《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 3

The Chapter on Pacifying the Eight Directions of Heaven and Earth and Securing the Nation’s Destiny

The Daoist scripture says: In ancient times, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun, the supreme deity honored in Daoism) taught The Supreme Scripture of Primordial Beginning for Delivering People and Pacifying the Eight Directions of Heaven and Earth to Secure the Nation’s Destiny in the wondrous dark soil of the Vermilion Fall Divine Wind, within the Heaven of Still Emptiness. The Celestial Worthy circled the ritual seat and recited the scripture eight times, summoning the gods of the eight directional regions.

The great gods of the eight directions of Heaven and Earth, the highest holy and exalted beings, the Perfected Lords who protect the nation, and countless other gods arrived through the air. Their bodies shone with jade-colored radiance and purple Qi; auspicious clouds gathered around them, and their lights reflected one another. Immortals rode jade-like carriages through the rosy clouds. Their feathered banners and ceremonial guards shimmered together, while rows of emerald canopies stretched out before them. Fragrant breezes drifted through the sacred heavens. The celestial signs grew clear, and all things appeared bright and pure. Divine light spread in every direction; fragrant yellow clouds and green radiance extended across the land, illuminating the Great Void.

For eight days and nights, the sun, moon, and stars of the heavens, the constellations and celestial pathways, and the Dipper’s stars all stopped moving at once. Golden immortal light and jade-colored radiance shone together. In the stillness, the thunder of the Law sounded and gently shook the world; all things fell into solemn stillness. The nation’s land became level and orderly, its mountains and rivers bright and beautiful, and its forests lush. Awe-inspiring radiance answered the divine will, and auspicious signs descended in profusion.

The Perfected Ones stood in attendance beside the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. Seated upright on a jeweled throne spread with jade-colored lotus flowers and bathed in radiant light, the Celestial Worthy began to proclaim the scripture.

When the scripture had been proclaimed once, the great sages of all the heavens praised it together. At that moment, sentient beings throughout every land were inspired by its teaching and all gave rise to good intentions.

When it had been proclaimed twice, the eight directional regions were pacified, and the ruler’s destiny and the nation’s prosperity endured and flourished.

When it had been proclaimed three times, all kinds of beings lived in harmony, and the people were prosperous and content.

When it had been proclaimed four times, calamities and disorder were banished forever, and poison and harm no longer arose.

When it had been proclaimed five times, the teaching of the Dao spread far and wide, and all beings were imbued with the influence of the sages’ precepts.

When it had been proclaimed six times, harmony filled all that Heaven covers and Earth sustains, bringing everything into accord.

When it had been proclaimed seven times, the wondrous scripture became widely manifest, and the Orthodox Way shone clear.

When it had been proclaimed eight times, the people and all things lived in peace and harmony, and no one harbored a desire to fight.

When it had been proclaimed nine times, the True Text was revealed.

When it had been proclaimed ten times, auspicious signs arrived one after another. At that moment, men and women throughout the nation sincerely turned toward the Dao. All received protection and deliverance, and attained long life.

The Daoist scripture also says: At that time, each time the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning proclaimed the scripture, the Lord of the Green Radiance of the Eastern Direction, from the Boundless and Immeasurable Rank, arrived through the air with his officials and countless gods. At the second proclamation, the Lord of the Red Radiance of the Southern Direction, from the Boundless and Immeasurable Rank, arrived through the air with his officials and countless gods. At the third proclamation, the Lord of the Bright Radiance of the Western Direction…

The officials, generals, and countless attendants from every direction came through the air to listen to the scripture. When it was recited for the fourth time, the officials, generals, and countless attendants from the northern border arrived, those who governed the land of Purple Radiance. At the fifth recitation, those from the northeast arrived, who governed the land of the Ghost Gate. At the sixth, those from the southeast arrived, who governed the land of the Earth Gate. At the seventh, those from the southwest arrived, who governed the land of the Human Gate. At the eighth, those from the northwest arrived, who governed the land of the Heavenly Gate.

When the scripture had been recited eight times, the deities of the eight directions were brought to rest, and the good fortune of the state was thereby secured. The officials and generals of the eight directions, along with the celestial officials and retinues serving the Eight Radiances, Eight Powers, Eight Historians, Eight Spirits, and other divine beings, all arrived at once. Men and women throughout the country were wholly devoted and reverent. They all hoped that the eight directions of Heaven and Earth would send down auspicious blessings and answer their prayers, bringing peace, stability, and prosperity to the state. They had come to hear the Celestial Worthy proclaim the essential teaching for calming the state, securing its fortunes, and preserving Heaven and Earth for all time. Countless people, like fine rain and dense mist, surrounded the Celestial Worthy and spread throughout the country, impossible to hold back.

At that moment, the Primordial Celestial Worthy released wondrous jeweled light from the pearl on his brow. The light divided into eight beams, and within each beam appeared a numinous talisman of naturally formed Brahmic Qi, like a celestial text. One talisman appeared in each of the eight directions, to calm the state, secure its fortunes, and stabilize Heaven and Earth. Then a numinous scroll of vermilion chapters and jade script appeared, to welcome the most subtle Qi and summon auspicious blessings.

The Primordial Celestial Worthy led the officials and generals of the Celestial Bureaus and Earthly Offices in the eight directions, together with countless Perfected Ones and great deities from all eight directions, into the jeweled light. Those in Heaven and among humankind looked up and watched. They could just make out the assembly entering the mixed and transformed Brahmic Qi talismans within the light; once inside, they vanished from sight. The people of the country gradually dispersed, and clouds spread across the ground, shining with a soft, lustrous jade hue.

