《高上神霄玉清真王紫书大法》Vol. 5

As the ice and snow melt, knives are transformed into jade trees, and swords into the Qian Forest, the legendary grove of the immortals. Swiftly remove from the register of guilt the bodily and spiritual afflictions suffered by the deceased, so-and-so. Destroy the roots of evil karma. Do not detain, imprison, or torture the departed soul. By means of this true talisman, may the merit of relieving suffering swiftly free the soul from distress, let it behold the light, ascend to the Southern Palace, receive instruction, and gain life anew. Let these commands be swiftly conveyed, as prescribed, by the wind-and-fire courier.

Issued on the day and hour of the day, month, and year of the Grand Duke of Jupiter, so-and-so.

With the ritual rank, surname so-and-so.

Issuing Two Talismanic Passes

Office of the Great Jade Clarity Thunder Empyrean Rite:

In accordance with the petition presented to this Office, and following the established ordinances, we issue the true talisman of the Jade Clarity Thunder Empyrean for breaking open the hells and rescuing and delivering departed souls. This pass is hereby issued.

By this pass, the Divine Lord of the Merit Officer of the Thunder Empyrean’s Earthly Way, who conveys divine commands, is ordered to carry the talisman to the rulers of all the hells in the Ten Directions and Three Realms, the Boundless Divine Realm, and the Northern Yin Capital of Fengdu. He shall rescue and deliver the deceased, so-and-so, so that the soul may leave the long night, proceed to the Mysterious Altar to receive merit, and enter a place suited to rebirth. This pass is hereby issued.

In the year, month, and day of the Grand Duke of Jupiter, so-and-so.

With the ritual rank, surname so-and-so, signed and sealed.

Memorandum: To Be Delivered to the Bureau of the Ninefold Darkness in the Underworld

By the power of the Great Jade Clarity Thunder Empyrean Rite, may the deceased receive merit and enter a place suited to rebirth. This pass is hereby issued.

In the year, month, and day of the Grand Duke of Jupiter, so-and-so.

With the ritual rank, surname so-and-so, signed and sealed.

Memorandum: To Be Delivered to the Bureau of the Ninefold Darkness in the Underworld

Office of the Great Jade Clarity Thunder Empyrean Rite:

This Office has been commanded to perform a posthumous offering of merit for the deceased of so-and-so. Fearing that the soul may still be detained in the Ninefold Darkness of the underworld, we now act in accordance with this talismanic command to rescue and deliver the deceased, so-and-so, so that they may swiftly transcend and be reborn, escape judgment and punishment in the Cold Courts, and have the record of evil karma removed from the register of guilt. All is carried out in obedience to the decree of the True King of the Thunder Empyrean.

Upon receiving this memorandum, you must follow the foregoing talismanic command and notify the Three Officials of the Hells, the Nine Offices, the One Hundred and Twenty Bureaus, the Five Emperors’ Examining Officials, the punitive spirit troops of the Ninefold Darkness, the ox-headed jailers, the great demons of the Three Realms, and all underworld officials and administrators: upon receiving this command, cease inflicting suffering on the deceased. Comply as soon as this document arrives. This memorandum is hereby issued.

Issued in the year, month, day, and hour of the Grand Duke of Jupiter, so-and-so.

With the ritual rank, surname so-and-so, signed and sealed.

Format for Submitting a Petition

With the ritual rank of a Junior Adept, I, your servant, surname so-and-so, am filled with awe and trepidation. I bow my head and prostrate myself twice.

The memorial reads:

I, your subject, have followed the proper rites in declaring my wish to enter the Dao and praying for long life. I hope to receive the protection of a certain star lord of the Northern Dipper. I made a vow long ago to pay homage to the Five Sacred Mountains, the Four Great Rivers, and the grotto-heavens and blessed lands; to present memorials; and to repay the nurturing kindness of the Great Dao, Heaven and Earth, and my parents. I am grateful, too, for the care bestowed by the sun, moon, and stars—the “Three Luminaries”—and for the kindness of the ruler, the land and waters, and the teachers and friends who transmitted the Daoist teachings. I pray that our present ruler may live as long as Heaven and Earth and guard the mountains and rivers forever. I also pray to help my nine generations of ancestors erase their past offenses and to have the sins of my own three lifetimes forgiven.

