《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 16

The Wondrous Scripture of Limitless Salvation, Supreme in Quality, transmitted by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, a revered deity in Daoism.

This is the supreme wondrous chapter of the Primordial Cavern, Mysterious Numinous Treasure. It explains the joining and separation of Yin and Yang, the transformations and generation of the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), and the principles by which beings throughout the ten directions are saved.

The profound laws of the celestial realm describe the joining and separation of Yin and Yang, and the natural Taiji (Supreme Ultimate), the fundamental state of the cosmos before differentiation. The subtle, mysterious patterns of order arose when Heaven and Earth first emerged from chaos. Through them, all things transform and flow, and the hundred spirits come into being.

Clear Qi and turbid Qi separated, and forms accordingly rose and descended. Yin and Yang met, all things changed, and light became manifest. Qi gathered into fixed configurations, while the functions of the Five Phases spread throughout the four directions. Below, they nourish the forms of all things; above, they bring forth their essential Qi. Within them, they nurture the force of life, so that each thing follows its own constant way.

Soft and hard, dry and damp, cold and hot, warm and cool, together with the primal unity of harmony—the state of returning to one’s source—summarize the governing principles of Heaven and Earth. The various forces support, transform, restrain, and complete one another. Without these relationships, things could not be established, take form, receive salvation, or grow. This is the true Dao of the Numinous Treasure Heaven.

In the celestial realm’s upper palace of jade radiance, the Palace of the Converging Moon, all worlds are gathered under its authority, and the Jade Dawn—the clear and radiant celestial realm of Daoist teaching—is governed. There, mist and clouds drift in ethereal layers, the source from which all things are generated and transformed. The Three Passes and Nine Regions, the celestial barriers and domains, receive the light and embody the wondrous principle. Golden Gates and Jade Chambers stand in solemn array, pure and spacious; the great, pervading Brahma Qi, sacred primordial energy flowing through Heaven and Earth, courses through the ten directions.

Throughout the ten directions are deities who govern the transformations of Yin and Yang; sovereigns who opened Heaven and Earth and established their laws; great gods who command mysterious transformations; and the Venerable Lords of the Three Origins, the august deities who govern the Three Origins.

There are also revered deities who govern the Five Spirits, the five Qi, the seasons and their divisions, and the Grand Year. Through their transformations of union and separation, they bring forth and nurture all things, saving countless beings.

Today, as the scripture was collated and recorded, the deities of the heavens came before the hall:

In the eastern direction, the Limitless Spirit King Who Opens the Numinous: a Great Sage of Long Life, saving countless beings.

In the southern direction, the Limitless Spirit King of Radiant Splendor: a Great Sage of Long Life, saving countless beings.

In the western direction, the Limitless Spirit King Who Nurtures Purity: a Great Sage of Long Life, saving countless beings.

In the northern direction, the Limitless Spirit King of Primordial Essence: a Great Sage of Long Life, saving countless beings.

In the northeast direction, the Limitless Spirit King Who Settles Destiny: a Great Sage of Long Life, saving countless beings.

In the southeast direction, the Limitless Spirit King Who Opens Life: a Great Sage of Long Life, saving countless beings.

In the southwest direction, the Limitless Spirit King Who Fulfills De: a Great Sage of Long Life, saving countless beings.

In the northwest direction, the Limitless Spirit King of Mysterious Treasure: a Great Sage of Long Life, saving countless beings.

Above, the Limitless Spirit King of the Celestial Pivot: a Great Sage of Long Life, saving countless beings.

Below, the Limitless Spirit King of the Earthly Gate: a Great Sage of Long Life, saving countless beings.

The supremely perfected gods of the ten directions, the divine kings who preside over teaching and transformation, and the measureless great gods who grant long life and deliver beings from the world all ride together in red carriages that fly like clouds, their chariots adorned with cinnabar. They hold splendid canopies of emerald green and drive auspicious beasts of five colors and black dragons. They raise processional emblems like streaming fire and great banners of mysterious light to lead the way. The ten heavens sound wondrous music, while songs of the Three Realms come from behind. The sacred characters of the Red Writ and Cavern Chapters, Daoist scriptures, resonate in harmony, and the roads of the ten directions open. The gods of the Seven Luminaries bear the carriage shafts, while millions upon millions of immortals and perfected beings come chanting, traveling back and forth through the open sky.

The Chancellor of the Celestial Pivot and the Great God of Transformative Qi, the Ninefold Numina and Mysterious Assistants of the Palace of Limitless Origin, arrive together at the court of the Celestial Emperor, carrying registers of names and Fulu (talismans and registers). Following the teaching that has been opened, they set the heavens in motion and bring them into balance, making the message known throughout the Three Realms.

The Six Passes, hidden and hard to see, along with the Green Chamber, Cinnabar Pool, Yellow Pass, Spring Terrace, and other such places, change in form as Yin and Yang divide and unite. The Qi of the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) sets all things in motion, so that the myriad kinds respond to change, grow, and come into being. Yin and Yang Qi embrace all things and spread in every direction. They rise and soar, driving the great transformation of Heaven and Earth; the Qi of ascent and descent mingles and intertwines. The primal cycle runs through the four directions, its ordering bonds joining Heaven and Earth and holding the pivotal source of creation. Through this, the Yin souls and Yang spirits grasp the mysterious truth, and their consciousness rises to Jade Capital, the celestial city of the immortals.

