed my drum. I will instruct Daoist priests, female officiants (nüguan), and all kinds of well-meaning people. I know the heavenly calamity will certainly come, and its date has already been fixed; the years' fortune is near. Each of you must apply your heart to prepare, and no longer act as you usually do.

In the year Renshen I will carry out a campaign against the hundred diseases and remove those who do evil. I will tell those of good heart so that everyone understands the reasons. In the year Guiyou I will regularly send three disciples, each carrying a million Fulu talismans (fulu, talismans and registers), to tour the Five Sacred Peaks (the five famous Daoist mountains) and transmit the talismans to the good. Those who receive a talisman will be spared the myriad calamities, and the hundred ghosts will not dare draw near.

In the year Jiaxu there will appear a kind of people clad in yellow, moving about and acting in the world, who will look no different from the wicked. You must diligently attend to incense offerings and not be deceived by the confused among your own fellow practitioners. Recognize one another, hold fast to the correct Dao, and before the incense and lamps you will see Great Peace (Taiping) with your own eyes. I warn you again: the yellow-clad envoys look no different from the wicked. Diligently attend to incense offerings, and do not lead one another astray within the Dao community. Together hold to the correct Dao, and before the incense and lamps you will see Great Peace.

I admonish the Daoist priests and female officiants within the Five Sacred Peaks and the Nine Provinces: you stand at the point where the Nine Calamities (nine kinds of disaster) are ending and the "Hundred-and-Six" count (an ancient numerological reckoning of cycles of misfortune) has reached its limit. Humans and ghosts are in conflict, the world is perilous, and it will be hard to pass through. You should teach one another and guide the multitude toward goodness. On days or counts of three, five, seven, and nine, diligently perform the fast and the keyi (liturgical rites). Sweep and cleanse the altar grounds, and leave nothing neglected.

On the first day of the first month I will send a million ghost soldiers to expel the evil faction. I will also send thirty thousand ghost soldiers, each holding a red staff, to slay the wicked on the roads. I will send fifty thousand ghost soldiers, each holding yellow medicine, to bring a heart-piercing pestilence that kills only those who harbor malice. I will also send seven thousand ghost soldiers, each carrying yellow medicine, to spread pestilence, so that the afflicted draw up their hands and feet and cannot stretch them. Further, I will send sixty thousand ghost soldiers, each carrying green medicine, to move through the world; when people fall ill, their chests will seal shut and their mouths will not open, so that they cannot speak and in the end die. I will send ten thousand ghost soldiers, each carrying white medicine, to move through the world; the afflicted will all become dizzy and deaf and die as if hanging upside down. Again, I will send twenty thousand ghost soldiers, each carrying black medicine, to move through the world; the afflicted will burn with a body as hot as fire, will speak in delirium, be unable to sleep, and in the end die. Finally, I will send five thousand ghost soldiers, each carrying red medicine, to move through the world; once people fall ill, they will die suddenly and never speak again.

On the third day of the third month, I will often dispatch ten million youths, each riding a thunder chariot and bearing thunderbolts, to slay the unrighteous. You worldly people, do you know how many I command to be slain in a single day? When the hundred calamities arise together and strange portents and confusions spread everywhere, if you wish to pass through the disaster, you must hold to the correct Dao before the incense and lamps, and not believe those who confuse the hearts of men. Otherwise you yourselves will suffer punishment and harm.

I will send thirty-six disciples to tour the Nine Provinces and the Five Sacred Peaks, to teach all the common people and to bestow upon them Dao Qi (the generative power of the Dao, as Daoism describes it). My disciples will show a sign upon their heads: if it is not yellow, it will be red; if it is not green, it will be white. If you see such a light, you should devote yourselves single-mindedly to honoring my Dao.

When Great Peace arrives, the state will be governed by the Emperor of Wuwei (non-action). At that time, thirty-six thousand people will become immortal guests (those who have attained the Dao of immortality). There will also be one thousand white youths, who will raise fifty-eight thousand banners, each three chi long, with dragon-shaped ornaments atop the staffs. They will command fifty-eight thousand stalwart men who carry the banners, together with one thousand one hundred female officiants who hold incense burners, and three kinds of yellow-clad envoys will stand in ranks beside them. In that time joy will be boundless, the realm will be at peace, the teachings of the sage will spread widely, and the common people will harbor no resentment.

I am opening the beginning of the age of Great Peace, starting first from Mount Meng, after which the world will return to simplicity and govern all under the Dao of Wuwei. How can you know these arrangements? The great periods and covenants I have established each have a fixed measure. Each of you should apply your heart to cultivation and not grow slack.

I admonish you Daoist practitioners of the arts and female Daoist priests (nüguan): do not presume to measure me only by your ordinary thoughts. I tour the human world three times each year to inspect your cultivation. How could you know this? I may take the form of a wandering scholar, an official traveling on urgent duty, a poor old man, or a solitary child suffering the cold. Who can tell whether I am real or false?

On the first day of each year in the first month, I regularly inspect your altar grounds, moving north and south, and I may also go to the eastern and western regions. How could you guess which altar I will ascend or which room I will enter? Within the fasting altars, I will always stop to look.

I am deeply concerned for you, fearing that you will not reach supreme goodness. So I travel through the various worlds and journey everywhere, for I dread that you will abandon the true Dao (Dao), follow falsehood, and lead the multitude into error. When the age of Great Peace (Taiping) appears, people in yellow garments will follow in its train. The good will receive their reward, and the wicked will decline of their own accord. When sins and calamities extend to the three generations of one's kin, whom can the descendants blame?

I dwell in the Ninth Heaven, and at times I ride a cloud crane or drive a red dragon, commissioned to inspect the Five Sacred Peaks and the famous mountains of the world recorded in the strange old scriptures. At other times I wander among humankind and live in seclusion in the dust of the world, refining and cultivating myself and transforming my own body. How could fools or the wise perceive this? Sometimes I appear as an infant, and sometimes as a white-haired elder. I hide by day and move about by night. If the common people do not turn their hearts toward me, the age of Great Peace cannot yet appear, and the floodwaters hidden in the sea will also surge forth.

Xiangzhou (a place name) will ring with the sound of gongs and drums, and all under heaven will be terrified. Abo will lead the Daoists, and I will be commissioned to return to my palace. Lotus blossoms will cover the nine-tiered halls, white deer will stand pure, and evergreen pines and cypresses will stand tall. Phoenixes will roost to the south, and qilin will come to pay homage. Banners and flowers will shine upon the sun and moon. Who, on seeing all this, would fail to submit?

If you wish to see my true form, then single-mindedly turn toward the Void. I dwell in the Ninth Heaven and for the time being tour the Five Sacred Peaks. The worthy sages gather and deliberate, and the region of Mengjin (a place name) will become the battlefield for pacifying the land of Lu. The river fords will be dyed with blood, and white bones will pile up into hills. Qingzhou and the land of Qi will be struck by great floods, and Jizhou and Dingzhou will become torrents. Along Dunhuang and Baohan, the common people too will drift away and suffer.

Since ancient times there have been immense calamities, and I have endured countless refinements. Reflecting on these things, why should one dwell on past grudges? The sea-storehouse will open, and a primordial wasteland will appear. In a single movement, the Nine Provinces will be pacified. The East Sea will turn into mulberry fields, and Yzhou (a place name) will have green towers built upon it. Those who witness the Great Peace will rejoice and be glad, and will no longer be troubled.

I have not previously had the fortune to visit Taiheng, Huashan, Huoshan, or Songshan. If you wish to know the vast and profound places, seek them among Mengjin and the channels and ditches. The Jade Maiden dwells by the river, weaving cloth and standing before her loom to produce colorful patterns. Those who do not believe may ask Zhang Qian. Or one may trust Dongfang Shuo, and have him regularly convey my intentions. If heaven and earth can harmonize, then the gathering of the multitude will form karmic bonds.

Countless ghost soldiers will haul stones to fill up Kunlun. Which mountain could be higher than it? I alone will join with heaven, connecting and grinding together the Great Void (Taixu), the vast emptiness spoken of in Daoism. Upon it I will build a golden and silver altar. White jade will guard its four corners, and immortal palaces and abbeys will line its perimeter. When the Venerable Huang (a title for a revered deity) stands upon the altar, the good will be able to return to Chang'an.

