《靈寶無量度人上經大法》Vol. 31

The Chishu Yuwen (Red Writ of Jade Script, Chishu Yuwen) is a sacred text revered by the Shangqing (Highest Clarity) school. Centered on the stellar mansions of the five directions and the divine powers of the Five Phases (Wu Xing), it is used to stabilize Heaven and Earth, guard the stars, and dispel calamities.

The Five True Scripts of the Red Writ, transmitted by Yuanshi Tianzun (the Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning), are numinous writings that issue from the spontaneous Dao of Shangqing. They contain the profound principles of the Nine Heavens. They open up Heaven and Earth, arrange the myriad things, settle the gods, guard the vital breath (qi) and the spirit, and allow the common people to multiply and flourish. They also regulate the seasonal times, govern the Five Numinous Powers, command the earth spirits, direct the sources of the rivers, turn the cycles of Yin and Yang, and summon gods and perfected immortals. This is truly a mysterious scripture. By accord with nature, it keeps the sky clear, the land secure, and the Five Sacred Peaks protected, so that all things may endure.

The text lists several jade writings, each serving a particular purpose: to stabilize the stars and avert natural disasters; to keep the realm at peace and suppress anomalies; to uphold the arts that subdue ghosts and spirits; and to halt floodwaters and carry people safely through floods.

The protective functions associated with the stellar mansions of each direction are set out below. The parenthetical passages are mostly incantation-like numinous writings, some of which are damaged or difficult to interpret, so the original proper names and phrasing are retained.

East

Jupiter (Suixing) assists the liver qi and governs the seven mansions Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, and Ji. It causes the four quarters to revolve in their images and the stars to move in good order, and by means of the qi of the Orthodox Dao it clears away the swarms of calamity.

South

Mars (Yinghuo, the Fire Star) assists the heart qi and governs the seven mansions Jing, Gui, Liu, Xing, Zhang, Yi, and Zhen. It keeps the Heavenly Dao in constant motion, summons the flow of fortune and qi, brings the orthodox Dao into union, and issues commands in accordance with the Red Writ. The original notes that the first four characters before the character ling (numinous) are absent from the base text.

West

Venus (Taibai, the Metal Star) examines and governs the lung qi and governs the seven mansions Kui, Lou, Wei, Mao, Bi, Zi, and Shen, while also commanding the Dipper's bowl (Doukui). Through talismanic mandates it receives the qi of the Northern Origin, preserving the hun and po souls and restraining evil and strangeness.

North

The Northern Pole Star (Beichen) assists the kidney qi and governs the seven mansions Dou, Niu, Nü, Xu, Wei, Shi, and Bi. It holds dominion over malign forces, drives back disasters, sweeps away filth, and sends the bright Way onward.

Center

Saturn (Zhenxing, the Earth Star) assists the spleen qi and governs the degrees of the stars together with the Kui mansion of the Northern Origin. It presides over the judgment of wrongdoing, cuts away treachery and evil, and subdues filth and dispels the dark vapors of Yin.

(Zhengxuan Doumingdu)

Tianguan Jiutian Fu (talismans for averting natural disasters), order the Golden Horse to carry dispatches through the postal relay.

In the above passage, the talismans for the four cardinal directions are written in vermilion ink on green paper, and the talisman for the center is written on yellow paper. Alternatively, the talismans may be carved in stone, using the color associated with each direction.

Each of the heavenly stars follows its own orbital degrees. When the paths of the stars cross, exceed their bounds, or encroach upon one another, or when an anomalous star appears in a particular quarter of the sky, these are taken as signs that the qi of Heaven is moving out of order. Such signs may bring calamity and affect the corresponding region. For this reason, one relies on the turning of celestial light and the announcement of ominous portents through the mysterious script to ward off disaster. The Primordial Heavenly Venerable (Yuanshi Tianzun) bestowed these scriptures to harmonize the heavenly patterns, stabilize the earth, dispel calamities, and bring peace to the state and security to the people.