They undergo refinement by fire at Zhu Ling, the southern realm of the immortals, cultivate themselves into immortals, and ascend to the upper world. There they become perfected beings, receive deliverance, and endure through every generation. Yin and Yang revolve without end; their lifespans equal the age of Heaven. Forever free from the assaults of ghosts and demons and from every kind of calamity, they transcend the Three Realms and roam at ease in Great Clarity, the pure celestial realm. The Heaven of Great Clarity is a realm without color or form, manifested through the radiance of the Celestial Emperor; it is also where practitioners uphold pure conduct.

Eight Heavens of the East

Heaven of Radiant Auspiciousness and Numinous Gatherings — Celestial Emperor Chongji Chongxuan

Heaven of Jade Radiance and Wise Participation — Celestial Emperor Fushi Huaxian

Heaven of Yiluo and Soaring Trials — Celestial Emperor Duzhi Yixiang

Heaven of Scenic Marvels and Exhaustive Thought — Celestial Emperor Observing the Ninefold Darkness

Heaven of Tianling and Accomplished Continuity — Celestial Emperor Revealing Zhi, Deep Mountain

Heaven of True Separation, Mysterious Union, and Ultimate Transformation — Celestial Emperor Zekui Xuantong

Heaven of the Way’s Dependence, Manifest Stillness, and Empty Spirit — Celestial Emperor You Shen Ling Si

Heaven of Examining Thought, Certifying Principle, and Illuminating Understanding — Celestial Emperor Dingxuan Xiyuan

Eight Heavens of the South

Heaven of Upholding Capacity, Auspicious Continuity, and Transformative Guidance — Celestial Emperor Daofu Chiming

Heaven of Joyful Protection, Contemplating Truth, and Managing Radiance — Celestial Emperor Mengruo Xiangliang

Heaven of Lu Xian and the Central Ultimate — Celestial Emperor Zuntu Xun

Heaven of Heroic Balance, Abundant Governance — Celestial Emperor Yi Qiu Man Zhen

This scripture describes the structure of the Thirty-Two Heavens in Daoist cosmology, each governed by a corresponding Celestial Emperor. The names of these celestial realms and their rulers contain profound mysteries of spiritual cultivation.

The eight Western Heavens are:

Dunji Donghuang Tian (Celestial Emperor named Xuanhua Dingming),

Zhaozhi Yanwei Tian (Celestial Emperor named Dao Wanyoulai),

Taishi Zhaosheng Tian (Celestial Emperor named Ben Xi Chongyao),

Yanji Jingxiu Tian (Celestial Emperor named An Qiu Juchou),

Zhilun Hunshu Tian (Celestial Emperor named Yan Le Xiangfu),

Jiling Huashi Tian (Celestial Emperor named Bilin Cihui),

Wenmin Chengyi Tian (Celestial Emperor named Duo Chu Yongliang),

Suyuan Gongqing Tian (Celestial Emperor named Xi De Zhongguang).

The eight Northern Heavens are:

Huizu Longpo Tian (Celestial Emperor named Quan Wu Dingsheng),

Jiwu Changshan Tian (Celestial Emperor named Wu Xuan Jingchong),

Mengxuan Lingshi Tian (Celestial Emperor named Dun Bo Gao),

Miaodu Jinliang Tian (Celestial Emperor named Wang Zong Jingzhao),

Haojing Huzhen Tian (Celestial Emperor named You Qing Licheng),

Jiuzhen Taiyu Tian (Celestial Emperor named Bian Chang Zong),

Mohe Longdu Tian (Celestial Emperor named Yao He Siling),

Youwu Weixuan Tian (Celestial Emperor named Yi Gong Zhongxun).

These celestial names and imperial titles contain special "hidden taboos" (secret true names) and "hidden rhythms" (esoteric sound patterns). The scripture reveals that these appellations embody the mysteries of Yin-Yang transformation, the principles of Five Phase interactions, the arcana of divine unions and separations, as well as the ultimate truths of natural metamorphosis. By contemplating the "Way of Nine Harmonies and Ten Unions" (representing the supreme state of Yin-Yang unity and Heaven-Human integration) encoded within these celestial names, practitioners may comprehend the primordial origin of the cosmos.

Through fusion and transformation, they manifest the immeasurably profound principles of the Shangqing realm, a lofty and wondrous realm revered in Daoism—principles so vast and deep they cannot be fully described. The divine perfected ones save beings throughout the heavens and the human world. Today, we joyfully celebrate the rite of deliverance, having passed through the barriers of the heavens.

They summon the Qi of Yin-Yang, causing it to gather and disperse, surge and transform. In spring, the Qi of Wood gives rise to the Qi of Fire, bringing summer’s heat. In autumn, the Qi of Metal nourishes the Qi of Water, bringing winter’s cold. The Qi of Earth circulates through the four seasons, allowing all things to grow and ripen. The Three Qi, the primordial energies that form all things in heaven and earth, give rise to bodies, dividing and joining within hidden apertures. The paired lights of sun and moon rise and transform; thus the Five Phases and Three Qi condense into Jing and Qi, stirring and leaping as they forge and nurture creation. Ascending or lying hidden, sinking out of sight or appearing openly—these are all workings of the Great Dao.

The authority of the Great Dao extends through the three realms and brings the myriad kinds of beings to rest. Bodies separate and join again; the essence of Shen and Qi spreads and circulates; the jade elixir condenses, bodies take form, and spiritual awareness arises. Bodies undergo countless transformations, yet their root returns to the One Truth. This is all the way of nature.