The Primordial Celestial Worthy then proclaimed the Great Rite for Pacifying the State’s Destiny within this wondrous scene. When the entire teaching had been completed, the assembly…

At this critical moment, the True Inspector transmitted the teachings of the scripture to me, and my joy was beyond words. When the ritual was nearly complete, the heavenly beings each returned to their proper place; in an instant, all around me fell silent. At that time, the people of Heaven were fortunate to encounter this scripture and its teachings. They were saved as a whole and preserved their original lifespans, unharmed.

The people of the world all turned toward the faith and followed it with one heart and sincere reverence. They did not deceive, slander, envy, scheme, defame, quarrel, flatter, act wickedly, or curry favor. Unable to bear speaking words that would wound others, they upheld loyalty and uprightness, and spoke no words of resentment, blame, or praise. They loved one another and lived in harmony with people of other lands, forming friendly alliances. The countries were stable, the people prosperous, and all enjoyed peace with gladness.

When this scripture first began to spread its teachings, in any country, those who followed the Dao with utmost sincerity and honored and revered the scripture could all be delivered.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, a revered deity in Daoism, said: “Everything spoken of in this scripture consists of the hidden names of the Lords of Heaven. These names can stabilize a country’s destiny, dispel calamities, and bring blessings and good fortune to the four cardinal directions and the eight points between them. Its concealed tones, too, are scriptures secretly preserved by the high spirits in their jade scrolls. These words can summon the Perfected and the Primordial Sages. They are secret titles and hidden names of the wondrous realm of existence, used to protect rulers and bring prosperity to their realms; they are not words used in everyday life.”

“The High Sages have already become Perfected Ones and penetrated the mysteries of the Dao. They send down spiritual power to aid dynasties and sustain the great destiny of the state. By their might they subdue evil beings, and through their Virtue they benefit living things. Whoever fully comprehends and recites the scripture eight times will bring peace to the eight directions and their intermediate points, and tranquility to the Six Directions—the heavens, the earth, and the four quarters. The heavens will sing in response from afar, the myriad emperors will perform rites, rivers and seas will run clear, and mountains will manifest their spirits. The sun and moon will shine more brightly, the stars will follow their proper courses, the demons will be bound, and the malign forces of ghosts, monsters, and spirits will disperse. Blessings will return, allowing generations to endure and all beings to live in peace.”

“If a devoted student of the Dao recites the scripture eight times, the Five Emperors will protect the state, and the Three Heavens will lend their support. Demons and monsters will lose their power to cause trouble, while ghosts, specters, and evil forces will disperse. Even those at death’s door, whose breath has ceased, may be rescued and brought back to life. This is because, though students of the Dao have received the highest registers of the teachings and talismanic commands of the eight directions and their intermediate points, enabling them to stabilize spiritual rites, their Shen and Qi have not yet fully merged with their own being, nor have they thoroughly penetrated the True Dao. They have not yet gained the power to summon and subdue the spirits of the eight directions, nor enough De to govern the commands of Heaven and subdue the earth spirits. Thus they can bind demonic spirits and pray for good fortune and blessings, but they cannot yet bring the dead back to life.”

“Careless recitation of this scripture will bring calamity upon the reciter. If one makes offerings to the scripture and honors it, one’s family and country will prosper, and generations will flourish. One will form ties with goodness, countless calamities will leave one undisturbed, and the spirits will guard one’s gates.”

“This scripture is exalted and wondrous, unique in the Jade Capital, the celestial capital of Daoism. It can deliver immeasurable numbers of beings and is the root of the myriad Ways. Its teachings are lofty and vast, and its grace and virtue are beyond description.”

The Dao says: Whoever recites this scripture eight times will bring stability to the fortunes of the state. The divine officials and their attendants from the eight directions of Heaven and Earth, along with the Great Gods of the Eight Luminaries who govern those directions, will all be pacified. The Eight Divine Kings and the Perfected Ones of the Eight Directions will also arrive together, causing evil spirits and demons to hide and retreat, while the people and all things dwell in peace and the state remains secure. The eight Fulu (talismans and registers) in the scripture can drive away evil demons, uncanny beings, and apparitions, and protect the true spirits.

The buried remains and concealed corpses in the lands of the eight directions; strange beings transformed from thousand-year-old wood and stone, water and fire; cinnabar snakes, red mice, shadows, spirits burdened by injustice, and ghosts from antiquity; as well as the shadowy, suffering souls of ancestors through the generations and of countless forebears—all can at once be delivered and ascend to the Vermilion Palace, where the immortals dwell. After nine years, they will all undergo transformation and be reborn, and behold the age of peace.

Those who delight in learning and studying the scriptures, once their merit is complete, can all become immortals, ascend to the Golden Towers in Heaven, and wander and feast in Jade Capital, the city of the immortals.

Those of the highest attainment who cultivate and recite this scripture unite body and mind with Heaven and Earth and resonate with the eight directions. The Nine Palaces in the head—the abodes of the spirits within the body—connect upward to the Taiji. The radiant jade script of the eight directions shines upon the body’s palaces, guarding and settling the mind and spirit. With their nature tranquil and practicing Wuwei (non-action), they join with the hundred spirits and refine their hun and po souls. Yin-Yang Qi circulates, while Wu Ying guards on the left and Bai Yuan on the right. A dawnlike radiance shines at the center of the body; thousands upon thousands of divine messengers ride forth to report their merit, and the God of Destiny draws up their records. All who cultivate the Way can receive deliverance and ascend to the Southern Palace.

When people throughout the world receive and recite this scripture together, they can all obtain the jade talismans of the Dao and the Real, through which they summon the spirits. The spirits are pacified, and Qi flows with spiritual potency. Red sinews, frosty marrow, and purple veins gradually take the shape of talismanic script, which spreads throughout the sacred chapters. The bones become cinnabar-gold, enabling one to extend one’s years and prolong life. In the end, all may cultivate the Way of Corpse Liberation: the spirit temporarily leaves the body, bypasses the underworld, then restores its form and roams through the great void.

