《元始天尊說北方真武妙經》

This scripture passage depicts the scene where the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun), the supreme deity in Daoism, expounds the Northern Perfect Warrior Scripture (Zhenwu Miaojing) to the divine assembly at the Palace of Eight Luminosities. The text consists of two main sections:

The opening "Invocation Hymn" venerates the Perfect Warrior Emperor (Zhenwu Dadi), the Northern Dark Warrior deity:

• Praising this water god of the north (associated with the celestial stems Ren and Gui, representing water) as the incarnation of the Golden Tower's true sovereign, bearing the exalted title "Peerless General, Perfect Warrior"
• Describing his majestic form: clad in purple robes with golden girdle, wielding a divine sword, standing atop the cosmic tortoise and giant serpent, flanked by the Jade Maidens of the Six Ding (female celestial officials), with the Eight Generals of Destruction guarding before and behind
• Possessing boundless power to subdue demonic hordes, avert calamities, and bestow blessings

The second section recounts the circumstances prompting this revelation:

• On the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month during the Dragon-Han era, the Celestial Worthy convened a grand assembly of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Emperors and Ten Polar Perfected Ones in the celestial palace
• Suddenly, seven tremors emanated from the northeast, the heavenly gates opened, and a surge of dark, poisonous blood-light and foul qi (vital energy) rose from the human realm
• The Perfected of Marvelous Conduct (Miaoxing Zhenren), representing the perfected beings, inquired about this omen
• The Celestial Worthy explained: this occurred because mortals had forsaken the Dao (the Way), indulged in heterodox practices, abandoned loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness, causing yin-yang imbalance. The impending kalpic cycle (jieyun) of cosmic calamity allowed demonic energies to surge upward

(Note: The "thirty-six thousand divine qi" refers to the ancient belief that the human body contains this number of protective spirits; "kalpic cycle" denotes the periodic cosmic catastrophes in Daoist cosmology)

This scripture recounts how the Primordial Heavenly Venerable (Yuanshi Tianzun) revealed to the Perfected Being of Wondrous Practice (Miaoxing Zhenren) and other disciples the origin and demon-subduing exploits of the Great Emperor Zhenwu (also known as the Dark Warrior Emperor).

At that time, malevolent spirits ran rampant in the world, tormenting the people with demonic afflictions. Countless innocent lives were lost, their grievances rising to heaven. The Perfected Being of Wondrous Practice pleaded with the Heavenly Venerable to descend and vanquish these demons. In response, the Venerable revealed that a mighty deity named Zhenwu in the northern regions would subdue these evil forces.

When asked about this deity's origins, the Heavenly Venerable recounted Emperor Zhenwu's path to perfection:

1. Originally the crown prince of Pure Joy Kingdom, he was conceived after his mother, the Virtuous Victory Queen, dreamed of swallowing sunlight and carried him for fourteen months

2. He was born at noon on the third day of the third month during the Kaihuang era (a Daoist calendrical designation)

3. Born with divine marks, he renounced his royal inheritance to devote himself to spiritual cultivation

4. He vowed to eradicate all demons in the world and deliver all sentient beings

5. After cultivating the Dao for forty-two years at Wudang Mountain (his primary sacred site), he ascended in broad daylight

6. The Jade Emperor then appointed him as the Great Guardian Deity of the North, specializing in subduing demons

The Perfected Being again entreated the Venerable to dispatch Zhenwu. A jade attendant was sent with a talismanic decree summoning Zhenwu, who immediately led his divine troops to appear. Zhenwu explained that while he served the Jade Emperor's command to guard the north, he stood ready for the Heavenly Venerable's instructions.

This passage primarily establishes Emperor Zhenwu's divine office and origins, setting the stage for subsequent accounts of his demon-subduing exploits. Key references include the "Six Heavens of Demonic Obstacles" (representing six realms of demonic influence in Daoist cosmology), the Kaihuang era (a Daoist temporal designation), and Wudang Mountain as Zhenwu's principal sacred site.

