《靈寶無量度人上經大法》Vol. 49

The August Person says: The Great Existence, the Wondrous Court, the Golden Gate, and the Jade Chamber are all natural script, formed by the condensation of the primordial Lingbao (Numinous Treasure) qi, and they serve to govern the order of the myriad heavens. Practitioners of the Lingbao methods who wish to establish a Numinous Treasure altar must write the Descent of the Perfected Talisman (Jiangzhen fu) and the Summoning Spirits Talisman (Zhaoling fu). These transform the steps and terrace before the altar into a sacred realm of Golden Gate brahma-conduct, and only then may the rite begin.

Two Shangqing Lingbao talismans are listed here. The first opens illumination and manifests the Three Luminaries (the sun, moon, and stars), and it names this place Jade Mountain, the Root of the Great Heaven of Mystery, the Jade Clarity of the Upper Capital, and the Sacred Heavens of Three Flowers and Great Existence. It also declares that the brahma qi (sacred primordial vital energy) unites with the Dao. The second describes a heaven within heaven, profound and chaotic, without form or shadow, pervaded by boundless brahma qi, in which the myriad phenomena unfold, numinous activity revolves, and the True Dao is joined. These texts form part of the talismans and are used to summon the perfected and the multitude of spirits.

Each of these two talismans is attended by twelve talisman officials, who oversee and guard the altar precinct. In writing them, one forms the Jade Clarity Seal (Yuqing jue), a Daoist hand-mudra, and breathes the three qi of the Heavenly Gate onto the talisman before completing the script.

The Mysterious Master says: The Descent of the Perfected Talisman of the Primordial Emperor and the Summoning Spirits Talisman of the Void Sovereign are both talismanic patterns that naturally arise from the spontaneous, mysterious qi of the Three Heavens (San Tian, the upper Heavens). They are used to summon the Perfected of the Three Primes, the multitude of numinous beings, and the true essences of the Void that belong to the ranks of immortals in the Clear Palace. To summon a hundred perfected spirits and call down a thousand numinous beings, cut a seven-chi, two-cun length of blue silk and write the Descent of the Perfected and Summoning Spirits talismans on it in cinnabar. Attach the Descent talisman to the Feihuang Register (a register associated with the descent of the perfected), and place the Summoning Spirits talisman in a quiet chamber. The offering mat may be yellow brocade or yellow silk, and the rite is performed with a jiao offering. After one hundred days of offering, the envoys who descend and summon the perfected, three jade maidens, and three golden youths will descend along with the ritual to guard the talismans, and the hundred perfected and thousand numinous beings summoned will also descend into the chamber.

If the practitioner's faith is not single-minded, or if the secret methods are divulged, they will be tested by the Five Marchmounts, and the summoned spirits will not respond. All perfected and numinous beings of the Three Heavens should come in accordance with the talisman. Summoning spirits without the talisman, or presumptuously calling them, is false summoning. Even with devoted cultivation and repeated summonses numbering in the tens of thousands, one may receive only a single response, and even when a spirit does descend, it often becomes a demonic trial that tests and disturbs the one who summons it. Therefore, the initiate should follow the Statutes of the Mysterious Capital (Xuandu xiange, the precepts and laws of the Mysterious Capital) and, carrying three plain silks measured to their own age, go to a master who holds the transmitted scriptures and methods.

The talisman should be drawn as a picture and kept in the mind rather than written out as text, out of concern that ghosts, spirits, birds, or beasts might peek at it and reveal its contents.

Lingbao Talisman for Summoning the Celestial Perfected (a talisman for summoning the numinous beings of the heavens)

The talisman bears the inscription: "Pivot of Divine Radiance of the Jade Capital's Myriad Wonders, Crowned Jade Clarity, Source of Divine Radiance, Supreme Emperor of the Mysterious Capital of Ten Thousand Ways." It also marks the words: "The Jade Maiden holds the decree; summon them swiftly and bid them come." The celestial numinous beings to be summoned must be arranged in order according to the decrees of Taishang Yuanshi (Highest Primordial Beginning) set out above.

