--- title: "高上玉皇胎息經 – English Interpretation | Daozang" url: "https://daozang.app/en/text/KR5a0014/" canonical: "https://daozang.app/en/text/KR5a0014/" lang: "en" source: "Kanripo 漢籍リポジトリ（京都大学）" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" --- # 《高上玉皇胎息經》 Dongzhen 洞真部 · 1 volumes · 4,713 characters ## Vol. 1 高上玉皇胎息經玉皇天尊曰胎從伏氣中結氣從有胎中息氣八身來謂之生神去離形謂之死知神氣可以長生故守虚無以養神氣神行即氣行神住即氣住若欲長生神氣相注心不動念無來無去不出不入自然常在勤而行之是眞道路高上玉皇胎息經太上説朝天謝雷眞經盈十昔天尊於龍漢元年在浮羅世界中觀衆生有不信三寳及五悖之人身謝之後沈没三塗永墮地獄爲鬼或犯天條檢責下鬼所誣一切衆生有諸苦楚不知解謝之門果熟之時致招重病雷擊身没之後永墮餓鬼畜生致使魂神被考禍患來鍾深可悲哉無由解脱不知上天檢舉有犯天條至招雷擊三十六條世人莫能知之天尊爲說三十六條朝天謝雷眞經令人祈謝罪惡庶知果報昭然明所報也如此果報豈不痛哉爲說天條令使敬重天地日月神靈忠孝君親令知宿命善惡因縁延生之路朝天謝罪必獲感通之理請正一道士或於觀宇或在家庭隨力章醮請行法事解謝祈延生筭虛空採訪使者隨即奏吿上逹天司罪惡消除福禄增崇善功圓滿以降吉祥世人罪福皆屬天曹所管爲人豈不知之此經乃上天所寳不傅下世天人敬仰萬聖衛之金闕靈章有不信之者永墮鄷都天尊爲說報應靈符及天書篆明世人有犯 **Interpretation** Scripture title: The Scripture of Embryonic Breathing of the Most High Jade Emperor. It is the scripture of embryonic breathing (taixi, the inner-breath method in which, like a fetus, one does not breathe through the mouth and nose) transmitted by the Most High Jade Emperor, a revered Daoist deity. The Jade Emperor Heavenly Worthy said: Embryonic breathing is formed by the gathering of hidden breath. Qi comes to rest within the embryonic breathing that is already present. When Qi enters the body, it is called life. When Shen leaves the bodily form, it is called death. One who understands that Shen and Qi can cause a person to attain long life therefore holds fast to emptiness and non-being in order to nurture Shen and Qi. When Shen moves, Qi moves. When Shen abides, Qi abides. If one wishes for long life, Shen and Qi must mutually focus upon and guard each other. The mind does not give rise to deluded thoughts. There is no coming or going. There is no going out or entering. One naturally abides forever. Practice diligently; this is the true path. Scripture title: The Scripture of Embryonic Breathing of the Most High Jade Emperor. Scripture title: The True Scripture Spoken by the Most High on Facing Heaven and Thanking the Thunder, in ten fascicles complete. Formerly, in the first year of Longhan, a Daoist kalpa-era reckoning, the Heavenly Worthy was in the Fuluo world, a celestial realm. He observed among sentient beings those who did not believe in the Three Treasures—Dao, Jing, and Shi, the Way, scriptures, and teacher—and those who practiced the Five Perversities, five kinds of rebellious conduct. After these people died, they sank into the Three Wretched Destinies, the three evil paths, and fell forever into hell as ghosts. Or they violated the Heavenly Statutes, the laws of the celestial court, and were investigated and punished, and were accused by ghosts below. All sentient beings have various sufferings, yet they do not know the way to dissolve offenses and apologize for transgressions. When the retribution of evil karma matures, it brings severe illness and thunderstroke. After death they fall forever into the hungry ghost and animal paths, causing their soul-spirit to undergo examination and punishment. Disasters gather and come upon them. Truly this is pitiable. They have no way to be released, not knowing that Heaven will investigate and report them. There are those who violate the Heavenly Statutes and thereby invite thunderstroke; altogether there are thirty-six such articles. People in the world cannot know them. For this reason the Heavenly Worthy proclaimed the thirty-six articles of the True Scripture of Facing Heaven and Thanking the Thunder, so that people might pray and apologize for their offenses. He wished people to know that karmic retribution is manifest and to understand the retribution they receive. Is such retribution not deeply painful? Therefore he proclaimed the Heavenly Statutes, so that people would revere Heaven and Earth, the sun and moon, and the spirits, and be loyal and filial to ruler and parents. He caused people to know the karmic causes of good and evil from past lives and the path of extending life. When one apologizes to Heaven for one’s offenses, one will surely obtain the principle of resonant response. Invite Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) Daoist priests, either in a Daoist temple or at home, and according to one’s means establish a Zhangjiao, a Daoist memorial petition liturgy, asking them to perform the ritual, dissolve offenses, apologize for transgressions, and pray for an extension of the allotted lifespan. The Inspecting Envoy of the Void, a celestial investigating messenger, will immediately memorialize and report it up to the Celestial Administration, the celestial offices. Offenses are eliminated, blessings and emoluments are increased, good merits are perfected, and auspiciousness descends. The offenses and blessings of people in the world are all under the control of the Celestial Bureaucracy, the offices of the celestial court. How can human beings not know this? This scripture is a treasure of Heaven above and is not transmitted to the lower world. It is the Numinous Stanzas of the Golden Palace, a precious celestial chapter, revered by gods and humans and guarded by ten thousand sages. Those who do not believe will fall forever into Fengdu, hell. Thereupon the Heavenly Worthy proclaimed the numinous talismans of retribution and the seal-script writings of the celestial book, to make clear the circumstances under which the world violates the Heavenly Statutes. 