《太上洞渊说请雨龙王经》

In former times the Lord of the Dao (the Way), gazing upon the world from above the Three Heavens, saw pestilence spreading everywhere and many people fallen ill. The lands had long suffered drought and scorching heat, the crops had failed, and people gathered in twos and threes yet could think of no remedy. Then the Heavenly Worthy, riding a five-colored cloud, descended into the human realm, displayed divine powers, and manifested radiant light. Together with the dragon kings of the various heavens, immortal youths and jade maidens, and more than seven thousand two hundred others, he proclaimed the orthodox teaching and brought aid to living beings everywhere. A great rain thereupon fell and moistened the earth in due season.

The Jing (scripture/classic) warns people not to give rise to doubt about this; otherwise the hidden souls of nine generations of ancestors will suffer, their names will be registered with the ghost officials, and through a hundred kalpas and a thousand lives they will scarcely find release. If one can sincerely receive, uphold, and recite this Jing, the merit will be profound and far-reaching: the people may be spared calamity, each may lengthen life and add years, and none will suffer unexpected harm.

The Jing further says that if the realm meets with peril, warfare breaks out on every side, the people injure one another, heaven and earth tremble, and the sun and moon lose their light, one may, in an auspicious quarter of blessing and merit, within the palace grounds, or at a place where springs and ponds are found, establish the seats of the Nine Dragons, raise images of the Five Sages, and recite this Jing again and again, worshipping Xuhuang Shangdi (a revered deity of Daoism) and the celestial dragons who guard the realm. In this way the Qi (vital energy) of demons and deviance will disperse of itself, warfare will cease, ruler and ministers will each abide in the Dao, the protection of the dragons’ De (Virtue/Power) will be received, all under heaven will be at peace, and the sovereign will long retain blessing, emolument, and office.

At that time the assembled immortals, hearing this exposition, all gained benefit, and the grace of the Jing universally nourished living beings. Together they rose and offered ritual homage, each declaring a willingness to receive and uphold the Taishang Dongyuan Zhao Zhutian Longwang Weimiao Shangpin (Most High Subtle Superior Scripture of the Cavern Abyss for Summoning the Dragon Kings of the Various Heavens).

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

The Sun-and-Moon Dragon King, the Dragon King of the Stars and Constellations, the Dragon King of the Celestial Officials, the Dragon King of the Dragon Palace, the Dragon Lord of the Heavenly Gate, the Yanluo (Yama) Dragon King, and the Dragon King of the Hells; the Dragon King of Heavenly De (Virtue/Power), the Dragon King of Earthly De, the Dragon King of Heavenly Beings, the Dragon King of Flying Beings, the Lotus Dragon King, and the Flower-Grove Dragon King; the Dragon King of the Five Marchmounts, the Dragon King of Mountains and Rivers, together with the Ghost-Slaying Dragon King, the Jialuohe Ghost Dragon King, the Dragon King of Lesser Auspiciousness, the Dragon King of Golden Radiance, the Dragon King of Golden Hue, the Dragon King of Yang Qi (vital energy)—the Shen (spirit) of yang Qi—the Dragon King of Yin Qi—the Shen of yin Qi—the Dragon King of Medicine, the Lion Dragon King, the Dragon King Who Secures the Realm, and the Dragon King Who Secures the Household.

There is also the Dragon King who presides over money and wealth, the Dragon King of Wells and Stoves, the Dragon King of Gold and Silver, the Dragon King of Precious Treasures, the Dragon King of Storehouses, the Dragon King of Wealth and Honor, the Dragon King of the Five Ridges, the Dragon King of the Five Grains, the Golden-Headed Dragon King, the Dragon King of Clothing and Food, the Dragon King of Official Posts, and the Dragon King of Official Emoluments. The scripture then repeats the titles from the Dragon King of Wells and Stoves through the Dragon King of Official Emoluments.

The Dragon King of Rivers and Seas, the Dragon King of the Cloud Sea, the Dragon King of the Huai and the Seas, the Dragon King of Mountains and Seas, the Dragon King of the Abyssal Seas, the Dragon King of the Territorial Realm, the Dragon King of Prefectures and Counties, the Dragon King of Cities, the Dragon King of the Numinous Altar, the Wind-Earl Dragon King, the Dragon King of Tremors, the Dragon King of Thunder and Rain, the Dragon King of Great Rain, the Dragon King Who Disperses the Waters, and the Dragon King of Heavenly Rain. The whole passage of the scripture lists the titles of Dragon Kings of differing offices and regions as the beings invoked in the rite for praying for rain.

The Dao (the Way) says: I tell all living beings that this Jing (scripture) I expound, the Marvelous Scripture of the Divine Spell of the Dragon Kings of All the Heavens, should be recited with burning incense continuously for three days and three nights, so as to summon the celestial dragons universally. When drought occurs, rain will fall. Even if thunder and lightning accompany it, they will cause no harm. Once the Dragon Kings descend, they will act according to people’s wishes.

Prayers for blessings and virtue, long life, children, or official rank, or petitions made for the people seeking the cure of illness, peace in the dwelling, and the resolution of enmities and lawsuits, will all meet with good fortune. If demon kings or evil spirits cause trouble, they will withdraw after this scripture is recited and heard; if they still do not depart, their heads will split into seven pieces, and the root of their calamity will be cut off. This scripture I proclaim can subdue the baleful influences one seeks to overcome and drive away the disasters one seeks to avert.

If a country, town, or village is repeatedly burned by celestial fire, every household may first write down the names of the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, place them at the four corners of the dwelling, and then burn incense and recite and uphold this scripture, so as to invite the water dragons to come and offer protection.

In the east is the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, and in the south the Dragon King of the Southern Sea; in the west is the Dragon King of the Western Sea, and in the north the Dragon King of the Northern Sea.

The Dragon Kings of the Four Seas each rise through the air and come, displaying their divine powers and transformations, and in a moment can spout ten thousand shi of water. When the fire spirit sees this, it retreats a thousand feet underground. There is also a Great Water Dragon King who guards the center and, according to the directions, protects every place, sweeping away all that is inauspicious.

The Dao (the Way) tells everyone: if good men and good women worship the Dragon Kings (deities who govern rain and bodies of water) in their homes, are able to copy this Jing (scripture/classic), regularly place the scripture in the place where the Dragon Kings are worshipped or in the storehouse, and at the proper times offer clear water and pure fruit, they will receive the protection of which the scriptural text speaks.

For example, on the first and fifteenth days of each month, or on days of worshipping the Dragon Kings, if one recites the scripture and invokes the Dragon Kings, the household will be prosperous and secure, suffer no loss, and the stores will be abundant. The numinous efficacy of this scripture is beyond measure.

At that time, the fourfold assembly present (in Buddhist terms, the two groups of ordained men and women and the two groups of lay men and women), having heard this discourse, were all filled with boundless joy. Eighty-four thousand Dragon Kings rose up together in excitement, and heaven and earth shook. The dragon spirits gathered and sent down a great rain, bringing universal aid to all living beings. The heavenly beings likewise rejoiced together, worshipped the scriptural text, and reverently put it into practice.