Ranks of the Celestial Perfected (the names and positions of the heavenly numinous beings): the Great Divine Celestial Perfected; the Perfected Chen Wonder-Conduct; the Great Divine of You, Ultimate Perfection; the Divine of Hai Who Delivers Humanity from Death; the Lord of Nanji of Changsheng, Who Grants Long Life; the Elder Lord Han of Haosheng, Who Nurtures Life; the Venerable Divine of the Upper Director of Destiny and Registrar of Records of the Southern Li, Who Extends Life, Adds Years, and Delivers from Calamity (positioned at Yin, Mao, Chou, and Li); the Limitless Great Divine Who Restores Bones and Raises the Dead; the Limitless Divine of Wei Who Grants Long Life and Delivers the World; the Five Venerable Lord Emperors (below the middle finger); the Chancellors of All Heavens (the Jade Emperor); the Great Divine Overseer of Birth (Zi); and the Three Officials, Lord Emperors (Middle Hai and Zi). There are also the Eight Heavenly Lords of the East, South, West, and North; the Lord Who Governs Longevity of the Eastern Dipper (Mao), the Lord Who Records Names of the Western Dipper (You), the Lord Who Fixes Death of the Northern Dipper (Zi), and the Lord Who Confers Life of the Southern Dipper (Wu), along with the Lord of the Great Rank of the Central Dipper (middle of the middle finger); the Demon King of the Azure Heaven (Mao), the Demon King of the Crimson Heaven (Wu), the Demon King of the White Heaven (You), the Demon King of the Black Heaven (Zi), and the Demon King of the Yellow Heaven (middle of the middle finger); the Lords of Thousand Harmonies and Myriad Unions (the four fingers' middle, moving from Li to Mao), the Great Lord of Eternal Life (Zi, Xuan), the Lord Wuying (Yin, Chou), the Venerable Divine of White Origin (Si, Wei), the Lord Taiyi Directing Destiny (You), the Lord Taokang Heyan (Chen, Si), the Lord Who Holds Talisman and Register (Zi, Chou), the Lord Who Preserves Life and Roots (middle of the thumb), the Lord of the Five Qi of Central Reason (middle of the middle finger), and the Lord of the Hundred Divinities of Mixed Union (the middle between Mao and You, and the middle of the finger).

The Talisman for the General Summons of Lords and Officials reads: "The Three Qi and Five Phases of Dongxuan (Mysterious Cavern) are set in motion; come swiftly. Yuanming attains perfection; by the decree of the Three Heavens, come swiftly." All the myriad divinities must heed the command.

Ranks of the Summoned Officials (the names and positions of the officials who respond to the summons) include: the Lord Who Receives the Mandate, the Lord Who Sweeps Away Misfortune, and the Lord Who Spits Venom with the Eight Powers.

The divine lords Mengma Sizhang (the Lord who spreads fierce horses across the four quarters), Tianding Qianqu (the Lord who leads the heavenly soldiers), and Dashuai Zhangfan (the Great Marshal who bears the banner); Zhihuo Wanli (the Lord who hurls fire across ten thousand li), Liuling Bachong (the Lord who wields the flowing bells and guards the eight directions), and Jinyue Qianlu (the Lord who bears the golden axe and strikes down foes in front); Ju Tian Hou Xing (the Lord who carries out heavenly punishment from behind), Tugegui Shuang (the Lord who destroys ghosts and demons), and Fenghuo Wuting (the Lord who rides wind and fire without rest); Qianqian Jieshou and Wanwan Jianxing (the Lords who sever heads and cut away forms), and Mingjian Guiying (the Lord who clearly inspects and audits the ranks of the ghost armies); Jinma Yicheng, Yuandong Yuli, Hundong Chiwen, Fuluo Wupian, Chishu Yuzi, and Bawei Longwen (these are all names of divine lords recorded in the scriptures); Xuandou Liji (the Lord who circles the Dipper and passes through the Winnowing Basket constellation), Shang Kai Ba Men (the Lord who opens the eight gates above), and Fei Tian Falun (the Lord who rides the Flying Heavenly Dharma Wheel); the Great Demon Kings of the Desire Realm, the Formless Realm, and the Form Realm (who respectively govern the Desire, Formless, and Form Realms); Shusong Yaojing (the Lord who restrains and escorts demonic spirits), Zhanguo Guifeng (the Lord who cuts down the sharp energies of ghosts), and Chizhi Diqi (the Lord who controls the earth spirits by imperial decree); Liguan Zhutian (the Lord who patrols the gates of the heavens), Puguo Sanjie (the Lord who proclaims edicts throughout the Three Realms), Hundu Zhuling (the Lord who guides souls to Zhuling), Shoulian Gengsheng (the Lord who refines souls so they are reborn), Xiao Zhu Buxiang (the Lord who dispels all misfortune), and Baoju Shangxian (the Lord who recommends one for ascent into the ranks of the Higher Immortals).

