《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 6

The Dao teaches: In ancient times, the Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning transmitted The Wondrous Teaching of the Divine Transformations of the Supreme One Who Saves All, in the Great Fuli Land of Biluokongge in the Primordial Azure Heaven. Before beginning his teaching, the Celestial Worthy recited the scripture ten times and summoned the gods of the ten directions to attend the assembly.

The Great Gods of Heavenly Truth, the Most High Sacred Worthies, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, the True Lords of the Supreme Ones of the Three Origins, the Nine Palaces and Eight Historians, the Great Gods of the Spirit Charts and Jade Bureaus, and countless other gods came riding through the air. They rode on ninefold radiance and traveled amid purple clouds. Fragrant smoke curled like green mist. Vermilion phoenix cloud chariots, jeweled carriages drawn by striped dragons, carved wheels, and tier upon tier of canopies gleamed together. Jade ornaments gathered light, while colors vied in splendor. The immortal clouds spread in dazzling forms, and their radiance shone through the eight directions.

For nine days and nine nights, the sacred mountains of the heavens stood peacefully still. Spirit winds swept through, clearing away even the finest dust and haze, until the four seas were clear. Looking out, one saw the lands, rivers, mountains, and forests throughout the realm, fragrant and richly green, like azure clouds. The gods surrounded the scene on every side and gazed up into the vast sky, where the wondrous light they beheld merged with the color of heaven.

The Perfected Ones stood in attendance before the assembly. The Celestial Worthy sat upright in empty space, upon the Jade Capital’s golden beams and the floating platform of the Eight Winds. There stood a jeweled structure adorned with cloud pearls and curved ornaments of Qu Chen, along with the Heavenly Virtue throne encircled by ten thousand dragons. When the Celestial Worthy recited the scripture for the first time, all the great sages of the heavens praised it together.

At that moment, the Supreme One began to take shape within primordial chaos, changing from formlessness into form. When the Celestial Worthy recited the scripture a second time, the Supreme One received the Qi of life and took a shape like a lotus seed. On the third recitation, the lotus seed budded and sent forth a blossom; true Qi flowed through it like a rainbow. On the fourth, shoots of nine-colored clouds burst forth, curling as they grew and forming a shell. On the fifth, the Supreme One dwelt at the center, surrounded by the scenes of the eight directions. On the sixth, mysterious fluids nourished it, while primordial Qi tended it from within. On the seventh, the seven apertures of the Heavenly Infant opened and brightened, enabling it to make sounds. On the eighth, the Supreme One and all things were born and emerged from the womb, and the Supreme One looked upward. On the ninth, the Supreme One tried to take its first steps, turning and walking through the Nine Palaces. On the tenth, the Supreme One wore brocade robes and held a jade divining instrument, a jade implement used for divination or ritual practice.

At that moment, men and women throughout the realm joyfully witnessed the Celestial Worthy demonstrating the principles and foundations of the Supreme One’s divine transformations. They received blessings and were delivered from suffering. Their hearts were convinced, and they sincerely took refuge; thus they were all saved and granted long life.

The Dao teaches: At that moment, when the Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning recited the scripture for the first time, the Eastern True Lord of the Supreme One of the Three Origins who Celebrates Birth arrived in perfected form… [The original text ends here unfinished.]

Countless great deities descended from the sky. When the scripture was recited for the second time, the Southern Three Origins Grand Unity True Lord of Vast Radiance—Grand Unity, the deity who governs the south—arrived with his retinue. At the third recitation, the Western Three Origins Grand Unity True Lord of the Divine Tiger arrived with his retinue. At the fourth, the Northern Three Origins Grand Unity True Lord of the Hidden Way arrived with his retinue.

At the fifth recitation, the Northeastern Three Origins Grand Unity True Lord of Ghost Strategies arrived with his retinue. At the sixth, the Southeastern Three Origins Grand Unity True Lord of Original Birth arrived with his retinue. At the seventh, the Southwestern Three Origins Grand Unity True Lord of the Mother of Kun arrived with her retinue. At the eighth, the Northwestern Three Origins Grand Unity True Lord of the Great Elder arrived with his retinue. At the ninth, the Upper Three Origins Grand Unity True Lord of Heavenly Gua arrived with his retinue. At the tenth, the Lower Three Origins Grand Unity True Lord of Earthly Chi arrived with his retinue.

When the scripture had been recited ten times, the Three Origins Grand Unity True Lords of the ten directions and their countless attendants were all gathered together. The men and women of the entire kingdom sincerely turned toward them and revered them. Those who had come were all led by the Grand Unity True Lords in the nine palaces of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Origins. The Grand Unity in each palace of the Three Origins then transformed into three palaces; these three palaces transformed into nine. Within the nine palaces, each palace in turn transformed into nine more, unfolding layer upon layer until eighty-one palaces had formed. Grand Unity dwelt at the center, while the Grand Unity deities of the ten directions shone forth with light and saved living beings.

People from all the heavens came before the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, looking up to him and listening to the teachings of the Great Dao. Their number was beyond counting. The throngs attending the Three Origins Grand Unity True Lords were as dense as clouds and gathered like surging seas, filling all four directions. The remaining sacred grounds throughout the kingdom were shaken by their arrival; palace temples and towers trembled and glittered with boundless, irresistible light.

At that moment, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning remained seated and motionless. He raised his hand to grasp the Jade Dipper’s cord and held the Great Dipper. Suddenly, he descended from the sky, visible even to the Celestials far away.

The canopy of splendor shines brilliantly, entwined and interlaced with countless treasures. The chief constellation near the Dipper’s mouth comes into view. It descends from the heavens, its radiance shining amid emerald light and shadow. Its round halo reflects gold and gleams brightly, sending forth rosy clouds like a great mass of fire.

Within it is the Most High Perfect Lord, seated upon a golden couch in a jade pavilion and dressed in a purple embroidered brocade robe. Behind his neck rests a halo of nine colors. He holds a star pearl, clear and radiant.

The Celestial Venerable Who Commands the Heavens gazes upon the heavenly and earthly realms and proclaims to the countless beings of heaven and humanity: “The Perfect Lords of Taiyi of the Three Primordial Forces and Nine Palaces each ride within their own palaces, manifesting wondrous transformations and blessings. The human body, too, has its deities, known as the Central Yellow Taiyi, who dwells in the Mysterious Elixir, where the body’s inner elixir and spirit and Qi reside. Now Taiyi manifests its divine transformations and descends to the Dao altar. The distant Jade City is no larger than a square inch; with my immeasurable divine power, I deliver all beings. Taiyi takes form through transformation and expounds the teaching together with me.”

