《元始天尊濟度血湖真經》

The Yuanshi Tianzun Jidu Xuehu Zhenjing (Authentic Scripture of Salvation from the Blood Lake by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning), Volume One

This is a pivotal Daoist scripture recounting how Yuanshi Tianzun (the supreme deity in Daoism) delivers beings trapped in the "Blood Lake Hell." The Blood Lake is a realm within the Daoist underworld reserved for women punished for karmic offenses such as polluting the earth with childbirth blood or defiling sacred spaces with menstrual blood. With great compassion, Yuanshi Tianzun expounds the Dharma to liberate these suffering women.

Volume One primarily documents how Yuanshi Tianzun convenes celestial immortals in the Jade Pure Realm (the highest heaven) to explain the origins and horrors of the Blood Lake Hell. It particularly emphasizes taboos women may inadvertently violate due to their physiology—for instance, contaminating the earth during childbirth or offending the Kitchen God, which could condemn them to this hell. The Celestial Worthy then reveals methods of salvation, pledging that sincere repentance and recitation of this scripture will grant deliverance.

The Middle Volume of The Numinous Scripture of Celestial Worthy Yuanshi on Salvation from the Blood Lake records:

At that time, Celestial Worthy Yuanshi (the supreme deity of Daoism) sat serenely upon his floating five-colored lion throne, surrounded by countless jade attendants and perfected immortals from the celestial realms. Addressing the assembly of accomplished adepts, he spoke:

In the northeast direction, within the watery realm of Rengui (the northern Water Phase orientation), lies a boundless sea of foul and putrid waters known as the Great Desolate Mingbo Ocean. There rises the Mount Fengdu of the Northern Yin (the central mountain of the underworld), spanning ten thousand li, connecting heaven and earth—a convergence point of yin energies and the axis of the Ninefold Netherworld. Here are distributed various hells that judge the karmic transgressions of all living beings: humans, birds, beasts, and creatures born from womb, egg, or otherwise.

Deepest among them lies the Blood Lake Hell beneath the Northern Yin seabed, enclosed by Iron Encircling Mountains. It comprises four interconnected sub-hells: Blood Pool, Blood Basin, Blood Mountain, and Blood Sea, governed by the Great God of Blood Lake. This realm flows with fetid waters and reeks of abomination. Women who die in childbirth are reborn here due to karmic entanglements from past lives—mother-child grievances demanding retribution. Wailing in darkness, covered in gore, they endure beatings with golden hammers and iron rods, starving yet forced to eat blazing fire, thirsting yet drinking only blood. Dying ten thousand deaths without release, they never see light again. Even when encountering salvific talismans (Fulu), their sins are only slightly mitigated—few achieve complete liberation, and most are reborn into animal realms.

Then, from the Eastern Paradise of Eternal Joy, Celestial Worthy Taiyi the Savior of Suffering (the deity specialized in delivering beings from torment) manifested. This Great Compassionate One vowed at the dawn of creation to manifest in countless forms: as the God of Blessings in heaven, as the Great Compassionate One among humans, as the Solar Radiance Emperor in hells, as the Lion Bright King when subduing heterodox paths, and as the Cavernous Abyss Emperor in water palaces. He proclaimed to all beings: "You are transformations of my breath, I am your origin. This essence of Ninefold Yang (supreme yang energy) responds miraculously—whether in celestial palaces, human realms, hells, or when vanquishing demons, it manifests upon invocation."

This scripture depicts the scene of Yuanshi Tianzun (the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning) and Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun (the Celestial Worthy of Salvation from Suffering, a Daoist deity specializing in redeeming lost souls) delivering souls who have fallen into the Blood Lake Hell (a hell realm specifically for women condemned due to "blood pollution" sins related to childbirth and menstruation):

The assembled immortals manifest in various forms—some transform into celestial youths and jade maidens, others appear as emperors and sages, while some take on the guise of Tianyi Gongcao (celestial physicians). Together they chant the sacred name of Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, whereupon they behold the Tianzun descending amid five-colored auspicious clouds, riding a nine-headed lion, his body radiating precious light. The immortals pay homage to Yuanshi Tianzun and receive his instructions.

Yuanshi Tianzun proclaims: "I observe how women in the mortal realm suffer in the Blood Lake Hell due to karmic offenses from childbirth and other matters, finding it difficult to attain liberation. Now we shall open the celestial treasure vault to issue the Golden Pardon Edict." Thereupon, Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun leads an entourage including eighty-one divine generals, celestial warriors, and attendants. Holding a lapis lazuli vase (symbolizing purification) and an azure-feathered branch (a ritual implement), he descends to hell astride his nine-headed lion.

The Tianzun releases immeasurable light, commanding divine generals like the Great Spirit of Nine Phoenixes Who Purges Defilement to cleanse the Blood Lake, while proclaiming amnesty for souls who died in childbirth. Instantly, the underworld officials of Fengdu (the Daoist netherworld)—including Beiyin the Great Emperor of the North and the ox-headed and horse-faced demon guards—comply with the order. They burn the ledgers of sins, transforming the Blood Lake into a pure lotus pond, the instruments of torture into blossoming lotuses, and the blood-stains into sweet dew. All condemned souls awaken to their original nature through this opportunity, riding divine light to transcend the hell realms.

This scripture depicts the compassionate salvation of beings in hell by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun, the supreme deity in Daoism). The main content describes:

All underworld officials in the hell realms awaken benevolent thoughts, collectively invoking divine power to liberate lost souls. After these souls attain the true Dao through cultivation, they offer hymns of praise: they prostrate before the supreme Dao, extolling the compassionate Celestial Worthy who delivers from suffering. The divine radiance of the Celestial Worthy illuminates the darkness, his mercy spreads like clouds, and his dharma-rain nourishes all beings.