This scripture is incomparably subtle and can deliver beings everywhere without limit. All the heavenly and human beings may receive blessings and joy; immeasurable beneficence extends to both the living and the dead. Heaven cherishes this scripture, and it must not be transmitted to worldly people. Those of utmost sincerity must bring gold and treasures and make a solemn oath to Heaven with true intent before it may be passed on. If it is disclosed carelessly or the scripture treated with neglect, calamity will befall nine generations of ancestors, compelling them to serve for a long time under the Earthly Officials, who govern affairs below.

When the scripture is held, thirty-two jade boys and jade maidens from each of the eight directions form a protective guard around its divine text and safeguard the body of the person who receives it.

The Dao says: During the first lunar month, those who observe an extended fast and recite this scripture can pacify the twelve directions—Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai, Zi, and Chou—and bring stability to the cardinal directions and their dwelling place.

To deliver the souls of the dead from past lives beyond the world, free them from confinement in the underworld, and raise them to the Southern Palace, one should observe a fast throughout the seventh month and recite this scripture. This can bring peace to Heaven and Earth, allow all things and living beings in the world to find their proper place, follow their own Dao-nature, and earnestly aspire to become immortals. The heavens will record their names on Yellow Registers and White Slips, documents used in Daoist purification rituals to record merit and deliver the dead. Their names will be removed from the rolls of the dead, allowing their souls to be reborn.

To bring stability to the state, ensure that the king, ruler, ministers, fathers, and sons each fulfill their proper roles, and secure the long life of the state, one should also observe a fast throughout the tenth month and recite this scripture. This will bring peace to the lands governed by the ruler, and the people will praise the era of peace.

Reciting this scripture on the Eight Seasonal Nodes—the Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox, Beginning of Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Beginning of Winter, and Winter Solstice—will bring peace to Heaven and Earth and to the eight directions, where auspicious signs will also appear. The auspicious correspondences in the hidden charts and sacred writings will reveal themselves one by one. The pillars of the eight directions will be engraved with patterns like fine jade, and celestial officials in those directions will record good deeds, allowing the transformation of the Dao to endure.

Reciting this scripture on the days of the Three Origins—the Upper, Middle, and Lower Origins—will bring the compassionate grace and blessings of the celestial gods and earth spirits of the Twelve Zodiac Palaces and the four cardinal directions and four intermediate points. They will determine what is auspicious, causing the virtue of the enlightened ruler to grow ever more flourishing and the Way of the spirits to reach everywhere. The practitioner’s body will shine with jade radiance, and the face will take on a golden hue. The hun and po souls will become clear and upright; the ten thousand forms of primordial Qi will remain for a long time; suffering will be cut off, and the body will shine with light. The spirits of the Three Realms will guard and attend the practitioner. The Five Emperors will send deities to welcome them, and the myriad spirits will come to pay their respects. The practitioner’s name will be entered in the celestial registers, and once their merit is complete, they will ascend by flight to Shangqing, the lofty, pure heavens of Daoism.

The scripture says: Whenever performing this kind of Daoist cultivation ritual, one should first bathe in fragrant water, observe the fast and precepts, and enter a quiet room. Facing east, click the teeth thirty-two times to send the sound up to the Thirty-Two Heavens, then bow thirty-two times. Next, close the eyes and meditate, envisioning oneself seated upright amid clouds of blue, yellow, and white Qi. Clouds fill the room and its surroundings. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes stand in rows on either side. The sun and moon shine, illuminating the room. Talisman officials and merit officers from the eight directions stand all around in attendance. Above the head, a round image of the heavens appears, containing celestial patterns and writings of dragons and phoenixes; it brings peace to Heaven and Earth, and its light shines across the eight directions.

Once this vision is clear, silently recite the secret incantation:

“Supreme and Mysterious Origin, Lord of the Dao on High, summon from within my body the Three-Five Merit Officers, the officials and messengers on my left and right, the Jade Youths who attend the incense, the Jade Maidens who transmit words, the Five Emperors’ talisman officers, and the incense officials on duty today, thirty-two of each. Let them report what I am doing today: I have long observed the fast in a pure Daoist hall and cultivated this supreme scripture, the Scripture on Deliverance Without Measure. May what I pray for ascend and reach the throne of the Supreme Primordial Lord, the Most High of the Thirty-Two Heavens.”

After reciting this, draw in Qi toward the east thirty-two times, then recite the scripture.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, the supreme deity revered in Daoism, saves living beings through boundless compassion and has passed down this sublime scripture of the highest order.

The Primordial Cavern, Mysterious Numinous Treasure, Original Chapter is the most sublime of chapters. Its text appears in seal script formed naturally, holding the majesty of the spirits of the eight directions and the mysteries of ancient cosmic cycles. The true, wondrous Qi of Primordial Beginning brought forth the heavens, opened and illuminated the eight directions, and supported and established the foundations of Heaven and Earth. The spirits between Heaven and Earth formed as primordial Qi divided and gathered; once the realms of the eight directions were settled, blessings and calamities became manifest.

The divine talismans of the High God can drive away demons and protect the people. All talismans written with scripture can emit light, reveal meaning, establish order, bring deeds to completion, and pacify and guard the four quarters. This is the “Great Brahma pacifying and stabilizing Heaven and Earth”: bringing Heaven and Earth to peace, ensuring the nation’s lasting prosperity, and allowing auspicious signs and celebrations to continue without end.

From the Jade Emperor’s numinous capital in the lofty, supreme Great Luo Heaven, where Daoist immortals dwell, down to the Kunlun region of the lower world, the realms of the eight directions each have their fixed boundaries. Lands throughout the world, too, are clearly divided, with each place settled in its proper position. Heavenly officials, divine lords, and divine functionaries guard every place and submit written reports: at dawn they record good deeds and register merits, examining people according to their everyday conduct.