At that point, Taishang finished delivering this scripture and its incantations, and all living beings turned their hearts toward goodness.

The Taishang Dongyuan Shenzhou Jing, Scroll Thirteen, ends here.

The Taishang Dongyuan Shenzhou Jing, Scroll Fourteen

Chapter on the Hymn of the Ghost-Slaying Steps

The Dao says: "I tell Mingluo Zhenren (a Daoist immortal): from now on, if a kind-hearted person suffers an unexpected disaster or plague, they should invite Daoist priests of the Three Caverns (Sandong, the classification of Daoist scriptures and lineages) to chant scriptures and pray for their blessing. The officiant (the person who sets up the retreat and prays) must abstain from meat, pungent foods, and sexual desire, cleanse body and mind, and concentrate on silent recitation without distracting thoughts. They should also constantly visualize the Five Emperor Deities, the Spirit Officials and their attendants, and the guards on either side. The officiant must be sincere and single-minded, and diligent in bowing. The master of the rite should summon the true immortals of heaven to descend at the right moments and rescue the people who are suffering."

"If one's heart is not sincere and one merely spends money in vain, the immortal sages will not grant their protection, and the cost of the retreat will be wasted. If you act according to my teaching, peace will last a long time. Once this precious scripture is recited, the celestial soldiers will descend and the demon kings will be subdued. If you do not heed my words, the demon king Wulinzi will have his head split into three hundred pieces."

At that time, Mingluo Zhenren petitioned the Five Emperor Deities to send their armies down to the altar to search out and capture ghosts and demons. The Lord of the Nine Yi and the General of the Azure Spirit, under the Azure Emperor of the East, led eight hundred and ten thousand troops, together with the immortals and Spirit Officials of the East, to descend and seize the Eastern Azure Pestilence, the Wood-essence ghosts. The Lord of the Eight Man and the General of the Red Spirit, under the Red Emperor of the South, led six hundred and forty thousand troops, together with the immortals and Spirit Officials of the South, to descend and seize the Southern Red Pestilence, the Fire-essence ghosts. The Lord of the Six Rong and the General of the White Spirit, under the White Emperor of the West, led three hundred and sixty thousand troops, together with the immortals and Spirit Officials of the West, to descend and seize the Western White Pestilence, the Metal-essence ghosts. The Lord of the Five Di and the General of the Black Spirit, under the Black Emperor of the North, led two hundred and fifty thousand troops, together with the immortals and Spirit Officials of the North, to descend and seize the Northern Black Pestilence, the Water-essence ghosts. The Lord of the Three Qin and the Yellow Emperor's General, under the Yellow Emperor of the Center, led ninety thousand troops, together with the immortals and Spirit Officials of the Center, to descend and seize the Central Yellow Pestilence, the Earth-essence ghosts.

The Five Directions' spirit soldiers swept through together, annihilating every ghost and demon, so that the illness of the person in question was healed and the household was kept safe. This is the command Taishang personally issued: the Five Directions' spirit generals are to act according to the law, slay the ghosts, and bring peace to the people.

The scripture states: Let the hundred families and the officials hear clearly, together with the Gatekeeper Overseer (Menchengh), the Household Captain (Huwei), the Left and Right Pavilion Chiefs who guard the doors and lanes, the spirits of every rank within the dwelling, the three hundred thousand house spirits, and the Three Generals who guard the house. The householder So-and-so and the entire family have long suffered misfortune, their sleep has been troubled, they have repeatedly seen demons, and they have never known peace.

Moreover, it is feared that after the householder dies he may turn into a ghost, and that the Seven Ancestors and Nine Mysterious Ones of the household (a general term for the ancestors of past generations, whether they died early or late) have, because of inauspicious days and hours, violated Heaven and Earth and offended the Three Luminaries (the sun, moon, and stars), as well as the great spirits of the ten directions and the true sages of the eight extremities. As a result, the household, young and old alike, is often afflicted by illness, and calamities occur frequently. There have also been curses and plots to harm, plagues of insects and locusts, floods and droughts, and epidemics among the livestock. Therefore, the scriptures are now specially recited, memorials are presented, and a Jiao (Daoist ritual of blessing and expiation) is established, so that these calamities may be dissolved and all affairs brought to completion.

From the thirty-six generations onward, the ghosts and spirits connected with sacrifices in the mountains and at the shrines of the local earth god, together with the malevolent spirits and evil demons of the worldly dwellings and temples, the thousands and hundreds of thousands of ghosts, and the relatives of the family both near and far, shall all receive the merit of this recitation, so that the afflictions they have suffered may be resolved. From the time of this recitation onward, blessings shall be multiplied: wishes shall be fulfilled, advancement in office shall proceed smoothly, all requests shall be granted, the sick shall recover, dreams shall turn auspicious, punishments and lawsuits shall be dissolved, pestilence and thieves shall no longer arise, the breath of ghosts shall disperse, and evil spirits shall be extinguished.

If the Ghost Kings do not obey my commands, their heads shall be beaten into one hundred and twenty pieces.

The Dao says: From now on, when the Three Caverns (Dongzhen, Dongxuan, and Dongshen, the three classes of scriptures and methods, or sandong) are taught, if a Daoist priest holds a zhaijiao (purification rite) for someone who is ill, recites scriptures, submits memorials, and performs an offering to pray for deliverance, the Dharma master who conducts these rites will cause evil ghosts to flee naturally upon hearing the sound of the scriptures. Whether young or old, everyone should concentrate with sincerity and reverence, bow low and prostrate themselves, face north, and listen to the Daoist priest chanting. When demons hear the scriptures, they will flee far away, retreating ten thousand li and daring not to return. All of you should be devout and respectful, and listen attentively to the recitation:

The Azure Lord of the East and Gou Mang, the Wood spirit of the East, how lush and flourishing they are! People grow like the hundred grasses, following the seasons and blossoming naturally. Good people are able to ascend to Heaven, while wicked people fall under punishment. Breaths of the same kind respond to one another naturally, while those of different kinds do not draw close. If one harbors a perverse heart, one's outward appearance will hardly accord with others; if hearts are harmonious, they will be as intimate as mandarin ducks. Those who treat the Dao with contempt will drift further from it, while those who revere the Dao will ascend to the heavenly halls. Respecting teachers as one would honor the sun and moon, and a heart of love and filial piety can move the ten directions. Those who do not believe in the methods of the Three Caverns will suffer the bitter frost of ten thousand kalpas; their seven generations of ancestors will fall into the Nine Gloomy Depths (Jiuyou), lost forever in the endless night without light. How pitiful it is that ordinary people, in their ignorance, bring calamity upon their descendants even after death. Those who slander the way of the immortals and sages will endure hardship generation after generation. Believe in the right Way, and the body will be at peace; do good, and you will ascend to Heaven. Those who receive the Dao registers (daolu), which record a Daoist's identity and confer ritual office, will be enrolled among the ranks of the immortals and will be able to behold the Supreme Lord Emperor (Taishang Huang).

If one has long suffered illness and is surrounded by many evil ghosts, one should recite the numinous petitions (lingzhang), which have the power to pray for deliverance. The seven generations of ancestors will all be able to escape suffering and see the light of the sun and moon. Holding a purification rite and aiding the poor will allow one to drink from the Jade Pool elixir (yuchi jiang). The heavenly spirits will all descend, and they will command the spirit kings of each region to restrain their subordinate demons and not allow them to act with violence at will. The divine generals will wield their power, subdue the myriad ghosts, and cause evil things to vanish without a trace. Today we eliminate the evil ghosts and cause them to submit to Yucang. Pestilence and calamity retreat ten thousand li, the demons depart, and people's illnesses can be cured. When the favorable and the adverse each stays in its proper place, the multitude receive blessings and enjoy lasting good fortune. Divine troops govern illness, and the disciples bow toward the East.

The evil things of the South must also be subdued and destroyed; today we eliminate the evil ghosts and cause them to submit to Yucang. Pestilence and calamity retreat ten thousand li, the demons depart, and people's illnesses can be cured. When the favorable and the adverse each stays in its proper place, the multitude receive blessings and enjoy lasting good fortune. Divine troops govern illness, and the disciples bow toward the East.