All of these officials belong to the Department of Law (fabu) and take their orders from it. One should write out the names of these divine lords and recite them, then summon the Heavenly Registrars of the various heavens until the divine beings of all heavens descend to the hall. (From the Hour of the Snake to the Hour of the Horse, the mudra is the middle finger pointing to the center.)

Summoning the Flying Divine Kings of the Ten Directions Talisman

The Master says: The Flying Divine Kings of the Ten Directions possess the greatest majesty and virtue and profound power, and their sacred transformations are beyond comprehension. At the very beginning of the Chiming Kalpa (an era in the Daoist cosmic chronology), they dwelt in the kingdom of Fuli. On the day the registers were opened and the rolls were checked, they received the command of the Primordial Supreme Lord and took charge of all registers and rolls of the Three Realms and the Ten Directions. They determine the weight of sins and blessings and record the depth of merit and fault.

Their deliverance of living beings, according to the kinds and circumstances of each, is endless. Each direction has Flying Celestial Envoys and attendant soldiers, in very great number, and they are honored and revered by people. Whenever one wishes to deliver the living or rescue the dead, one must dispatch a Flying Celestial Envoy to report to the Divine King and request that deliverance be granted. Write the direction in red ink, then inscribe the petition below according to the matter at hand. Swallowing, wearing, burning, or posting the talisman will each bring an immediate response from the divine.

The Master says: The methods of summoning and of taking the talisman are given in separate secret instructions. One must be extremely careful and not disclose them carelessly, for those who violate this will certainly meet with calamity and punishment. Choose an auspicious day and make a nine-palace board from ancient maple wood. The board is square, six cun on each side, and the nine palaces and eight trigrams are drawn on it, with an upper and a lower pole erected in the central palace. Make the markers from three kinds of plain-colored silk. If one wishes to make a tablet for the Divine King from cypress wood, make it round, about one cun in diameter.

Begin the summoning on the first day of the month. For any being one wishes to deliver, write the direction to which the talisman should be sent in red ink. The response being sought will appear at once, and no... (The original text breaks off here; the sentence is incomplete.)

Whatever is to be governed, none cannot be governed; whatever is to be made to submit, none cannot be made to submit; wherever one wishes to reach, none cannot be reached; whomever one wishes to deliver, none cannot be delivered.

On the first, eleventh, and twenty-first days of each month, the Spirit King of the East descends. On the eighth, eighteenth, and twenty-eighth days, the Spirit Kings of the South and Northeast descend. On the fourth, fourteenth, and twenty-fourth days, the Spirit King of the West descends. On the fifth, fifteenth, and twenty-fifth days, the Spirit King of the North descends. On the third, thirteenth, and twenty-third days, the Spirit Kings of the East and South descend. On the sixth, sixteenth, and twenty-sixth days, the Spirit King of the Southwest descends. On the seventh, seventeenth, and twenty-seventh days, the Spirit King of the Northwest descends. On the ninth, nineteenth, and twenty-ninth days, the Spirit King of the Upper Realm descends. On the second, twelfth, and twenty-second days, the Spirit King of the Lower Realm descends.

The Master says that one should choose the day according to the descent dates of the Spirit Kings and also match the direction each one governs. Minor matters must not invoke the Spirit Kings; they may be summoned only for major affairs. When performing the Chaoyuan (audience with the Origin, the rite of paying homage to the Heavenly Worthy of Original Beginning, Yuanshi Tianzun), the Spirit Kings always lead the way at the front.

Format of the Feitian Baotai (Flying Heavenly Treasure Platform)

Dispersal of the Fulu Forms

(The Great Brahma, the countless kalpas, the Starry Lodges, the Original Beginning, the Immeasurable and Supreme Transformation Body. Halt the barriers and transform, delivering beings.)

(By decree, summon the Flying Heavenly Spirit Kings who attend to affairs to descend swiftly.)