Vast Brahma Qi, the primordial energy spoken of in Daoism, flows throughout the eight directions. Among its powers are spirits who govern the eight directions of Heaven and Earth, envoys charged with wielding talismans to destroy ghosts and evils, and revered deities who stabilize the nation’s destiny. The Great Lord of Long Life at the Southern Pole, the True King of the Divine Empyrean, and the Lord of Azure Radiance issue teachings and establish laws. They defend the nation and protect its people, guarding the eight directions with talismanic methods so that Heaven and Earth remain clear. The True Lord, Senior Minister of the Jade Hall of the Celestial Province, and the Lord of the Mysterious Office, Chief Minister above, are responsible for warding off and dispelling baleful influences, bringing peace to the nation. The revered gods of the Southern Upper Office—Director of Destinies, Registrar of Destinies, Extender of Life, Augmenter of Years, and Deliverer from Calamity—govern people’s lifespans, blessings and rewards, and misfortunes. They cleanse the four quarters, allowing all things to flourish. Today the heavens open their teaching, and the spirits descend among humankind.

In the east, south, west, and north, and in the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest, each of the eight directions has its own Boundless Flying-Heaven Guardian God-King and Great Sage of Long Life, charged with saving beings without limit and coming to their aid.

The divine kings who guard talismans across the eight directions and fly through the heavens to protect the world, together with the Great Sages of Longevity and the Boundless Great Gods, all rode dark clouds to this place. Divine officials and clerks from the eight directions carried banners and pennants, while their cavalry attendants traveled through wind and cloud. Dragon-god couriers breathed smoke and fire; ghost officials, armored generals bearing weapons, and eight-armed divine attendants with vermilion-painted foreheads, blue armor, and qilin mounts came as well. Officials directly commissioned by talismanic orders and the spirits who guarded local regions led countless chariots and riders, traveling up and down to welcome and attend the heavenly procession. They guarded and protected the state and blessed all living beings. The Nanchang Celestial Mechanism Chancellor was among them.

Han Si, Registrar of the Upper Palace, commanded the Great Gods of the eight directions. He managed the registers of names in Heaven and Earth and inspected the gods. By divine command, he secretly summoned the gods and ordered them to assemble before the Celestial Emperor. They were to solemnly report to Heaven from their respective directions and issue a general proclamation to the boundless divine realms of the Three Realms—the vast world of spirits described in Daoism—as well as the Palace of Wanqu, a netherworld office; Luofeng of the Northern Capital, the legendary seat of the underworld; the Three Officials and Nine Offices; and the sources of the Twelve Rivers.

The gods swiftly summoned the Great Spirit Star Lord of Accumulated Corpses and ordered him to deliver all living beings from suffering. They were to rescue those afflicted by harms, clashes, assaults, and killings from the eight directions, as well as souls that had been summoned away. The accumulated sins of ancestors and relatives across generations were also to be released. Illnesses were to be dispelled, records of sins erased, and evil roots destroyed. The souls were no longer to be detained or forced to associate with ghosts. This was the power of the talismanic decree of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, used to settle and protect the spirits of the dead so that they might ascend.

The Division of the Cold Pool of the Northern Capital, a divine department in the underworld, guarded bodies and souls. The Earth Division, a divine office responsible for terrestrial affairs, recommended the souls of the dead so that they could be delivered from suffering and raised in rank. The Nanchang Celestial Mechanism Directorate governed the fortunes of the Dao, ensuring that its methods would flourish for a long time. The souls of the dead underwent refinement and transformation into immortals; the living, too, could receive deliverance and endure through generation after generation. People followed the cycles of the kalpas, their lifespans matching Heaven’s. From then on, they transcended calamities from the eight directions and were spared injury.

By following the talismanic decree to settle, guard, and protect, one could preserve blessings and good fortune and prolong life. Once one’s Daoist practice was complete and one’s De (Virtue) fulfilled, one could transcend the Three Realms and ascend freely to Shangqing, the higher celestial realm in Daoism. The Jade Perfected One, Celestial Emperor of Shangqing, protected the realm, and all people were to follow the way of purity.

The Eight Heavens of the East

Brightly Upholding Jade Yang Heaven—the presiding deity is Emperor Zhili Shifang.

Horn Womb Uppermost Heaven—the presiding deity is Emperor Xunyi Siwan.

Treasured Purity, Wondrous Being Heaven—the presiding deity is Emperor Qunti Shixun.

Yanji Qianzong Heaven—the presiding deity is Emperor Liqi Huachang.

Di Zhang Supporting the Sovereign Heaven—the presiding deity is Emperor Peng Yici.

Greatest to Vast Ancestor Heaven—the presiding deity is Emperor Zhaoji Zongwei.

Hidden Darkness, Han Transformation Heaven—the presiding deity is Emperor Chuanzhen Shiyuan.

Far and Distant, Rarefied Accord Heaven—the presiding deity is Emperor Zuluo Ying.

The Eight Heavens of the South

These passages list the thirty-two heavens and the titles of their celestial emperors. The names and imperial titles of the first eight heavens, in order, are: Heaven of Fiery Skies and the Burning Horizon, Emperor Longsi Misha; Heaven of Casting the Gods’ Bones and Imagining Them, Emperor Xuanxian Sheng; Heaven of Radiant Splendor and Graceful Ascent, Emperor Chunjì Huanchi; Heaven of Proclaiming Reform and Celebrating Abundance, Emperor Xiangjing Yilao; Heaven of Transforming, Embroidering, and Cleansing the Venerated, Emperor Zhaoxuan Ciming; Heaven of the Dipper’s Void and Flaming A-E, Emperor Zhenyun Midu; Heaven of Blocking Righteousness and Flowing Flame, Emperor Mengzi Huitang; and Heaven of Brief Feathers and the Dao Beyond, Emperor Dongjing Yidang.