天條被雷擊之者以將此符篆較之庶凡人則知太上感應如此立教也天雷十二條者不忠君主不孝父母不敬三寳抛擲五榖訶風罵兩裸露三光揚惡掩善不遵正道心昧天地信巫魘祝滅人福果毀壌經教犯此天條則天雷檢察爲說此十二條以示下民庶知解謝地雷十二條者穢汚水漿將溷江河毀罵尊長疑眞不信輕師忠本曬露䙝衣淫人妻女惟惡是增對聖毁願怨恨宗親不賑貪困對天妄語此十二條屬地雷所管以示下民俾暁懴謝之路人雷十二條者糜爛五穀大秤小斗荒年起價米中添水欺曲昧人穢語兩舌寸尺長短剋剥害人欺善懼惡久債不還謀人女妾酒肉殺生此十二條人雷主之世人莫能知之以示下民庶知解謝天雷十二者神霄雷公五方雷公行兩雷公行風雷公行雲雷公布澤雷公行雲雷公行氷雷公飛砂雷公食崇雷公吞鬼雷公伏魔雷公此十二雷公係屬天分犯天令則禳此十二雷公以免擊罪地雷十二者紏善雷公罰惡雷公社令雷公發稻雷公四序雷公却災雷公收毒雷公救病雷公挟危雷公太昇雷公巡天雷公察地雷公此十二雷乃屬地分凡人犯地罪則焼香祈天請罪以免災苦之因禱無不應也人雷十二者收瘟雷公攝毒雷公除害雷公却禍雷公封山雷公破廟雷公打鬼雷公伏 **Interpretation** The Heavenly Statutes (Tiantiao) state that when people who have been struck by lightning compare their cases with this Fulu—the Daoist talismans and registers—ordinary mortals can understand the reason behind it. Taishang, the Highest Venerable and highest deity of Daoism, established his teachings precisely through this principle of resonance. The twelve offenses under the jurisdiction of Heavenly Thunder are: disloyalty to one’s ruler; unfiliality toward one’s parents; disrespect for the Three Treasures (Dao, Jing, and Shi, the teacher); scattering or discarding the five grains and foodstuffs; cursing wind and rain; exposing one’s body under the Three Luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars; publicizing evil deeds and concealing good deeds; failing to observe the proper Dao; deceiving Heaven and Earth in one’s heart; believing in sorcery, nightmare-haunting magic, and curses and incantations; cutting off others’ blessings and good fruits; and destroying scriptures and teachings. Those who violate these Heavenly Statutes will be investigated by Heavenly Thunder. Therefore these twelve are proclaimed and displayed to the people below, so that all may know how to release offenses and apologize for faults. The twelve offenses under the jurisdiction of Earthly Thunder are: polluting water and liquids; pouring dirty water into rivers and making them turbid; slandering and reviling elders and superiors; doubting the true Dao and failing to believe; disrespecting teachers and elders and being unfaithful to one’s roots; hanging intimate undergarments out in the open; committing adultery with others’ wives and daughters; knowing only how to add to evil deeds; breaking vows before sages and true beings; harboring resentment toward one’s clan and relatives; failing to relieve the poor and those in hardship; and speaking false and untrue words to Heaven. These twelve are under Earthly Thunder’s jurisdiction. They are shown to the people below so that people may understand the path of repentance and apology. The twelve offenses under the jurisdiction of Human Thunder are: causing the five grains to rot; using large scales and small measures to shortchange others; raising prices in famine years; mixing water into rice; deceiving people by cunning and crooked means; speaking foul language and engaging in double-tongued gossip; tampering with lengths and measures; being harsh and exploitative and harming others; bullying good people and fearing evil people; long delaying repayment of debts; coveting others’ wives, daughters, and concubines; and drinking wine, eating meat, and killing living beings. These twelve are overseen by Human Thunder. People in the world cannot know these things; they are shown to the people below so that all may know how to release offenses and apologize for faults. The twelve Thunder Lords (Leigong) on the Heavenly Thunder side are: the Shenxiao Thunder Lord, the Five Directions Thunder Lord, the Xingliang Thunder Lord, the Wind-Moving Thunder Lord, the Cloud-Moving Thunder Lord, the Moisture-Bestowing Thunder Lord, another Cloud-Moving Thunder Lord, the Ice-Moving Thunder Lord, the Flying Sand Thunder Lord, the Evil-Devouring Thunder Lord, the Ghost-Swallowing Thunder Lord, and the Demon-Subduing Thunder Lord. These twelve Thunder Lords are under the jurisdiction of the heavenly realm. If one violates the heavenly command, one should perform a rangji—an apotropaic sacrifice—to these twelve Thunder Lords in order to avoid the offense of being struck by lightning. The twelve Thunder Lords on the Earthly Thunder side are: the Jiushan Thunder Lord, the Punishing Evil Thunder Lord, the Sheling Thunder Lord, the Fadao Thunder Lord, the Four Seasons Thunder Lord, the Averting Calamity Thunder Lord, the Collecting Poison Thunder Lord, the Curing Illness Thunder Lord, the Supporting the Endangered Thunder Lord, the Taisheng Thunder Lord, the Patrolling Heaven Thunder Lord, and the Inspecting Earth Thunder Lord. These twelve thunder lords are under the jurisdiction of the earthly realm. If an ordinary person commits an earthly offense, they burn incense and pray to Heaven to confess, thereby removing the causes of disaster and suffering. Such prayer is invariably efficacious. The twelve Thunder Lords on the Human Thunder side include: the Plague-Collecting Thunder Lord, the Poison-Seizing Thunder Lord, the Harm-Removing Thunder Lord, the Calamity-Averting Thunder Lord, the Mountain-Sealing Thunder Lord, the Temple-Destroying Thunder Lord, the Ghost-Striking Thunder Lord, and the Thunder Lords whose names begin with the character “Fu.” 