The Red Emperor of the South (Nan Chidi Junzhu, the divine lord who governs the south and belongs to the element of Fire) and Yandi (an ancient deity, the god of fire) possess profound divine power, and the Jade Maidens of the Three Heavens (heavenly female immortals) together with the perfected immortals descend to roam the mortal world. Heaven and earth endure for a long time, but human life is brief and is often threatened by the calamities of war. The mysterious Dao and its methods can transform the world and enlighten people, yet the ignorant do not know how to cultivate the Way, and the lost do not recognize the Great Dao and therefore receive no help from it.

The wise are ashamed to chase after glory and emoluments, while the foolish covet great quantities of wealth. The wise are often beset by anxiety, while the foolish are carefree. Floodwaters rise to the heavens, and pestilence and ghost soldiers spread everywhere. If people encounter a grand assembly of the Daoist community but do not believe in it in their hearts, they will turn away from the Dao and, even after myriad kalpas, will find no release. Illness binds the yang qi of the human body, and the sages hover in worry over this. The Great Dao is the refuge of all living beings; from the standpoint of the Great Dao, myriad kalpas amount to no more than a passing instant.

Now, the demon kings, ghost lords, and others of the ten directions are ordered to gather in their essence and strength, so that the sick may recover and benevolent spirits may exercise their efficacious power. When the great floods are about to rise, heavenly beings and the Nine Dragons will come to welcome the faithful. Recitation of the scriptures can dispel evil, and the officiant of the jiao (an offering ritual in which altars are set up to worship the gods and pray for blessings and the averting of calamities) bows toward the south.

The White Emperor of the West (Xi Baidi Junzhu, the divine lord who governs the west and belongs to the element of Metal) and Ru Shou (the deity in charge of autumn and punishment) possess illustrious divine power. The Three Caverns (Sandong, the three major categories of Daoist scriptures) transform the ignorant of the world, and divine light shines upon the heavenly court. If illness is treated in accordance with the teachings, it will be cured, and the floods will recede on their own. After following the instruction of a master and wearing the fuqi (possibly referring to Daoist ritual objects or talismanic tallies), heavenly beings and the Nine Dragons will come to welcome the faithful. Recitation of the scriptures can dispel evil, and the officiant of the jiao bows toward the south.

The White Emperor of the West and Ru Shou possess illustrious divine power. They guide the world through the teachings of the Three Caverns, and divine light shines upon the heavenly court. If illness is treated in accordance with the teachings, it will be cured, and the floods will recede. By following the instruction of a master and wearing the fuqi (talismanic tallies bearing religious efficacy), one will naturally attain the Way of the immortals. To slander or destroy the scriptures and teachings leaves a stain of transgression that cannot be easily erased. The gap between ignorance and wisdom is as great as that between heaven and earth, and the accumulation of merit cannot be completed within a single lifetime. If one reveres one's teachers and constantly keeps good affinities in mind, what difficulty would there be in attaining the Way of the immortals? Today, a memorial is presented, and the Jade Maidens will come down to receive it. Facing the west and worshipping with utmost sincerity, blessings and joy will naturally arrive.

Northern Black Lord (the divine sovereign who rules the north and embodies the qi of the dark netherworld), how profound and dim is the realm of Xuanming! Here one sees the lofty perfected who have long studied and cultivated themselves diligently, honoring their teachers and the mysterious sages, and devoting themselves to fellowship with the many perfected immortals. Demons are commanded to heal the common people, and the myriad ghosts dare not intrude. Every malevolent spirit that causes disturbance is cut away and not allowed to linger. The celestial troops inform the powerful spirits, and those who commit evil and defy order are seized. The Supreme Divinities of the ten directions decree that no evil ghost may remain even for a moment. Household deities, gate guardians, and ghostly afflictions drive one another away, guarding the home above and below so that life is peaceful and smooth and every calamity is wholly dispelled. The jade maidens of the heavens descend, and the true immortals arrive with them. If illness has not yet healed, the demon kings and their like will themselves be punished. Today the zhaijiao (purification ritual, in which altars are set up for offerings and prayer) has concluded, and blessings will fall like clouds and rain.

The Central Yellow Sovereign Lord rules the perfected immortals of the ten directions. Perfected beings keep company with jade maidens, and their mysterious responsiveness extends without end. Even in dark places the sun, moon, and stars shine, and the light is clear and bright. The majestic yang qi flourishes, and the methods of the Three Caverns (Dongzhen, Dongxuan, and Dongshen), the three major divisions of Daoist scripture, spread through the four directions to bring salvation everywhere. Men and women who believe in and practice the Way are as numerous as clouds and rain. The Central Yellow Sovereign Lord rules the perfected immortals of the ten directions, perfected beings keep company with jade maidens, and their mysterious responsiveness extends without end. The light of the sun and moon illuminates the dark, and the light is clear and bright. The majestic yang qi flourishes, and the methods of the Three Caverns spread through the four directions to bring salvation everywhere. Men and women who follow the Way and cultivate it are able to see the Jade Emperor in person, ride phoenixes and drive clouds, their bodies light as they rise and soar freely. The assembled immortals come together, and the heavenly maidens scatter flowers. Bow sincerely to the Central Yellow Sovereign Lord, and those who are ill will be made well.

The Northeastern Fanqi Lord (the divine sovereign who governs the sacred qi of the northeast) is the heavenly emperor of the supreme heavens. Spirit consorts and true immortals lead the way, walking upon the clouds. Those who serve their teachers and uphold the Three Caverns scriptures will see their descendants flourish for generations. Today, by presenting prayers and petitions, one can slay ghostly afflictions and overawe the demon kings. Pestilent ghosts flee ten thousand li away, and wicked influences naturally recede. If any evil spirit causes harm, it will perish and be destroyed. The great sage teaches all beings, and those who believe are able to enter the realms of the immortals; but whoever slanders the teaching will suffer the calamities of wind and frost. Why not follow the Great Dao, revere and honor it, and so seek to ascend to the heavenly halls? Sincerely and diligently bow toward the northeast, and illness will be cured and life will be extended.

Lord Ming of the Southeast, the divine sovereign who governs the southeast, stands in dignified majesty, with the Wind Spirit attending at his side. The Mysterious Maiden (Xuannü, a goddess) comes to pay her respects, and nine dragons ford the three rivers. Human life in this world is like a pine tree with a pine-moss vine (a creeper that grows attached to pine trees) clinging to it: when the pine dies, the pine-moss withers too, so how long can a human life last? The foolish fear that they will not survive, while the wise go along with the changes of the world. Worldly office and rank cannot endure and pass away in a moment, leaving only a sigh. Without the great wisdom and sagehood of the Great Sage, how could one escape the calamities of the world? Epidemics recur often, and they are frequently tied to the karmic offenses accumulated in past lives.

Today we report upward to Heaven and command the Heavenly Commander to order the Great Demons to depart. Demon kings and the multitude of lesser ghosts must leave quickly without delay, and all evil spirits and malignant beings must be cut down and destroyed. The officiant who presides over the Zhaijiao (purification ritual) for petition and renewal bows toward the southeast, and the vital qi (life-breath) then flows naturally and freely.

Taiyi Jun, the Grand One of the Southwest and a venerated Daoist deity, says that the Heavenly Mother has already informed the Most Numinous. Your disciple presents a memorial upward and establishes the Zhaijiao, praying for longevity. Illnesses will heal of their own accord, and the officials will be at peace. Grudges among family members and kin will be resolved, and the calamities of flood and fire will subside. Immortals come to protect and rescue, while Jade Maidens and nine dragons come to welcome. The Three Caverns (Sandong, the classification system of Daoist scriptures) dispel the calamities of the world, and those who believe in them survive through myriad kalpas.

Lord Yan of the Northwest, the divine sovereign who governs the northwest, causes the spirits of the sun, moon, and stars to manifest. So long as one holds the talisman tally (the talisman or credential that corresponds to the spirits) with a single heart, the perfected immortals will descend to welcome them. Thousands of Jade Maidens attend the Master as he cultivates the Dao of longevity. Once calamities are eliminated and great merit is established, and the merit is complete, one is welcomed by a divine dragon.

Those who disbelieve in and slander the Great Dao will sink forever into the Nine Gloomy Depths (the dark regions beneath the earth). Those who, whether sitting or rising, speak false accusations against others will not be reborn through myriad kalpas. Illness, lawsuits and slander, and the calamity of thieves all arise from karmic causes created earlier. Today we offer sacrifice to the Five Emperors (the heavenly sovereigns of the five directions) and present a memorial to ferry across the dead and protect the living. With utmost sincerity, bow reverently toward the northwest and listen as I chant.

