《九天三茅司命仙燈儀》

Interpretation of the "Nine Heavens Three Mao Lords of Fate Immortal Lamp Liturgy"

This is a Daoist liturgical ritual (Keyi) dedicated to the Three Mao Perfected Lords (Mao Ying, Mao Gu, and Mao Zhong), the celestial immortals who govern human fate. Before the ceremony begins, an altar must be arranged in a solemn and dignified manner.

The scripture first depicts the immortal realm of Mount Juqu (present-day Maoshan in Jiangsu), where the Three Mao Perfected Lords cultivated the Dao: a landscape of layered emerald peaks shrouded in mist, where auspicious herbs and divine mushrooms grow, the roars of tigers and dragons echo, and cranes soar freely. Here, the Three Perfected Lords manifest their sacred presence, overseeing human merits and faults, holding authority over life and death, recording even the most minute details of human conduct.

The Three Mao Perfected Lords (also known as the "Supreme Mysterious and Wondrous Dao, Chongxu Holy Protectors of True Response") govern the Three Realms of Heaven, Earth, and Water, and all beings throughout time have received their grace. Every year during the twelfth lunar month and spring, devotees light celestial lamps and offer sincere worship, receiving their divine protection in return.

The presiding disciple, with utmost reverence, selects an auspicious day to establish a purified fasting altar. Through ritual sequences—such as reciting scriptures (the "Jade Casket of Daoist Classics" pointing to the Dao) and displaying ritual implements—the Three Mao Perfected Lords are respectfully invited to descend. The lit immortal lamps symbolize the divine radiance of the Three Lords, shining as brightly as the sun and moon. Through these offerings, devotees pray for blessings, seeking the Lords' aid in attaining Daoist realization (Dao Guo) and receiving longevity and prosperity.

The scripture concludes by praising the Three Mao Perfected Lords' spiritual journey: even in youth, they possessed extraordinary aspirations. They cultivated the Dao at Mount Hua in the north and later encountered an immortal at Xicheng, who transmitted to them the Divine Tiger True Scripture, granting them the power to command wind and thunder and ride dragons and tigers. By day, they could summon myriad spirits; by night, they traversed the Eight Extremes (the farthest reaches of the cosmos), wielding supreme divine abilities.

Note: This is a key liturgy (Keyi) of the Shangqing (Highest Clarity) tradition in Daoism. The Three Mao Perfected Lords are revered as deities of fate, governing human lifespan, fortune, and misfortune. Through lamp-lighting, scripture recitation, and other ritual acts, the liturgy facilitates communication with the divine, seeking their protection and blessings.

This passage documents the Daoist "Three Mao Perfected Lords" (Mao Ying, Mao Gu, and Mao Zhong, three brothers) lamp ritual. It consists of two main sections:

The first part recounts the story of the eldest Mao Lord, Mao Ying:

From childhood, he cultivated the Dao at Northern Mountain (Beidian), dwelling as a hermit with unbound hair in the mountain forests, enduring hardships to seek enlightened masters. Through fasting and ascetic practices (cutting hair, making vows, kneeling in penance, and bodily austerities), he ultimately refined the Golden Elixir (Jindan). Later, he was enfeoffed by the Heavenly Emperor as "Superior Minister of the Eastern Peak, Controller of Destiny, Most Mysterious and Wondrous Dao, Embodiment of Emptiness, Sacred Protector of True Response." He now governs human fortunes of life, death, and destiny. Today, devotees light immortal lamps, praying for his protection to bring seasonal harmony (the four seasons regulated like jade candles) and agricultural abundance (autumn harvests blessed with golden yields), that the loyal and filial may receive blessings, and all professions prosper.

The second part describes the deeds of the middle Mao Lord, Mao Gu:

Originally an incorruptible official (upholding filial piety and integrity), through successful Dao cultivation he was enfeoffed as "Controller of Records, Right Guardian of Ultimate Dao, Embodiment of Tranquil Virtue, Wondrous Response Perfected Lord." He now oversees the Golden Altar Temple at Mount Juqu (present-day Maoshan in Jiangsu), monitoring human virtue and vice (observing merits and faults in the mortal world), rewarding good and punishing evil (blessing virtue and punishing vice). Followers likewise make offerings with moon-white ritual robes (lunar capes and rosy-cloud garments) along with incense, flowers, and lamps, praying for his compassionate protection.