虎雷公破瘴雷公滅尸雷公蕩怪雷公管魄雷公此十二雷乃屬人分凡人犯人罪可焼香吿斗隨心禱祝以免此苦戹乃大道好生之德也道言此三十六雷則能輕重善惡敬之則不犯條律以降吉祥不遵敬禮故犯條律則示重罪陽貴貧窮困苦滿足轉轉不信墮落地獄爲鬼復岀受生身過雷擊之後北鄷爲鬼難求出離苦楚豈不痛哉北酆有一百二十獄其獄各有獄主獄吏毒虎毒蛇毒犬刀刃峯山獄吏以杖逐其罪人登山履刃毒蛇纏身罪人身體皆參力刃血流滿身毒獸食飲其血萬死萬生無有晝夜此皆罪人生前致招墮于北酆難可盡述言不可泄略垂九種大道開演此經令使世上凡人知畏若有此獲罪之因獲報陽責可以隨力燒香虔心吿懇天地祈謝原愆以免獲報若有男女在世貧窮亦可修心整行轉誦此經得謝身惡以禳困苦自然天佑之矣大道立言凡人不可以爲常耳亦不可輕泄此文乃上天隱祕之書凡人可能敬重此經在處有衞經元帥六人靈官一十四人天兵一萬五百人土地社令當所管城隍主宰九州風伯城境天神護持此經誦轉此經魔精滅形生人受之身宮康泰死者得之度上南宮及有帝主國王后妃臣宰爲國焚祈豐稔亦可開轉此經能禳域境民物盡泰四序清平永無勍敵 **Interpretation** Tiger Thunder Lord, Miasma-Breaking Thunder Lord, Corpse-Destroying Thunder Lord, Monster-Sweeping Thunder Lord, and Soul-Managing Thunder Lord are all divine generals of the Thunder Department, each with duties such as breaking miasma, destroying corpses, sweeping away monsters, and managing souls. These twelve thunder deities each have their assigned domains and bear on the guilt and blessings of people in the world. If ordinary people commit offenses, they may burn incense and report to the Dipper (the Northern Dipper), praying according to their wishes so as to escape hardship and disaster. This is precisely the De (Virtue/Power) of the Great Dao (the Way), which cherishes life. The Dao says that these thirty-six thunders can weigh the severity of good and evil. Those who revere them will not violate the statutes, and thus auspiciousness will descend. Those who fail to revere and honor them and violate the statutes will have grave sins made manifest: they will receive punishment in the Yang world, their lives will be filled with poverty and hardship, and as they are tossed about they will become ever more unbelieving. They will fall into hell and become ghosts; when they come forth again to receive birth, after their bodies are struck by thunder, they will become ghosts in Beifeng (the Fengdu hells), finding it hard to escape. Is such suffering not heartbreaking? Beifeng has one hundred and twenty hells. Each hell has its own hell master, hell wardens, and poisonous tigers, poisonous snakes, poisonous dogs, and knife-blade peak mountains. The wardens drive the sinners with staffs up the mountains to tread on the blades; poisonous snakes coil around the sinners’ bodies; the sinners’ bodies are pierced by sharp blades; blood covers their bodies; poisonous beasts eat and drink their blood. Thus they die and are born ten thousand times, with no distinction between day and night. All this is what sinners brought upon themselves in life, causing them to fall into Beifeng; it is difficult to describe in full. These words must not be divulged; only nine kinds are briefly indicated here. The Great Dao expounds this Jing (scripture) so that mortals in the world may know fear. If anyone has committed causes of guilt and receives retribution and punishment in the Yang world, they may burn incense according to their means, sincerely entreat Heaven and Earth, and pray to confess their sins and be forgiven their original transgressions, so as to avoid receiving retribution. If men or women in this world are poor, they too may cultivate their minds and rectify their conduct, recite this scripture, and thereby dispel their own evil karma and avert hardship; they will naturally receive the protection of Heaven. When the Great Dao sets forth its words, mortals must not treat them as ordinary speech, nor treat them lightly or divulge them; this text is a secret book of Heaven. If mortals can revere this scripture, wherever it is there will be six marshals who guard the scripture, fourteen spirit officials, ten thousand five hundred heavenly soldiers, as well as the Earth God, the Sheling (local shrine deities), the presiding City God of the jurisdiction, the Wind Lords of the Nine Provinces, and the heavenly deities of the city and its territory to protect and uphold this scripture. When this scripture is recited and circulated, demonic spirits are annihilated; living people who receive and uphold it will have a healthy and tranquil body-palace (body and mind); the dead who obtain it will be delivered and ascend to the Southern Palace (the immortal abode). If emperors, kings, empresses and consorts, and ministers burn incense and pray for abundant harvests on behalf of the state, they too may expound and recite this scripture; it can avert disasters throughout the realm, bring peace and security to the people and all things, make the four seasons clear and peaceful, and ensure that there are never powerful enemies. 道言凡有上士欲修仙法採尋藥圃遇毒蛇虎狼之獸速誦此經惡類返歸其元不能傷害自然回退得遇眞劑學道駸進有會本源故獲善士同志心逹玄妙無不應也亢陽不雨亦可轉誦此經以禳缺澤之戹蟲蝗傷稼燒香誦持則滅其類以消蟲毒境域水泛不退浸崩地土故當速轉眞經其水自退不能渰陷其所及有一切瘟㾮瘴疫之者連年不瘥鬼祟伏尸魔魅在所爲禍不能除却可以焼香轉誦眞經其祟消滅不能傷害自然安愈此經到處萬神侍衛精魔潜走不敢仰視如此威靈凡人有昧律法故當以天篆垂報之後有獲雷擊之人天書或在背胷前脅下手足之上將此經中天篆參究庶知太上之感應然後焚香請正一道士轉誦此經方移其尸祈天雷宥罪方可將棺槨盛之以板閉上留一孔露天雷不復擊以厝去處牛馬亦如此乎敬禮此經不犯律件世世爲人衣祿永滋壽命延長不敬之者掠善仙官錄惡使臣奏呈天府積業過多滿足條令上命一行告下城隍主者隨即行事旣滅之後身經北酆永無出離當爲書篆以示陽民可虔心遵信凡人不可不知也 米中用水荒年起價 業通三世毁罵三寳 不孝果報 因果不修卜者術誤 乃是九幽元惡過多 罪足九世之惡 惡果滿矣裸露三光 身口問九果非禮上 **Interpretation** The Daoist scripture says: When a person of superior capacity wishes to cultivate the methods of immortality and encounters poisonous snakes, tigers, or wolves while gathering herbs in the herb garden, he should quickly recite this scripture. The malevolent kinds will return to their original source, be unable to harm him, and naturally withdraw. He will be able to encounter the true medicine, make rapid progress in studying the Dao, and return to the original source. Thereby he will gain virtuous companions of like mind; his mind will reach the mysterious and wondrous, and nothing will fail to respond. When excessive yang causes drought and no rain, one may also recite this scripture to avert the calamity of water shortage. If