Then the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning led the Heavenly Perfected Great Gods, the Highest Saints and Venerable Ones, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, and countless Perfected Great Gods from the ten directions and beyond measure, including the Perfect Lords of Taiyi of the Three Primordial Forces, into the chief constellation. The heavenly beings looked up and saw many figures entering the constellation. Once they had entered the star palace, no one knew where they were. The people of the land dispersed, and the ground grew level again, no longer tilting or shaking.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning then expounded the scriptures and teachings within the star palace. When the teaching was complete, the assembled Perfected Ones examined and attested to what had taken place, then transmitted the teaching to me. The joy and celebration of that moment defy description; the ritual was nearly complete. The gods of the heavens each returned to their appointed place. In an instant, all was silent, without a trace of sound.

At that time, the heavenly beings were fortunate to encounter this scripture and teaching, and all received deliverance. Through its wondrous transformations, Taiyi responded to the times and sent down blessings, preserving everyone’s allotted lifespan and keeping them from harm. The land was at peace, people’s hearts turned toward the Dao, and everyone awakened to the Dao mind. There were no disasters, wars, famine, illness, or tyranny; no calamities from heaven, upheavals, punishments, fear, or alarm. People spoke words of good fortune and treated one another with kindness and compassion. Even those with different surnames were as close as family. The country was at peace, the people prosperous, and all rejoiced in a life of peace.

When this scripture and teaching was first transmitted to instruct the people of a country, all who embraced it with utmost sincerity, revered it, and paid it homage could be delivered from the sufferings of the world.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning said: What is spoken of in this scripture consists entirely of the inner names and hidden tones of the Great One of the Three Origins—the deity who governs the Heavenly, Human, and Earthly Origins. These are also the inner taboos of the Nine Palaces and the concealed names of the hundred spirits; they are not ordinary words used in the world. The highest sages have already cultivated themselves into perfected beings. Having grasped the mysterious principles and explored what is hidden and subtle, they can fully understand its passages and phrases.

When this scripture is recited ten times, the Great One looks down upon the Three Origins and beats a drum to keep time, setting the celestial wheel in motion as its parts revolve and cross. The earthly realm shines gold; the sun and moon join like paired jade discs, and the constellations link together like pearls. The Milky Way grows clear, the mountains rise in solemn stillness, numinous winds sweep through the empty spaces, and the myriad openings resound. The Celestial Net turns, its pivots and mechanisms move, and the various offices carry out their transformations on their own. Demons are bound and ghosts destroyed; corpses return to life, and white bones become living people. The Great One’s blessing can restore life to those who have perished.

Those who aspire to the ultimate Dao and recite the scripture ten times will see the Five Emperors take up axes and battle-axes—the weapons carried by the divine generals of the Three Origins—while the Lords of the Three Origins raise banners of destiny, symbols of divine command. The Great One rides out in a chariot to visit the eight directions. Blessings travel with the movement of divine Qi, and among the myriad paths, this one is first to dispel ill fortune. Calamities of famine and forced migration come to an end, demons vanish, and the dead in the netherworld ascend to immortality. The blessings and favor of the divinities extend for hundreds of millions of years. The Great One’s divine might is boundless; it dwells at the pivotal seat of the Celestial Net. Even someone gravely ill and close to death can preserve their life upon encountering the Great One.

This is because those who cultivate this scripture await the turning of fortune and the right moment. The Great One then commands the perfected spirits to use their might to subdue the ten directions, awe the heavens, command the Earth’s spirits, bind demonic beings, avert calamity, and drive away death, freeing people from danger and restoring them to life. The Great One’s divine writing can bring about transformations and summon back numinous Qi. But reciting this passage carelessly and without reverence will instead invite misfortune. Those who make offerings to this scripture and honor it will see their household prosper. Their descendants will flourish from generation to generation, forming bonds with good deeds; no calamity will be able to harm them, and the Great One will guard their household.

This scripture is honored and mysterious, without equal in the Jade Capital, the Daoist city in heaven. Through its immeasurable methods, it transforms and saves living beings; it is the foundation of the myriad paths. Its principles are exalted and vast, and its blessings are beyond full description.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning also said: All who recite this scripture ten times should understand the Great One’s way of divine transformation. The Three Origins comprise twenty-seven palaces, divided among the Heavenly, Human, and Earthly Origins. Each of the three divisions has its own Great One Perfected Lord in charge. According to the differing colors of the Nine Qi, Nine Stars, and Nine Palaces, they arrange the world’s fortunes and calamities, relieve the hardships of the age, guard the realm, and bless the state and its ruler, ensuring the emperor’s long life and prosperity and peace in the heavens. Such is the mysterious merit of the Great One.

In the Nine Palaces of heaven, the Northern Emperor dwells in the northeast, You Shu in the east, Yu Sheng in the southeast, Wang Li in the south, Zhu Ling in the southwest, Nü Fang in the west, Hao Qing in the northwest, Xu Zheng in the north-center, and Huang Ling in the center. The Great One’s titles, in order, are: Gu Cang, Zhu Fu, Ming You, Zi Yi, Jiu Shou, Bai Qi, Ding Jia, Su Ji, and Bing Qiu.

The nine palaces of the human body—the nine directional palaces—are as follows: the north is the Dark Palace, the northeast is the Soul-Spitting Palace, the east is the Infant Palace, the southeast is the Ghost Capital, the south is the Volcano, the southwest is the Tiger’s Body, the west is the Bear Woman, the northwest is the Father of Qian, and the center is the Hall of Blessings. The titles of the Taiyi (the deity who governs fortune and misfortune) in these palaces are: Changsheng, Di, Kang, Bo, Lun, Chen, Fu, Xuan, Tu, Jiusha, Danjing, Qijia, and Renmu.

The nine palaces of the earth are as follows: the north is the Dark Chamber, the northeast is Cangti, the east is Xuanqing, the southeast is Yiming, the south is the Red Soldiers, the southwest is the General’s Seal, the west is Fusha, the northwest is Daojing, and the center is Puden. The titles of the Taiyi in these palaces are: Xuanhu, Lüchi, Pifa, Jiushen, Qingshe, Baimeng, Xueshi, Changnu, and Mengchun.

The hidden divine names of the Three Origins—the three primordial energies of Heaven, Earth, and Water—differ from the names commonly used in the world, and their meaning is exceedingly mysterious. The central palace is the Court of the Five Blessings and the essence of the Earth deity. In Heaven it is called the Heavenly Emperor; at the center it is called Taiyi; in the lower realm it is called Xuanyi. The body of one who cultivates the Dao also contains a place where the imperial deity dwells, and one should visualize Xuanyi. Those who obtain the Dao of Xuanyi can transform one into ten thousand and return ten thousand to one, master transformation, understand the root of life, extend their years, escape death, and become immortals who live forever.

