《太清玉司左院秘要上法》

The Method of the Left Court of the Taiqing (Grand Clarity) Yusi (Jade Bureau) takes as patriarch of the teaching the Central Lord Huanglao—that is, the Most High Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun)—the Immortal Sovereign of Taiqing. This patriarch is also known as the Heavenly Sovereign Great Emperor, Lord Yaopo Bao, the brightest of the six stars of Gouchen in the Northern Dipper. The so-called “Yusi” is the bureau under the jurisdiction of the Jade Thearch of Taiqing; the establishment of left and right courts serves to distinguish the male and female officials who receive the method.

This method is lodged in the Taiji (Supreme Ultimate) Palace of Taiqing. It has charge of illness in the world, disasters of water and fire, natural calamities, human affairs, ghosts and spirits, as well as the affairs of the Three Primes, the Five Marchmounts and Four Waterways, the Eight Seas and the Nine Provinces, and the like, so that almost nothing lies outside its authority. This is because it belongs to the methods of the immortal officials of Taiqing, and therefore differs from other ritual arts.

In former times, the Immortal Earl of Taiqing transmitted this method to Taiqing Baozhen, and Taiqing Baozhen in turn transmitted it to the Perfected Wang of Donghua. After the Perfected Wang of Donghua succeeded in his cultivation and departed this world, he ought by rights to have become Left Minister of Taiji. Thereafter, the Method of the Taiqing Yusi was used to protect the world and succor the people. It has now been compiled into this secret essential, so that it forms a complete scripture and need no longer depend on the oral transmission of formulas; it is passed on to the descendants of the Wang family, that they may inherit the office of ritual master from generation to generation and practice the Method of the Taiqing Yusi.

When the method is transmitted, one must point to Heaven and swear an oath, and seal the covenant by drinking cinnabar water, so that the lineage of the method is carried on through the generations in order to assist the transformative work of the Dao (the Way) and extend blessings to Heaven, human beings, and descendants. If, after the kalpic transformations of ten thousand years, this method has died out in the world, and there later appear people who are greedy and licentious and do not practice the good Way, then the practice of this method should cease. Those who receive the Method of the Taiqing Yusi must observe fasting and purification on the date fixed by divination, and submit a memorial in advance to make their report.

The Immortal Lord of Taiqing (Supreme Clarity), Huanglaojun (the Yellow Elder Lord—sovereign of the immortal realm of Taiqing and the Central Yellow Elder Lord), dwells within the Yellow Towers of the Golden Palace of Taiji (Supreme Ultimate) in Taiqing. To state the original intention of receiving the method, one first bows twice to the master as a rite expressing the sincerity of one’s mind. One then chooses a jiazi day, a gengshen day, or another auspicious day suited to cultivating the Dao (the Way), enters a quiet chamber, faces north, and silently pays homage to the Central Yellow Elder Lord, teaching lord of the Nine Immortals.

The divine Qi (vital energy) of the Yellow Elder Lord also resides within the human body: at midnight it dwells in the Niwan cavern chamber (the divine chamber within the head); while eating, it dwells in the left spleen; and in the afternoon it is in the lower Dantian (energy center), the site of Neidan (internal alchemy) cultivation in the lower abdomen.

The Yellow Elder Lord (Huanglao Jun), a venerated deity of Daoism, dwells respectively in the Cavern Chamber (Dongfang), within the spleen, and in the Dantian (energy center). Each of these places has its own name, as given in the methods of the Upper Scripture.

Visualize, two cun inward from between the eyebrows, a golden palace with yellow gate-towers. Within the palace, see the Yellow Elder Lord wearing a golden hibiscus crown, his features those of a newborn infant, dressed in a yellow brocade jade robe patterned with dragons and tigers. He sits facing outward amid purple clouds in the golden palace at the site of the lungs. Then visualize the one who transmits the method, reduced to the size of a lotus seed, standing before the Yellow Elder Lord and bowing to request the transmission and cultivation of the supreme method of the Jade Bureau of Great Clarity (Taiqing), and to ask him to restrain and command ghosts and spirits.

Next, visualize the Yellow Elder Lord personally bestowing a jade seal and its ribbon. One thousand two hundred numinous-official youths of Great Clarity appear in a blaze of light, leaping forth from between one’s eyebrows and ranging themselves at a distance on either side. All wear embroidered robes and golden armor, hold jade axes, and stand in stern, imposing ranks.

Then visualize Tang Ju of the Upper Prime, Li Ju of the Middle Prime, and Xu Kangcha of the Lower Prime, together with Tang Hong of the Upper Prime, Ge Yong of the Middle Prime, and Zhou Wu of the Lower Prime, and also Generals Xu Lilue and Li Huangwang, emerging from one’s three divisions and drawing up on the left and the right, clad in embroidered robes and golden armor and holding jade axes and swords.