The eight western heavens are: Heaven of Winding Discourse and Subduing Demons, Emperor Gaotu Xinliang; Heaven of Willow Abodes and Presiding over Heaven, Emperor Boding Mo; Heaven of the Purple Whale and Linked Borders, Emperor Zouxiang Fu; Heaven of Proud Spirits and the Joyful Void, Emperor Shangjue Zhen; Heaven of Accumulated Isles and Peaceful Shores, Emperor Yan Qiuzi Xian; Heaven of Sealing and Contemplating the Void, Emperor Junyuan Cipeng; Heaven of Righteous Spirits and Flying Huts, Emperor Panji Dongxia; and Heaven of Praising the Mystery and Flowing Radiance, Emperor Taiyao Kangrong.

The eight northern heavens are: Heaven of the Hidden Subtlety of the Dipper’s Mystery, Emperor Qi Xi Longmei; Heaven of Manifesting Transformation and Myriad Radiances, Emperor Baochui Chong; Heaven of the Historians A, E, and Ji, Emperor Cou Changlun; Heaven of the Constant and the Especially Excellent, Emperor Duan Congjian; Heaven of Guests, Zhang, and Guarding Talismans, Emperor Qu Hui Mingfang; Heaven of the Blessed King’s Unhurried Journey, Emperor Shouqi Xi; Heaven of the Still Plain and Flowering Cauldron, Emperor Duzhen Tianxing; and Heaven of the Far-Reaching Dao and Vast Flow, Emperor Yan Yongjiang.

This passage from the scripture explains that each of the thirty-two heavens has its own secret name and celestial emperor’s title. Calling these titles “concealed taboos” or “hidden names” indicates that they are sacred secret names in Daoist scriptures. The scripture says that the numinous registers and hidden rhymes of these heavenly realms can bring stability to the four directions and protect the nation’s fortunes.

This is a scripture for guarding the state and averting calamities. It says that the spirits of the eight directions and the celestial demons are commanded to pacify and guard the four quarters, summon divine beings, and protect the inhabitants of Heaven and Earth. It also invokes the imperial lords of the Five Directions and the stellar lords of the Northern Dipper, Southern Dipper, and other constellations, each to carry out a specific charge: the Eastern Dipper governs transformation, the Western Dipper subdues demons and evil forces, the Northern Dipper eliminates treachery, the Southern Dipper protects life, and the Central Dipper suppresses wrongdoing. The Azure Emperor nourishes all things, the White Emperor helps bring endeavors to completion, the Red Emperor brings peace to the people, the Black Emperor dispels calamities, and the Yellow Emperor protects life and ensures safety.

The scripture goes on to say that the celestial demon kings of the Azure, Red, White, Black, and Yellow Directions, together with their mighty divine warriors, will hunt down evil spirits and cleanse the eight directions. They command ghost soldiers and patrol the vast sky, using their awe-inspiring radiance to guard the fortunes of the state and drive away baleful influences. Once commanded, they can dispel ill omens from the world, subdue venomous snakes, demonic spirits, and ghosts, and slay evil essences. No demon may intrude, and ghosts have nowhere to hide. All the relevant deities will heed the command together and report the circumstances to Shangqing.

This method for pacifying and guarding the state was transmitted by the Primordial Heavenly Lord, who brought together the Three Qi of Heaven and Earth. It is kept secret in the Treasure Chamber of Donghua and protected by strict prohibitions. The true talismans of the eight directions are said to be numinous writings formed naturally. Their purple characters are condensed from the splendor of Flying Mystery and the Qi of the Nine Phoenixes. They are used to rescue and protect the world from calamities, suppress evil beings in every direction, and respond when the land is in turmoil.

If plague, warfare, banditry, or flood or fire disasters break out within the state, the scripture prescribes offering incense and observing ritual purification, performing the Way and reciting this scripture six times a day. Practitioners then write talismans in cinnabar according to the direction in which the disaster has arisen, choosing a color suited to the prevailing phase at that time. They establish an altar within the affected territory, burn incense, and perform a Zhaijiao purification ritual. Observing purification, performing the Way, and holding the ritual are all Daoist rites of averting calamity through purification, scripture recitation, incense offerings, and altar ceremonies.

During the ritual, the ritual master holds a sacred sword, steps through the astral pattern, and recites the incantation using the method of controlling Qi. Once the talismans have been properly placed, the altar and its mats may be removed after three or seven days. This is considered highly auspicious.

If a harmful, poisonous Qi is present in one direction of a house, a talisman made of yellow earth may be used to suppress it. The talismans described here may also be used to dispel and subdue it. These rites also serve as offerings to the officials who govern the eight directions, along with their officers and attendants.

The following is a text for protecting the world from the Shangqing (Highest Clarity), a sacred lineage revered in Daoism; it must not be treated lightly. The spirit officers, boys, and jade maidens who guard the talismans and registers will carry out their commands. The talismans are shown below. There are eight in all: they may be written on silk or paper, cast in metal, or carved in stone. Each direction is guarded by nineteen talisman officers on duty, three messengers, and three thousand protective officials, officers, and attendants.

True Talisman of the Venerable Qinghua for Protecting the World and Preserving Life in the East

Write it in blue on black silk and place it in the Zhen palace (the eastern position among the Eight Trigrams).

True Talisman of the Perfected Red Spirit for Protecting the World and Bringing Prosperous Blessings in the South

Write it in vermilion on yellow silk and place it in the Li palace (the south).

True Talisman of the Jade Maiden Zhangjian for Protecting the World and Averting Warfare in the West

Write it in white on black silk and place it in the Dui palace (the west).

True Talisman of the Great Dragon-Profound Spirit for Protecting the World and Preserving the Mandate in the North

Write it in black on white silk and place it in the Kan palace (the north).