The Earth energies of the Five Directions are governed by the imperial deity, who oversees blessings. For this reason, Taiyi moves from one palace to another at set intervals: after residing in the north for nine years, it moves; after eighteen years in the southwest, it moves; after twenty-seven years in the east, it moves; after thirty-six years in the southeast, it moves; after sixty-three years in the west, it moves; after seventy-two years in the northeast, it moves; and after eighty-one years in the south, it moves. If, during these movements, it follows the proper order of above and below, is not subjected to punishment from above, and does not press down upon what lies below, calamities will not occur, and the world will enjoy peace each day. If it occupies an unsuitable position or arrives at an inauspicious time, so that above and below cannot accord, omens of disaster will appear according to the palace it occupies. The occurrence of calamity is also connected to one’s cultivation of virtue.

If one can recite this scripture, Taiyi will turn back its banners and send envoys bearing tally tokens to summon blessings and draw forth primordial energy. Armies will win without fighting, the practice of the Dao will prosper greatly, good fortune will attend the Imperial Worthy, and one’s lifespan will equal that of Heaven. Taiyi is wondrous and mutable, and cannot be fully known. Taiyi is the revered deity among the Three Origins, charged with bestowing blessings upon the ruler. Its transformations follow no fixed pattern and are difficult to fathom.

Life has no end, and De (Virtue/Power) is thereby brought to completion. In the morning, the primordial Qi of the Great One (Taiyi) takes the form of auspicious clouds; at noon, it becomes layered ring clouds; at dusk, it becomes starlight flowing like molten gold. At night it streams for more than a zhang. This is the vision being described. When you see it, burn incense and recite the scripture to welcome its blessings. Sitting quietly is enough to receive Heaven’s gifts of good fortune and prosperity, become an immortal, and roam and feast as you ascend through the skies. In this way, you attain the Dao naturally.

The clouds may look like a crowned scholar, signifying that the Five Blessings are in the north; a flying dragon, signifying that the Great One is in the east; a boat and fish, signifying that the Great One is in the south; a banner, signifying that the Great One is in the west; a canopy, signifying that the Great One is in the center; a wandering maiden, signifying that the Great One is in the northeast; a torch, signifying that the Great One is in the southeast; a hill, signifying that the Great One is in the southwest; a warrior bearing a spear and halberd, signifying that the Great One is in the west; or a carriage, signifying that the Great One is in the northwest.

Those who cultivate and study this Dao, whether ordained or living at home, should burn incense and recite the scripture ten times whenever they see these cloud signs. The Great One will then descend to the Nine Palaces and send mounted officers to guard the state and bring peace to its people, so that everyone may receive blessings and good fortune. Those who recite the scripture will also at once be delivered and become long-lived immortals.

The True Lord Great One protects the state, bringing peace to the emperor and safety to the people. If one understands that the Great One commands all the heavens and is also present within oneself, then the departed souls and suffering spirits of one’s ancestors through countless generations can also be delivered and ascend to the Vermilion Palace. There they undergo nine years of instruction, are reborn, and become people of high rank.

Those who recite the scripture can prolong their lives if they personally uphold and read it, and grasp its meaning in their hearts. In time, they can all cultivate the way of corpse liberation—a Daoist account of cultivation in which practitioners shed their mortal bodies through an apparent death, allowing their souls and spirits to ascend. Their souls and spirits temporarily leave the body; without passing through hell, they regain bodily form and roam through the great void.

This scripture is wondrous and subtle, delivering beings without end. Through the Great One’s wondrous transformations, celestial beings are delivered and receive immeasurable blessings; the living and the dead alike benefit from its grace. Heaven keeps this scripture in its treasury, and it must not be passed on to worldly people. Only those who cultivate the Dao with utmost sincerity may offer gold and precious treasures as proof of their devotion, swear an oath to Heaven, and then receive it. Anyone who carelessly reveals it or treats the scripture and its teachings with disrespect will bring disaster upon nine generations of ancestors, condemning them to long service under ghost officials.

Twenty-four each of the Five Emperors, Jade Youths, and Jade Maidens serve this scripture. They are charged with guarding it and protecting those who receive it.

The Jing says: If one observes a prolonged fast and recites this scripture in the first month, one can invite the Perfect Lord Taiyi of the Upper Origin, the divine officials in his retinue, and the Great Gods of the Nine Palaces. They can free the souls of the dead from past lives from confinement in the underworld, the sufferings of military punishment, and the calamity of an untimely death, allowing them to cross over and ascend to the Southern Palace.

If one observes a prolonged fast and recites this scripture in the seventh month, one can invite the Perfect Lord Taiyi of the Middle Origin, the divine officials in his retinue, and the Great Gods of the Nine Palaces. They can put an end to warfare, repel enemy forces, assist the emperor, and extend blessings to the people. Practitioners themselves may also attain the Dao and become immortals, with their names entered in the registers of the immortals in the various heavens. Yellow registers and white certificates are documents used in Daoist Zhaijiao to record the souls of the dead or to confer registers. The Jing says that cultivation can remove a person from the register of the dead and transfer them to the register of the living.

If one observes a prolonged fast and recites this scripture in the tenth month, one can invite the Perfect Lord Taiyi of the Lower Origin, the divine officials in his retinue, and the Great Gods of the Nine Palaces. They can dispel military calamities for the king and emperor, bringing peace to the four quarters. Bandits disappear, treachery does not arise, and relations between ruler and ministers, fathers and sons, remain stable. The state flourishes for a long time, its prosperity continuing from generation to generation. The text also says that the Perfect Lord Taiyi constantly brings stability to the lands under a ruler’s jurisdiction, so that the people can live and work in peace and the whole world can enjoy tranquility.

If one recites this scripture on the Eight Seasonal Nodes—the days when the eight seasonal divisions meet—and invites the Perfect Lord Taiyi of the Five Blessings to enter the Central Palace, one may become a Perfected One of the Nine Palaces. If one recites it on one’s own natal day and invites the Perfect Lords Taiyi of the Three Origins into the divine seat corresponding to one’s personal destiny, they will bestow blessings. One’s body and mind will become clear and upright, one’s original Qi will endure, and one will be free from distress. The body will shine with light; the Three Realms will provide protection, the Five Emperors will welcome one, and the myriad gods will pay homage. When one’s merit is complete, one may ascend in flight to the heavenly realm of Shangqing.

The Jing further says that before any scripture-recitation ritual, one should bathe in fragrant water and fast. Then enter the chamber facing east, click the teeth thirty-two times to convey one’s intention to the hearts of the thirty-two heavens, and bow thirty-two times. With eyes closed, meditate and envision yourself seated upright amid clouds of blue, yellow, and white. Clouds fill the space inside and outside the chamber, and you seem to see the Perfect Lords Taiyi of the ten directions, each seated in their own palace, spreading Qi throughout the heavens.