The realm above is vast and boundless, and the divine immortals of heaven all dwell there in peace. The Three Caverns (Sandong), the collective name for the three categories of Daoist scripture, transform the ignorant people of the mortal world. Those who carry talismans (fulu) can ascend on the clouds. Recitation of the petitions (zhangwen) can cure illness, and plague demons naturally recede. Now, by paying homage to the Five Thearchs, the Celestial Emperors of the Five Directions, and chanting these profound and subtle scriptures, one can sweep away the miasma from one's dwelling, and the host of demons will restrain their power. One should wholeheartedly carry the talismans and honor the Daoist masters who chant the scriptures. Bow toward the heights thirty times, and myriad blessings will naturally descend.

O sovereign of the lower world, why is your life so long? You think your fate lasts only tonight, but in truth ten thousand years are like a single morning. Among those who dwell there are beings who have attained deathlessness, chanting the formulas of the Three Caverns from their mouths. They establish purification rites, recite divine incantations, and recite petitions to command the demon kings. A hundred thousand jade maidens attend them, and plague demons all hide away. Sincerely sacrifice to the Five Thearchs and pray for longevity, and you will also deliver your departed ancestors. If you wish to dispel illness, you should wholeheartedly bow toward the lower realm.

Hymn to the Three Heavenly Sovereigns:

In the time of primal beginning, heaven and earth were vast and boundless. In the lofty heights, all was deep and obscure. Within it are virtuous beings, with immortal elders attending on either side. The Mysterious Maiden descends, and immortal spirits follow in layers. The gods of the Five Sacred Peaks also come to assist, and their majesty is solemn and grand. Eighty thousand attendants wait at their side, among them the Mysterious Elder and the Azure Youth. They heal the diseases of the world, slay demons and phantoms, and dispel calamities. Today, we memorialize with our mouths: the Mysterious Maiden descends, and immortal spirits follow in layers; the gods of the Five Sacred Peaks come to assist, and eighty thousand attendants, with the Mysterious Elder and the Azure Youth, wait at their side. They heal the diseases of the world, slay demons and phantoms, and dispel calamities. After today's memorial, the myriad ghosts shall be cast into the flood. Whoever dares to offend or test them will be cut down without remainder. Perform the three bows with utmost sincerity, and your fortune will endure and flourish.

Hymn to the Jade Maidens of the Nine Heavens:

The teachings of the Three Caverns spread through the world, and their fervent breath rises straight to the heavens. Now that customs have grown shallow, people are ignorant and fail to recognize the virtuous. They see good deeds and abandon them, sinking for long into darkness. The Daoist scriptures teach the practice of goodness, yet some people do not even care for their ancestors. Illness, lawsuits, calamities, and disputes of the tongue follow one after another. They wear talismans and request registers, yet their minds are not focused. They stir up quarrels, slander and defame others, and then blame others in turn. They undermine the good works of others, violate precepts, and indulge in lust. Such people disgrace the Daoist community. After death they will fall into the Nine Dark Depths (Jiuyou), the deepest parts of the netherworld, and their calamities will implicate their descendants. They walk crooked paths, seeking favor only for the moment, not knowing that their karmic offenses are heavy, and they will be entangled for ten thousand kalpas. Without merit in past lives, they suffer prolonged afflictions in this life. They refuse to give kindness in ordinary times, yet in times of crisis they turn to others for help. Since you have never accumulated goodness, what use is regret? Only through utmost sincere worship may one receive the grace of the myriad sages.

Above the mysterious Three Heavens (sān tiān) dwells the Master of the Divine Spirits. The Five Dipper constellations shine brightly, and the sun, moon, and stars glow in mutual radiance. Immortals descend to the human world, and Jade Maidens (yù nǚ) roam freely at play. The True Sovereign has endured through long ages, and the fortunes of the world extend through myriad eons. Those who cultivate merit and uphold the Great Dao can heal illness and also protect themselves. Evil cannot disturb the orthodox path, and right and wrong will each return to their proper place. Today we sincerely submit a memorial, and the merit we establish is vast and immeasurable. The Ghost King gathers in the baneful poisons, and every calamity and misfortune is dispelled. Those who devoutly worship the Holy Perfected will receive lasting blessings.

The Golden Heaven True Mother (a divine name) chants:

The people of the world are troubled and busy, each rushing about on their own. The teachings of the Three Caverns (sān dòng, the three major classifications of Daoist scriptures) spread widely, yet the ignorant do not know of them. Upon encountering the true method, they do not cultivate it, and still they commit evil and invite disaster. Those who seek only greed and harm others before their eyes will be entangled by all manner of suffering. The Three Paths (sān tú, the three evil destinies of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals), the Six Thieves (liù zéi, a term in Buddhist and Daoist texts for the six desires or sense faculties that harm body and mind), the Five Paths (wǔ dào, the destinations of beings in transmigration), and the Eight Gates (bā mén, here referring to various thresholds or circumstances) all hold people captive. One should sincerely submit a memorial according to the Dao, establish merit, and seek grace. May the ancient offenses be lifted and the present life be pardoned. The whole family worships together and devoutly looks up to Heaven. The Heavenly Maidens descend to remove disasters for the people.

The True Emperor Heavenly Man (a divine name) chants:

When the teachings of the Three Caverns spread far and wide, the divine soldiers will also drive away evil spirits. The ignorant who do not believe only bring lingering calamities upon themselves. The sages pity and sigh, grieving over the stubborn people of the world. Across the vast Three Realms (sān jiè: the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm), people wander along the road to the heavens, yet do not know to seek the Dao and cultivate, to ascend as immortals and partake of the offerings of Heaven. When illness and suffering persist for long, only then do people begin to seek fellow practitioners. If one acted wrongly in a past life, the consequences will affect this life. People rebuke themselves in word and in heart, yet are unwilling to relinquish their private desires. Scorning a humble body while longing for peace, one enters the Dao and cultivates so that the mind and spirit may unfold. Sincerely petition and submit a memorial, so that the heart's wishes may rise to the Great Void (tài xū, the boundless expanse of the heavens). Holding the purification ritual (zhāi jiào) to seek blessings will dispel countless evil karmas. The Qingtong (Azure Youths), Jade Maidens, and immortals descend to roam together, and the Heavenly Maidens of the Thirty-Six Heavens come together. Following the numbers three, five, seven, and nine, along with the Twenty-Four Yuan (a set of deities or named divisions in the Daoist system of cosmic qi), jointly perform the ritual of the sacred altar, and all myriad evils will be dispelled. Performing the six bows with utmost sincerity brings good fortune in its wake.

Next comes the "Hymn to the Jade Maidens of the Thirty-Two Heavens."

Heaven and Earth nurture the ignorant, yet the common people do not understand this principle. They kill the innocent and unsettle the spirit-soul (shenhun). Whoever upholds and wears the talismans of the Three Caverns (Sandong) will be watched over by the Heavenly Maidens. Today this matter is memorialized to the Heavenly Court so that the gods may know of it, the sick may recover swiftly, and even the Ghost Kings will not dare to defy the order. All should devote themselves to the Three Rites (sanli) and accumulate merit, so that transgressions do not take root. The Mysterious Woman (Xuannü) herself descends in person to bestow blessings widely.

The Hymn of the Jade Maidens of the Three Heavens says:

This is the document by which the Yellow, Red, and Purple Offices (sanfu) open the gate of the Dao. Whoever receives it but does not act in accordance with it will block the gates of the ghosts, and will find it difficult to escape the harassment of demons. The Three Caverns' divine incantations are the root of ascending to immortality. Once received and upheld, yet not practiced, the spirit-souls of seven generations of ancestors will also be left in darkness and unrest. The sins of past lives will keep illness from leaving the body. Now, with a single heart, I repent and absolve my transgressions, and sincerely declare everything: I beseech the washing away of the debts of my forebears. May all be carried out according to the decree of the Venerable Gods and the scriptures transmitted by my master. I bow my head and bow again, reverently seeking grace from Heaven.