The practitioner should concentrate and carry out the rites strictly according to the prescribed methods. On the day that a sign of calamity appears, write the true script (zhenwen), and, following the ritual, face the direction where the sign has appeared in an open courtyard. Click the teeth twelve times, let the hair fall loose, look up, and pray aloud:

Primordial Supreme Heaven, the Three Luminaries shine brightly, their radiance returning to illuminate the four quarters, so that Heaven and Earth are made clear and pure.
The stars move in mutual collision and agitation, the falling stars traverse the Five Realms, and the Three Currents are robbed of their tranquility.
The Five Dippers govern the multitude of stars, and the Seven Lunar Mansions are spirit-bright. The True Lord, whose name is Great Leader, together with the Lady of Jade Essence and the Imperial Consort, whose courtesy name is Yuying, jointly govern the Mysterious Pass and turn the myriad heavens.
Now calamities and anomalies have appeared, and the mysterious script announces ill omens. I humbly present this true script in red ink, let my hair fall loose in repentance, lay bare my sincere heart, and earnestly beg that it be seen, so that the Way of Heaven may return to its normal order. May the breath no longer surge across its bounds, and may disasters no longer arise unchecked.
Burn the numinous script so that its smoke rises into the Jade Court; let Heaven see clearly and proclaim to all spirits, so that the qi of the Three Passes dissipates and the calamities of the Nine Dark Seas are quelled. May yin and yang be harmonized and the land be at peace. I respectfully send this dispatch by the Golden Dragon, which speeds on the wind.

After the prayer is finished, place the true script in the courtyard, face it toward the appropriate direction, and subdue it with a Golden Dragon. If the sign of calamity appears in the east, burn the talisman after nine days and nine nights, and scatter the ashes into the green smoke.

For all methods of averting natural disasters and securing the state and the people, one must light lamps according to the direction of the sign so as to illuminate the heavens. If the sign appears in the east, one may light nine lamps, ninety, or nine hundred; use ninety feet of green silk, continuously for nine days and nine nights. If the sign appears in the south, one may light three lamps, thirty, or three hundred; use thirty feet of red silk, continuously for three days and three nights. If the sign appears at the center, one may light twelve lamps, one hundred and twenty, or one thousand two hundred; use one hundred and twenty feet of yellow silk…

East

The East is associated with the Nine Qi (the notion of nine kinds of qi), and it is the realm of the Imperial Azure Heaven and its Jade Mists. Within Yulü (the divine guardian of the East) dwells an old man who oversees the verification of charts and registers, the documents that record the names and talismans of the immortals. He gathers primordial qi and attends the perfected immortals.

South

The South is where the Red Emperor of the Cinnabar Heaven resides. Within the Jade Hall is a great spirit called the Red August Upper Flame and Flowing Smoke. The three qi surge forth in brilliant light, and the immortals, receiving their mandate, gather in response to the appointed time. This is the qi of the sun.

Center

The Center gathers and governs the Numinous Yellow Qi. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun) was born in the highest heaven. The Lofty Venerable of the Central August One, the foremost of the Five Venerable Elders, gathers primordial qi and oversees the true immortals. He presides over all the immortals, governs the mysterious charts, the registers of the constellations, and the jade texts, and he sets the upper qi in motion, informing all the myriad spirits.

West

The West is where the White Emperor of the Pure Heaven resides. The golden numinous qi of the Seven Gates shines brightly, the qi of Mount Taihua (a sacred mountain of the West) spreads abroad, and its white stones rise high. Clouds of the Seven Qi rise up, and within them dwells the Primordial August Elder who first gave birth. The Six Spirits govern the qi of the lungs; they oversee the verification of the Nine Heavens and the examination of the charts and registers, and they summon the superior immortals.