By decree, summon the Boundless Flying Heavenly Spirit Kings of the Ten Directions and the Great Sages of Long Life to arrive together.

Year, month, day: fill in the date. Rank and surname: fill in the officiant's ritual office and name. Summon with the fulu.

Incantation for Dispatching the Envoys of the Flying Heavenly Spirit Kings of the Ten Directions

The Boundless Flying Heavenly Spirit King of the East, who suddenly governs the correspondence field of Yanzhou (Yanzhou, one of the Nine Provinces), is summoned with the character for Thunder (Zhen, one of the Eight Trigrams), and the following incantation is recited to dispatch the envoy:

"The Seven Stillnesses give birth to the Dao; the Seven Contemplations bring forth the non-born. The Original Beginning contemplates the body; the Flying Dawn Mysterious Perfected. Divine Sage of the East, obey the decree and do not tarry. Swiftly, swiftly, as the decree of the Lingbao Great Method commands."

(Water: nine, six.)

The Boundless Flying Heavenly Spirit King of the South, who flies to govern the correspondence field of Yangzhou (Yangzhou, one of the Nine Provinces), is summoned with the character for "ten thousand" (wan), and the following incantation is recited:

"The Spirit Capital of the Nine Penetrations; the myriad qi interflow at the center. When the divine decree descends, none dare disobey. Swiftly, swiftly, as the decree of the Lingbao Great Method commands."

The Boundless Flying Heavenly Spirit King of the West, who soars to govern the correspondence field of Yuzhou (Yuzhou, one of the Nine Provinces), is summoned with the character for Lake (Dui, one of the Eight Trigrams), and the following incantation is recited:

"The Immortal Office holds the general register; the Jade Treasure is hollow at the center. When the jade decree descends, none dare disobey. Swiftly, swiftly, as the decree of the Lingbao Great Method commands."

The Boundless Flying Heavenly Spirit King of the North, who governs the correspondence field of Jizhou (Jizhou, one of the Nine Provinces), is summoned with the character for Water (Kan, one of the Eight Trigrams), and the following incantation is recited:

When summoning and dispatching the spirits, the officiant chants the incantation "Jian Yuan Xuan Xu Ji Miao Ru Wu Shen Chi Zhen Fu Zou Wu Yun Qu Ji" (roughly, "Establish the Origin, Profound Void, Stilled Subtle Entry into Non-being's Spirit, Command the Quelling and Rousing, Subdue the Fog-and-Cloud Thoroughfares, Swift"), followed by "Ji ji ru Lingbao Dafa de lüling" ("Hasten, hasten, as the statutes of the Great Method of the Numinous Treasure (Lingbao Dafa) command"). The phrase "ji ji ru lüling" (hasten, hasten, as the statutes command) is a common closing formula in Daoist liturgy, indicating that the order must be carried out immediately in accordance with ritual law.

The officiant then summons and dispatches the Wuji Feitian Divine Kings (Wuji Feitian Shenwang) of each region. For the northeast, the king governs the Qingzhou fenye (the regional correspondence of territories to the stars) and corresponds to the Gen (Mountain) trigram. The officiant chants: "An Yang Chang Ling Bao Huang Fei Qun, zhi fu suo zhi, wan shen jing ting, ji!" ("Guardian of An-yang and Chang-ling, Huang Feiqun, governed by the zhifu (duty talisman), let the myriad spirits heed and listen. Hasten!"). For the southeast, the king governs Liangzhou and corresponds to the Xun (Wind) trigram, with the chant: "Jiang Li Yin Wei Tai Zhen Xuan Zhu, chi ming she zhi feng ma ben chi, ji!" ("Crimson power, hidden and subtle, Great True Dark Pearl, by imperial command seize and govern the wind-horses racing onward. Hasten!"). For the southwest, the king governs Jingzhou and corresponds to the Kun (Earth) trigram. Here the name of the deity is variously recorded in the textual tradition. The chant is: "Kong Ji Hui Chen Han Jing Yu Xu, fu ming suo qian, mo gan chi chu, ji!" ("Emptiness and stillness, dawn-radiance holding the shadow of the Jade Void, sent by the talismanic mandate, none dare delay or tarry. Hasten!"). For the northwest, the king governs Xuzhou and corresponds to the Qian (Heaven) trigram, again with a variant name. The chant is: "Xian De Zong Chi Jing Fan Xuan Ying, yu fu yi xia, bu de liu ting, ji!" ("Manifest virtue, all-holding, quiet Brahma-like dark bloom, once the Jade Talisman descends, no lingering or halting. Hasten!").