This is the document by which the Yellow, Red, and Purple Offices open the gate of the Dao. Whoever receives it but does not act in accordance with it will block the gates of the ghosts, and will find it difficult to escape the harassment of demons. The Three Caverns' divine incantations are the root of ascending to immortality. Once received and upheld, yet not practiced, the spirit-souls of seven generations of ancestors will also be left in darkness and unrest. The sins of past lives will keep illness from leaving the body. Now, with a single heart, I repent and absolve my transgressions, and sincerely declare everything: I beseech the washing away of the debts of my forebears. May all be carried out according to the decree of the Venerable Gods and the scriptures transmitted by my master. I bow my head and bow again, reverently seeking grace from Heaven.

The Hymn of the Perfected of the Ten Heavens says:

The Jade Maidens of the Three Heavens have descended to the human world together with the immortals. So long as one follows the teachings of the master and cultivates in accordance with the Dao, all manner of illness will naturally be healed. Faced with the calamities of flood and fire (shuihuo jieyun), the wise are troubled in their hearts; the foolish refuse to believe and so sink into long suffering. It is lamentable that the obstinate, after death, will fall into the Nine Darknesses (Jiuyou), the deep and dim underworld. Now, in order to heal people, the Way is revealed to the common folk. Perform the Three Rites with sincere hearts, and the Heavenly Maidens will descend in great numbers.

The Hymn of the Immortals of the Five Peaks says:

Many in the world commit evil deeds, and the ignorant and vulgar gather and are born into this condition. Having no faith in the Three Caverns or the Four-Nine Storehouse Scriptures (Sijiu Zangjing), they bring illness upon themselves, and suffering clings to their bodies. The faults of past lives and of this life are not light. Now we respectfully petition the Heavenly Court to establish a zhaijiao (purification ritual) and pray for renewal. May we receive heaven's grace and witness Great Peace (Taiping). Perform the Three Rites with a sincere heart, and you will long preserve peace and health.

The Hymn of the Great Brahma King of the Thirty-Six Heavens says:

My own transgressions are not light. Now we respectfully petition the Heavenly Court to establish a zhaijiao and pray for renewal. May we receive heaven's grace and witness Great Peace. Perform the Three Rites with a sincere heart, and you will long preserve peace and health.

The Hymn of the Great Brahma King of the Thirty-Six Heavens says:

I see that some foolish people do not believe in sacred perfected beings (shengzhen, the divine true persons). They commit evil deeds themselves, and the calamities they bring down can reach seven generations of their ancestors and their kin. Even if they follow a master and wear Fulu (talismans and registers), they may still behave like ordinary people. They may believe in the Three Caverns (Dongzhen, Dongxuan, and Dongshen, the three great divisions of Daoist scriptures) and not slacken, presenting memorials to the Heavenly Bureaus on schedule and paying the heavenly levy (tianzu, the offerings the scriptures say must be made to the celestial court). Yet the grain they were due each year is gradually replaced, and the monthly provisions they receive slowly dwindle. Because of this they commit further great offenses, their sins accumulate, and illness takes hold of them. To dissolve the karmic debts left from past lives, one must diligently accumulate merit. To drive off the Five Pestilences (wu wen yi, the five pestilential spirits or pestilential qi), one must present an oral memorial (kouzhang, a written memorial submitted to the heavens to state one's case) to the Three Heavens (santian, the revered deities of the celestial realm). Facing north, one makes obeisance and petitions, and when the heavenly command is issued and the decree sent down, past transgressions can be erased.

The Verse of the Human Beings of the Thirty-Six Heavens, Recited:

I see that some foolish people do not believe in the Dao. When they see others upholding the Three Caverns scriptures, they slander them as practicing perverse methods. They do not know that the divine incantations were composed by the flying immortals and the earth spirits, and that they teach one to uphold the Huangchi (the names of certain Daoist methods or cultivation practices). Yet they harbor doubts, and so they suffer examination and punishment. Grave offenses in this life are the afflictions and karmic obstacles created in past lives. One should devoutly worship the Supreme Perfected (zhizhen, the highest of the perfected beings), beseech their descent, and so be released from one's own examination and punishment.

The Verse of the Ten Heavens' Great Deities, Recited:

I see that people in the world are foolish and wicked, and do not understand the true Dao. They think one life is everything and do not know that they have lives before this one. Quickly present an oral memorial, and petition to be released from examination and punishment.

The Verse of the Ten Heavens' Great Deities, Recited:

I see that people in the world are foolish and wicked, and do not understand the true Dao. They think one life is everything and do not know that they have lives before this one. They speak carelessly to slander others, especially to disparage their masters, and they harbor three hearts (sanxin, a divided mind: inattentiveness, lingering doubt, or disrespect). This only draws heavier guilt and examination, the guilt descends upon the self, and illness lingers for years. Having come to this, whom can one blame? Now I specially present an oral memorial and, with utmost sincerity, make obeisance to the Superior Immortals.

The Verse of the Thirty-Six Heavens' Celestial Maidens, Recited:

I see that some foolish people in the world commit evil deeds themselves and invite calamities like those of walking corpses. They serve their masters yet hold crooked intentions, so how could they ascend to heaven? Serious illness in this life is the calamity left from past lives. Whipping the common people and causing them suffering will bring down disasters from Heaven. Now that hundreds of illnesses afflict them, they should hold a zhai (a purification rite of fasting and prayer) and present an oral memorial, paying homage to all the perfected sages and reverently thanking the divine beings of the ten directions.

The Verse of the Nine Heavens' Celestial Maidens, Recited:

The Supreme Venerables of the ten directions, out of compassion for all living beings, bring into operation the Zhongyuan qi (the qi or numinous power that circulates during the Middle Primordial season), yet no one recognizes the perfected immortals. Some people, though they have received registers, behave wickedly, and their hearts constantly dwell on theft. Therefore one should submit a memorial to report one's situation and seek deliverance, freeing oneself from delusion and from the statutes of transgression. One should devoutly worship the Exalted Sages and pray that they pardon the root of one's karmic offenses.

I see many foolish people who do not understand their own circumstances. Though they are poor, they still commit all manner of evil, and when they hear good words, it is as if they have heard nothing. They cling to small possessions they cannot bear to give up, and so they commit grave offenses. Their transgressions pile up day after day, and afterward they do not know how to repent. In the end their bodies are beset by a hundred illnesses, and they suffer all their lives.

Today we present a memorial (zhangzou), praying that it may reach the Heavenly Court. Let everyone worship with sincerity, and may the divinities bestow their grace.

The Perfected of the Ten Heavens recite:

I see many foolish people who do not understand their own circumstances. In poverty they still do all manner of evil, and when they hear good words, it is as if they have not heard. They covet trifling possessions and therefore incur grave transgressions. The roots of sin accumulate day and night, and their faults grow ever greater, yet when they wish to repent they do not know where to begin. Sinful karma holds them in a hundred illnesses, and suffering accompanies them throughout their lives. Today we submit a memorial upward, so that it may pass through the Heavenly Gate. Let each person worship devoutly, and may the divinities send down great grace.

The Queen Mother of the West recites:

The world is in disorder, and people further entangle themselves in that disorder. The Three Caverns (Sandong), the general name for the Daoist scriptures, circulate widely, yet foolish people refuse to listen. When they see the correct Dharma, they do not practice it, and instead sow the causes of evil conduct. Before their eyes they heed only greed and the harming of others, bound by the Ten Evils (common categories of wrongdoing in Buddhist and Daoist texts), and so they fall into the Three Paths and Eight Difficulties and the realms of the Five Paths and ghosts. Today we establish a rite of blessing, praying that the ancestors of seven generations ascend to Heaven, that the living be peaceful for a long time, and that all return together to the Ten Heavens. The Jade Maidens descend and leave their grace with you. Disciples make the three bows, and may blessings continue for a thousand years.

Three Songs of the Jade Maidens Touring the Three Heavens:

Beyond the distant Three Realms stand the pavilions where the celestial officials dwell. Countless Perfected arrive, riding dragons and driving phoenixes. The Three Caverns proclaim their teachings, and sacred incantations are used to dispel great calamities. The Five Emperors summon the demon kings, subdue the evil ghosts, and restrain their bodies. Should anyone dare to offend the majesty of Heaven, the heavenly soldiers will cut down the demons.