Next, envision the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—the guardians of the four directions—as well as lions and white cranes arranged on either side. The sun and moon shine, filling the chamber with light. A round halo forms above your head, its radiance illuminating the ten directions. Once the vision is clear, silently recite the incantation:

“Supreme Lord of the Dao, Lord of the Mysterious Origin, summon the Three-Five Meritorious Officers within my body—the divine officials who convey commands—the attendants on my left and right, the Jade Youth who attends to incense, the Jade Maiden who transmits messages, the Five Emperors’ appointed talisman officers, and the incense officials on duty today, thirty-two of each. Convey to the heavenly court the matter I present today. On this auspicious day, I observe the fast, cultivate, and recite this supreme Jing, the Scripture of Universal Salvation. May the matter I present be conveyed upward and delivered directly to…”

Before the divine altar of the Supreme Emperor of Primordial Beginning of the Thirty-Two Heavens Above All (after the ritual is complete).

Draw in Qi thirty-two times, face east, and recite the scripture.

The Wondrous Supreme Scripture of Primordial Beginning on Delivering People from Boundless Suffering

This chapter of the Lingbao Scripture of Dongxuan, attributed to Primordial Beginning—a revered Daoist deity regarded as the source of all things—describes the transformations of the deity Taiyi, the principles by which the Five Blessings deliver people, and the natural workings of the Three Primordial Forces as their hidden rhythms converge and diverge.

Heaven and earth were murky, dim, and boundless, without gates or borders. The great void was bright and open, while the Dao’s Qi had no fixed place. After eighty-one kalpas, heaven and earth stretched vast, yet remained entirely without light. Chaos was like a womb, coming into being without depending on Yin-Yang. Suddenly, the most numinous spirit appeared, provisionally called “Taiyi.” Riding a yellow dragon, he held the celestial compass in his hand. He looked like a jade infant, dressed in crimson brocade and green robes. He circled to the left and right, standing upright as guardian of the eight directions. All numinous beings came to submit to him; none dared oppose him.

The Great Spirit Taiyi is the foundation of Heaven. He often journeys through Jade Clarity, the Daoist realm of the Subtle Clarity Heaven. As a supreme sage, he dwells in the Nine Palaces of the Niwan—the nine divine courts in the head—and transforms into the myriad heavens and humankind. Each person has awareness and can distinguish among different kinds; all things each take their own form, while people dwell in the spirit palace within the brain. This is clear awareness. A true spirit dwells in Taiwei, the celestial palace, seated at ease in the Court of Blessings. Descending to the Nine Palaces, he becomes a guest of the emperor. At his birth, Taiyi was one with Primordial Beginning in true permanence. Tracing his origins upward, he has no other ancestor: the Dao alone is his true nature.

Once Taiyi was established, heaven and earth gathered into form. Wherever Taiyi is present, there is nothing that does not shine, become manifest, take shape, come to fruition, receive deliverance, and grow. This is called the Great Brahma.

In the Heaven within Heaven, Taiyi’s true form journeys through the Jade Capital, ascending to the supreme realm of Great Luo Jade Clarity. There, all is lofty and remote, subtle and mysterious, as though it both exists and does not exist. Taiyi rides upon the subtle essence of the Dao. The Three Primordial Forces—the Upper, Middle, and Lower—are distributed among the palaces in the order of the Nine Palaces. Taiyi governs them, bestowing blessings and bringing warfare to an end. He moves and transforms together with the Dao, and generates life together with Primordial Beginning.

Taiyi’s movements involve changes between motion and stillness, waxing and waning, advance and retreat, light and darkness. Before him stands the Golden Gate; behind him, the Jade Chamber. The East is pure and clear, and the West is deep and distant. Wherever Taiyi passes, he distributes and transforms Brahma Qi, the primal energy between Heaven and Earth, flowing throughout the ten directions.

Among these beings are spirits who govern the Nine Diagrams of the Three Primordial Forces; divine lords who hold jade tablets and calculate the number of Heaven; and spirits who oversee changes in celestial measures and shifts among the palaces. There is also the Red-Turbaned Elder, the Straight Talisman Officer, who raises his banner to observe the years and holds authority over talismanic commands. Among them as well are Taiyi’s vanguard and rear guard, and the revered spirits who govern the Eight Killings, Five Blessings, Six Qi, and Nine Emptinesses. They can bring the dead back to life and raise the ruined remains once more, carrying out the boundless deliverance of people.

Today, as this scripture is collated and recorded, the divine spirits of all the heavens have come to the imperial presence.

In the East, the boundless Three Primordial Forces and Nine Palaces, Taiyi the True Emperor, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers people from boundless suffering.

In the South, the boundless Three Primordial Forces and Nine Palaces, Taiyi the True Emperor, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers people from boundless suffering.

In the West, the boundless Three Primordial Forces and Nine Palaces, Taiyi the True Emperor, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers people from boundless suffering.

The Northern, Northeastern, Southeastern, Southwestern, and Northwestern directions, as well as above and below, are all guarded by the divine lords: the Great Sage of Long Life, the Boundless Savior of Humanity, the True Sovereign Taiyi of the Three Origins and Nine Palaces of Wuji. These supremely true Sovereigns Taiyi, the great gods who grant long life and save the world without limit, arrive riding clouds woven from blue-green and purple-white mists.

Their flowing divine radiance illumines the sky. Vermilion wheels, green carriages, dragon-shaped wheels, and phoenix-shaped cars, adorned with feather fans and red curtains, shimmer in reflected light as they sway along. Colossal divine beasts in nine colors lead the way. Dragons of the Jade Empyrean, swift as a gust, soar aloft, bearing blue-green ceremonial pennants. The Seven Luminaries’ Dongshen spirit banners roar ahead, while the Nine Songs resound as one. Eight kinds of music sound from behind; heavenly steeds and pixiu leap and dance, and flocks of luan, cranes, swans, and wild geese cry out as they gather. The Six Jia deities clear the way, and Jade Maidens steady the carriage. Countless chariots and mounted attendants come through the air.

The True Sovereign Taiyi holds authority over talismanic commands, sets Heaven and Earth in motion, and saves living beings. Following the ordinances of the Three Origins and Nine Palaces, he arranges and calculates the registers, forecasts events, summons the Great Spirit Yaoguang and the Heavenly-Eyed Flying Bird, assesses the flow of Qi and calculates the seasons, then descends beyond the mortal world. Blessings and calamities take effect at their appointed times. The gods bring their registers and records together before the sovereign deity; according to whom each is charged to save, they carefully inspect the heavens and proclaim their findings throughout the Three Realms, the Nine Dimensions, the Eight Extremities, and the kingdoms governed by the Twenty-Eight Divisions.