locusts damage the crops, burning incense and reciting and upholding it will eliminate such insect pests and remove insect poison. If local floods overflow and do not recede, soaking and washing away the land, one should quickly recite the true scripture, and the water will recede of itself, unable to submerge or sink that place. Moreover, for people afflicted by all kinds of pestilence, miasma, and epidemic disease that do not heal for years, and for ghostly hauntings, hidden corpse demons, and demonic spirits that wreak havoc everywhere and cannot be removed, one may burn incense and recite the true scripture; those ghostly hauntings will be eliminated, unable to harm, and there will naturally be peace and recovery. Wherever this scripture is, myriad deities guard it, and essence-demons flee and hide, not daring to look up. This scripture has such awesome efficacy. If ordinary people violate the laws and precepts, heavenly seal script (celestial writing and Fulu [talismans and registers]) should therefore be used to send down retribution. After this, for those struck by lightning, the heavenly writing may appear on the back, chest, beneath the front ribs, or on the hands and feet; by examining the heavenly seal script in this scripture, one can know the response of Taishang (the Highest Lord). Then one should burn incense and invite a Zhengyi Daoist priest to recite this scripture; only then can the corpse be moved, and one may pray that the heavenly thunder forgive the sins. Only then may the body be encoffined in a coffin and outer coffin, covered with boards, with one hole left open to the sky above, so that the thunder will no longer strike; then it may be settled in its resting place. The same is done for oxen and horses. Those who revere this scripture and do not violate its precepts will be human in generation after generation, with clothing and emoluments forever abundant and lifespan extended. For those who do not revere this scripture, the immortal officials who seize goodness and the envoys who record evil will memorialize the Heavenly Bureau; when their accumulated sins are excessive and the statutes are fulfilled, a command from above will be issued to notify the City God (Chenghuang) in charge, and it will be carried out immediately. After they are destroyed, their bodies enter Beifeng (Fengdu hell), with no escape forever. The seal script should be written out and displayed to the people of the yang world; they may devoutly comply and believe, and ordinary mortals must not fail to know this. Mixing water into rice and raising prices in famine years; evil karma extending through the three times and reviling the Three Treasures (Sanbao: Dao, Jing, and teacher); the retribution of unfiliality; not cultivating cause and effect, and diviners misleading people with their arts—these are the excessive fundamental evil karmas of the Nine Dark Hells (Jiuyou); when sins suffice for nine generations of evil and evil fruits are full, one is exposed beneath the Three Luminaries (San Guang: sun, moon, and stars); body and mouth are involved in the nine kinds of retribution—these are the results of disrespect and transgression against superiors. 前世果報天譴之罪 非言非示州非果將 非道天露 九眞惡過罪至 癸非天責 罪及報應 四世貪求不足 八嗔獲羅 度罪上天檢察 前縁惡業天令報應 宿縁惡報惡報前縁 九業之罪業通具足 諸事滿律天貴其報 非理所爲罪盈足 用且非道曲直非正 九業具足非理亂眞 罪滿自受九惡之報 九七之罪天察其過 九九之罪口業之罪 五悖之罪五世之惡 四思之惡道言凡有陽世之人身被雷擊可將此符篆證之以知此立乎報應之驗也可以燒香誦轉此經以解尸滯可以燒其天書解之身著地上乃用硃砂併銀硃以黃紙盛授其筆仍安棺槨之上載書其篆以對天文及念九天應元雷聲普化天尊聖號一萬音方翻其尸則動便入棺槨循葬去處如此感應爲人豈不知其明有天律之嚴也可以常誦此經能消諸苦及大病死亡不經地獄官災口舌連年困苦負本遠出路途或遇賊惡蟲蛇虎狼之地但念誦斯經自然不能損害凡有患難可以誦持門庭清肅人眷安寧及有起造動土架扇屋宇併修築墻圍有犯神煞及行喪葬有犯墓龍殺神一應去止但焼好香誦此眞經以謝各神自然迴避不能侵害生人師巫或埋名魘禱翦雞滴血或在廟祀之處及在邪壇將生人名諱因自服法不加及 **Interpretation** Karmic retribution created in former lives and the guilt for which Heaven condemns one—these cannot be fully expressed in words or indicated by signs, nor are they limited to a particular prefecture or place or to one kind of impending retribution. When something goes against the orthodox Dao (the Way), heavenly principle exposes its guilt. The Nine Zhen (the nine Zhen deities of Daoism) record evil transgressions, and punishment for guilt follows. This is not Heaven punishing without cause. Karmic offenses entangle the self, and retribution comes accordingly. Through four lifetimes one greedily seeks and knows no satisfaction. Eight kinds of anger and resentment summon the snare. Heaven examines all accumulated offenses. For evil karma within the causes and conditions of former lives, Heaven causes one to receive retribution. The evil retribution of causes and conditions from former lifetimes—evil retribution comes from former-life causes and conditions. The offenses of the nine karmas (the nine kinds of karma)—the power of karma is fully complete. When all matters reach the full measure of the statutes, Heaven exacts retribution. Actions contrary to reason are full of evil. When conduct does not accord with the Dao, what is crooked and what is straight are not set right. When the nine karmas are complete, one disturbs the true nature with what is contrary to principle. When offenses are full, one naturally receives the retribution of the nine evils. For the offenses of nine-seven, Heaven inspects their faults. The offenses of nine-nine belong to the offenses of speech karma. The offenses of the five perversities are the evils of five lifetimes. There is evil conduct in the four