True Talisman of the Lord of the Haozhen Spirits for Protecting the World and Subduing Demons in the Northeast

Write it in white on green silk and place it in the Gen palace (the northeast).

True Talisman of the Divine Lord of the Azure Immortal for Protecting the World and Reaching the Profound in the Southeast

Write it in blue-green on purple silk and place it in the Xun palace (the southeast).

True Talisman of the Lady Xuanzhen for Protecting the World and Honoring the August Sovereign in the Southwest

Write it in black on deep red silk and place it in the Kun palace (the southwest).

True Talisman of the Celestial Elder Sovereign for Protecting the World and Guarding the State in the Northwest

Write it in white on black silk and place it in the Qian palace (the northwest).

The scripture says that these eight talismans are characters formed from the essence condensed out of Brahma Qi—the sacred, primordial energy—and brought into being through natural transformation. Placing them in position guards the eight directions of Heaven and Earth and turns calamity into good fortune. In the era of the sovereign’s ten thousand years, ordinary people who hold sincere faith may write the eight talismans in cinnabar on yellow silk and wear them on their person to ward off evil spirits and calamities. They may travel freely without obstruction from the positions of Tai Sui or other baleful forces. When building or renovating a home, the talismans may also be placed in the eight directions to ensure that all sides are favorable.

Finally, write the twelve characters “True Lord of Securing the State’s Mandate, Ten Thousand Years of Peace, and the Five Blessings” on yellow silk, and place it on the stone platform at the center.

The Central Jade Inscription, the sacred writing of the central direction, consists of twelve characters. It can protect and stabilize a state’s destiny, ensuring the emperor’s dignity and a long life blessed with good fortune. These characters are engraved above the palaces of the emperors of the heavens. If the seasons within a state fall out of balance and disasters and epidemics occur one after another, a Jiao ritual should be held: an altar should be set up to pray to the celestial deities, the Heavenly Perfected should be honored, and the true writings of the Five Directions, the Eight Talismans for pacifying and protecting, and mountain-and-water registers should be displayed. Within seven days, the gods will surely respond and descend, bringing blessings and auspicious signs.

When Primordial Qi was still in chaos, the Five Qi circled and shone, joining above and below. Jade liquid surged and gathered, forming Jade Capital, which rose high and encircled the eight directions. Metal Qi gave rise to a force of strength and firmness, while the divine wind surged without cease. Across the vast Nine Kalpas, the Jade Chamber of Taiyi took the Dao as the root of Qi. The cycles of kalpas such as Longhan and Yankang endured through years beyond counting.

Within the boundless chaos, there was no realm of form above and no abyss below. Golden essence nourished all things, while dragons lay hidden. There was a great god among them, whose body was like a jade lizard, boundless in size and ten thousand zhang tall. It breathed out thunder and exhaled smoke; its eyes became the sun and moon, and its blood became springs. Vast waves plunged into unfathomable depths, gathering into oceans and rivers. Clouds condensed, primordial energy surged, and jade-colored radiance transformed into the heavens. Between heaven and earth there was neither darkness nor the underworld, and no bodies or shadows. The Great Dao was boundless and vast, a confused expanse that at first held no light.

In the time of Crimson Brightness, heaven and earth were opened, and motion and transformation arose spontaneously. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning settled heaven and earth, spreading down wondrous, numinous, true Qi. The divine nets of the eight directions and the stars linked together. Spirit officials appointed by command divided the territories, while Dragon Lords guarded them. The Heavenly Killers, Earthly Killers, and great gods of the eight directions each watched over their appointed palaces among the twelve. Above was Qian, below was Kun; Dao Qi ran through them like a cord threading pearls, or like a necklace joined together.

The divine talisman was written in red characters. It drove away the Qi of demons and baleful beings, protected and governed the cycles of the kalpas, and kept the Way of Heaven enduring. Brahma Qi filled the cosmos, from which the various laws unfolded.

The Celestial Net of Primordial Beginning turned and evolved, as the thirty-two heavens revolved in succession. The formless realm extended all around; the eight directions turned with the Dipper stars, passing through the Ji lunar mansion as the Six Qi intertwined. The thirty-five divisions governed the Celestial Gates and subdued Qi that intruded, encroached, or collided with them. The movements and stillness of heaven and earth also changed accordingly…

This scripture elucidates Daoist cultivation methods and the protection of humanity. Practitioners must maintain inner spiritual focus (devoted to internal cultivation) while safeguarding worldly peace. Acts of virtue and eradication of evil are recorded in the Three Pure Heavens (Sanqing, the supreme Daoist celestial realm). During cultivation, the Eight Luminosities (key acupoints in the body) must harmonize with the Qi of heaven and earth, attaining profound states to commune with exalted deities.

The text depicts divine visions: golden radiance illuminates auspicious clouds resonant with jade chimes, while spiritual Qi gathers like swirling mist. In the violet void, myriad immortals soar. Through specific talismanic scripts (Fulu) and cultivation techniques (such as the method of water and fire balancing), one may naturally realize the true Dao. Within the body reside various divine spirits—like the Great Lord of Longevity and the Immaculate Youth (part of Daoism’s internal pantheon)—who collectively safeguard the nation and its people.

Cultivation involves circulating the Qi of the Five Viscera (Five Phases), harmonizing the myriad spirits, and undergoing ten transformations until all energies return to pristine purity. Daoism venerates life and emphasizes universal salvation. The scripture mentions the opening of the Eight Sacred Directions, enabling the liberation of departed souls and the stabilization of the Nine Provinces.

The celestial realm possesses eight sacred texts, including the ethereal hymns (divine melodies) transmitted by the True Kings (high-ranking deities). The first section describes the pure realm of the Desire World (one of the Three Realms): the Dao gives birth to all things, while Yin-Yang differentiation forms heaven and earth. Above, jade towers grace the skies; below, twelve divine generals guard the eight directions and four gates. The Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Metal, Water) interact through mutual generation and restraint, as seasonal cycles alternate. Harmonious Qi (Chonghe) brings equilibrium—aligning with the Dao’s principles invites blessings, while defiance invites misfortune.