Further visualize fifty thousand immortal troops and mounted officers of Great Clarity of the Five Directions, each wearing robes of the color corresponding to his direction, issuing from one’s five viscera and forming ranks toward the four quarters.

Next, visualize purple clouds rising in the golden palace and streaming from the crown of the head like incense smoke, spreading until they fill Heaven and Earth. Upon the clouds the Yellow Elder Lord appears in a transformed body nine chi tall, yellow in body, with a beak-shaped mouth and a high-bridged nose, eyebrows five cun long and ears seven cun long, three lines running vertically across the forehead, and the markings of the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) upon his feet. He sits on a couch formed by the transformation of a divine tortoise, within a golden tower and jade hall approached by steps of white silver. He wears five-colored cloud robes and a tiered crown, and bears a sharp spear and a sword, with one hundred and twenty yellow youths following behind him. On the left are twelve azure dragons, on the right twenty-six white tigers, in front four vermilion birds, and behind seventy-two dark warriors; twelve qiongqi go ahead to clear the way, and thirty-six bixie follow after. Thunder and lightning converge, radiance is endless, and a million celestial troops surround and uphold the Yellow Elder Lord as he sits upright in majesty.

Then form the Great Clarity hand seal (a Daoist finger gesture) at the root of the middle finger. Visualize yourself transformed into the Heavenly Youth Lord of Great Clarity, wearing a Tongtian crown, with jade and a sword at the waist, a red brocade robe, and vermilion shoes, and announce: “Your servant So-and-so, charged with the affairs of the Left Court of the Jade Bureau of Great Clarity, has respectfully come on account of such-and-such a matter.” If the occasion is a transmission of the method, at this moment present a memorial in homage to the Yellow Elder Lord. If one is to write Fulu (talismans and registers), restrain malign spirits, or summon and examine ghosts and deities, proceed according to the business at hand. When the matter is finished, visualize each of the divinities returning into the body.

From midnight until morning, visualize the Yellow Elder Lord in the Cavern Chamber; at noon and at dusk, visualize him in the location proper to each of those times. After purifying the body and clearing away defilement, one need only enter the chamber; no separate ritual need be arranged. This method of meditative visualization is best practiced every day, though it may also be practiced as the occasion arises. When lying down, align yourself with the Tiangang (the direction of the handle of the seven stars of the Northern Dipper); when sitting or standing, constantly visualize the Northern Dipper; and above the head and the body, visualize a covering of five-colored clouds.

Seals of the Teaching Lord of Great Clarity (Taiqing) and of the Court of the Jade Bureau

The seals are made from jujube wood struck by lightning, and no other ritual forms are separately prescribed. The method of cunsi set out above—the cultivation practice of visualizing deities or scenes—is best performed every day; it may also be carried out on the spot when a matter arises. When lying down, one adjusts the body according to the position of Tiangang (the stars of the Northern Dipper constellation). When sitting or standing, one constantly visualizes the Northern Dipper, with five-colored clouds covering the crown of the head and the space above the body.

Seals of the Teaching Lord of Great Clarity and of the Court of the Jade Bureau

A dipper-shaped design is carved at the center of lightning-struck jujube wood, and offerings are made on the gengshen day.

When the True Sages of the Jade Bureau of Great Clarity write talismans and conduct affairs, the invocation is as follows:

One respectfully invites the Most High Lord Lao of the Immortal Realm of Great Clarity, the Great Celestial Emperor of the Golden Portal, the Central Yellow Lord Lao, Teaching Lord of the Nine Immortals, the Immortal King of Great Clarity, the Primordial Lord of the Celestial Sovereign, the Primordial Lord of the Earthly Sovereign, the Primordial Lord of the Jade Sovereign, the True Lord of Celestial Treasure, the True Lord of Grand Unity (Taiyi), the Left Primordial Lord of Grand Unity, the Right Primordial Lord of Grand Unity, the Seven Primordial Lords of the Northern Dipper, the Divine Lord Tianwei, and the Lord of the Celestial Youths of Great Clarity; and one also invites one thousand two hundred Numinous Officials (lingguan) of Great Clarity and one thousand two hundred Immortal Youths of Great Clarity.

At the same time, one visualizes the true spirit-generals (Shen) within one’s own body and recites their titles: the True Lord of Celestial Treasure, the True Lord of Grand Unity, the Left Primordial Lord of Grand Unity, the Right Primordial Lord of Grand Unity, the Seven Primordial Lords of the Northern Dipper, the Divine Lord Tianwei, the Lord of the Celestial Youths of Great Clarity, together with the one thousand two hundred Numinous Officials of Great Clarity, the one thousand two hundred Immortal Youths of Great Clarity, and others.