The verses mention three blood-pool hells: the Ravine of Stone and Icy Abyss, the Lake of Blood, the Sea of Blood, and the Pool of Blood (all representing Daoist purgatories where female souls endure torment). Through the great amnesty of the Jade Registers (Daoist salvation documents), these souls suffering myriad kalpas of punishment obtain liberation. The spirits refine their forms in the Vermilion Palace (a Daoist purgatory for soul refinement), ultimately awakening to the Dao and entering the Gate of All Mysteries (symbolizing attainment of the Dao).

Finally, the scripture describes how the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning and various Perfected Persons (those who have attained the Dao) proclaim decrees according to the Celestial Worthy's will, illuminating the endless night to rescue souls from hell. All beings who receive this compassionate grace transcend the sea of suffering, ascending together to the realm of ultimate bliss.

This passage belongs to the middle scroll of the "Authentic Scripture of the Celestial Worthy's Salvation from the Blood Lake," primarily recounting how female souls—particularly those in the Blood Lake—attain deliverance through the Celestial Worthy's compassion and Daoist salvation rituals.

Interpretation of the Lower Scroll of The Supreme Primordial's Scripture on Salvation from the Blood Lake Hell:

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (the supreme deity in Daoism) addresses the Perfected Ones and all sentient beings: Humans drown in worldly desires, particularly women who suffer from illnesses and calamities due to childbirth, yet remain unaware they'll endure torment in the hellish rebirth cycles after death. The Celestial Worthy admonishes all beings to maintain virtuous thoughts, revere the Three Treasures (Dao, Scriptures, and Masters), and observe the precepts of non-killing, non-envy, non-lust, non-theft, and non-greed. Those who uphold these precepts and sincerely recite this scripture shall receive protection from countless divine beings—including the Ten Heavenly Virtuous Deities, Dharma-Protecting Divine Kings, and the Nine Heavens' Holy Mother of the Birth Chamber (goddess overseeing childbirth).

The Celestial Worthy expounds the origin of the Great Dao: The Dao generates Yin-Yang, and Yin-Yang gives birth to all things. Though seemingly empty and formless, the Great Dao contains profound mysteries—invisible and inaudible, yet omnipresent. Hearing these teachings, the assembled Perfected Ones attain profound realization. At this moment, the Celestial Worthy of Great Unity Who Saves from Suffering (a deity specializing in redeeming lost souls) and other immortals, empowered by the Primordial Beginning's divine force, issue salvific talismanic decrees to all hell realms—including the most brutal Blood Lake Hell (where women fall due to karmic sins related to blood defilement)—liberating all trapped souls.

The Celestial Worthy proclaims in conclusion: This Numinous Treasure's Scripture of Ascension and Salvation from the Blood Lake Hell was originally a secret text preserved in the Purple Subtlety Upper Palace, transmitted only once every forty thousand kalpas. Now, at the end of this cosmic cycle, it is specially revealed to humanity. Regardless of gender, all who practice according to its methods shall obtain immeasurable blessings. The scripture includes esoteric texts from the Three Primes (Three Pure Ones), containing essential cultivation principles such as "The One Qi transforms all things," "The Five Phases sustain life," and "The Seven Stars guard vital Qi." Through methods like visualizing Qi in the Dantian (energy center) and concentrating the Shen (spirit) to nurture one's nature, practitioners may ultimately attain the body of a true immortal.

This scripture describes the essential teachings on spiritual cultivation revealed by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun) to the assembly of immortals:

(The Celestial Worthy) ascends to the supreme void of the Nine Heavens and descends to the Yellow Springs of the Nine Depths. Within the jeweled palace chambers wreathed in auspicious clouds, the true nature of the soul is preserved and nourished. Practitioners journey between blessed lands and immortal realms, moving through the gate of life, consuming magical mushrooms and celestial herbs, drinking from golden springs of sacred water. Nectar flows like mountain streams, pouring into the Dantian (the Daoist energy center in the lower abdomen), where purple auroras of dawn illuminate three strands of primordial Qi (Jing, Qi, and Shen) coalescing like mist. In jade chambers they transform into true immortals, seated serenely upon golden lotus thrones, their radiant countenance outshining the sun, enduring worldly tribulations yet remaining eternal as the ages.

At this moment, the Celestial Worthy solemnly instructs the assembled immortals and realized adepts: Human life is fleeting, with birth and death as transient as sparks from flint or as impermanent as bubbles on water. The sufferings of birth, aging, sickness and death assail us day and night, with transformation and dissolution occurring in mere moments. One should relinquish visual attachments to attain infinite wisdom's radiance, and dissolve auditory discriminations to achieve mind's clarity like deep pools. When both visual and auditory consciousness are released, one returns to original simplicity and unites with the Dao; entering the undifferentiated state of primordial chaos, one transcends worldly logic. Such practitioners become coeval with heaven and earth.

Hearing the Celestial Worthy's revelation of these inconceivable methods for universal salvation and merit accumulation, the assembled immortals bow reverently, receiving the teachings with sincere faith and vowing to practice accordingly.

(Conclusion of the lower scroll of The True Scripture of the Primordial Celestial Worthy on Salvation from the Blood Lake)

Note: The Blood Lake refers to a special hell realm in Daoism formed by postpartum blood pollution. This scripture primarily expounds methods for saving deceased souls. The cultivation essentials emphasize achieving longevity through Neidan (internal alchemy) practice (nourishing Qi in the Dantian) and mind cultivation (releasing sensory attachments).