For the upper region, the king governs Yongzhou, and the officiant summons the king by pressing the nail of the middle finger. The chant is: "Yuan Gai Fa Lun Fu Tuan Yao Qian, yu fu yi chi, zhi zao di qian, ji!" ("Round canopy and Dharma wheel, supporting and brightening Heaven; once the Jade Talisman is commanded, go straight before the Sovereign. Hasten!"). For the lower region, the king governs the Five Marchmounts (Wuyue), the rivers, lakes, and seas, and the Underworld Bureau of the Dark Registers (Mingcao). The officiant summons the king by pressing the middle joint of the middle finger, and chants: "Yue Du Cang Ming Zong Chong Ling Chi, yu fu suo qian, he she bu zun, ji!" ("Mountains, rivers, the blue seas, the revered numinous lineage, by the numinous command the Jade Talisman is sent; what pardon is not obeyed? Hasten!").

The general summons to all ten directions begins: "Dong Xuan Zong Xian Ling Zhi Yuan Tai Yi Zuo Shi, yu qi fei yan, yong yong kan kan, bao fu fei xian; yi shun shi ji, zong yu wan tian" ("Lord of the Dongxuan lineage, the first spirit, the Primal Taiyi, Leftward Scribe, who drives the qi and flies through the mist, harmonious and gentle, adorned in the robes of the immortals; in a single blink he traverses the ten extremities and commands the myriad heavens"). It continues with transliterated syllables ("a-bian-na-yi-po-bu-tan-yan") whose exact sounds are uncertain and are kept in their received form, followed by "yuan luo na gu cheng ming yu chen, fu ling shi tan, wei xuan hua du, ru lü ru bian" ("from far away, receive the command of the Jade Palace, and attend the altar, to proclaim transformation and salvation, as the statutes and registers command"). The general dispatch formula reads: "a-bian-na-yi-bo-li-po-bu-da-luo-tan-yan... ji zhang fei chi, yi yun yi wu; long zhao bao huan, xue jian zheng wu" ("bearing the memorials flying swiftly, by cloud and by mist; the dragon summons the precious ring, correcting errors on the bamboo slips"). Several syllables and divine names in these formulas are only partly attested across the textual traditions, so where the reading is uncertain this translation keeps the original sounds or gives a direct rendering of the sense.

"Wrong characters" must be corrected, and "missing characters" must be supplied with a red-brush annotation, so that the scribes who handle the documents do not strike out the talismatic script.

The Ten Directions' Divine Kings should each lead ten thousand heavenly soldiers to transmit the commands, summon the immortals of the ten directions, apprehend and eliminate the yin demons, and subdue the ghost-marshals. They must not be dispatched at will.

Talisman for Summoning the Myriad Divinities to Initiate the Cosmic Cycle

(For the talisman form, see the Huanwu Xuxuan Pin [Chapter on Returning to Non-being and Narrating the Mystery].)

Talisman for Summoning the Nine Yin

Pure brilliance of yin essence (yin jing), the morning light shining, joins with the radiant light. Within the primordial darkness, the True Perfected turns and revolves, transforming and nurturing the embryonic infant. The Azure-Waisted Jade Maiden, clothed in a flying-cloud feather skirt, attends upon the Sovereign of the Eastern Chamber, and the demons appear in their eastern forms. I ask that you proclaim this text with me, seize and gather the spirits of the dead, so that auspicious blessings may become gentle and compliant, and the Celestial Court may be settled in peace.

Swiftly, swiftly, as the statute commands!

Talisman for Summoning the Nine Yang

The Nine Yang divine chant, its mysterious radiance crystal-clear, gathers true light. Turning and transforming, it nurtures the embryonic infant. The Golden Youth of the Great Flowery Peak governs the celestial stars; in accordance with the talisman he acts, serving my command and guarding the well-shaft of the Dipper. He drives away evil qi and filth and destroys demonic spirits. The numinous talisman conveys the command, so that humans may endure together with the Dao.