North

The North is the Mysterious Heaven, where the Five Qi swirl in circulation. There dwells the Black Emperor, the Dual August Taiwei, who governs the sacred mandates and talismans. The immortals who wear garments patterned with blue feathers and dragon designs, and who are draped in phoenix robes, are the celestial officials chosen by the Supreme Emperor. They are commanded to proceed to the realm of the Second Heavenly Stage.

Write the contents above on white placards, each in the color of its direction, recording names and dates, in the manner of submitting a register. When this has been carried out for nine years, the officials of the five directions will arrive and dispatch the Jade Maidens (Qingyao, Chiling, Huangsu, Taisu, Taixuan, and others) to appear, and all may then see them. Then knock the teeth twelve times and recite the incantation:

The Lord of Primordial Beginning, Yuanshi Tianzun, together with the assembled divine lords and great sages, moves to and fro through the void, and the myriad spirits all come before the splendid hall.

The lights of sun, moon, and stars shine in all four directions, and auspicious clouds encircle the scene. Report upward to the celestial realm, verify and calculate the relevant registers, and record the names in the Nine Heavens.

Today I sincerely make this vow and present a mingci (name card, a petition document submitted to the spirits) to Lingshan (Spirit Mountain). The red writing of Danshan (Cinnabar Mountain) and the naturally formed zhenwen (true script) are also offered together.

Report to the Five Emperors and request that they enter my name in the Jade Register. The myriad spirits are watching, the sun and moon bear witness, and this oath is witnessed.

May I attain deliverance and be reborn, become a spirit and become an immortal. May heaven, earth, and the constellations illuminate my body and mind together.

Sanguan (the Three Officials), the Nine Offices, and the great Five Emperor deities, please universally inform the boundless host of spirits, and remove the root of my karmic offenses.

Yuanshi Tianzun opens the gate of broad acceptance, and no petition goes unheard. The spirits of my nine generations of ancestors will also naturally receive blessing.

May I be forever freed from the Three Paths (places of suffering) and the Five Sufferings, and far from the Eight Difficulties. May I shine with the sun, moon, and stars together, ascend to Zichen (the celestial palace), no longer endure the suffering of transmigration, and finally attain the body of a flying immortal.

After reciting the incantation, place the mingci on a steep cliff or on the summit of a famous mountain, and scatter flowers over Lingshan. Then knock the teeth together three times, face the benming fang (the direction corresponding to one's birth year stem-branch), and recite the incantation again:

Yuanshi Tianzun, graciously observe and illuminate. Your immortal name has been registered. Every karmic offense under the charge of the Sanguan and Jiufu has been removed. Scatter flowers for the Five Emperors and report the oath, then petition Taixu (the vast celestial realm): may all the wishes I have stated be fulfilled, may I dwell long in the immortal realms through countless kalpas, and may I be able to receive and uphold the Dharma gates and subdue ghosts and spirits.

Yuwen (Jade Script)

East

(Incantation of the East Mountain Spirit, for subduing.)

(Summons the Red Writing of the Nine Heavens.)

(The mandate of the talisman gathers and assembles Fengdu.)

(Within the mountains, binds the demonic hosts and sends away ghosts and goblins.)

(Whatever must be eradicated, none is left out.)

(All are sent to the water palace; if anyone dares to…)

(Delay [final line damaged in the original text]. Written in red ink on blue paper.)

South

(From the north, draw in the ghosts of Fengdu.)

(Send away the demonic hosts according to the talismanic mandate.)

(For those to be punished, clearly list their crimes.)

(Incantation of the South Mountain.)

(By the force of authority, subdue the demons of the four quarters.)

(Extinguish the myriad evil spirits and disturbances.)

(Subdue seven… [final line damaged in the original text]. Written in yellow ink on red paper.)

Center

(Command the spirits under Beidi (the Northern Emperor) to subdue, seal the ghost gates, and cut away the inauspicious.)

(No evil spirit can stand in the way. Written in white ink on yellow paper.)

West

(Jade characters of the red writing, the proper Dharma of the Nine Heavens.)

(Summon the myriad primal qi and cause them to return universally to the Lord.)