thoughts. The Daoist scriptures say: whenever people in the yang world of the living are struck by lightning, this Fulu (Daoist talisman and register) can be used to verify it. From this one may know that this is clear proof of retribution taking effect immediately. One may burn incense and recite this scripture to dispel corpse stagnation (the affliction of the corpse lingering and becoming rigid). One may burn its celestial writing (talismanic text) to dissolve and transform it. Place the corpse on the ground. Then use cinnabar together with vermilion. Support it with yellow paper and give a writing brush for writing. Still place it securely on the coffin and outer coffin. Write the talismanic script on it to correspond to the celestial patterns, and recite the holy name of the Heavenly Worthy of Universal Transformation through the Sound of Thunder, Who Responds to the Origin, of the Nine Heavens (Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun, a high deity of the Daoist thunder bureau) ten thousand times. Only then turn the corpse over, and the body will move. Then it enters the coffin and outer coffin and is buried in the proper place according to the funeral rites. Such is the response. How could a person not know that clearly therein lies the majesty of heavenly law? One may constantly recite this scripture. It can eliminate all sufferings, and ensure that in great illness and death one will not undergo the hells. Official disasters, verbal disputes and slander, and years of hardship; debts and hardships on long journeys; or encountering bandits, harmful insects, snakes, or places of tigers and wolves—as long as one recites this scripture, naturally one cannot be harmed. Whenever there is trouble or difficulty, one may recite and uphold this scripture. The household is pure and orderly, and family members are peaceful and secure. When there is construction, breaking ground, building houses, and erecting walls and enclosures, or when one offends the Shensha (inauspicious deities of construction and directional positions), and when conducting funerals and burials, offending the Tomb Dragon and Slaying Deities (inauspicious forces of tomb orientation)—for all such offenses in matters that should be avoided or halted, as long as one burns fine incense and recites this true scripture to give thanks to the various deities, they will naturally withdraw and cannot harm the living. Shiwu (shamans and spirit mediums), or burying names, performing yandao (sorcery involving curses and prayers to harm others), cutting a chicken and dripping its blood, or at temples and places of sacrifice, and at heterodox altars, using the names of living people—because they themselves are constrained by the orthodox Dharma, they cannot inflict harm on one’s person. 因田園財物口舌紛爭將其名諱在諸去處魘禱知其源者可以燒香誦轉此經却除差來索命邪鬼重則隨經使者官史不待上天律下即以滅形輕則以戒之其神能滅諸邪山魈鬼怪魑魅伏尸及枉死孤魂之鬼并精靈百魔之鬼侵害生人起禍損人命魂久病不瘥連年及求血食山壇冷社將後起疫不能除却但以好香燒告神霄雷主將帥及兵官吏護經靈官將帥将此經轉誦魔魅潜形不能侵損人命或遇夜行將此眞經以帕袋服此經却除水陸邪鬼魍魉之神亦不敢侵損魂命使其鬼神潜形永不復害也上天之書以度下民令識宿根知太上之立教凡有萬億之戹轉誦眞經無不應護萬邪歸正道法闇祥無量神通音雷霆鄧元帥於玉笥山修行五十二年奏呈玉帝陳説承天開化抉教度人發大誓願滅天下不忠不孝之人及斷鬼魔侵害人物一勿爲禍妖邪救生度死忽功行圓滿蒙上帝詔命召赴陸前賜金丹一粒吞服變成鳳觜形翼仍對爲歘火律令大神以金鋋鑿各一付之身長一丈赤髮藍身乎是皆爲鳳爪受令行事斷天下不忠不孝之人鬼崇之魅一切害民之類以五月五日午時爲赴召昇仙之日其功果成就敬守于今巳化有劫矣世人不信此神故犯天條致罪滿足獲其神而戮誅身屬北鄷永爲鬼趣墮於其中萬 **Interpretation** On account of disputes over fields and gardens, property, or verbal quarrels, someone writes a person’s name in various places and performs a yandao rite (a yansheng curse). Those who know its root can burn incense and recite this scripture to eliminate the evil ghosts that have been dispatched to demand life. For those whose offenses are grave, the emissaries and officials who guard the teaching through this scripture need not wait for a heavenly ordinance to be issued; they immediately destroy their forms, while those with lighter offenses are disciplined. The spirit of this scripture can eliminate all evils: mountain goblins and ghost monsters, chimei (forest demons) and fushi (corpse-haunting demons), the ghosts of the unjustly dead and lonely souls, and the ghosts of sprites and all demons—all those that harm the living, cause calamity, and damage people’s life-soul. If a chronic illness remains uncured for many years, or if ghostly mischief seeks blood offerings at neglected mountain altars and community shrines and then causes an epidemic that cannot be dispelled, one need only burn good incense and report to the chief generals, troops, and officers of the Shenxiao Thunder Department, and to the guardian spirit officials and generals who protect the scripture, and recite this scripture; then the demonic specters will hide their traces and be unable to harm human life. Or, when traveling at night, if one wraps this true scripture in a cloth bag and wears it, one can remove the spirits of evil ghosts and wangliang (mountain-and-river sprites) on water and land; they too will not dare harm the life-soul, and these ghost-spirits will hide their traces and never again harm people. This is a book of Heaven, used to deliver and transform the people below, enabling them to recognize the karmic roots of past lives and to know that Taishang (Taishang Laojun, the Daoist patriarch) established the teaching. For all trillions of kinds of disasters and adversities, reciting this true scripture never fails to obtain responsive protection; the ten thousand evils turn toward the gate of the