The Jade Maidens (yùnǚ), celestial attendants who serve the gods, chant the wondrous methods of the ten directions (the four cardinal directions, the intermediate directions, and the zenith and nadir). Through this, ghosts and the dead are delivered, and the living are granted new life. When the gods hear the wondrous Dharma, the ancestors of seven generations may ascend to the Heavenly Court. Everyone receives liberation and roams together in the Purple Phoenix City (a realm of immortals). Those who uphold the Dao (dào) and meet the perfected immortals keep right thought always in their hearts. Those who hold right thought and do good deeds may ride a dragon and ascend to the heavens. Those who do not believe in the Dao fall into a realm of darkness, endure myriad kalpas, sink for a long time, and have no hope of renewal. Anyone who wishes to honor the Dao and pass through the three calamities (sānzāi, the tribulations described in Daoist teaching) should revere their teachers, receive the wondrous scriptures, keep right thought in their hearts, and constantly think of good deeds.

The Dao is profound and difficult to fathom, and one should revere one's teacher as one revere the sun and moon. Loving one's parents and respecting one's elders can move the numinous spirits of Heaven. Those who do not believe in the Scriptures of the Three Caverns (Sāndòng jīng, the general classification of Daoist scriptures) will endure myriad kalpas, as perilous as treading on blades and frost. The ancestors of seven generations will also enter the palace of the netherworld and suffer through the long night, their pain unbearable, and even after one's own death, one's descendants will suffer harm. Not speaking falsely and not stealing accumulates merit and leads one to ascend to Heaven. Serving one's teacher and cultivating the Dao can earn a place among the immortal ranks and allow one to meet the Taishang Huang (the Most High Sovereign, a revered Daoist deity) in person. A disciple who performs the three bows (bowing three times to a teacher or deity) can attain longevity and enjoy lasting auspiciousness and prosperity.

The Dao says: whenever one performs fasting rites, cultivates the Daoist methods, recites the scriptures, establishes an altar for the zhaijiao (purification ritual), chants sacred incantations, submits memorials, or burns incense and visualizes the gods, one must hold the spirits and Perfected in mind and petition the Most High (Taishang). Invoke the Xuxuan Dongyuan (Profound Void and Abyssal Depths), the Sanmei Shenzhou (Incantations of the Three Samādhis), the Great Scripture Treasury, the Numinous Script of the Supreme Origin, the Taiyi Kongdong (Void Cavern of the Great One), the Santian Taizhen (True Perfection of the Three Heavens), the Gaoshang Yuhuang (Exalted Jade Sovereign), the Xuanzhong Zhenren (Perfected of the Mysterious Center), and the Wuji Dadao (Boundless Great Dao), together with the spirits of the ten directions, so that they respond and descend.

Next, invoke the Heavenly Venerable (Tianzun), Taishang Laojun (Most High Lord Lao), the Heavenly Thearch, the Sovereign of the Myriad Ways who Governs Destiny, the Twenty-Four Worthies, and all the celestial beings, including the immortal soldiers of heaven and earth, the Thirty-Six Perfected, the Five Thearch Immortals, and the immortal lords who have attained sainthood as well as those who have not yet done so. May they all descend without exception to witness the sincerity of the officiant and join together in unified effort to encircle and guard the officiant's residence, setting up layered defenses and standing guard over the four directions with drawn bows and nocked arrows. Let one general be stationed every ten feet and one soldier placed every foot.

Ask the spirits to search every inch of the land within a hundred li of the officiant's dwelling, to seize the demons who spread the five pestilences, and to execute them immediately upon capture. Pardon and shelter the disciples and their families, so that they may enjoy peace through all four seasons, have calamities dispersed, and be free from lawsuits and entanglements in gossip and disputes. Protect them from floods and droughts, let their livestock multiply and thrive, keep their ancestral graves and homes prosperous, ensure the health of everyone in the household, and grant that all their undertakings succeed as planned, while demons keep their distance and evil spirits flee.

If any demons or thieves refuse to depart, I shall dispatch the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits, immortal officials, and soldiers to seize and bind them, cutting them down one by one so that none escape. Swiftly carry out the oral decree of the Most High and act in accordance with the statutes of the Nüqing Shaoshu (the Nüqing Edict, a celestial legal document in Daoist tradition).

The Dao says: from this time forward, wherever in the world pestilence strikes year after year, none shall be spared. Swiftly carry out the oral decree of the Most High, and act in accordance with the statutes of the Nüqing Shaoshu.

The Dao declares: from now on, whenever pestilence persists across the lands for many years, it is because the demon king Wu Minjiu and the ghostly hosts under his command have risen to bring calamity. They wander among the people and, together with the spirits of the seven generations of ancestors the people have already lost, spread the plague and slay the populace.

If there is one who, with good intent, vows to protect the people, let them invite a Dharma master of the Three Caverns (Sandong, the masters versed in the Daoist scriptures of the Three Caverns), establish a ritual altar, recite the scriptures and chant the incantations, present memorials according to the prescribed rites, and perform the Zhaijiao (purification ritual) to pray to the Five Thearchs and the immortals. Such merit is boundless: it can drive out pestilence and bring down blessings, and its virtue is without equal. The spirits of the seven generations of ancestors may then ascend to roam the Azure Void (the blue sky), and the spirits of the distant ancestors, the Nine Mysterious Patriarchs, may be elevated in form and dwell at ease in Zhuling (the immortal realm of Daoist belief). They will transcend the Three Realms (the desire realm, the form realm, and the formless realm) and sit at ease among the Six Voids (the four directions and the heavens and earth).

In this way the people will be at peace, young and old alike will be safe, their lives will be lengthened, and they will attain longevity and transcend the mortal world. The fields will yield abundant harvests, and the silkworms will spin eight strands of silk. Graves and dwellings will be tranquil and well-ordered, and livestock will flourish. Officials and commoners alike will be settled, and disasters and miasmas will dissipate. The virtue of the ruler will surpass that of Yao and Shun, the branches of the imperial house will prosper for generations, the realm will be at peace, and warfare will cease. Provincial governors and county magistrates will govern by the Dao, and the people will dwell in security. No calamity will arise, no turmoil will break out, the four serpents (evil beings that symbolize poison) will withdraw their venom, and the six thieves (the six external influences or evil spirits that disturb body and mind) will cease their depredations.

I have now specially transmitted this scripture to deliver you from calamity and dispel your misfortunes. Why would you not uphold it? □ Those who receive this scripture with utmost sincerity and reverence will obtain boundless blessings.

If there are those who deceive their teachers and elders, violate the Dao and its methods, fail to act according to the scripture, and moreover commit the Five Rebellions and act unfilially, kill the innocent, exploit the orphaned and impoverished, and harm the good and virtuous, their sins will accumulate like mountains and seas. Whether they have already died or will die later, and regardless of sex, age, or social rank, anyone who has committed such grave offenses since the age of seven must now, through the burning of incense, repent universally, praying that all their transgressions be entirely erased and that they escape punishment.

From the recitation of this scripture onward, you ghostly hosts, together with the subordinates of the demon kings and all the spirits and goblins, shall obey the commands of the true scripture. If any fierce and violent ghostly bandits refuse to submit to my edict, the Ten Great Divine Soldiers shall be dispatched together to exterminate them so that no descendants remain. Act swiftly and in accordance with this command: slay the demons and evil spirits and pacify the people, as ordered by the Supreme Lord.

The Ancestor of the Dao said: "I can no longer bear to see that the people of the world have such shallow blessings. From the time you are born into the world, and from the time you begin to speak at about seven years old, every time you raise your hands to act, open your mouths to speak, or turn things over in your minds, you often give rise to the Five Poisons (greed, anger, delusion, and other evil thoughts) and the Six Thieves (desires and misdeeds that harm body and mind). Seldom do you hold a compassionate heart; instead you delight in doing evil and harming life."

"Thus the Three Corpses (the spirits in Daoist belief that watch over and record human faults) enter your transgressions into their registers, and the Seven Souls (the parts of the human person that make up the hun and po) are also recorded on the books. On every jiazi day and every gengshen day, the charges are reported to the Heavenly Office (the celestial bureaucracy). When three thousand transgressions have accumulated, a heavenly talisman is issued to the Office of the Central Dipper, which orders the star official of one's birth star to seize the Three Hun and Seven Po and send them to the Hell of Mount Tai. Afterward, the case is entered into the records of the Director of Destiny and reported again to the Heavenly Office. Documents for grave offenses are forwarded to Fengdu and sent into the Twenty-Four Prisons. Those with the heaviest guilt remain in the Eighteen Levels of Hell at Mount Tai, where they are whipped and interrogated day and night. Once the trial ends and the charges are established, jailers escort the prisoners with forked staves, and the registrar officials lead them into the hall for judgment. King Yama, in fury, passes sentence according to the statutes and makes the sinners repay the karmic debts they have incurred."