For every petition and memorial submitted by the Left Court of the Jade Bureau, one first reports it in a written statement to the Office of Primordial Life of Grand Unity, and then asks the officials who administer the affairs of the earth deities (diqi, gods of the earth) to present it swiftly before the imperial presence. When handling documents, one records the duty youths who are dispatched and their number. When Numinous Officials are sent out, one invites the troops and horses of Great Clarity, the Numinous Officials, and the youths to come and assist, each time with a quota of one thousand two hundred persons. When a memorial is presented, the number of those asked to descend may be set according to one’s merit and the matter being requested, inviting them to come and assist in carrying out the celestial methods.

The forwarding and processing of documents may follow the regulations of government offices in the ordinary world and be arranged flexibly according to the importance of the business; the concrete disposition is left to the practitioner’s judgment. What is employed is the celestial script of the Perfected (zhenren) of Great Clarity.

One Thousand Two Hundred Numinous Officials of the Upper Court of Great Clarity

Names of the Numinous Officials and Youths of the Jade Bureau of Great Clarity

Zhang Jiming, Numinous Official in Charge of the Methods, is dark in complexion, bearded, and fifty-six years of age. Meng Keyan, Numinous Official on Duty, is yellowish-white in complexion and thirty-four years of age. Li Guoping, Numinous Official Who Assists the Dao, is white in complexion, lightly bearded, and forty-seven years of age.

Names of the youths under edict.

The Lingguan (divine general) in charge of ritual affairs, Zhang Jiming, has a black complexion and a beard, and is fifty-six years old. The Lingguan in charge of daily affairs, Meng Keyan, has a yellowish-white complexion and is thirty-four years old. The Lingguan who assists the Dao (the Way), Li Guoping, has a white complexion and a slight beard, and is forty-seven years old. The Lingguan who, by command, issues Fulu (talismans and registers), Zhu Shideng, has a red complexion and a beard, and is forty-nine years old. The Lingguan responsible for employing ritual seals, Huang Yanxian, has a purple complexion and a thick beard, and is fifty-one years old. The Lingguan responsible for investigation and verification, Zhao Boling, has a white complexion and is twenty-one years old. The Lingguan who pursues and interrogates, Shang Congyi, has a yellowish-white complexion and a beard, and is thirty years old. The Lingguan who confronts and determines, Zhang Kangbi, has a slightly black complexion and no beard, and is sixty-two years old. The Lingguan who submits memorials, Wang Ziming, has a greenish complexion and a beard, and is thirty-eight years old. The Lingguan in charge of prison affairs, Chen Yanqing, has a white complexion and is twenty-one years old.

All these Lingguan wear black caps, red robes, and blue-green shoes, and hold precious swords in their hands.

The youth attendants who handle affairs in the Palace of Taiqing (Great Clarity) are Deng Chongqing, Su Jinqing, Jia Daoqing, Xia Yuqing, Dong Yaoqing, and Wang Zhengqing.

They all wear their hair in double topknots, dress in blue-green robes, and wear red shoes.

When a ritual master draws a talisman, a gengshen day or a jiazi day should be chosen; one faces north and writes in cinnabar. While writing the talisman, one should visualize the deities according to the method set out above, and recite the life-protecting incantation so as to uphold the Fulu and activate the talisman’s power. The general Taishang Taiqing Heavenly Youth Life-Protecting Incantation is:

“August Heaven gave birth to me; I myself uphold and declare myself. In governing people it is said: As for you—urgently, urgently, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances. The Heavenly Youth life-protecting talisman, joined with the incantation, becomes the talisman.”

The talisman is written in ink.

For every ritual service, the life-protecting incantation is taken up according to the matter at hand: “August Heaven gave birth to me; I myself uphold and declare myself. In governing people it is said: As for you—urgently, urgently, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances. The Heavenly Youth life-protecting talisman, joined with the incantation, becomes the talisman.”

The talisman is written in ink. Each kind of ritual service is then applied according to the specific matter.

The Twenty-Four Talismans of Taiqing

All twenty-four talismans above may be swallowed or worn, and are used to avert calamity, to suppress, to investigate, or to summon. The use of each talisman is noted below. When they are employed, they should be placed in the corresponding positions, and the master’s instructions and commands should be followed.

Whenever a talisman is written, one first visualizes one’s own Shen (spirit) entering the mouth of the Northern Dipper, then contemplates the seven Lords of Non-Being—Heaven, Earth, the Jade Emperor, Tianbao, Taiyi, the Left Prime, and the Right Prime—as a minister facing the sovereign. One then grinds cinnabar and ink, takes up the brush, and silently recites the incantation:

“Seven Prime Lords, please assist me in wielding the brush, drive out evil influences, and rescue the myriad spirits. Urgently, urgently, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.”