The True King, a divine perfected one revered in Daoism, holds the key and opens the gates of heaven. The Eastern Dipper generates Yang Qi, and the Western Dipper gives birth to Yin Qi; the Qi of Yin-Yang descends from the Dipper constellations. The Metal Soul and Wood Soul, the Northern Dipper’s Dark Ford and the Southern Dipper’s Red Brightness, are all governed and commanded by the Central Dipper. Each spirit has its own charge: the Azure Emperor presides over generation; the White Emperor, over the forming of bodies; the Red Emperor, over nourishment; the Black Emperor, over the circulation of Jing and Qi; and the Yellow Emperor, over calming the mind and commanding the gods.

The Demon King of the Azure Heaven, Ba Yuanchoubo; the Demon King of the Red Heaven, Fu Tian Danshi; the Demon King of the White Heaven, Fanshan Liumu; the Demon King of the Black Heaven, Jian Chou Langfu; and the Demon King of the Yellow Heaven, Heng Tian Danli—these are the great demon kings of the five celestial directions and the forebears of the myriad gods. They transform their bodies as primordial Qi gathers and disperses, moving in continuous circuits, soaring and drawing inward, in accord with the Great Dao. They establish mighty ritual instruments, spread throughout the Nine Provinces, order heaven and earth, command divine troops, wield talismans and tokens, and fly through the vast sky. They proclaim their own awe-inspiring radiance and share in the work of the heavens.

The rite by which Heaven delivers people is carried out with solemn precision. The Yellow Elder of Beifeng, the underworld domain in Daoism where ghosts are governed, is charged with subduing strange and violent evils. Kui dragons repel poison, while riders on qilin lead the way and drive back the vanguard. The constellations Shen and Wei keep watch ahead; the Red-Armed gods raise their banners and hurl flames, while the sound of bells travels across ten thousand miles. In the eight directions, who would dare offend or obstruct the High Perfected? The Plain Spirit first uses fire troops to execute them, then imposes hidden punishments, sweeping away ghosts and demons and destroying evil spirits.

At dawn tomorrow, they will be registered and examined, with no delay. Demons cannot interfere; ghosts cannot trespass, nor can they hide their forms. The offices of the Six Heavens inspect each case; the ghost camps have nowhere to conceal themselves. Messengers of wind and fire carry the documents, announcing them throughout the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water, and to the myriad gods, so that all may come and obey the command.

The attendant spirits above the Nine Abysses submit the documents and registers to the Great Clarity Heaven. Through long, unending cycles of tribulation, at the beginning of the Great Beginning, Longkang dwelt in a far-off, unfathomable realm. Within the chaos of countless eons, Yin and Yang separated and joined, and the Five Phases each came forth in transformation, from which bodies took shape. From emptiness and permanence, up to the Three-Colored Heavens—a level of the Daoist heavens—and down to the depths of the layered abysses, no trace lies beyond their reach, whether in darkness or deepest gloom. Winds turn through the Nine Vacuities, while Metal and Fire travel across the sky.

Without shadow or boundary, without end or limit. Before chaos had divided, Original Qi flowed in vast expanses and mingled together. The light of the Elixir revealed its forms, while the cycles of tribulation unfolded according to the natural order. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning settled and set forth the five scrolls of vermilion writing in jade script—sacred heavenly books in Daoist teaching—and used the dragon script of the Eight Majesties to guard the cycles of tribulation, preserving the Way of Heaven for all time. Brahma Qi, pure and vast, filling Heaven and Earth, spread throughout the celestial vault. From it the patterns governing all things unfolded, and the guiding principles of the Way of Heaven circulated and flowed.

The thirty-two heavens revolved in tier upon tier, traversing the realm without color and extending throughout the ten directions. The stars turned, passing through the Dipper constellation. The Five Constants revolved in their cycles; the thirty-five divisions of Qi all returned to the Upper Origin. The Eight Luminaries joined with subtle, hidden Qi, entering the realm of the mysterious beyond mystery.

The Great Sovereign Emperor dwelt on his exalted throne, his divine radiance spreading far and wide. Amid the Great Rosy Clouds, he chanted the Cavern Chapters, Daoist scriptures. The golden light of truth shone bright and splendid; the sound of the recitation carried across the skies, and the jade tones gathered Original Qi. Numinous winds drew together smoke and clouds; the Qi of the Purple Void flourished, assisting the assembled immortals. All this arose through the separation and union of Yin and Yang and the transformations of the Five Phases. Wonderful Qi appeared and filled all things, bringing them into being and changing in response to their resonance. Thus the righteous Way unfolded and brought beings to the realm of utmost truth.

Within utmost truth there are spirits known as the Great Lord of Long Life, the Great Emperor of Azure Radiance, the Venerable Spirit of Brightness, the Great One Wuyou, Controller of Destiny, and the Lord of Peach Health, Master of Life and Prolonged Years, the Imperial Worthy. They wield Fulu, talismans and registers, guarding life and nourishing its root. They roam above through the Nine Heavens of Purity, entering and leaving the Yellow Chamber and the Dark Elixir, within the Crimson Palace. Below, they hold firm the six gates of the caverns and harmonize the Five Qi within the Azure Essence. The hundred spirits are governed and set in motion there; numinous Qi transforms again and again, and the myriad Qi gather together, ultimately enabling a person to become an immortal.

The Way of the Immortals prizes cherishing life. The boundless method of delivering people opens the Eight Gates, and the flying wheel of Heaven turns. In accordance with guilt and merit, precepts and prohibitions, and the karmic ties of past lives, all beings may receive deliverance. The souls of the dead are rescued; those who are reborn are enabled to take life anew and may ascend to the various heavens. Above those heavens, each has a gate of life. There are chapters that describe the separation and union of Yin and Yang and the transformations of bodily form; the writings of the Numinous Chapters of the True Kings accord with those of the High Perfected.