The Yuanshi Tianzun Speaks the Wondrous Scripture of Zhenwu the True Warrior of the North recounts the story of Zhenwu Dadi (Great Emperor Zhenwu, also known as Xuanwu Dadi, a major guardian deity in Daoism) subduing demons:

At that time, a surge of dark, poisonous resentment rose straight to the celestial court, shocking all the immortals. Yuanshi Tianzun (the highest deity in Daoism) commanded Zhenwu Dadi to descend to the mortal world to vanquish demons and liberate lost souls. Zhenwu Dadi immediately let down his hair and went barefoot, standing atop the divine turtle and the flying serpent (two sacred creatures symbolizing the Water God of the North). Leading an army of 300,000 celestial soldiers—including the Six Ding and Six Jia (Daoist guardian generals), the Five Thunder Divinities, and fierce beasts like dragons and lions—he subdued all the demons in the human realm within seven days. This separated ghosts from humans, brought peace to wandering souls, ensured the safety of the people, and restored harmony to the land.

After completing his mission, Zhenwu Dadi returned to the celestial court to report. Yuanshi Tianzun praised him for cleansing the world of evil in just seven days. Zhenwu Dadi then recited a powerful incantation (a Daoist exorcism spell), the essence of which was:

"I am the Water God of the North, with the combined form of turtle and serpent, patrolling heaven and earth to awe all beings. No demon can escape my divine sight, and I fulfill the wishes of all living beings. By the command of the Jade Emperor, I descend to eradicate evil—whoever dares to wreak havoc, with a single glance, I can make the Five Sacred Mountains crumble!"

The scripture also includes an additional incantation on the origins of heaven and earth: In the beginning of chaos, the Three Powers (heaven, earth, and humanity) each found their proper place. But later, as virtue (De) declined, demons ran rampant, bringing harm to the people. This incantation demonstrates Zhenwu Dadi’s might as a guardian deity and reflects the Daoist ideal of "acting on behalf of Heaven to uphold the Dao" in saving the world.

(Note: The phrase "Jiji rulüling" is a common Daoist incantation ending, roughly meaning "execute this immediately.")

This scripture recounts how the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun) bestowed upon the True Martial Emperor (Zhenwu Dadi, also known as the Dark Martial Emperor and a principal guardian deity in Daoism) the sacred mission to subdue demons, vanquish evil, and protect all living beings.

The text begins by describing the suffering in the human realm: years of legal entanglements, exhausted wealth, separation from loved ones, innocent lives lost, and unending calamities—all these turbid energies rise up to the celestial court. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning commands the True Martial Emperor to pacify these disasters, eradicate all demonic entities, exterminate every malevolent spirit, and compel the plague deities to submit. The True Martial Emperor commands a force of one hundred thousand divine warriors and fifty million celestial troops, with authority over all between heaven and earth. Those who defy him shall be destroyed, those who revere him shall be preserved, those who slight him shall meet misfortune, those who honor him shall receive blessings, those who worship him shall attain longevity, and those who oppose him shall surely perish.

Following this is the Divine Incantation of the True Martial Emperor, extolling the majestic power of the Dark Heaven of the North (referring to Zhenwu Dadi): He can transform in myriad ways, ride clouds and mists, and lead countless divine soldiers to purge demonic influences. With thunder gods and jade maiden generals in his retinue, he subdues ghosts and deities, tames dragons and tigers. His mighty name shakes the Five Sacred Mountains, and all spiritual beings obey his commands. Roaming between heaven and earth, he captures malevolent ghosts, crushes demonic armies, eradicates evil forces, and upholds the true Dao, ensuring that the Dao's Qi (the fundamental energy of Daoist cultivation) remains ever-present in the mortal world.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning instructs the True Martial Emperor: henceforth, on the days of Jiazi, Gengshen, and the 3rd, 7th, 17th, and 27th days of each lunar month, he must descend to the human realm to receive offerings, examine the virtue and vice of mortals, record their merits and faults in cultivation, and determine their lifespans. By following the Celestial Worthy's teachings—making offerings and reciting scriptures—one can subdue demons, dispel inauspiciousness, liberate the souls of the deceased, protect the living, and bring peace to the world.

Finally, the Marvelous Conduct Perfected Being (Miaoxing Zhenren) and numerous celestial deities, upon hearing this sacred decree, rejoice and praise the Celestial Worthy's boundless virtue. They petition to descend to the mortal world to rescue beings from the Three Calamities (floods, fires, and winds). The Divine General of the True Martial Emperor, having received the Celestial Worthy's edict, vows to eternally guard the northern realm before respectfully taking his leave.