Wherever the gods make their rounds, war, famine, floods, drought, sudden death, and plague appear in response to the Way of Heaven, as do auspicious omens, blessings, and the ruler’s lifespan and virtue. Their power links above and below, governing the Three Officials and Nine Offices, the sources of the Twelve Rivers, and the gathering and dispersal of Yin-Yang Qi wherever it passes. Its influence extends throughout the inner and outer realms across twelve hundred circuits of destiny. The blessings and calamities of Heaven and the human world also fall under its authority. Its grace reaches the people, their ancestors, and their kin through the generations. When Taiyi sends down divine Qi, even the dead in the underworld can be saved: they regain light in the Dark Springs, swiftly have their registers of guilt erased and their roots of evil extinguished, and are no longer detained or counted among the ghosts. By Taiyi’s talismanic command, the dead may ascend at their appointed time.

Welcoming divine Qi, reciting the scriptures, and ascending the altar to beseech the gods are ways of seeking a response of blessing. Even if a kingdom is already beset by calamity, so long as its people pray with utmost sincerity to avert disaster, …

The Three Officials (the deities of Heaven, Earth, and Water) set the celestial axis in motion. Taiyi (the deity who governs the movement of the cosmos and travels through the Nine Palaces) then turns his chariot around, transforming calamity into blessing. The state becomes peaceful and secure, and the ruler enjoys a long life, living for countless years. The lifespans and destinies of people in the world are likewise affected. If they are about to encounter disaster, they may pray in accordance with the prescribed rites, asking the light of Heaven to shine upon them and extend its favor to the world, so that they may attain long life. The Purple Palace of Taiyi (the sacred palace where Taiyi resides) bestows blessings upon Heaven and the human world.

As for those who have died and passed away, if they still have blessings allotted to them in their destiny, attendants from the Cold Pool of the Northern Capital guard their bodies and souls, subdue demonic obstacles, and recommend them for deliverance. The souls of the dead enter the Southern Palace to undergo refinement and become immortals. Those who are alive, if they receive deliverance, can endure through generation after generation. As the registers and talismanic diagrams (sacred Daoist diagrams and written talismans) revolve, their keepers take turns serving in different eras and years. Whoever understands their wondrous principles can become an immortal perfected being and forever transcend the Three Calamities, Four Killings, Five Ghosts, Six Harms, Seven Injuries, Eight Hardships, and Nine Afflictions. They pass beyond the Three Realms and roam freely in Shangqing. The Heaven of Shangqing is the formless realm where the Jade Perfected One, the Heavenly Emperor, resides; it is also where practitioners cultivate pure conduct.

The Eight Heavens of the East

Taiyi travels through the Nine Palaces and governs the Thirty-Two Heavens. The Qi of nine colors flows everywhere, infused from the palace where Taiyi resides. The Thirty-Two Heavens are also divided according to the Nine Palaces and fall under the authority of Taiyi as he makes his rounds. Daoist practitioners can avert misfortune and welcome blessings through visualization (quietly contemplating deities and the celestial realms) and by ingesting the Qi of Heaven (absorbing and cultivating celestial Qi through Daoist practice). When true Qi descends and Taiyi arrives in response, there is hope of attaining immortality. A ruler governing the realm may pray and present petitions in accordance with these blessing-bestowing heavens, and wondrous responses will appear at once.

The Eight Heavens of the East and the emperors who govern them are as follows:

In the south are eight celestial realms, each governed by a Celestial Emperor. They are: the Red Calamity, Flying and Roaming Heaven, whose emperor is named Bojian Qiyan; the Thunderous Stillness, Luminous Spirit Heaven, whose emperor is named Luntang Diyuan; the Flooded Depths, Son of the Hunt Heaven, whose emperor is named Longpu Daluo; the Spreading Transformation, Luminous Separation Heaven, whose emperor is named Yifu Quan; the Falling Mystery, Roaming Qi Heaven, whose emperor is named Shangjing Cilian; the Zhiluo Brahma Heaven, whose emperor is named Baochang Yan; the Bright Minister, Flourishing Wildness Heaven, whose emperor is named Zhuye Yezhuan; and the Mengyu, Cautious Rectitude Heaven, whose emperor is named Pingtang Yuan.

In the west are also eight celestial realms: the Dao’s Righteousness, Transcendent Truth Heaven, whose emperor is named Yulan Xian; the Awakening to Emptiness, True Principle Heaven, whose emperor is named Bianqiu Yimo; the Dao’s Stratagem, Weighty Hope and Chance Heaven, whose emperor is named Longyao Funi; the Hedu Chess and Two Heaven, whose emperor is named Jianzi Chou; the Nine Dao, Perhaps Subtle Heaven, whose emperor is named Luqi Tong; the Sincere Exclusion, Abundant Truth Heaven, whose emperor is named Huijia Wu; the Immortal Head, Ordering the Mists Heaven, whose emperor is named Qiaoluo Dingguang; and the Blessed Gathering, Distant Realm Heaven, whose emperor is named Bizun Qixuan.

In the north are eight celestial realms. Here, the scripture lists only the first: the Dark Ruins, Enfolding the Hidden Heaven, governed by the emperor Peng Luosun.

The Heaven of Ending Extremity and Returning to the Ordinary, the Heaven of Boundless Radiance, the Heaven of Ultimate Truth and the Empty Grotto, the Heaven of Universal Salvation and Divine Oxen, the Heaven of Hidden Lodgings and Subtle Pivot, the Heaven of Ghost Chambers and Suspended Willows, and the Heaven of Ancestral Omens and Everlasting Peace—each of these heavenly realms has its own Celestial Emperor: Emperor Miaotuo Lun, Emperor Longshou Buxuan, Emperor Chaoding Liyuan, Emperor Douzhen Yixuan, Emperor Yao Zhenming, Emperor Weitou Qipian, and Emperor Youxuan Zixian.

The Thirty-Two Heavens, the Thirty-Two Emperors, and the hidden names and secret appellations of the various heavens together form the Numinous Writ of Taiyi’s Empty Grotto and Naturalness—a sacred text concerning Taiyi’s divine power. Taiyi’s hidden cadence and divine sound are secret titles and numinous manifestations of the Venerable Taiyi and the True Taiyi. Within the Nine Palaces and Ten Directions, transformations are endless. The profound mysteries of the boundless Shangqing tradition cannot be fully described; they spread the Qi of the divine immortals.

As the seasons of Heaven move, Heaven’s people and the human world respond to one another. Today is a day for celebration. By calculating the calendar and laying out the passes in every direction, one can turn misfortune around and transform ill luck into good fortune, cut through the roots of worldly entanglements, and lead people away from death toward life. Pay respects to the Jade Lord, set the Sun, Moon, and Five Planets—the Seven Luminaries—on their courses, and return each to its proper place in the year of the Great Mystery. Present documents with reverence and petition for the gates of Heaven to open.