Chapter One: The Sound of Separation and Union in Flight Through the Void

Once Original Qi has been set in motion, the transformations of all things flow freely; Yin and Yang separate and then unite. The great cycles of tribulation alternate, and between the Nine Heavens and the Eight Extremities stand thirty-two tiers of barriers. With every separation and union, the number and sequence of Original Qi’s movements shift and change. Bright celestial signs appear above, corresponding to the human body. Within the body, too, palaces are arrayed, governing and containing the hundred spirits.

If you wish to end the cycle of rebirth, cultivate in accord with the principles of the Five Phases. Their transformations are the foundation of the primordial Way of Heaven. If you can recognize and comprehend this, you can ascend bodily as an immortal. But if your mind is clouded and dim, even practicing the Dao will be difficult to bring to success. How, then, could you truly realize the Dao?

Shen (spirit) and Qi (vital energy) rise together; Yin and Yang separate and then come into harmony, and all things follow the impulse of life as they sprout and grow.

Roaming freely beyond the Three Realms—the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Formless Realm—one naturally transcends birth and death. The spirits stride through the heavens to the Heaven of Perfect Spheres, where they pay homage to the exalted Perfected Ones seated between the twin towers.

Second: The Chapter on the Perfected One Transforming the Body

Riding in a chariot, one wanders through the secluded realms of the eight directions, then comes to rest at the foot of Kunlun Mountain. Arriving at the Golden Gate, one pays homage to the Void Emperor, the supreme celestial lord of emptiness. Clouds of Qi gather densely around the body as one travels upon a vast rosy cloud.

Within emptiness, the body transforms, nourished and brought forth by waves of mystery. Attachment to bodily form prevents desire from being dispelled. Dark thoughts have no end, and all manner of karmic thoughts chase after one another. Thus one sinks for a long time into the river of love and desire. Once fallen into a defiled realm, one is led along a path of suffering that calls forth lament.

Now I proclaim the highest teaching: with righteous Qi, I sever the roots of evil; with red scriptures, I save all beings. With yellow banners, I summon the great demons, so that all beings may enjoy great blessings forever. What, after all, is a lifespan of tens of millions of years?

Alas, you people of the dusty world: if you turn away from the true Dao, what will become of you?

Third: Song of the Five Phases and Yin-Yang

Far above the Three Heavens stands the lofty White Jade Capital, a celestial palace of the immortals. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning arrives in the radiant heavenly realm and establishes there the root from which Heaven and Earth come into being.

Yin Qi arises and gathers into yellow radiance; Yang light spreads out and forms a red halo. The two Qi of Yin and Yang interweave, while the Five Phases—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—circulate through the vast sky. The radiance of the seven luminaries—the sun, moon, and five planets—suddenly rises and transforms, giving birth to all things. The Five Phases shift and replace one another; who can fathom the ruin or fulfillment of things?

The Divine Empyrean governs the mysterious laws and oversees the people of every Heaven. With the left hand, it subdues the demons of the Three Realms; with the right, it commands the troops of the Six Heavens. It summons harmonizing Qi with treasured registers and gathers the myriad spirits with jade talismans. The heavenly troops wield jade axes; the Red Emperor hurls streaming golden light. They seize the demons and evil beings, leaving every land under their jurisdiction clear and pure.

All beneath Heaven receives the protection of the true Dao, and remains secure through tens of millions of kalpas.

This is the sacred sound of scripture sung by the True King in the void above the Three Realms (the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Formless Realm). The scripture’s sound communicates with the heavens and reveals the profound principles of the Mystery. Reciting it one hundred times allows one to be registered for passage to the Southern Palace; reciting it one thousand times, and the True King will escort and welcome one; reciting it ten thousand times completes one’s Dao practice, enabling one to ascend through the vast sky, transcend the Three Realms, and take one’s place among the Immortal Lords.

When the True King hears this numinous and wondrous scripture, he honors the practitioner’s body and commands the Earth Spirits to guard and escort them. He clears away the gates of hell, freeing them from the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities—the many forms of suffering. Their ancestors for seven generations can also ascend, forever freed from the jurisdiction of ghost officials. Their souls are delivered to Zhu Ling, where the souls of the dead are refined in Daoist legend, and through this refinement they receive life anew. Such is the scripture’s power to deliver all beings without measure and to save them without end.

These scriptures are treasures kept secret in Heaven and revered by all the heavens. Anyone who reveals them or treats them with contempt will fall into hell, and the resulting calamity will also befall their ancestors for seven generations.

The Dao says: The two chapters above are the secret scripture sounds of the Heavenly Emperors and the most numinous Immortal Kings. They contain the profound principles of Yin-Yang joining and separating, the workings by which the Five Phases transform and take form, and the sounds of the creation of Heaven and Earth, the division of the Three Realms, and the dissolution of primordial chaos. All of this is the speech of the Great Brahma—the sacred language of the universe’s origin—not ordinary worldly speech. Its language has neither worldly rhythm nor ornate melody; for this reason, it is called mysterious and profound, beyond exhaustive inquiry or explanation.

These scriptures are precious treasures kept secret in Heaven, stored in the Eastern Florescence Scripture Chamber of the Jade Pure King’s palace in the Divine Empyrean. Only after many years are they transmitted below, in accordance with the Mystery’s rules and rites.