(Written in black ink on white paper.)

North

(Incantation of the North Mountain.)

(Stir the yang qi; thunder rushes forth and the bells ring out.)

(Radiant flames shine and shake the Jue Tian (possibly a divine or celestial name).)

(Manifest majestic power and govern the forces of North Fengdu.)

Facing the northeast, bow nine times to the east, three times to the south, twelve times to the center, seven times to the west, and five times to the north. For each round, click the teeth thirty-six times, hold the breath and exhale nine times, then raise the head and chant the incantation:

The Three Primes (Sanyuan, the Daoist term for the officials of heaven, earth, and water) have opened and clarified, and the Way of Heaven turns and returns, moving constantly without rest. As the cycles of fate shift, they arrive at the number of one hundred and six (the ancient period of calamity). When the great kalpa converges, myriad demons compete to cause chaos. The Northern Capital (Beidu, the northern seat of the spirits and ghosts in Daoist belief) exercises no restraint, the ghost-kinds run wild, hosts of demons spread their ravages, and evil spirits block out the light of heaven.

Shangdi (the Supreme Emperor) has issued a command to proclaim to all ten directions: to make the Way of Heaven manifest and to promulgate its laws; to propagate the orthodox teaching, govern the people, and sweep away ill omens. Why do the lesser demons gather in multitudes? Use the Red Writ and the Jade Script (Chishu Yuwen, Daoist talismans and sacred writings) to govern the realm of ghosts and spirits. Command the Three Officials of the Northern Capital to transmit the order swiftly and carry it out: bind a thousand demons and send ten thousand ghosts away. The flowing bells shine upon one another and stir the Solar Qi. The Golden Tiger patrols and summons from the four quarters, and the Celestial Warriors (tianding, heavenly soldiers and generals) assist in escorting the dead away. Whether the demons and evil spirits are great or small, all must come together without concealment. The commands of Yuanshi Tianzun (the Primordial Heavenly Venerable) are to be reported one by one to the Lord of Heaven.

Jade Text for Halting Floods and Crossing Water Disasters

East

(Ordered to subdue the rivers and seas of the eastern waters.) In the midst of the great kalpa, floods overflow and dragons and serpents work mischief. The Waterworks (Shuifu, the divine bureau governing waterways) open paths so that a hundred thousand streams may flow. Shangdi issues the Red Writ to be carried out through the power of wind and fire, without interruption.

(Here there is a variant reading: "Huang shu / Qing shang.")

South

The Water Sovereign of the Southern River and the Dragon King Taibo recite sacred incantations and cause them to spread through the four quarters, sweeping away ill omens everywhere. Floods and flying calamities cease. Subdue the dragons and summon the dragon spirits, open a thousand waterways, and let the myriad waters flow freely. Those who resist shall be seized and sent to the Fire Palace. Whatever the Red Writ proclaims, no one dares disobey.

(Here there is a variant reading: "Huang shu / Qing shang.")

Center

The Mountain Spirit of the Center (Zhongshan shen) recites the incantation to summon dragons, ascends on the clouds to subdue the flood, and ensures that the Yellow River, the nine waters, and the river sources no longer grow slack or unrestrained. Good and evil are each made clear, and the thousand kinds of demons and myriad forms of wickedness must all be reported to the Lord. No one dares to defy this. Through the power of the sun, kindle the might of burning fire. Proclaim the Red Writ and the Jade Characters to the four quarters so that all people will come to know them.

(Here there is a variant reading: "Huang shu / Qing shang.")

West

The Mountain Spirit of the West recites the incantation and, with the might of the eight directions and the seven seals of talismanic command, transmits the methods of water control.

(Shang Long Zhao Shan Song) and the bracketed annotations "yun zai," "suo jiao," and similar marks appear to be talisman or liturgy markers (fulu or keyi) in the scripture. The original does not explain them.