The Eastern Dipper supports from the left, while the Western Dipper protects from the right. The Northern Dipper governs the central pivot; the Southern Dipper turns Heaven’s mechanism; the Central Dipper covers all like a canopy. Taiyi moves within: the Azure Emperor holds the talisman, the White Emperor bears arms, the Red Emperor transmits commands, the Black Emperor gathers vital essence, and the Yellow Emperor directs transformation. Together they lead the army on a distant campaign. The Azure Heaven’s Directing Envoy raises an axe and banner; the Red Heaven’s Directing Envoy waves Taiyi’s standard; the White Heaven’s Directing Envoy holds the defense; the Black Heaven’s Directing Envoy guards the Celestial Pool; and the Yellow Heaven’s Directing Envoy brings the Five Blessings. The envoys of the five heavenly directions take Taiyi as their sovereign and command the Dingjia divine generals, Heaven’s guardian troops.

The divine generals devour demons and travel by drinking the wind. Dark banners roar and stream in the air as they advance with their troops, punishing the petty villains of the Qiang realm so that they dare not act arrogantly again. The Dipper’s marker turns the celestial disk, and the Jade Chart seals the auspicious positions anew. Every blessing gathers; the imperial fortune prevails, and disaster does not arise. Heavenly cavalry clears the way ahead, while flying riders travel through the air. Eight paths cast down firelight, and the four directions search for traces. The Divine Lord Taiyi protects the state and supports the proper order of the times. First, he establishes the Sun and Moon; holding a golden bell and wearing yellow armor, he rides ten flying dragons. Nothing can resist him wherever he goes, as wind and fire strike in turn. The Five Blessings descend, purple mist thickens, and immortal clouds swirl…

All the forces of military destruction and inauspiciousness that seal the celestial palaces and govern the Three Origins—the Upper, Middle, and Lower Origins—are entrusted to Beifeng, the divine bureau in the northern underworld, for settlement. Old, malevolent influences and spirits of disorder hide in the Yin energy and converge with calamities, making the people ill, frail, and destitute, with nowhere to take refuge. The Golden Horse Relay Station, where documents are conveyed through the heavens, carries commands everywhere and proclaims them to the most distant reaches. The myriad gods all come to receive their orders, while the Five Emperors of the Three Realms submit a joint report to Shangqing, the Daoist celestial realm.

Within the boundless, utterly empty expanse, forms change like dragons and spirits shift their dwelling. The Ancestor of the Great One is the root on which all things depend for life and nourishment; through it, Heaven and Earth are brought to completion. The Great One (Taiyi), a revered Daoist deity and also the source energy that generates all things, moves through what is subtle and unfathomable. Endowed with numinous energy, it revolves with the sun and moon. Through countless kalpas, it stills and gathers divine energy amid primordial chaos, arranging it throughout the Nine Palaces. The Nine Palaces combine as one, and the One divides again into the Nine Palaces. The principle connecting nine and one is the foundation of the Great One. The cycles of Qi and destiny move back and forth; true Qi flows like a dragon. The Great One descends and governs the laws of the Three Origins, encompassing all plants and animals.

The Jade Capital, a celestial palace, is exquisitely wrought and clear, surrounded by strong, powerful winds. In the primordial chaos, no visible form appears above, and no visible expanse of emptiness appears below. The Great One holds the reins while jade youths stand in solemn attendance. Drums sound again and again, giving rise to water and wind. The celestial configurations interweave and move toward the east; Dao energy makes all things keen, graceful, flourishing, and harmonious. The Great One enters the mysterious realm, and the Nine Qi open up Heaven and Earth. Above and below, through every dark and hidden place, an unseen, formless, boundless power runs. The vast, chaotic primal Qi stretches away without light.

The wondrous transformations of the Great One follow the natural Dao. It sets out the stars across the Nine Fields and establishes the years. The divine Qi of the Great One congeals into numinous writings, mysterious prophetic texts, and jade calendars, containing tiger scripts and dragon writings. These protect the cycles of tribulation and preserve Heaven for ages to come. Vast Brahma Qi fills space, unfolding the myriad forms. A perfectly integrated mechanism turns and evolves, connecting the Thirty-Two Heavens, revolving through the Nine Palaces, and coursing through the ten directions. It moves from the Zi position to the Shen position, then turns back through the Eight Gates. The combined Qi of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions gathers in the Upper Origin, joining with the Eight Radiances as Qi enters the depths of mystery.

In the mysterious realm, the Great One, the Supreme Emperor, stands exalted. It traverses the Northern Dipper and rests beside the Kui star. The Celestial Emperor, Gouchen, the Nine Palaces, the Ten Essences, and other divine spirits and astral officials, along with the Jade Weft and Golden Canon—the laws of the celestial realm—all follow the divine wind. They assist the myriad immortals, harmonize all things, and bring balance to Heaven and Earth. The Great One, the Perfected Great Spirit, ascends the Celestial Steps, where the Celestial Emperor dwells, and pays homage to the Great Sovereign. The Celestial Guards lead the way. Drums and bronze bells sound together, driving out ghosts and protecting the root of life.

Above, the Great One travels through Shangqing, entering and leaving the Three Origins and the hidden darkness of the eight directions, while also penetrating the finest subtleties. Below, it guards the human body, dwelling in the Muddy Pellet, the spirit chamber in the head, and the Crimson Palace, the spirit chamber at the heart. It regulates the Five Qi and sets the myriad spirits in motion. Through layer upon layer of transformation, numinous energy circles back, and all Qi returns together to the Way of the Immortals. The Way of the Immortals cherishes life. The Great One saves all people and opens the Eight Gates above, setting Heaven and Earth in motion like a wheel. Sin and blessing, prohibitions and precepts, destiny from former lives, and karmic causes and conditions are all encompassed within it. All beings receive access and salvation, escape the path of death and gain new life, are granted renewed bodies, and rise to travel among the heavens.

Above the heavens, each domain has its own portal leading to vitality. There are songs sung in the Hollow Immortal Realm, as well as the numinous writings of Taiyi, whose elegant words can be compared with those of the exalted Perfected Ones.

First: The Flying-Sky Hymn of the True Lord Taiyi of the Nine Palaces of the Lower Primordial

The True Lord Taiyi rides a yellow steed,

ascending to the Celestial Palace of Taiwei to survey the Nine Provinces.

The Nine Provinces lie spread out like a game board, while the stars are scattered across the sky.

Looking up toward the Duan Gate, the Celestial Palace’s main entrance, the Lord on High sends down blessings and joy.

The chariot of the Dipper races in all directions; green clouds surge and fly.

The golden battle-axe gleams with cold light, and the Celestial Bow constellation hangs in the sky.

Red talismanic decrees shine brightly, and the Five Blessings turn back and arrive.

Ten thousand troops are invincible wherever they go; the De (Virtue) of Heaven gathers here.