If someone who has attained the Dao brings gold and treasure, and with sincere intent follows the established custom, making a solemn pledge to the True King, only then may they receive the transmission.

The Dao says: The workings of Heaven and Earth have their end; the sun, moon, and five planets wax and wane. Even the most sacred divine beings sometimes encounter adversity, while beginners in the Dao may suffer illness and injury. These are manifestations of Yin-Yang joining and separating and of changes in bodily form. Whenever such calamities arise, they all respond to the same Qi. Practitioners should therefore cultivate the fast together, offer incense at the prescribed times, and recite the scripture ten times in rotation. Then blessings and De will descend at once, dispelling every kind of ill omen. This immeasurable scripture can deliver beings without end.

The Dao says: Beginners in the Dao have made little progress, or have yet to complete their rank among the immortals. If their allotted lifespan is nearing its end and their bodies pass through Great Yin—here, a reference to death or the realm of the dead—those among their fellow practitioners who have attained the Dao may offer incense and recite the scripture ten times on their behalf. Following the prescribed rites, they can deliver the person’s remains and send their soul directly to the Southern Palace. Then, according to the days earned through the person’s Dao practice, they can obtain new life. They will not lose their way in reincarnation, and will ultimately become divine immortals.

The Dao says: If the cosmic fortunes of Heaven and Earth are nearing their end, the stars fall out of order, the sun and moon lose their light, the seasons become disordered, Yin and Yang lose their balance, and floods and droughts strike the capital and surrounding regions while epidemics spread and large numbers of people die or are injured, these are calamities caused by the joining and separation of Yin-Yang and the Five Phases, and by changes in bodily form. In such circumstances, people should cultivate the fast, offer incense, and recite the scripture. The merit gained through fasting and reciting the scriptures is immense.

They dispel calamities above, bless and secure the emperor; below, they ward off poisons and harms, bringing deliverance to the many people. The living and the dead alike may receive their blessings. These blessings are beyond measure, hence the name “Immeasurable”: they deliver all beings, heavenly and human.

The Daoist scriptures say: Whoever upholds this scripture and cultivates this merit for Heaven and Earth, the emperor, and the people, and who, on days of calamity, vows to observe a purification retreat, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times, will have their name recorded by all the heavens and be protected by the gods. Those whose cultivation is sufficient will in time become ministers in the Golden Palace of the Sage Lords. The heavens record people’s merits and faults, omitting nothing, however slight; the True Lords of Heaven will also recommend you. Only those who have attained the Dao can truly understand these supreme words of scripture.

The Great Brahmā’s Hidden Words Among the Heavens—Immeasurable Sounds

Composed by the Dao Lord

Jade Chapters of the Numinous Book on the Transformation of Forms Through the Union and Separation of Yin and Yang and the Five Phases from the Primordial Beginning

The hidden syllables of the heavens are listed below by direction: east, south, west, and north. They belong to the scripture’s “Great Brahmā’s Hidden Words” and are not ordinary expressions of daily speech. Since these syllables cannot readily be translated word by word into everyday language, the original text is retained.

The Eight Heavens of the East

Dengqi jiadang　　Lou cai shuhua　　Bi yao pu jing

Yang zhi ben ya　　Lüe li yanzhen　　[𣣱] bing mikua

Hao ling mu ji　　Yan mi bei she　　Yao dai ji luo

Fei qing hui chen　　Gou dai ying xu　　Ming lie yu Qin

Cu tui yan you　　Li hu yue zhen　　Huo xi pi yi

Yan gang bao yin

The Eight Heavens of the South

Dun ji si ru　　Qian lian famou　　Ding wei qin suo

Yi ming chi du　　Xin jing yong bang　　Mie shen lun ren

Ji ken fu bi　　Yan zhi yuan cun　　Liang ze yu yue

Zhe di mizhen　　Dao xu ai jie　　Liao an bu shen

Du luo he di　　Miao chi mi lun　　Xue dan ying mao

Ji bing liao yin

The Eight Heavens of the West

Niu duo shuai jian　　Lan kang zi sun　　Jing ju jian chi

Yue chi qiu Kun　　Hu yi chuan du　　Han ji yu wen

Yan kao dao cong　　Qian lin qi hun　　Ji hou bei zhong

Na lao ci neng　　Bi Liu yi mo　　Shi tu yin cheng

Ze yuan qi Lu　　Dan tong you cen　　Lu dan jian wang

Hu chuan jiu jin

The Eight Heavens of the North

Xin zu xi lu　　Bin gong zhao jing　　Luo dou fu wei

Azure Lord Yi Bin, 本应师锷, the ancient Chen of the Primordial Hall; in another reading, Chou Min, who transfers the essence to the bamboo screen, while the lineage’s proclamation should inspire awe; virtue in the pavilion bends and follows, the watchtower’s frontier preserves the bounds, the Kun Mountain wilderness is vast; fierce foes resemble demons, diligent designs reach the hidden numinous, the command’s intent is freely released by Heaven; for now, only a few words can be maintained.

These phrases belong to the “Great Brahma hidden language” of the heavens. They are characters used to record sacred sounds and cannot be explained word by word as ordinary classical Chinese.

The scripture says: The Northern Dipper is the chief source of the celestial realm, while the Southern Dipper governs the movements of celestial phenomena. The Ji Star brings about the transformations of Yin-Yang, bringing the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) into balance. It establishes the mysterious workings at the utmost limit of primordial chaos and harmonizes separation and union in the realm of Great Clarity. It enables the Water and Fire within the Dao to each serve their purpose and nourishes the myriad kinds of beings. It governs all categories of beings and forms an alliance with the true Dao; through countless kalpas, it is never exhausted.