true Dao, with subtle auspicious responses and the sound of immeasurable spiritual power. Thunder Marshal Deng cultivated on Yusi Mountain for fifty-two years. He submitted a memorial to the Jade Emperor, declaring that he had received Heaven’s mandate to open and transform the world, to uphold and discern the teaching for the salvation of people, and made a great vow: to eliminate the disloyal and unfilial throughout the world, to cut off ghosts and demons that harm people and creatures, to permit no demonic evil to cause calamity, and to save the living and deliver the dead. Suddenly, when his merits and practices were complete, he received an edict from the Supreme God and was summoned before the heavenly court hall. He was granted a single Golden Elixir; after swallowing it, he took on phoenix-beak-shaped wings and was appointed Great Deity of the Swift-Fire Ordinance (Xuhuo Lüling Dashen). He was given one set each of a golden short spear and a golden chisel; he was one zhang tall, with red hair and a blue body. Thereupon his hands and feet all became phoenix claws. He carries out orders, cutting off the disloyal and unfilial throughout the world, ghostly mischiefs and demons, and all kinds that harm the people. He took noon on the fifth day of the fifth month as the day of answering the summons and ascending to immortality. His meritorious fruits were accomplished; this has been reverently observed to the present, and he has already passed through kalpas transforming and delivering beings. People of the world do not believe in this deity; therefore they violate the heavenly statutes. When their sins are full, they are seized by this deity and killed and punished. Their bodies return to Beifeng (Fengdu, the ghost realm); they forever become part of the ghost path, fall into it, and for ten thousand kalpas receive retribution. 萬億劫不復岀離如此之報因果昭然世人尤乃故犯條律旣犯之後獲報其中悔何得也深可痛哉世人在世不敬三寳天地君親師友正道之人但檢閱此經靜默安神燒香禮拜天地安坐去處看誦此經深詳自悔大有身畏爲人豈不染諸縁惡之愆自省人身之本以解日積所爲若有果獲當擊身經北鄷受苦何人爲汝解釋負受如此果報昭明凡人在世自宜保愛其身凡或有婦人懷娠孕經過月不能分娩或恐非人受胎鬼崇冤家及山壇冷社之鬼假爲人形前來託化害其母命痛苦難忍識此因由可焼香望東念救苦天尊聖號四十九音方開誦此經即時人脱其胎即與萬神監生其子福慧雙全女亦如此或是鬼怪冤家則隨經帥將攝下押赴北鄷遂誕死尸其死尸得下之時將栗木数束書大神名字吿天仍祝曰從今釋冤不得害人魂命及有官符口舌連年不解困苦將終誦此眞經以禳戹難無不應驗門戸方隅改修動土不時有犯殺神興災令人疾病未安知是一切有犯之處請道士延眞祈天請命書大聖七元眞君名號以黃紙用硃明書其上奉安所犯方位轉誦此經無不應驗清康庭戸大有光輝神之所佑也道出乎太玄之初未判兩儀之先萬物之中惟人第一蟲禽潜蟄尚知時候四時之物豈有異也天 **Interpretation** Even after passing through countless kalpas, one cannot escape; such karmic retribution precisely shows that cause and effect are clear. Yet people in the world still deliberately violate the statutes; once they have transgressed, how can regret at the time of retribution retrieve it? This is truly painful. When people live in the world, if they do not revere the Three Treasures (the Dao, the Jing, and the Shi—the Way, scriptures, and teacher), Heaven and Earth, ruler and parents, teachers and friends, and people of the right path, they need only open this scripture, quietly settle the spirit, and burn incense in worship of Heaven and Earth. At a place where they sit at ease, they should read and recite this scripture, ponder it deeply and carefully, repent of themselves, and arouse great awe toward their own person. As human beings, how can they avoid being stained by all kinds of evil karmic conditions and sins? They should reflect on the root of the human person, so as to dissolve what has been done and accumulated over days and months. If retribution arrives, they will personally undergo suffering in Beifeng (the Daoist underworld); who can liberate them on their behalf? They must bear such manifest retribution. All people in the world should naturally protect and cherish their own persons. If a woman is pregnant and past her month cannot give birth, or fears that a nonhuman is taking rebirth in the womb, or that ghosts and malevolent spirits, karmic enemies, and ghosts of mountain altars and cold shrines have assumed human form and come to be reborn, harming the mother’s life, with unbearable pain—once this cause is understood, one may burn incense facing east, recite the holy name of Jiuku Tianzun (Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, the Celestial Worthy Who Saves from Suffering) forty-nine times, and then begin reciting this scripture. This immediately causes the laboring woman to be delivered; and it causes ten thousand deities to guard the child at birth, complete in both blessing and wisdom. The same holds if a daughter is born. If it is a ghost-monster or a karmic enemy, the commanding generals in the scripture will seize it and escort it to Beifeng; thereupon a dead fetus will be delivered. When the dead fetus comes down, take several bundles of chestnut wood, write the names of the great deities on them, offer sacrifice and report to Heaven, and pray, saying: “From now on let the enmity be resolved; you must not again harm people’s souls or lives.” If there are lawsuits and disputes that remain unresolved for years, and hardship is about to reach its end, reciting this true scripture to avert calamity and adversity will never fail to be efficacious. When door and gate orientations are changed or ground is broken, one may inadvertently offend the killing deities, who send down calamity and cause illness that will not heal. Knowing these places of offense, one should ask Daoist priests to invite the true spirits, pray to Heaven, and petition for life; write clearly in cinnabar on yellow paper the names of the Great Sage Seven Primes True Lords (the Seven Primes of the Northern Dipper), enshrine and place them in the offended direction, and recite this scripture. There is nothing that is not efficacious: the family will be pure, peaceful, healthy, and secure, and the household will be greatly radiant—this is the protection of the deities. The Dao arose at the very beginning of Taixuan (the primordial beginning of the Dao), before the Two Modes (Heaven and Earth) had separated; among the ten thousand things, the human being is the foremost. Insects and birds in hibernation still know the seasons; how could the myriad things of the four seasons be an exception? Here, “Heaven” refers to the Dao of Heaven. 