The radiance of divine martial virtue shines far and wide; the years pass without calamity or famine.

The Celestial Emperor turns back his radiance, wearing a jade ceremonial robe embroidered with dragons.

Lord Taiyi descends to the Bright Hall, where emperors worship and conduct affairs of state; auspicious signs fill the outskirts of the capital.

The deity Aren parts the purple firmament, and its radiance pours down upon the vermilion palace gates.

Second: The Hymn of the True Lord Taiyi of the Nine Palaces of the Middle Primordial

I interpret the celestial signs and heavenly strategies;

blessings descend upon the imperial house,

and all nations submit and obey.

The patterned brilliance of the stars blends into one;

the great luminary shines bright, its purple radiance abundant.

Above, it encircles the Purple Enclosure, the Celestial Emperor’s dwelling;

below, it shines upon the Jade Chamber, a hall in the Immortal Palace.

Your divine general is Maotou;

your commander of troops is Abang.

Taiyi joins with the talismanic decree, rides upon the Kui constellation, and treads the force of strength.

Feed the horses green fodder;

oil the chariot and make ready its carriage.

There is no need to form ranks for battle to achieve great deeds.

Taiyi brings peace to the four quarters.

Golden youths hold the banners, and jade maidens present fine wine.

At the altar, divine by means of the offering; pour the wine and present it with a sincere heart.

The Five Blessings surge forth.

May the Imperial Lord enjoy long life;

may Heaven send down every kind of auspicious sign.

The people rejoice and sing;

at this time, peace and harmony prevail in the world.

Clouds drift across the boundless blue-green sky;

sweet dew falls like pearls, and dark frost descends.

Auspicious signs answer throughout the world;

may our Dao flourish.

Third: Song of the True Lord Taiyi of the Nine Palaces of the Upper Primordial

The source text ends here with the title; the body of the song has not yet begun.

I ride a great serpent, clothed in robes and headdress like the rosy clouds, and enter the great Way that reaches Heaven, traveling to the dwelling of the Emperor. Wherever the dragon banner points, all things shine with renewed brilliance. The Qi of the Great One—the primal energy at the origin of the cosmos—brings abundant joy and rich blessings. It descends to guard the Emperor’s halls, where its numinous light shines brightly. As I recite my jade register, the Five Emperors burn incense in homage; all beings of the Three Realms bow their heads, and the Queen Mother of the West, a revered female immortal, offers the wine cup. Phoenix patterns number in the thousands, and the dragon’s longevity stretches without end.

I travel in a light blue carriage, as the winds from all eight directions come to pay homage. Gazing into the distance, I bow to the Great One, dressed in brocade and an emerald-green robe. Clouds swirl around the ritual altar. Striking jade, we make a sound like thunder, and offer fragrant flowers, sweet fruit, and a hundred yellow silk ribbons. The sounds of Heaven ring out, distant and unending, their music like jade instruments striking one another. I look left toward the Purple Tenuity, the dwelling of the Celestial Emperor, and rest my right hand on a jade earring. I turn the pivot of the Northern Dipper, filling the storehouses with every kind of treasure.

Send down abundant blessings, as the five tones are chanted.

This is the Song of the Great One, above the Three Origins—the domains of Heaven, Earth, and Water—and within the Nine Palaces. Each line of its sounds corresponds to a Cavern Chapter. Reciting it a hundred times dispels the Three Calamities; reciting it a thousand times brings the Great One to protect and welcome you; reciting it ten thousand times enables you to perfect the work of the Dao and dwell in the Great Void. If you can understand the “Unity of the Dao” and abide in it, you may take your place among the Immortal Elders.

When demons hear the wondrous sound of this scripture, their forms are destroyed. The earth spirits, too, are summoned to attend and escort you, freeing you from the Earth Gate and from the Five Pains and Eight Hardships. Your fortunes improve throughout life, and you are forever removed from the registers of the Three Officials. The Great One stands in attendance beside the Celestial Emperor’s chariot. This is called boundless universal deliverance, a salvation without end. This scripture is a text kept secret in Heaven and revered by all the heavens. To disclose it or treat it lightly is to fall into Hell and bring calamity upon seven generations of ancestors.

The Daoist scriptures say: These Cavern Chapters are secret sounds preserved by the Lords of Heaven and the Emperors, as well as by the Three Origins and Nine Palaces, the Ten Spirits and Eight Wonders, the Six Hidden Ones and Five Perfected Ones, the Four Gates and Two Luminaries, and the Great One of the One Origin. They are the writings by which the Jade Bureau—the dwelling of Daoist immortals—turns the cycles of calamity, transforms misfortune into good fortune, and changes disaster into blessing. Their language does not seek ornate rhythms or winding, pleasing turns of phrase. For this reason, they are called profound and difficult to investigate fully. They are treasures cherished by Heaven and kept secret in the Mysterious Capital, the Great One, and the Purple Palace of the Three Origins. According to the regulations of the Mysterious Code, they are transmitted only once every forty thousand kalpas. If a person who has attained the Dao carries gold…

The mind and intentions should remain pure and upright. Following the established rules for ritual, one should make a solemn pledge. Only after ten full days should the scripture be transmitted.

The scripture says: When the movements of Heaven and Earth are nearing decline and an end, the Perfect Lord Taiyi, a revered Daoist deity, transforms his appearance in response to the times, manifesting as wondrous signs. Sometimes he appears as a horse with a fleshy mane, a single horn on its head, and a crimson body, emerging from the sea. When the Sun, Moon, and Five Planets—the Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth stars of ancient reckoning—are about to stray from their proper courses, the Perfect Lord Taiyi appears as a sorceress carrying a se, a zither-like instrument, and wandering among the shops and stalls of the marketplace. When signs of blessing or calamity are about to befall the most sacred divine beings, the Perfect Lord Taiyi responds with such portents as black Qi stretching from east to west, thick frost clinging to trees, violent winds breaking them, or sudden storms of wind and rain.

When people of shallow cultivation are about to suffer illness or injury, the Perfect Lord Taiyi also warns them through dreams: they may dream of bloody corpses, death, warfare, sudden thunder, falling from a cliff, or plunging into a river. Whenever such calamities and signs of divine transformation appear, people should unite in fasting and purification, perform the Way at six times of the day, and recite the scripture ten times. Blessings and De will then descend swiftly. If one encounters Taiyi on his circuit and is able to welcome and invite him with reverence, one can attain longevity. The secret essentials of the immortals appear in accordance with the proper conditions; one should remain attentive at all times, regard them with goodwill, and not go against the will of the gods. In this way, one can preserve the Orthodox Way and attain great success. This boundless text can deliver all beings without limit.