The conclusion portrays the exalted Jade Pure King of Divine Empyrean (a revered Daoist deity) descending in a green chariot, praying for the flourishing of Daoist teachings. Reciting the Dragon Script (sacred texts) wards off calamities, preserves righteous Qi, and ensures prosperous fortunes. Practitioners must chant the Dongxuan scriptures and incantations to expel malign spirits and vanquish demons.

The power to stabilize and protect endures without cease; the blessings of the sages grow ever more flourishing.

Second: Chapter of Auspicious Blessings in the Eight Regions of the Form Realm

The myriad gods of the Jade Capital command the eight directions, arrayed throughout all places and reaching everywhere. The breath of the Great Brahma moves and circulates, transforming on a vast and profound scale, spreading through countless realms.

The writings of Flying Mystery—the wondrous realm of flight and ascension—are complete. Wear and uphold the true and numinous talismanic script, and disasters will be cut off before they can come one after another. Auspiciousness and celebration will arrive in succession. The energies of Kan and Li, Water and Fire, surge and stir, while malign forces roil all around. Wherever the divine talismans reach, numinous light remains in peace, and blessings descend from Purple Clarity, the Daoist celestial realm.

The time and the occasion come together of their own accord. The joy of this moment is a gift from the Lord on High. Banish demons and dispel malign forces, eliminate calamities, and bring harmony and peace to all beings. My Great Dao is difficult to encounter; that is why I have revealed this profound scripture. The wondrous methods and precepts of flight through the heavens merge all things into the Mysterious Origin, the source of the Dao.

How success and failure are brought about depends entirely on you. The protection and salvation of all beneath heaven rely on the sound of this chant.

Third: Song of Heavenly Blessings for Calming and Protecting the Formless Realm

Azure clouds rise thick and high; their jade-colored purity is complete and all-pervading. They penetrate the open void, beyond form and appearance. Pure numinous waves shine and flow. Only the Primal One, the origin from which all things arise, and the spirit of Chaos generate Heaven and Earth and array the wondrous true Qi.

The world is divided into eight directions, with Purple Emptiness, the lofty and clear celestial realm, hidden at its center. The August Pole reigns in the middle, governing the four directions and all ten thousand domains. Flying spirits transform in countless ways, their methods in accord with the Great Dao and forever true. The red celestial writing shines brilliantly, subduing demons and malign forces and summoning auspicious signs. Through its numinous transformations, it brings well-being to all things.

The drawing near of blessings depends on the heart; they truly come from nowhere else. When the heart penetrates the meaning of the Mysterious, the Three Qi—the three primal energies that make up Heaven, Earth, and all things—gather into radiance. The fortune of the state is thereby stabilized, and all teachings return to unity. The myriad gods gather joyfully to receive blessings, while numinous youths beat drums and ring bells.

This is the song of flying immortals above the Three Realms, its melody joined with the Cavern Chapters, the Daoist scriptures and sacred writings. Recite it one hundred times, and your name will be entered in the registers of the Southern Palace. Recite it one thousand times, and the Demon King will escort you and welcome you. Recite it ten thousand times, and your Daoist attainment will be complete: you will ascend through the vast heavens, transcend the Three Realms, and take your place among the Immortal Lords.

The Demon King Lingyin revered the laws governing the divine and commanded the earth deities to guard the sacred sovereign, bringing peace to the eight directions and forever ending calamities. As a result, the ancestors were able to ascend and feast in the Jade Heaven, enjoying boundless happiness. Even after enduring kalpa-years of tribulation, they remained joyful and hopeful. This is called “immeasurable.” This scripture can preserve and deliver countless beings. It is a secret treasure of Heaven, revered by all the heavens. Anyone who reveals it or treats it with contempt will fall into hell, bringing calamity upon seven generations of ancestors.

The Dao says: The two chapters above are both secret teachings in sound and script, transmitted by the emperors of the heavens and the most numinous true kings. They belong to the “language of the Great Brahma,” the sacred language of Heaven, and are not ordinary worldly expressions. They have neither worldly meter nor ornate diction, and are therefore called mysterious and difficult to investigate and explain in detail. They are scriptures cherished by Heaven and kept secret in the Upper Palace of Purple Tenuity in the Dark Capital. According to the mysterious regulations—the Daoist precepts and rules for transmission—they are transmitted only once every forty thousand kalpas. If a truly accomplished person of the Dao brings gold, silk, and other valuables, sincerely makes a vow, and swears an oath to Heaven according to the established rules, then, after ten days, the scripture may be transmitted to them.

The Dao says: The workings of Heaven and Earth have periods of flourishing and decline, beginning and ending; the sun, moon, and five planets also wax and wane. Sages and spiritual beings may encounter hardship, and beginners in the Way may be harmed by it. Calamities may also afflict the state, bringing floods and droughts, hardship among the people, and epidemics. Whenever disasters and anomalies arise along the borders of the eight directions, Daoist practitioners of like mind should fast together, offer incense at six times of day, recite the scripture eight times in succession, perform a Zhaijiao ritual by setting up an altar and making offerings to the heavenly deities, apply talismans and registers to the perfected beings of the eight directions, and place twelve jade characters in the central palace, praying earnestly and steadfastly. In this way, blessings and De will descend and dispel every ill omen. This immeasurable scripture can universally deliver countless beings.