地垂明以示人也應期發生流潤人間在世爲人何可以謝穹壤之恩凡人在世可尊敬天地君親師友正道佛僧羅漢功果善縁奉揚科教開誘人天從善周始則善神應佑後爲惡獲因劫劫墮落地獄經劫受苦人道逺矣縱得人道出生貧窮下賤復不修禮轉轉逺乎聖證無可得遇無上法橋度拔苦趣經世不悟墮落傍生六道輪廻一入沈淪難期解釋道言得遏此經乃宿有善功積劫以來幸會天文如有志學之士見此眞經一聞便悟若有世人見此眞經不信毀謗生生墮落傍類與大道逺矣如或修誦始終旣死之後不經地府魂神執此經念念正覺上昇南宮朱陵火府時刻受鍊決無宿對世人在世生身快樂歌酒取歡不知樂是苦根貪求取利不知喜是悲目負販南北而不知冬有嚴霜如木凋也根本若實則有春時不循人道之本死之道矣天尊說此眞經令使世人受悟歸向正道以識源本免滯輪迴在世長年人中殊勝轉轉歸勤仙都記籍善功縁行具足則萬神擁護尸解仙去超度天程昇遷仙位命職帝前此經深重不可思議謹而敬之或慢無極之科自生不信仍不奉持身謝之後永處北鄷後悔難及保之受用福不輕矣是時天尊說經將畢龍鶴天仙萬聖千眞來迎御坐起席之時諸天魔王及諸人鬼神受法戒 **Interpretation** This scripture expounds how one should cultivate virtue in the worldly existence and the consequences of straying from the righteous path. The sacred text states: The great earth nurtures all beings to sustain humanity, and the living should be grateful to Heaven and Earth. People ought to revere Heaven and Earth, sovereigns, parents, and teachers, take refuge in the orthodox Dao, make offerings to Buddhist monks and arhats (Buddhist practitioners), accumulate virtuous connections, and propagate the true teachings. Those who follow goodness like flowing water will receive protection from benevolent spirits, while evildoers shall fall into hell realms to suffer through countless rebirths. Even if reborn as humans, such individuals will be born into impoverished families. Without cultivating ritual propriety, they will drift ever further from the path of sages, forever deprived of encountering the supreme Dharma that liberates from suffering. Those who persist in delusion will fall into the animal realm (one of the six rebirth destinies), sinking endlessly in the cycle of transmigration. Those who encounter this scripture have all accumulated virtue in past lives. The spiritually gifted will awaken upon seeing this text, while those who disbelieve or slander it shall degenerate through endless rebirths, estranged from the great Dao. Sincere recitation of this scripture enables one to bypass the underworld after death—by upholding its teachings, the soul may ascend to the Vermilion Palace of the Southern Fire (a Daoist celestial realm) to receive purification and dissolve karmic obstructions. Worldly beings often indulge in pleasures, unaware that joy conceals bitter fruits; they covet gains, ignorant that happiness ultimately turns to sorrow. Like trees unaware of winter's approach, they inevitably wither. Only with deep roots can one welcome spring. To abandon humanity's fundamental principles is to court self-destruction. The Celestial Worthy (supreme deity of Daoism) transmitted this true scripture to awaken humanity to the orthodox path, recognize life's origin, and transcend rebirth. Through diligent practice and accumulating virtuous deeds, one gains protection from myriad spirits, achieves liberation from the corpse to become an immortal (a Daoist method of transcendence), and ascends to take place among the celestial host. This scripture's significance is profound—it demands reverent devotion. Those who treat it lightly shall eternally descend into the Northern Fengdu Hell (a Daoist purgatory), beyond redemption. Cherish and uphold this text to receive immeasurable blessings. When the Celestial Worthy concluded this teaching, dragon-riding immortals, celestial cranes, and countless perfected beings came to welcome him. All heavenly demon kings and spirit beings received the precepts, pledging their allegiance to the Dao. 旨此經流教下民庶曉歸宗知本逹生榮路不生無道之鄉釋宿命塵輪苦楚見而奉之不可輕泄罪照玄科明有其報戒愼之焉太上說朝天謝雷眞經元皇帝君垂讃曰人天居敬福不輕之造化合德運度俯睎雷霆隨巳誓救生滋除滅惡腐輔化乾基週榮萬法變忖莫思敬則從順興道保規逆則烈誓後憶難追笥山修應抉化天隨誅戮惡蠱　滅却勃軀　發生萬物　長決幽爲千狀萬類　總領在歸　人莫不信　輕重訊人身一滅　何復再　求仙樂理　常誦其書先修古葯　方自度梯　推山新匠　一出䥴錐普化敬順　無量以金闕化身天尊親製詩吾爲教主　威鎭北天　分别人鬼　將吏當先雷部聖衆　總掌其權　誅滅兇惡　化作塵煙三茅妙行圎滿天君親製詩 天令行威顯小民 小存正直保其身 禳災解戹看經驗 鎚鑿專誅五逆人九天元皇梓潼靈應天君親製頌曰 天道福善而禍淫　雷霆殺伐警人心 吾今顯化令知畏　咸使生靈免罪深 又頌曰 顯化訓民歸正教　開揚帝德好生心 朝英虔奉刋于梓　印施雷經發玉音 又頌曰天行號令　警戒凡民　不知畏懼　徒積禍因條法昭示　以滅身軀　能省巳過　神明監于度人諸戹　經訓敷具　朝英刋施　福禄眷聚 **Interpretation** The purpose of this Jing (scripture/classic) is to spread teachings that transform the common people, hoping that all will understand returning to the ancestral source, know the root, and reach the path of long life, glory, and blessing. Those who receive and uphold it will not be born in places without the Dao (the Way) and can be freed from the sufferings of karmic destiny within the dusty wheel; upon seeing this scripture, one should receive and uphold it. It must not be treated with contempt or disclosed lightly; offenses are judged according to the Xuan Ke (the mysterious code, the Daoist legal code), and retribution will surely follow. One must be cautious and fearful. The True Scripture Spoken by Taishang on Paying Court to Heaven and Thanking the Thunder: Taishang (the Supreme Lord, the highest deity of Daoism) proclaims the