I have been fortunate to live in a wise and enlightened age and to look up to the true Dao. Yet I am an ordinary person, burdened by many past errors and regrets. My cultivation of the Dao is still shallow; I have not grasped the highest truth. I cannot reach into the unseen realm or perceive things fully, and so I have no way to accumulate merit or repay kindness. I have respectfully heard that the Five Sacred Mountains, the Four Great Rivers, the grotto-heavens and blessed lands, and the Purple Palace of the True Capital are all places where immortals descend to bestow blessings and protection. I beg the true spirits to look down kindly upon those who study the Dao and pray for its aid: forgive our many faults and cleanse our offenses. May I use Fulu to cut down evil influences and enter the true path to immortality; may troops and generals assist me and accompany me, so that I may follow the Dao, cultivate the truth, rise beyond the ordinary, and enter the sacred realm. With a heart full of anxious sincerity, I respectfully submit this memorial.

On the day and month of a certain year, under the current sexagenary year designation, I, the minor invocant [name], holding the appropriate ritual rank, submit this memorial. May the Fulu cut down evil and guide me into the ranks of the true immortals; may troops and generals assist and accompany me, so that I may follow the Dao, cultivate the truth, rise beyond the ordinary, and enter the sacred realm. With a heart full of anxious sincerity, I respectfully submit this memorial.

Memorial to the Holy Mother

I, the minor invocant [name], holding the appropriate ritual rank, respectfully submit:

I accept the risk of execution by axe or sword and respectfully look up to the profound mystery—the Daoist term for the deeply hidden and wondrous Dao—and ask it to hear my plea. In a certain year, my initiation master, [name], graciously transmitted to me one level of the Jade Clarity Divine Empyrean Great Rites, along with methods and ritual objects such as divine-generals’ talismans and seals. I vowed that I would assist…

The perfected immortals of the heavenly realm proclaim the orthodox teachings to relieve the people’s suffering, heal illness, drive away evil spirits, and teach people to cultivate body and mind, in the hope that they may eventually ascend to the Jade Palace, the abode of the immortals.

I reflect that I dwell in a corrupt age, like a walking corpse; the body of an ordinary person is filthy and impure. By good fortune from a former life, I was born into the human world. More fortunate still, I encountered a true master and received the transmission of the Great Teaching. This is entirely due to the compassion of the exalted perfected beings, who took pity on me and sought to save the world. My merits are slight and my cultivation shallow; my De is inadequate and my integrity weak. Yet I have rashly taken my place among the ranks of the immortals, though I have no achievement to record. In both action and stillness, I inevitably make mistakes. My words, duties, thoughts, and conduct have also at times violated the precepts and prohibitions. These many offenses, whether exposed in the human world or bringing punishment upon me in secret, fill me with fear day and night, yet I have no means to repent and make amends. Fortunately, on this auspicious day, I am able to pay reverence to the Primordial Lady, a revered goddess. I especially beseech the deities to show compassion and protection, and to forgive my ignorance. I respectfully set this matter down in writing and submit it in a memorial.

This is the memorial I have carefully written and respectfully presented before the throne of the Primordial Lady, Holy Mother and Daoist Ancestress who opened Heaven at the beginning. I humbly pray that, in the compassion of the Dao, the Primordial Lady will grant what I have requested, bestow a gracious decree, forgive me, your servant, and dispel my karmic offenses and entanglements of grievance, so that I may enjoy peace and purity. Then I will be able to uphold the Daoist teachings and seek the true Dao, and swiftly receive a response from the deities. I also beseech permission to offer my sincere prayers, and ask that my wishes receive an immediate response.