In the north, the waters of the Nine Rivers pour out completely, birds gather in flocks, and jiaolong (flood dragons) open the waterways. The channels then part, and the Red Writ of heavenly patterns (chishu tianwen) appears. A yilong (courier dragon) rides the wind swiftly, carrying the Yellow Writ (huangshu).

The scripture says that when the great calamity arrives, floods will spread in every direction, sweeping away filth and evil, and nearly all things will be destroyed. At that time heaven and earth will be dark and chaotic, the people will drift and lose their homes, and good and evil will be hard to tell apart. Only those who cultivate the supreme Dao (zhi dao) receive the Lingbao Spirit Writs (lingbao zhenwen) and the talismans for responding to the great and lesser calamities. With these they may ride feathered wings aloft to gaze into the distance, ascend the spirit peaks (lingyue), and roam through the sky.

When calamity descends, the spirits will naturally order the jiaolong to clear the road and open the waterways, so that practitioners can cross the floods. The He Bo (Earl of the Yellow River) will also come to greet them, and no boat or bridge will be needed. This shows the wondrous power of the spirit writs. Do they manifest only when the great calamities change?

At such a moment, one should act according to the methods recorded in the older scriptures. Face north and knock the teeth five times (kou chi), then hold the breath for twenty-five counts (bi qi). Visualize a great fire rising in your heart, bursting out from the crown of your head, and burning the mountains, forests, and grasses in all four directions. Let it burn your own body as well, until your form turns to ash and then rises above the blue smoke, leaving no trace. Next, visualize vast floods sweeping away the filth and calamity of the world, and imagine yourself transformed into a jiaolong, moving along with the waters. Then knock the teeth twenty-five more times, and raise your face to heaven to pray:

"Shangshi, the Revolving Spirit, open the light of the Nine Primordials (jiuyuan). Heaven turns and earth shifts, the three primal qi (sanyuan qi) spread, and the Five Phases press upon one another, turning the pivot of heaven and earth. Yin and yang block and clash, condensing into disaster. The great calamity is nearly spent, so sweep away the demonic qi. The Nine Rivers receive the flood in their time, and the waters surge against the streams. The water mother lingers, the birds gather, the sun and moon grow dim and meet, and the three lights close. Heaven selects the spirits and examines the jade writs (yuwen). Abandon evil deeds and honor good ones, so that the clear and the turbid remain forever distinct. My name is listed in the register of the Celestial Emperor (Tiandi), and my name is recorded in the Nine Heavens (jiutian). The great disaster gathers from the four directions, and it will be removed by the Red Writ's command. Today I announce this order, and let all the spirits hear it. Sun, moon, and five planets, please illuminate my hun and po (souls)."

Note: "Visualizing the body burning and transforming into a dragon," along with "holding the breath for twenty-five counts," describes the cun si (visualization) and ritual practices found in Daoist meditative methods.

The Five Sacred Peaks (wuyue, the five famous mountains and their numinous spirits) lift and escort my body, while the Mysterious Spirit Great Deity of the Nine Rivers (Mingling Dashen, the god who governs the waterworld) clears the waterways for me, keeping the channels and fords open. Jiao dragons, responding to the talismanic command, draw in mountains and send clouds, carrying and escorting me so that I can race swiftly across all four quarters.

Cinnabar-inscribed register-scriptures (danshu, Daoist talismanic writings) and the Yuanshi Zhenwen (the sacred script said to have been transmitted by the Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning, Yuanshi Tianzun) are carried up by golden dragons, without a moment's pause, and reported at once to the Celestial Court and presented to the Lord Emperor.

When the rite is complete, one draws in breath (yinqi) and swallows it twenty-five times. Before long, water spirits will of their own accord open the way and escort the person who has received the rite: when one is in the mountains, the mountains float aside to make room; when one is on the water, the water parts. This may be described as receiving aid in an instant at a moment of peril.

Lingbao Wuliang Dure Shangjing Dafa (The Great Method of the Lingbao Scripture of Universal Salvation), Scroll Thirty-One