These characters are presented in the mysterious court where the emperors reside, and each one is ten feet long. The Celestial Perfected Sovereign of Antiquity once wrote them as the correct sounds. If someone understands their sounds and can observe purification and recite them, the heavens will send flying celestial spirit kings down to inspect that person and report their meritorious deeds to the heavens. The myriad gods will come to pay homage, and earth spirits will stand guard by the door. The Great Merit True King will recommend the person, enabling them to complete their cultivation in the Way of the Divine Empyrean and ultimately travel through the Three Realms and ascend to the Golden Gate.

These sounds can ward off, avert, save, and bring things to completion in every way; they are the natural sounds of the Celestial Perfected. Thus, reciting them summons flying celestial spirit kings to inspect, moves the Supreme Emperor to respond from afar, and brings the myriad gods to pay homage and serve. All evil spirits bow their heads, and ghosts and demons disperse of their own accord. The recitation rings like jade chimes, purifying the ten directions. Rivers and seas fall silent, mountains draw in their mists, all numinous beings tremble and submit, and the assembled immortals are summoned. There is no defiling qi in Heaven and no demonic dust on Earth; the netherworld and the realm of wisdom alike become open and clear. This is a vast and mysterious realm, and one that is supremely mysterious.

The Azure Yang Chapter of Fusang.

The Dao says: Long ago, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning received the scripture Primordial Beginning’s Measureless Supreme Scripture of Deliverance, Supporting the Fusang and Azure Yang in the Cangling Heaven, a name for a celestial realm, at the sacred heavenly sanctuary called Qingya Yun’ge Dajue Shengtu. Whenever the Celestial Worthy preached the scripture and completed a recitation, he summoned the divine beings of the ten directions to come and hear the teaching.

Before the preaching began, countless beings arrived through the air on jeweled clouds: the great Heavenly Perfect Ones, the highest sages and exalted worthies, the Perfected Ones of wondrous practice, the Great Emperor of Fusang, the Thearch of Azure Florescence, the Dao Lord of the Nine Qi, the True One and Wood Emperor of Azure Yang’s Jeweled Radiance, as well as heavenly officials, attendants, Perfected Immortals, Perfected Ones, and others. Their jeweled clouds gathered in layers across the azure sky, interweaving purple mist with the light of jade. Eight Perfected Ones rode flying chariots beneath hanging jeweled canopies. Sacred rosy clouds spread through the air, while seven-colored clouds shone in brilliant harmony.

Signs appeared throughout Heaven and Earth and lasted for nine days and nights. The sun, moon, and stars of the heavens stood still in the sky. The Five Planets spread their light, the movements of the celestial bodies settled into order, the three realms became clear and calm, and the radiance of the sun, moon, and stars shone brightly. Across the land, the earth, mountains, rivers, and trees became level and uniform, with no differences in height. The soil grew moist and smooth like fine jade, and no differences in color remained.

The assembled Perfected Ones sat in attendance. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright in the air upon a seat of sea-bright jeweled clouds, on a jade platform that appeared beneath him, adorned with azure qilin. He began to preach the scripture.

At the first recitation, the great sages of all the heavens praised him in unison. The many evil thoughts of the men and women of that land were dispelled, and their hearts silently accorded with the true Dao. At the second recitation, crystalline light and Qi descended upon body and mind, making the body firm. At the third, the myriad spirits appeared, and the Five Organs filled with renewed vitality; from then on, there were no more illnesses. At the fourth, golden light transformed the bones, while jade radiance refined and nourished the body. At the fifth, the whole body became clear and pure, able to fly freely for pleasure. At the sixth, the teaching spread in all eight directions, delivering beings throughout the ten directions. At the seventh, the underworld ceased its interrogations; the souls of the dead received nourishment and went on to become Perfected Immortals. At the eighth, the Ancient Worthies and the Five Emperors proclaimed the mysterious teaching, and all the people of Heaven and the human world came to know Yun’ya. At the ninth, auspicious signs appeared throughout the heavens and the earth. At the tenth, withered bones grew anew, bodies were restored, and life returned.

At that time, all the men and women of the land wholeheartedly believed and accepted the teaching. They received its protection and deliverance, and attained longevity.

The Dao says: At that time, when the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning had completed the first recitation of the scripture, the Great Spirit of Abundant Life, of the Measureless Rank of the Eastern Direction, led countless beings through the air to attend. When he had completed the second recitation, the Great Spirit of Brilliant Radiance, of the Measureless Rank of the Southern Direction, led countless…

…These divine hosts came flying through the air. When the scripture had been recited for the third time, the Great God of Bright Crystal of the Western Boundless and Infinite Order arrived in the air, leading countless divine hosts. At the fourth recitation, the Great God of Mysterious Transformation of the Northern Boundless and Infinite Order arrived, leading countless divine hosts. At the fifth, the Great God of Numinous Radiance of the Northeastern Boundless and Infinite Order arrived, leading countless divine hosts. At the sixth, the Great God of Blending and Uniting of the Southeastern Boundless and Infinite Order arrived, leading countless divine hosts. At the seventh, the Great God of Pacification and Security of the Southwestern Boundless and Infinite Order arrived, leading countless divine hosts. At the eighth, the Great God of Returning Wind of the Northwestern Boundless and Infinite Order arrived, leading countless divine hosts. At the ninth, the Great God of Pure De of the Boundless and Infinite Order Above arrived, leading countless divine hosts. At the tenth, the Great God of Supporting Transformation of the Boundless and Infinite Order Below arrived, leading countless divine hosts.