I look up in gratitude to the boundless grace of the Great Dao, my heart filled with profound gratitude and awe. I respectfully submit this matter and reverently present this memorial.

On such-and-such day and month of the year of the Grand Duke, I, the minor ritual official So-and-so, holding the appropriate ritual rank, submit this memorial.

Establish the prison rite and report to the Three Masters.

I, the minor ritual official So-and-so, holding the appropriate ritual rank.

I respectfully report that, in a certain year, month, and on a certain day, a person fell ill with a particular ailment. Suddenly, mountain sprites and spirits began to torment him. Day and night, his mind was disordered; he spoke incoherently, cried out without stopping, and repeatedly said that all sorts of evil beings were at work. His family repeatedly summoned ritual masters and spirit mediums to perform rites, and sought medical treatment and medicine, but nothing could stop it. The evil beings seemed stubborn and cunning. His family feared he might not survive and was deeply distressed, yet could find no way to calm his condition. He therefore submitted a written petition to me for help, asking me to carry out a healing rite.

Seeing how earnest his petition was, I dared not refuse. I have now scheduled a rite for a certain day this month: the “Divine Empyrean Water-and-Fire Prison,” a ritual prison used in Divine Empyrean methods to seize and examine evil beings, will be established southeast of a certain household. I will invoke the Three Offices and the Five Thunder generals and functionaries—the thunder department’s divine generals and troops in Divine Empyrean ritual—to descend upon the place where the trouble began, seize the mountain sprites and other evil beings attached to and tormenting this person, and escort them into the ritual prison for examination, in order to help the patient. I hereby submit this report.

I have carefully copied the petition above and respectfully present it.

To the Patriarch, the Lofty True King of Jade Purity in the Divine Empyrean, the Great Emperor of Long Life; the Ancestral Master, the Lofty King of Jade Purity in the Divine Empyrean, the Great Emperor of Donghua; and the True Master, the Perfected Lord Han Si, Elder of the Office of Increase of Heavenly Years and Commander of Fate in the Nine Heavens, who cherishes life: I implore you to grant this matter your heavenly favor and issue a special decree, commanding the mighty divine generals, elite troops, and prison officials under the command of the Three Offices and Five Thunder to proceed directly to the place where the trouble began. Let them seize the mountain sprites, evil demons, vengeful spirits of the dead, snake spirits, and Wutong spirits—malevolent deities in popular belief—and escort them into the ritual prison for examination, while investigating and making clear the traces of their misdeeds. Then, with this authorization, let the evil beings be taken away under guard and the ritual be carried out, so that suffering may be relieved, illness healed, and evil driven off. May this matter reach the spirits and make manifest the High God’s virtue in cherishing life and delighting in saving people. I have offended the majesty of Heaven and deserve ten thousand deaths; I respectfully await the decree.

On a certain day and month in the year of a certain Tai Sui cycle, your humble servant, an official of a certain rank, respectfully submits this petition.

Document: To the City God

The Jade Purity Divine Empyrean Great Law Office issues this document to the City God’s Office of a certain prefecture or province:

In response to a certain matter, this office has requested that a healing rite be carried out. A Heavenly Talisman has already been issued, and Heavenly… have been dispatched.

Acting on the basis of a certain matter, this bureau requests intervention to provide healing. In addition to issuing the Heavenly Talisman (a Daoist command talisman used to transmit orders and summon divine generals) and dispatching heavenly generals, clerks, and troops to seize the offender, it is also necessary to issue a document of dispatch.

Upon receiving this document, investigate the details of the matter described above and immediately dispatch mighty and powerful divine generals, leading clerks and troops to the place where the incident occurred. There, together with this bureau’s heavenly generals, investigate and capture the evil spirits and ghosts causing trouble in the sick person’s home. Do not allow them to escape; capture them without fail and escort them to the Heavenly Prison for punishment. Should anyone disobey and fail to carry out these instructions, this bureau will report the matter truthfully to the Supreme Lord, impose severe punishment according to the statutes, and pursue the matter immediately. This document is hereby issued.