"Those who are guilty may be reborn into the Heavenly Way, the Earthly Way, the Human Way, the Ghostly Way, or the Way of animals. They may also meet with illness and death, or die from overeating, hunger, extreme heat, extreme cold, water or fire, collapsing structures that crush them, swords and iron blades, the bites of snakes and tigers, the harm of dragons, fish, and turtles, the injuries of oxen, dogs, and horses, weapons and corporal punishment, or disasters such as lightning and hail. Some who do not die nonetheless contract a range of grave ailments: swelling, emaciation, madness and epilepsy, scabies and skin diseases, sores and scars, bone-steaming fevers and malaria, blindness and deafness, muteness, blocked throats and noses, dizziness and blurred vision, hunchback and protruding chest, crippled or shortened legs, bloating of the abdomen, and heart pain with vomiting. These calamities are too numerous to list, and all of them are retributions for sins that living beings have brought upon themselves through past causes and conditions, suffering because they have not awakened."

"I now bear the responsibility of saving the common people, and I cannot bear to see you bound by illness and calamity. Therefore I have specially dispatched the Perfected Master Mingluo to carry scriptures and transform the world, removing the Five Sufferings from living beings and dispelling disasters, curing illness, and rescuing people from distress. If common people suffer from illness, or are held for years in lawsuits and imprisonment, or encounter floods, droughts, locust plagues, war, or pestilence, and medical treatment still brings no relief, they may respectfully invite Three Caverns (Sandong) masters of lofty virtue, practitioners of the Three Caverns scriptural methods, to cleanse and set up a numinous altar. There they may recite scriptures, chant incantations, and submit memorials to heaven, and perform a zhaijiao (purification ritual) to pray for blessings and avert calamity. In the ritual they make offerings of thanks to the Five Emperors, while the assembled Daoist priests perform the bubu (stepping the Dipper), chant hymns, and circle the altar in ritual salutation."

"The scriptures say that when the Venerable Spirit of Supreme Naturalness descends to the assembly, heavenly soldiers guard it, and its merit is immeasurable. It can dissolve all offenses, destroy the ghost soldiers, cure epidemics, bring peace to families and good fortune to every member, stabilize the nation, prevent floods and droughts, and bring abundant harvests of grain and silk and flourishing livestock. Now I chant for you, to gather in the poisonous qi and drive out pestilence. You should listen with sincere devotion."

The Daoist priests then began to chant.

The Old Lord of the Azure East, who is also called the Spirit Gou Mang, presides over the eastern sky. The Brahman maiden roams through outer space and passes lightly over the Jade Capital (the celestial city of the immortals). The Great Vehicle of the Dao (Dadao) governs the Three Heavens (the three celestial realms of Daoist cosmology), commands the armies, and subdues the demonic hosts. The eight tones of sacred music spread across the ten directions of the earth, and nine dragons drive their cloud chariots to welcome the faithful. When one performs the purification rite (zhaijiao) and builds great merit, the long night of the world naturally brightens. The Dharma drum of the true Way resounds, and every evil spirit is destroyed. The demon kings come to bow in submission and are spared punishment. Benevolent deities guard the gates, and mighty warriors join the spirits in protection. The Dao-Qi (the primordial vital energy of the Dao) flows widely, bringing peace to every household, and the plagues that harm the people are completely eliminated, so that the common folk enjoy long life. Everyone together proclaims the supreme Dao and roams together in the Purple Phoenix City (an immortal realm).

The Southern Lord Yan Emperor, whose name is known in all eight directions, is called Yanfu. He drives his flying carriage and cloud chariot, and ten perfected beings roam through the Three Heavens. Jade maidens ride the clouds and sing aloud, and golden light shines over the Danqiu (an immortal realm). Today the Turning of the Dharma Wheel (the ritual of proclaiming and setting the true Dharma in motion) is performed, and sacred chanting shakes the mountains of the nine regions. The Heavenly Emperor commands the demonic armies, and when the wind rises, calamities naturally subside. The sun, moon, and stars shine brightly, and every evil spirit sinks into the Nine Obscurities (the deepest parts of the netherworld). If any evil creature offends and creates disorder, a mighty warrior cuts off its head. The sons of the heavenly sovereigns execute the demons and ghosts, and how could they be allowed to remain? Therefore, those who are violent and do evil are cast into the cauldron of boiling soup (the great cauldron of scalding broth). Thousands upon thousands of evil creatures are beheaded, and not one is spared. Through the purification rite, the demonic essences are subdued, and the wangliang (ghostly beings haunting the mountains and rivers) are seized wherever they are found. The majestic Dao sweeps away the demons with a divine wind. The plague demons immediately disperse, and the people no longer suffer calamity.

The Divine Lord of the West is named Rushou, also called Juni. The sun, moon, and stars hang high across the vast sky, shining brightly over the four quarters. The sounds of the eight directions gather into thirty-two kinds of resonance, so how could any evil spirit fail to be terrified and destroyed? Today we establish a field of merit (futian), a ritual space for accumulating blessings and cultivating goodness, recite sacred incantations, and strike down phantoms. We kindle lamps whose light reaches far into the distance, brightening the long night at once. The wind stops and the rain ceases, demonic forces are cut down, and ghosts are bound.

Those who dare to defy this order are bound and delivered to the boundary of the underworld. Golden blades slash across and cut through, and iron staves strike again and again. Through practicing the Dao and walking its path, one removes every kind of evil deed; through burning incense and offering prayers, one extinguishes a thousand calamities. A Daoist priest who cultivates with a focused and steadfast mind, and who accumulates good deeds, can even restore life to the remains of the dead. The myriad demonic forces fear the true Way and can only hide away, so how would they dare to resist? Revere the master and the Dao, and those who oppose them are bound and delivered to the boundary of the underworld. Golden blades slash across and cut through, and iron staves strike again and again. Cultivate and eliminate evil, burn incense and dispel calamity. The priest who cultivates with a focused mind and accumulates good conduct can restore life to the remains of the dead. The myriad demons fear the orthodox Way and hide, not daring to resist. Revere the master and the Dao, and the Dao qi (the vital breath generated by the Dao) returns of its own accord. Those who are ignorant and confused cannot study this path, while the wise constantly follow the Dao. One should not begrudge wealth or even one's own body, but should honor and revere the Dao, and thereby ascend to the heavens.

The northern realm of Yudan (the sacred domain of the north) is ruled by a divine lord named Xuanming. The passages of the four seasons are orderly, and the five qi (the five kinds of qi that constitute all things in heaven and earth) shine clearly and brightly. Foul and polluted qi are dispelled at once, and the heavens and earth are left clear and pure. The majesty of Taishang (the Most High) is severe, and evil demons no longer arise. Those who dare to defy this order are seized and handed over to the heavenly troops. Those who number in the thousands are beheaded, and those who number in the tens of thousands or hundreds of millions have their bodies utterly destroyed. Yanluo (the King of Hell) cuts away evil spirits, and the Northern Emperor (Beidi) annihilates demonic essences. Divine winds sweep away all inauspicious things, and no myriad evils are permitted to linger. The grace of the supreme sages flows everywhere, and all things flourish. If any who resist the decree are found, the divine soldiers will hack their bodies into pieces.