The Dao says: When governance and instruction remain incomplete and De is not yet sufficient, those who wish to extend their teaching widely and bring forth mysterious merit should select a person of profound cultivation to lead the incense offerings and scripture recitations. Then Heaven and Earth and the eight directions will be at peace, the state will prosper and thrive, the people will be protected from evil spirits, the deities will be set right, and all things will receive their beneficence and be endowed with the vital energy of life. If a ghost’s spirit is obstructed because its corpse remains behind, it too can be released and delivered. Its body and soul will go directly to the Southern Palace, the heavenly court that oversees the ascent and deliverance of the dead. There, its days will be determined according to its cultivated merit, and it will attain renewed life, escape the cycle of transmigration and destruction, and ultimately become an immortal.

The Dao says: When the allotted Qi of Heaven and Earth is nearing its end, the stars move out of order, the sun and moon grow dim, the seasons fall out of alignment, and Yin-Yang is thrown into disorder, calamities will befall the state. Floods, fires, warfare, banditry, and epidemics will spread, leaving the people dead or injured. The passing of masters and fellow practitioners is likewise caused by the invading Qi of punishment and overcoming that arises throughout the eight directions of Heaven and Earth. Whenever such circumstances occur, talismans and registers should be applied, and the prescribed fasting, incense offerings, and scripture recitations should be carried out. The merit of fasting and reciting the scripture is immense: above, it can dispel heavenly disasters and protect and stabilize the emperor; below, it can ward off poisonous harm and deliver the people. Both the living and the dead can rely on its blessings and De. Its merit cannot be measured, and so it is called “immeasurable deliverance of the people of Heaven and Earth.”

The scripture says: Anyone who governs Heaven and Earth and rules over the people, if they can put into practice the merit described in this scripture, should, when a day of calamity arrives, resolve to perform a purification rite, purify their mind and do good, burn incense and recite the scripture, and make ritual invocations to the eight directions by setting up an altar. They should use Fulu and magical arts, and recite the scripture eight times. All the heavens will then record their name, and the myriad spirits will protect them.

Only such a person is qualified to become a sage and enlightened ruler, or to serve as a courtier in the Golden Palace of Heaven. The heavens record people’s merits and faults, omitting nothing, however slight. The True Kings of Heaven will also recommend and protect you, enabling you to attain the Dao. Only after attaining the Dao can you truly understand the scripture’s most profound teachings.

“Among the heavens, the Great Brahma’s hidden words resound in countless tones”—compiled by the Lord of the Dao.

Jade Chapter on Pacifying the State’s Destiny with the Primordial Beginning’s Num inous Writ

Below are the Great Brahma’s hidden words—the sacred secret language of the celestial realm—corresponding to the eight heavens in each of the east, south, west, and north. The scripture presents them as sequences of special terms. They are secret words recited in ritual and are generally not interpreted as ordinary sentences:

Eight Heavens of the East

竅呌鼇醯　辯霸龢霠　教昴洎撲

越英孳緘　昺扁流轄　爰瓏稽郴

妙落筆俞　肇熒彌摩　郁圖璟祖

竇冥健禂　琯棐赭環　徼咸協汾

鮮鐸巴漫　馗瓊綠完　蔽膜遊綿

邈巒斗箋

Eight Heavens of the South

訥池建憇　炯桓嶷兟　罔𤣥師元

霹溥優賓　宥團宥假　天晶厯孫

呌崛羈罩　麽錫漾敦　鎪犀幹索

譚監鬼遒　懋姬暄緒　屢涪婁滷

蕭仙登京　篆昭孔盟　晝就豚浹

混徊洞侖

Eight Heavens of the West

蘇訶交彭　屈觀史庚　忍利欹遁

幽茂武神　圭羅積坤　殊容被紳

濫卓廣割　嬰漏淵璘　頂舍乾婁

淨展昏鈞　命提懽茹　遘混泥淪

瀹莊運秀　毗孤遼泉　逵濯衍文

史極酉仙

Eight Heavens of the North

藏堅滸銳　日曄靈頤　輻遠蹟徠

藴剸犀雷　燿揚晃微　陁蘭伊垂

乳鹹旌派　虛劫赤璺　盤巒俯巓

These characters are the “Great Brahma Hidden Words” of the many heavens—the secret sacred words of the celestial realm. They are known as the sounds of the boundless. In ancient times, people cast and engraved them on drums made of sacred metal in five colors, using them as talismans and registers to pacify the eight directions of Heaven and Earth, harmonize the cycles and vital energy of the cosmos, and support and protect the state so that it might flourish together with the Dao.

Each character is enormous, measuring one zhang in height. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Truth, an immortal in Daoist legend, once wrote these characters as the sounds of the orthodox tradition. If someone knows how to pronounce them and can observe purification and recite them, the heavens will send the divine kings and rulers of the eight directions to descend and observe that person’s conduct, record their merits, and report them to the gods of the heavens. Earthly spirits will attend at the person’s gate, while perfected immortals of great merit will recommend them, enabling them to cultivate the Great Dao and ultimately gain the chance to travel through the Three Realms and ascend to the Golden Gate.

These sacred words can break through, dispel, transform, and bring all things to completion. They are the natural sounds of Primordial Truth. Reciting them can therefore summon the Eight Perfected Ones to descend and observe; the High God sings in response from afar, the myriad spirits come to pay homage, and the gods who serve the Three Realms approach the ceremonial procession. All malign forces bow their heads and surrender, while ghosts and monsters vanish of their own accord. Their tinkling, jade-like sounds shake the four quarters, bringing stillness and clarity to the ten directions. Rivers and seas grow calm, mountains cease to exhale clouds and mist, and all numinous beings are awed into submission. Thus, no turbid energy remains in Heaven, no demonic dust or impurity remains on Earth, and both the netherworld and the realm of wisdom become clear and transparent. This is a realm both vast and mysterious.

Note: The opening seven lines consist of syllables or written symbols of the “Great Brahma Hidden Words.” The transmitted texts contain many rare and corrupted characters, making a reliable interpretation from their literal wording impossible; they are therefore retained in the original rather than translated by conjecture.