Issued on the [day] of the [month] in the [year] of the Grand Marshal. Official rank and name: [rank], [surname], signed.

Notice Format

Bureau of the Great Dharma of Jade Clarity and Divine Firmament:

On the basis of [a certain person’s] stated wishes, this bureau received a written petition requesting healing. Upon examination, it was confirmed that unrighteous evil spirits were indeed causing trouble, and the circumstances are clear. A document must therefore be issued to dispatch the generals.

Accordingly, the following notice is issued:

Bureau of the Great Dharma of True Clarity and Divine Firmament:

On the basis of [a certain person’s] stated wishes, this bureau received a written petition requesting healing. Upon examination, it was confirmed that unrighteous evil spirits were indeed causing trouble, and the circumstances are clear. A document must therefore be issued to dispatch the generals.

Accordingly, by authority of the True King’s decree, we dispatch the Great General Inspector, the Great General Commander of Troops, the Great General [Hei], and the Great General [Li Hei], together with the Demon Commander, to serve as the vanguard and slay ghosts and evil spirits. The generals, clerks, merit officers, and talisman messengers named in the talisman are to hurry to the place where the incident occurred and search out and capture every ghost and evil spirit causing trouble in the sick person. Regardless of rank or closeness of relationship, order them to be immediately summoned and brought to the sick person’s side, where they are to speak through the sick person’s mouth. If the ghosts and evil spirits refuse to obey, order them at once to be bound, flogged, and interrogated; do not delay. Be sure to await this bureau’s arrival, then conclude the case and escort them away for punishment. Those who disobey the laws will receive no leniency. This order must be carried out immediately. This notice is hereby issued.

Notice issued on the [day] of the [month] in the [year] of the Grand Marshal.

Official rank. If they refuse to obey, order them at once to be bound, flogged, and interrogated; do not delay. Be sure to await this bureau’s arrival, then conclude the case and escort them away for punishment. Those who disobey the laws will receive no leniency. This order must be carried out immediately. This notice is hereby issued.

Notice issued on the [day] of the [month] in the [year] of the Grand Marshal.

Official rank and name: [rank], [surname], signed.

Proclamation Summoning Clerks and Troops

By decree of the Most High Jade Clarity King of the Divine Firmament, summon and dispatch the divine troops of [a certain deity].

This is a talismanic command summoning divine generals and officers, along with their troops. It reads:

By imperial command, summon a certain general and officer, with a specified number of men, to proceed at once to a certain sacred altar and carry out a certain task.

By order of the High and Exalted King of the Divine Empyrean, summon a certain deity to investigate the origins of the matter. Once this proclamation arrives, you must obey and carry it out. You are to act on Heaven’s behalf, eliminating evil influences and destroying demons and spirits. Countless people are to cut off the enemy’s heads, and tens of thousands of divine generals are to come and report back. If even one person fails to arrive, they will suffer severe punishment, their skulls crushed and their bodies destroyed.

The True King issues the command, and the divine troops, swift as dragons and tigers, race to their destination. The commander in charge of the troops must act immediately upon receiving this talismanic order. Anyone who defies the command will be reported to the Emperor-Lord for punishment. Carry out everything in accordance with the proclamation, and have the Wind-and-Fire Courier relay it swiftly.

In a certain year, month, day, and hour of the sexagenary cycle, this talisman is to be issued at a certain sacred altar.

The practitioner holding the ritual rank is surnamed So-and-so.

It then reiterates the order under the name “The Purple Writ of the High and Exalted Jade Purity True King of the Divine Empyrean”: once the talismanic command arrives, act immediately. Anyone who defies the command will be reported to the Emperor-Lord for punishment. Carry out everything in accordance with the proclamation, and have the Wind-and-Fire Courier relay it swiftly.

In a certain year, month, day, and hour of the sexagenary cycle, this talisman is to be issued at a certain sacred altar.

The practitioner holding the ritual rank is surnamed So-and-so.