The scripture says: If a person whose cultivation of the Dao is still shallow, or whose rank among the immortals is not yet complete, has reached the end of their allotted span and is about to die, then as their bodily form passes through Taiyin, the netherworld, the Perfect Lord Taiyi, Master of Corpses, who governs bodies and souls, will descend in response and manifest wondrous transformations. Sometimes a white crane flies in, accompanied by a turtle and a snake. Sometimes a sudden gale rises, darkening Heaven and Earth; birds and beasts cry mournfully, a white rainbow crosses the Sun, mountains and forests change color, or unusual dreams of immortals appear. These signs indicate that Taiyi is guarding the body, the Three Offices, the divine authorities governing Heaven, Earth, and Water, are registering the soul, and the Nine Elders are drawing in its vital essence. After one sexagenary cycle of sixty years, the person can return to life and regain bodily form.

Fellow cultivators of the same community should burn incense for the deceased, recite the scripture ten times, and perform the rites to deliver the corpse. The soul will then ascend directly to the Southern Palace. There, the dates will be determined according to the merit of the person’s cultivation, allowing them to be reborn and enter a new course of life. If their will is steadfast and they remain undeluded, they will ultimately become an immortal.

The scripture says: When Heaven and Earth are nearing their end, one should fast and purify, burn incense, and recite the scripture. One should do the same when the stars stray from their courses and the Sun and Moon lose their regularity; when the seasons fall out of order and Yin-Yang is unbalanced; when foreign peoples invade the borders and war breaks out; when epidemics spread and the people suffer death and injury; and when a teacher or fellow cultivator dies. As for fasting, purification, and recitation of the scripture…

This passage of scripture says that this classic brings great merit: above, it dispels calamities from Heaven and protects and steadies the emperor; below, it removes poisons and harms and rescues the people, giving both the living and the dead something to rely on. Its blessings and virtue are beyond measure, so it is called “immeasurable”; it can save all beings throughout Heaven and among humanity.

The scripture further says that anyone who possesses this classic and understands the way of “Taiyi’s Divine Transformation to Protect the State and Avert Warfare” may cultivate this merit for Heaven and Earth, the emperor, and the people. When disaster strikes, if they resolve to observe purification, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times, the heavenly hosts will enter their name in their registers, and the gods will protect them. Such a person may hope to become a sage ruler and serve among the officials of the Golden Palace in Heaven. The heavenly hosts record people’s merits and faults, overlooking nothing, however small; the great gods of Heaven’s Nine Palaces will also recommend this person. Only those who have truly attained the Dao can fully understand the true words described in the scripture.

What follows is “the immeasurable sounds of the Great Brahma’s hidden language among the heavens”—sacred, secret sounds believed to belong to the heavenly hosts. The title is “The Jade Chapter of Taiyi’s Divine Transformation to Protect the State and Avert Warfare.” The celestial sound-texts are then listed by direction:

The Seven Heavens of the East

Jiluo Qingchi, Milou Yishi, Zhangtuo Jianjiang, Binggeng Shuli, Qianxi Weiyuan, Zichi Youji, Zanhua Xueli, Lizhou Yuanyi, Yuetan Huiduo, Hanshi Minghe, Dongji Xuanruo, Lujing Yaoluo, Chiming Yanshu, Zhijing Youge.

The Seven Heavens of the South

Weidan Youtu, Guanding Yanlu, Diqi Haodu, Mianduo Yingyou, Biaoying Chongyou, Weiqi Baigu, Daosan Shangjing, Yueyu Chasu, Changyang Jianqu, Yaohuang Guangshu, Yinding Fafu, Tianlin Hongyu.

These sound-texts are part of the “Great Brahma’s hidden language” listed in the scripture. They are preserved here as in the original and are not interpreted as ordinary words.

All things are brought under control, and tangled threads are set in order. The Nine Perfected Ones (divine perfected beings in Daoism) cry out, and sacred diagrams appear.

The Seven Heavens of the West

Lan Tao commands the Merchant Deity, while 𦊰 Pool reveals Xiyang. The ghosts of the capital are dispersed, and Lord Xun issues talismanic orders. Between Lang Marsh and Cold Islet, the Dipper’s offices rise high. The righteous Way is discerned and set straight and true; the immortal realm lies far away, moist with vapor. The trigrams disclose the principles of Langxuan, while wondrous caverns assist the August Heaven. The distant realm of beginnings reveals luminous writings, and the Ghost Spring gathers what lies hidden in the underworld. Niang Xian travels to remote wildernesses, unites with the spirits, and returns to the vast, luxuriant expanse.

The Seven Heavens of the North

The Fish Register brings peace to the sea, while Fu Qian spreads a splendid aura. Living beings are comforted, and the strange and hidden forces are subdued. Wisdom is vast, and immortal clouds appear; the Qi of Hundun gives life to all things, light shines everywhere, and auspicious signs receive heavenly favor.

The jade ritual tablet summons the spirits, who stand solemnly upright. Writings spread throughout, their rays shimmering; the black beast calls forth primordial Qi. The red camel reveals an auspicious dragon sign, while the Longevity Mirror brings treasures and the power to dispel calamity. Plans are proclaimed in the four directions. Awakening deepens, and radiant clouds appear; the divine jade sounds forth a clear music like the chime of jade pendants.

The Daoist scriptures say: Taiyi (one of the supreme deities revered in Daoism) works wondrous transformations, its Qi moving through the twenty-eight heavens, while the Qi of Heaven spreads through the nine palaces. The “hidden Brahma words” of these heavens and nine palaces are sacred utterances without limit. In ancient times, people carved them into the blue walls of the Phoenix Pavilion in Taiwei. Each character was one zhang wide and one zhang tall. The Celestial Perfected Sovereign (a sacred figure in Daoist legend) once wrote these words as the correct sounds.

If someone understands these sounds and recites them after fasting, the heavens will send flying celestial kings to observe their practice and report their merits to the heavens. The myriad spirits will come to pay homage, while the Earth Deities wait by the door. The person will attain great merit, be recommended by the Three Officials of the Three Origins (the deities of Heaven, Earth, and Water), and ultimately realize the Great Dao. They will travel through the Three Realms and ascend to the Golden Gate.

These sounds can ward off evil, avert calamity, save and deliver, and bring things to completion. They flow naturally from Taiyi and the Celestial Perfected Sovereign. Thus, reciting them brings the flying celestial kings to observe, while Taiyi responds from afar, the myriad spirits come to pay homage, and the deities of the Three Realms attend nearby. All evil forces bow down, and ghosts and demons vanish of their own accord. As the clear recitation resounds, the ten directions grow solemn and pure. The heavenly realm turns and shines above; all things appear in radiant light. The seas become clear and transparent, and vapor gathers in mountain caves. The myriad nations are awed into submission and bow before the Emperor. The art of warfare prevails of its own accord, and divine courage arises; hidden wisdom becomes penetrating and clear, vast and wondrous, deep upon deep.