True Scripture of Paying Court to Heaven and Thanking the Thunder. Lord Emperor Yuan (Yuanhuang Dijun, a Daoist deity) bestows a verse of praise, saying: If the assemblies of humans and heavenly beings can keep their minds reverent and cautious, their blessings will not be slight; creation accords with De (Virtue/Power), and the measures of destiny look down and inspect the human realm. Thunder is released with the si hour (at the proper time), with the vow to rescue living beings and nourish the myriad things; it eliminates evil and decay and supports the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. It brings glory to all phenomena; in transformation and measure there is no need for deluded thought. With reverence one complies, promotes the Dao and its methods, and keeps the precepts. Opposition brings severe oath-bound punishment, and afterward recollection will be too late; cultivating in resonance on Mount Si (a mountain name) draws forth creation, and Heaven responds accordingly. It executes evil and venomous harm, destroys the bodies of the fierce and rebellious, generates the myriad things, and forever resolves the works of darkness. The thousand forms and ten thousand kinds are all under its command; people must not fail to believe, for light and heavy offenses are each interrogated and inspected. Once the human body perishes, how can it be obtained again? For the principle of seeking immortality and delighting in the Dao, one should constantly recite this scripture. First cultivate the elixirs handed down from antiquity; only then is there a ladder for saving oneself. A new craftsman who would move a mountain uses the engraving awl from the first stroke. Through universal teaching, those who are reverent and compliant thereby attain immeasurable merit. The Heavenly Worthy of the Golden Citadel Incarnation (a Daoist deity) personally composed a poem: “I am the teaching lord; my power pacifies the northern heaven. I distinguish humans and ghosts; generals and officials lead the way. The holy host of the Thunder Department holds all authority, executing the fierce and evil and turning them to dust and smoke.” The Celestial Lord of Perfect Fulfillment of the Wondrous Practice of the Three Mao (honorific title of the Three Mao Perfected Lords) personally composed a poem: “Heaven’s command exercises its power and manifests responses among the common people. If common people keep their hearts upright, they can preserve their lives intact. To avert disasters and dissolve adversity, one should look to the spiritual efficacy of this scripture. The hammer and chisel are devoted to executing those guilty of the Five Rebellions (the five grievous sins against Heaven).” The Nine-Heaven Yuanhuang Zitong Numinous-Response Celestial Lord (the Zitong Emperor Lord) personally made a hymn, saying: “The Heavenly Dao blesses the good and brings misfortune on the wicked; thunder’s killing and punishment warn the human heart. Now I manifest transformations to make people know awe, so that living beings may escape grave and heavy retribution for their sins.” Again he made a hymn, saying: “Through manifest transformations I instruct the people to turn to the orthodox teaching and to open and spread the emperor’s virtue and his heart that cherishes life. Chaoying devoutly received and upheld it, carved the blocks and published it, printed and distributed the Thunder Scripture, and sent forth the jade sounds.” Again he made a hymn, saying: “Heaven carries out its commands and warns ordinary people; those who do not know fear only accumulate causes of disaster. The statutes are clearly shown, so as to destroy the bodies of evildoers; those who can reflect on their own faults are inspected by the gods. For saving people from all adversities, the scripture’s instructions are already complete; Chaoying carved and spread them abroad, and blessings, fortune, and family dependents gather.” 青帝天君吾號雷霆猛吏賞善罰惡無情讒佞不忠不孝歘發雷火皆焚奸邪怨怒天地奏聞上帝滅形旣有謝雷經呪諸人展誦來因傳生道義好道捨財刋此眞經若依不犯天律衣食飽煖安寜雷泓召吾讃經附於誠眞 **Interpretation** Qingdi Tianjun (the Eastern Azure Emperor, a revered deity in Daoism). I am titled the Fierce Officer of Thunder (Leiting Mengli, a fierce officer in the Thunder Department who governs thunder). I reward the good and punish the wicked. Toward slanderers and flatterers, and those who are disloyal and unfilial, I show no partiality whatsoever. Swiftly I send forth thunder and fire to burn away all treachery and evil. As for those who resent and rage against Heaven and Earth, I report them to Shangdi (God on High) and destroy their physical forms. There is also the Xie Lei Jingzhou (a scripture and incantation for thanking the Thunder God). The reason people unroll the scroll and recite it is to propagate the Dao and benefit living beings. Those who love the Dao donate goods and wealth to print this true Jing (scripture). If one follows the scripture in practice and does not transgress the heavenly law, one will have enough food and clothing and live in peace. Leihong (a title in the Thunder Department) summoned me. I composed a scripture of praise, which is appended after the written account of Chengzhen Jing (the name of the scribe). 靖筆 --- 原文底本：Kanripo 漢籍リポジトリ（京都大学），CC BY-SA 4.0。 Source text: Kanripo Chinese Classics Repository (Kyoto University), CC BY-SA 4.0. HTML version: https://daozang.app/en/text/KR5a0014/