Only after the recitation is finished does one set brush to paper and draw the talisman.

Talisman of the Yellow Elder Lord (Huanglao Jun), Lord of the Dao (the Way) of Great Clarity (Taiqing)

Pinch the middle joint of the middle finger, and visualize the deity as the Celestial Lad of Great Clarity (Taiqing Tiantong Jun), with Huanglao Jun above your own head. Hold the breath, concentrate, and recite silently, then write the talisman in a single stroke.

The talisman text says: The Jade Office of Great Clarity issues its command. Celestial troops and mounted officers, numinous officials and numinous lads, are swiftly to gather in and convey the Qi (vital energy) of illness, together with the deviant Qi coming from the five directions, and return it all to the celestial realm, using the power of Tiangang to suppress and control the altar of the soil. It commands the great spirits who preside over the Five Paths to seize the evil beings that do harm and cause injury or death, as well as the fifteen kinds of ghost-bandits—the mountain sprites of the Five You, the descendants of Xiao Wenjue, those with severed heads and fallen feet, and the rest—and to shut them in the forbidden prison, not permitting them to move recklessly. Sha, sha, sha: the seal is applied in obedience to the command. The names of the Seven Primordials are the Qi of Tiangang. The mountain sprites of the Five You, the descendants of Xiao Wenjue, those with severed heads and fallen feet, and the other fifteen kinds of ghost-bandits must all be shut in the forbidden prison and not allowed to move recklessly. Sha, sha, sha: the seal is applied in obedience to the command. They are sealed and confined by the names of the Seven Primordials and the Qi of Tiangang.

Gathering Form

The twenty-four brush postures transmitted by the Great Ritual Master of the Three Heavens, the Perfected of Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity), are found in the secret text carved in stone at Guicheng Cave on Mount Qingcheng.

All twenty-four of the talismans above must be written in a single stroke; what matters is that the form be rendered in likeness. When the brush is set down, the strokes may run backward or forward, and they may also coil or shift up and down; how the posture is taken is to be judged according to one’s intention. Observe the speed and the pressure of the writing, and on that basis employ the corresponding brush posture. In the “Sun-Crow Pecking Posture,” for example, visualize your hand and brush transforming into the deity of the sun, pecking ghostly beings to death. Likewise, when driving off evil with a sharp blade, hold in the mind the image of brandishing a sword to cut the evil down; the brush must then fall swiftly, so that this posture is written out.

Talismans of the Spirit Generals Commissioned by Heaven, for Treating the Myriad Evils

Four talismans transmitted by the Mysterious Master, the Perfected Wang of Donghua.

The talismanic methods above are in general use for treating illness and expelling evil.

Hand Mudra for Composing Talismans

Pinch the middle joint of the fourth finger with the thumb, and take Qi with the thumb. The original text also speaks of “pinching the fourth finger with the second finger”; the precise finger method follows the transmitted version.

Four Talismans Transmitted by the Master, with the Hand Mudra for Treating People

The talismanic methods above are in general use for treating illness and expelling evil.

Hand Mudra for Composing Talismans

Pinch the middle joint of the fourth finger with the thumb, and take Qi with the thumb. The original text also speaks of “pinching the fourth finger with the second finger”; the precise finger method follows the transmitted version.

Hand Mudra for Treating People

With the second finger, pinch the fingerprint area on the upper side of the thumb.

Hand Mudra for Treating Ghosts

With the second finger, pinch the fingerprint area on the lower side of the thumb.

In the text, “pinching the mudra” (qiajue) is the method of forming the fingers in Daoist ritual, and “cun” means to visualize within the mind. “Mountain sprites of the Five You,” “descendants of Xiao Wenjue,” and the like are names of evil beings listed in the original and are retained here as they stand in the source.

The secret method transmitted by the Perfected of Great Clarity (Taiqing Zhenren) says that in ordinary times one should often visualize the true countenance of “Huanglaojun” (the Yellow Venerable Lord) and swallow more than a hundred times the purple Qi (vital energy) from his mouth; ghosts and spirits will then hold one in awe and submit. If one knows Huanglaojun’s inner taboo-name (his secret personal name), one may be recommended to office as a duke, minister, or grandee within the Taiji (Supreme Ultimate). When drawing talismans (Fu), one should gather Huanglaojun’s true Qi and, in concert with Tiangang (the stellar mansions or stellar deities of the Northern Dipper region), absorb the crimson radiance of the Northern Dipper; the commands thus issued will be as efficacious as described above.