When the ten recitations were complete, the Great Gods of Azure Yang and Luminous Radiance, along with other celestial perfected beings (heavenly spirits who had attained the Dao) from the Boundless Heavens of the Ten Directions, all came to this country at once. The men and women throughout the land devoutly took refuge in them and looked up to them, bringing out precious flowers from the heavens, dragon incense, and fruits of every kind to make offerings with reverence. The visitors were as numerous as drifting cloud shadows and flying mists; countless divine hosts crowded the country, causing half the land to tilt and sink. Nothing could be done to stop it.

Then the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning suspended a precious pearl, as large as a bright star, in the open sky, nine zhang above the ground. He led the celestial perfected beings, great gods, highest sages and revered worthies, perfected beings of wondrous practice, the Great Gods of Azure Yang from the Boundless Heavens of the Ten Directions, and countless divine hosts into the pearl together. Those in heaven and on earth looked up and saw the gods entering one after another through the pearl’s opening. Once inside, no one knew where they had gone. After the crowds dispersed, the land returned to level ground and no longer tilted or sank.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning then finished expounding the scripture inside the pearl. The assembled perfected gods supervised and bore witness to this rite of salvation, and afterward transmitted the scripture to me. The joy and celebration of that moment were beyond words. This, in broad outline, is how the ritual unfolded.

At the instant Heaven returned to its proper place, all sounds fell silent; not a single noise remained. Then the humans and celestial beings could encounter and receive this scripture and its teachings, attain universal salvation, preserve their allotted lifespans, and remain unharmed. The entire realm turned its heart toward them in reverence, serving the exalted perfected ones—honored Immortals—and joining with the mysterious realm, with Qi (the primordial energy that constitutes Heaven, Earth, and all things), Shen (spirit), the Origin, the Source, grace, spiritual wonders, transformation, nature and life, and light. Their intentions accorded with the laws of the Most High Saints, the exalted perfected ones. As the scripture and its teachings spread, the Qi of Azure Yang descended within the body and sprouted like cloud buds. The paired radiance of the Sun and Moon infused and refined the true Dao until it was perfected. Thus the scripture began to circulate throughout the realm. People revered its teachings, gave their utmost sincerity, nurtured life, and protected the body; all were delivered from the worldly realm.

The Dao says: The words spoken by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning are the secret inner names and hidden tones of the Lords of the Heavens. They are also the undisclosed names of the various True Kings and the hidden names of the hundred spirits.

The scripture unfolds a vision of Mount Fusang Dijing. Beneath the mountain lies the Great Abyss. The Qi of Azure Yang swirls and gathers in the Nine Heavens, forming a perfect radiance whose true light shines across three hundred thousand li. Those who are guided into this radiance become Immortal Ministers; those who drink in its essence become Perfected Ones. Nine paths of crimson cloud and smoke spiral upward, crossing beyond the Three Spirits. Jade and fine stone transform into new forms, spreading out and becoming jade blossoms. These are no ordinary words of the world. The Most High Saints have already attained the state of Perfected Ones, penetrated the mysterious and explored the subtle, and can fully understand these passages.

Reciting this scripture ten times enables the Qi of Fusang to refine and nourish the spirits; Yanghua then arises of itself, its precious light shining brightly, and great blessings follow. Those who cultivate the Way of the Most High Saints absorb the wondrous Qi of the Five Stars—representatives of the five directions or five kinds of stars—and unite with the realm of the formless. They can then ascend to the Jade Capital, the celestial city of the Immortals. All harmful influences are subdued, great demons bound, corpses revived and the dead restored to life; even white bones can become living people.

Those who aspire to cultivate the Dao and recite this scripture ten times will receive a document presented by Qingyao, an Immortal official. Great Cinnabar emits its radiance, gathering the light of the landscape and revealing divine light. The gates of the celestial spirits open; the Eastern Pole bestows a seal, and the Qi of the myriad things converges. Thus all beings are saved and can travel to and from Taiwei, the celestial realm. This is because Fusang is the essence from which Kunlun jade was born; Azure Yang is…

These nine glorious vital energies of long life can restore a person’s allotted years and dispel calamities. This is the way of the Great Emperor of the Primordial Beginning, who bestows longevity upon humanity.

The Spirit of Dragon Smoke, who governs the breath of the liver, can bend and stretch, and stirs the courtyard of the inner enclosure. The liver’s leaves are like jade; its gateways stand open, and purple smoke rises. Those who understand this Way can ascend by flight and take their place among the immortals. Their appearance grows youthful like that of an infant, and the divine springs within their bodies are transformed.

In this way, life can be preserved for a long time, wondrously joined with primordial Qi, and extended in years and longevity. One reaches the True Way and the realm of spiritual wonder, and continues to receive blessings and good fortune.

To recite this chapter carelessly brings calamity upon oneself. But if one makes offerings to this scripture and reverently honors it, one’s household will flourish, generations will prosper, and good karmic ties will continue. No calamity can intrude, and the spirits will guard the household’s gates. This scripture is exalted and mysterious, unrivaled in the Jade Capital, the celestial city of the immortals. It widely saves immeasurable beings; it is the root of the Ten Thousand Ways, vast and profound, with merits beyond all counting.