Note: This is an important liturgy (Keyi) of the Shangqing tradition. "Lamp Praise" refers to the ritual of communicating with deities through lamp lighting. The Three Mao Perfected Lords are patriarchs of the Maoshan lineage, governing the three realms of heaven, earth, and water respectively. "Embodying Emptiness" (Chongxu) denotes the realm of pristine non-action (Wuwei); "jade candles" metaphorically represent harmonious seasons, while "golden yields" signify years of abundant harvests.

This passage comes from the Daoist scripture "Ritual of the Three Mao Lords' Immortal Lamps of the Nine Heavens," primarily describing the praises and blessing ceremonies for the three immortal lords of Maoshan (Mao Ying, Mao Gu, and Mao Zhong). Here is an accessible interpretation:

The text begins by explaining that through devout reverence for the Three Mao Perfected Lords, one may receive blessings such as the elimination of calamities and abundant harvests. The title "Perfected Lord of Penetrating Tranquility and Virtuous Protection" refers to Mao Ying, the eldest of the three Mao brothers, revered in Daoism as the "Perfected Lord of Life Regulation."

The scripture traces the origins of the Three Mao Perfected Lords: originally from the Mao clan of Xianyang, the youngest brother Mao Zhong (courtesy name Jiwei) received the celestial mandate to become an immortal and was enfeoffed as the "Perfected Lord of Fixed Records," governing terrestrial immortals. Their primary sacred site is Juqu Mountain in Danyang (modern-day Maoshan in Jiangsu), where they oversee mountain grottoes and sacred domains.

The text then praises the "Three Officials' Life-Preserving Perfected Lords" (collective title for the Three Mao Lords). During their mortal lives, they served as Han dynasty governors before achieving immortality through cultivation at Liangchang Mountain (an ancient name for Maoshan). They hold authority over the Three Officials (Heavenly, Earthly, and Water Officials) for preserving life, examining ghosts and spirits, instructing Daoist disciples, managing the sacred grottoes of Mount Tai, cultivating magical herbs and lingzhi mushrooms, and overseeing river and sea waters along with grain production.

During the ritual, devotees don crane-feathered robes and cloud-patterned caps (Daoist ceremonial attire), presenting offerings of mountain springs and river algae while making petitions to the Three Mao Lords. They pray for their sincerity to reach the celestial court, for sins to be absolved, for favorable weather and the dispersal of demons, for auspicious signs from magical herbs, abundant harvests, and peaceful livelihoods for the people.

Special praise is reserved for the "Perfected Lord of Penetrating Benevolence and Kind Protection" (referring to Mao Zhong), who possessed extraordinary innate gifts. As overseer of the Three Officials' life-preserving duties, he commands the divine spirits of Mount Tai, records life and death, and holds the highest position among the Nine Palaces of terrestrial immortals. He is responsible for teaching novice Daoist practitioners and female cultivators, exorcising hundreds of ghosts, and supervising river and sea waters.

This scripture reflects the Daoist belief in seeking divine protection through ritual, showcasing the Maoshan tradition's emphasis on the Three Officials' worship, veneration of terrestrial immortals, and reverence for natural deities.

This passage describes part of the "Nine Heavens Three Mao Life-Sovereign Lamp Ritual" (Jiutian Sanmao Siming Xiandeng Yi) in Daoist practice, focusing on the divine responsibilities of the Three Mao Mountain Immortal Lords (Great Mao Lord Mao Ying, Middle Mao Lord Mao Gu, and Lesser Mao Lord Mao Zhong) along with devotees' prayers.

The three immortal lords respectively preside over:

• The Golden Valley (referring to alchemical treasures stored by immortals)
• Jade Nectar (the ambrosial drinks of celestial beings)
• Dragon Mushroom Cavern Herbs (the spiritual medicinal plants cultivated by immortals)
• Night Radiance (luminous treasures of the transcendent realm)

Among them, Great Mao Lord Mao Ying permanently guards the Northern Cavern of Mount Liangchang, eternally protecting the palaces of the underworld. Devotees participating in the Zhaijiao (Daoist sacrificial ceremony) devoutly pray to the immortal lords, seeking the blessing of longevity.

The ritual involves:

1. Chanting scriptures

2. Reciting memorial petitions (documents addressed to deities)

3. Burning spirit money (a ceremonial offering)

4. Transferring merits (dedicating cultivation virtues to all sentient beings)

The passage concludes by noting the completion of the "Nine Heavens Three Mao Life-Sovereign Lamp Ritual." This ceremony primarily involves lighting lamps, reciting scriptures, and other practices to beseech the Three Mao Perfected Lords for longevity and divine blessings.