At the center, the spirits of the Wuji (earth) position are governed by the Yellow Emperor, who oversees all affairs. The spirits of the Three Qin command the eight directions, and Gouchen (a stellar spirit in the heavens) shines across the sky. The divine light blazes bright and dispels the darkness of night. The grace of the Supreme Great Dao (Dadao) extends widely, and myriads of living beings turn to it and depend upon it. Today a grand zhaijiao (Daoist purification ritual) is being held, and no evil dares to arise. The wind has stilled and the branches no longer sway, and the merit is vast and deep. The Yellow Emperor oversees all affairs, the spirits of the Three Qin command the eight directions, and Gouchen shines across the heavens. The divine light blazes bright and dispels the darkness of night. The grace of the Supreme Great Dao extends widely, and myriads of beings turn to it. Today the zhaijiao is held, and no evil dares to arise; the wind has stilled and the branches are quiet, and the merit runs deep. Ghostly pestilence must withdraw far away, and the myriad evil spirits must be eradicated without leaving any remnant of harm. When the common people suffer from illness, they should come forward to petition for divine incantations and hold a zhaijiao. The sick will then recover, and the ghostly pestilence will dissipate on its own. The heavenly spirits of all the heavens gather in the demons and sprites, and the true divinities drive out the malign and the evil. Taishang (the Most High) himself has issued the command with his golden mouth: evil spirits, depart swiftly and without delay.

The northeast belongs to Gen (one of the Eight Trigrams, Bagua), and the spirits here govern the seasonal observances of the netherworld. They follow the decrees of Taishang and distinguish good from evil. False and corrupt things may not disturb the orthodox Way, and those who transgress shall be destroyed. The exalted sages protect the common people, and those who violate them shall surely receive the punishment of Heaven. The Way of the Dongyuan (Cavern Abyss) governs with clarity and order, and the Sanmei (a Daoist rite of concentration and command) is stern and decisive. Divine incantations destroy the demons, and every kind of monstrous evil is wholly cleared away. When calamity is dispelled, the calamity ceases; when the ghosts are cut off, the ghosts are extinguished. Divine soldiers fill the world, and numinous winds sweep across the earth. The myriad spirits of the ten directions all come together, and the heavy disasters are thereby calmed. The public and the common people are no longer hindered or troubled, and the living and the dead are released together.

The southeast belongs to Xun (one of the Eight Trigrams), and here the Earth Gate (dihu) spreads its net. The net covers the world, and the myriad ghosts cannot escape it. The Five Sacred Peaks are at peace, and the Four Seas raise no waves; a thousand kinds of evil dare not stir, and all demonic things are bound by prohibition. If any demon dares to defy this, it shall be struck down and handed over to Tuoluo (a spirit named in the scriptures, or an executor of divine punishment). Its head shall be shattered into hundreds of pieces, and its form dispersed entirely. I rescue the common people from suffering, so how could calamity dare to intrude? The Three Officials (Sanguan, the spirits governing heaven, earth, and water) proclaim their decree, and all shall be carried out in accordance with the Nüqing Ke (a Daoist precept and liturgical regulation, the Nüqing Keyi).

In the southwest lies the Kun position, which symbolizes the mother. Spirit incantations can subdue evil essences and restrain ghosts and demons between heaven and earth, so that pestilence and poisonous miasmas dare not spread. Even if the human form is to be scattered, I will still deliver the common people from suffering; how dare calamities intrude? The Three Officials (the deities who govern heaven, earth, and water) have issued their decree, and everything shall be carried out in accordance with the Nüqing Regulations (Nüqing ke, a Daoist liturgical and disciplinary code).

In the southwest lies the Kun position, which symbolizes the mother. Spirit incantations can subdue evil essences and restrain ghosts and demons between heaven and earth, so that pestilence and poisonous miasmas dare not spread. Any who refuse to submit shall have their bodies annihilated by the spirits. Today a Great Zhaijiao (zhaijiao, purification ritual) is being held to slay ghosts and demons and to govern the living beings of the human world. The light of the sun, moon, and stars shines together, and even the Nine Dark Depths (the deepest realms of the netherworld) are brightened throughout. Radiance reaches the ten directions, and the hundred ghosts have nowhere to hide. If illness still does not cease, the disease-demons shall be subdued and entrusted to the Seven Stars (the Big Dipper). A divine wind sweeps away the fierce evil and sinister offenses, and wickedness naturally subsides. Lord Lao (the venerated deity Taishang Laojun) has made the decree clear and slain the countless demon soldiers.

In the northwest lies the Qian position, which symbolizes the father; its spirits communicate with the light of heaven. The Sacred Emperor takes pity on the common people, so how could ghosts harm them? Therefore a celestial net is woven and spread across the ten directions to capture ghost soldiers and subdue plague demons, allowing none to hide. Each is slain in turn and then cast into boiling broth, so that their spiritual powers are entirely destroyed and they have no chance to escape. Today a ritual service is held to accumulate merit, so that blessings spread and calamities are dispelled. The sick are restored to health, and the healthy keep their well-being. Every household is pure and tranquil, and the vapors of ghosts scatter altogether. The heavenly spirits jointly protect, and the whole family enjoys long-lasting good fortune and prosperity.

The Celestial Thearchs of the upper heavens pass in and out through the Gate of the Great Luo (the gateway to the Great Luo Heaven), protecting and nurturing the people of Yanfu (the human world), so that the kalpas (cycles of worldly calamity and change) may remain stable for a long time. Yet the myriad evils show no fear; they still wantonly spread poison and slaughter the people, causing sickness and death across the land, and the cries of resentment rise straight to heaven. Thereupon Taishang (the Most High) sends down heavenly soldiers who hurl fire and subdue the hundred kinds of pestilence. By the method of the Three and Five they sever the evil paths, and with the Seven Stars they seal the gates of the ghosts. The evil spirits are then seized, bound, and delivered to the heavenly prison, and only then are the people preserved.

Below, the Earth Spirits spread across the nine regions, purifying the four seas and steadying the Five Sacred Peaks. They subdue evil demons and ghosts so that they cannot carry out their poisonous harms. To protect the common people, the Supreme Sages issue luminous and majestic commands. Anyone who defies them shall be seized and sent to the Heavenly Prison. Iron hooks pierce the eyes of the ghosts, and golden blades sever their hands and feet. Divine incantations slay the fierce demons until every evil spirit is utterly destroyed. The people receive the grace of the Dao (the Way), no longer grieve or weep, and pass safely through the years of calamity and peril, so that the world enjoys peace and harmony. They bow to the True Spirits of the ten directions and pray to remain forever free from disaster and harm.

The Lord of the Dao (Daojun) says: All who follow the orthodox Way in the world, and the faithful who practice the Dao methods in China, now have the Ten Heavenly Emperors reaffirm the Sanmei Dongyuan (the incantation teachings of the Dongyuan Dharma gate). This numinous sound and sacred chant, when recited with devotion during the performance of zhaijiao (purification rituals, including fasting and offering ceremonies), can settle the mind and drive out ghosts and demons, and its merit is immeasurable. Chanting this teaching dispels calamity and brings blessings, and good fortune will soon arrive. Now I shall explain it to you, and you should listen with full attention.

In the Nine Xia Heaven of the East lies the Qingling Mansion of the Zhen Palace (Zhengong, one of the Bagua, or Eight Trigrams). Jade maidens strike golden bells, and demon kings beat the Dharma drums. The Heavenly Emperor issues his decree, and nine dragons rise up, bringing clouds and rain. Banners, pennants, and staffs descend through the air, and ten perfected beings present exquisite dances. They deliver the souls of the dead from the long night and relieve the sufferings of the living. Heavenly soldiers draw out their precious swords, mighty warriors part the smoke, and they hunt down demons and ghosts so that the flying spirit hosts may travel safely. Now the Three Caverns (Sandong), the collective name for the Daoist scriptural teachings, spread their light and shine upon the dwellings of those who perform the fasting rites.

In the Palace of the Three Qi of the South (Nanfang Sanqi Gong), the sacred power of Chong Li, the Double Li trigram that stands for the south, fire, and light, shines with the radiance of the sun. Flowers scatter and drift across the ten directions of the celestial realm, and jade chariots gleam with nine colors. Vermilion phoenixes carry jade seals in their beaks, and fire dragons draw ornate banners (baohuang). The Perfected Maiden Xuannü (goddess) sings of the Way of long life, while the Azure Youth (Qingtong, a celestial attendant) burns incense to summon the descending spirits.

Tens of thousands of heavenly soldiers take their positions in formation, and countless troops destroy the demon kings. The Great Emperor sends down celestial talismanic decrees (tianfu), sweeping away every calamity and misfortune. He exterminates the six classes of cavern ghosts (liudong gui) and casts them one by one into the cauldron of boiling water (huotang), a punishment for evil spirits. The proper law has now been proclaimed, blessings rise up, and they fill every prefecture, district, and state.