The scripture says: Whoever recites it ten times will cause all the heavens to descend together. The essence of the Ninefold Florescence of the Azure Origin Supreme Sovereign, a celestial spirit, shines upon Fusang. The Great Emperor’s Gate of Green Jade, and the Palace of Azure Jade in the Heaven-Bestowed Lesser Yang, will also come at the command. The Jade Maiden of Phoenix Light, bearing the talisman of Primordial Mystery, Illumination, and Azure Truth, conveys an edict to the Cold Court of the Ninefold Darkness and the deep Yin prisons of the Springs Office. She summons the spirits of Azure Yang, freeing the dead from the suffering of death and enabling them to be reborn. The gathered spirits of the sun rise with the light, and the departed souls of one’s ancestors across nine generations can also be saved and ascend by flight. After each undergoes nine years of transformation, they are reborn as nobles and delight in learning this scripture. All whose practice and merit are complete can become immortals, ascend to the Jade Palace, and feast at Fangzhu, the fabled realm of the immortals.

Those who aspire to the highest practice should cultivate and recite this scripture. Then the Qi of Azure Yang enters the body, Jade Essence transforms within, and flows into Wuying, the spirit within the human body. Weiming, bearing an axe, cuts away the root of the Corpse, the source of human decline and death, and the practitioner can immediately be saved and ascend by flight. When people of the world receive, uphold, and recite this scripture, the Luminous Jade Gates within them open, wondrous signs of vermilion fire and bright jade pendants appear, and the Yang Perfected descend in response. Elixir Qi transforms within the Purple Chamber, the place of inner cultivation, extending the Way of life. Auspicious Qi spreads far and wide, nourishing the Jade Liquids. The Six Palaces’ Vermilion Seals and the Five Bushels—the Daoist stellar spirits and divine talismans—protect the chest, enabling one to sit in stillness and guard the Northern Dipper stars.

This scripture is subtle and wondrous, saving beings without limit. All celestial beings and mortals in the human world can receive its blessings and good fortune; the living and the dead alike can benefit from it. It is a scripture treasured by Heaven and must not be passed on to worldly people. Those truly devoted to the Way must bring gold and jewels and make a sincere oath to Heaven before it may be transmitted. If it is carelessly disclosed or treated with disrespect, calamity will befall one’s ancestors across nine generations, condemning them to serve for a long time in the underworld. The Beginning Yang Jade Boys and Vermilion Light Jade Maidens who attend this scripture number twelve each. They will guard this wondrous text and protect those who receive and uphold it.

The Dao says: In the first month, observe a long fast and recite this Jing. The Fusang, the divine tree of the East, lowers its branches; the Yang energy of spring spreads forth blossoms. The force of new life transforms the realm of darkness, bringing all examinations and forced labor in the underworld to an end. The souls of the deceased ancestors are released from confinement in the underworld and guided onward to the Southern Palace in heaven.

In the seventh month, observe a long fast and recite this Jing. True spirits from all directions descend, and the Eastern Lord of Azure Radiance summons the spirit host, enabling people to become immortals. The heavens record the names of those who recite the scripture in the Yellow Registers and White Slips, the celestial books of merit and identity. They remove those names from the register of the dead and enter them in the register of the living.

In the tenth month, observe a long fast and recite this Jing. The Eastern Rosy Clouds protect life, and the Valley of Dawn, where the sun is said to rise, opens its passes. Hidden spiritual treasures are revealed, and the nine kinds of primordial Qi spread out and take form.

This Jing can stabilize the destiny of a nation through its ruler and subjects, fathers and sons, ensuring that the country endures for generations. The ruler thereby secures the realm, and the people live in peace and happiness.

Reciting this Jing on the days of the Eight Seasonal Nodes—the four beginnings of the seasons, the two equinoxes, and the two solstices—opens a way to the celestial mountains, lengthens life, and enables one to become a Perfected One of the Lower Origin.

Reciting this Jing on one’s birth cycle day, the day marked by the same stem and branch as one’s birth, brings the descent of Taiyi, the celestial sovereign spirit, while the Azure Emperor of the East witnesses the vow. Mysterious primordial Qi circulates externally, and the Three Infants, the three inner spirits described in cultivation, are nurtured within. The hun souls and spirits become clear and upright; the myriad forms of primordial Qi endure, and suffering comes to an end. The body shines with light, protected by attendants throughout the Three Realms. The Five Emperors send the myriad spirits to welcome and pay homage to the practitioner, whose name is entered in the celestial register. When merit is complete, the practitioner ascends to the heaven of Shangqing.

The Dao says: On days when Daoist rites are performed, one should bathe with fragrant water and fast, then enter a quiet chamber and face east. Click the teeth together thirty-two times to reach the thirty-two heavens above, and bow inwardly thirty-two times. With eyes closed, meditate and imagine yourself seated amid the blue clouds of the Nine Suns, with dense, shadowy clouds surrounding you inside and out. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes stand in ranks to either side. The sun and moon shine, filling the room with clear light. A round halo forms above your head, its radiance illuminating the ten directions. When this vision is clear, silently recite the secret invocation:

“Supreme Mysterious Origin, Lord of the Great Dao, summon forth the Three-and-Five Merit Officers within my body, the left and right messenger officials, the attendants who carry incense, the jade maidens who convey messages, the Five Emperors’ Talisman Officers, and the incense officials on duty today—thirty-two of each. Have them convey what I submit: Today is auspicious. In this pure fasting hall, I have observed a long fast and cultivated this Scripture on Deliverance without Measure. May my petition ascend to the heavenly court and reach directly before the supreme throne of the Primordial Beginning Emperor of the unsurpassed thirty-two heavens.”

(When the invocation is complete,)

Draw in the breath thirty-two times, face east, and recite the Jing.