Swiftly, swiftly, as the statute commands!

Both of the above talismans are written in yellow paper with cinnabar. Using the left hand, form the Shangdi hand-seal (jue) and visualize the qi of the Heavenly Gate being drawn into the talisman.

Yuqing Talisman

Wherever the characters of the Yuqing talisman reach, the myriad divinities follow.

This talisman is written in yellow paper with cinnabar. Form the Yuqing hand-seal (the seal formed by the middle finger), and blow the Primordial Ancestral Qi (yuanshi zu qi) into the talisman.

Shangqing Talisman

Wherever the characters of the Shangqing talisman reach, the myriad divinities respectfully follow.

This talisman is written in yellow paper with cinnabar. Form the Shangqing hand-seal (the seal formed by the middle finger), and blow the True Qi of Lingbao (lingbao zhen qi) into the talisman.

Taiqing Talisman

Wherever the characters of the Taiqing talisman reach, the myriad divinities respectfully receive orders.

This talisman is written in yellow paper with cinnabar. Form the Taiqing hand-seal (the seal formed by the middle finger), and blow the Taiqing Hunyuan Qi (taiqing hunyuan qi) into the talisman.

Messenger Talisman for the Upper Realm

Like dragon-riding couriers racing as stars and surging as firelight, swiftly carry out your orders.

This talisman is written in yellow paper with cinnabar. Form the hand-seal held with the middle finger, and infuse it with the qi of the Heavenly Gate.

Messenger Talisman for the Middle Realm

Mighty troops of the duty-guardian spirits, who shake the earth and quake the mountains, swiftly carry out your orders.

This talisman is written in yellow paper with cinnabar. Form the hand-seal held with the middle finger, and infuse it with the qi of the Earthly Door.

Messenger Talisman for the Lower Realm

The Numinous Sovereign issues a decree, and the Numinous Sovereign submerges into the water; swiftly carry out your orders.

This talisman is written in white paper with cinnabar. Form the hand-seal held with the middle finger, and infuse it with Dipper qi.

Talisman of the Day-Duty Merit Officer

The numinous majesty of the Jade Emperor ascends to the Three Pure Ones. Merit Officer of the day, descend swiftly.

In this passage, "talisman" (fu) refers to the script written in Daoist ritual as part of the Fulu (talisman and register) tradition. "Seal" (jue) refers to the hand gesture formed by pinching the fingers, and "qi" (qi) refers to the primordial vital energy in Daoist thought. The texts listed are the summoning and dispatching incantations recited while the talismans are being written, together with the corresponding paper colors, writing materials, and ritual procedures.

Yuqing (Jade Clarity, the realm where the revered deities of Daoism dwell) issues a decree summoning the gods and spirits. Above, it reaches the bounds of the Ultimateless (Wuji); below, it penetrates the dark netherworld. It subdues evil demons and controls ghosts and specters so that none dare linger. Taishang (the Most High) issues a decree commanding the spirits to come swiftly.

Jiji ru lüling. (Quickly, quickly, as the statute commands.)

This talisman should be written with yellow paper and cinnabar. Pinch the mudra corresponding to the present day, draw in the qi of the present hour, and then recite the incantation:

The Xuan Cao, the Jade Text Meritorious Officials who govern affairs of the Yuqing realm, memorialize to the Three Heavens. The Lord on High has commanded: divine light, descend swiftly. Respectfully I summon the Gongcao (merit officers, spirit-clerks who convey divine orders) of (a certain day), to come at once according to the statutes.

Jiji ru lüling. The Sanwu envoys, the Zhiri talisman soldiers, the Gongcao, and the Chuanling clerks, upon hearing my summons, shall come at once like clouds. Quickly, quickly.

Talisman for summoning the earth god of this region:

Heavenly Qian spirits, Seven Perfected Lords, Five Dipper Canopy, encircle and protect my body. I wear the Seven Stars, and the flaming golden bells shine across the ten directions and pierce the dark netherworld. I universally notify the Upright Earth Gods of this region: demons may not invade, and ghosts may not make mischief. A thousand thousand will have their heads severed, and ten thousand ten thousand will have their forms cut away. Those who keep their place will have blessings; those who move recklessly will have no path to life. Let the Upright Earth Gods each guard the region in peace. Jiji ru lüling.

Talisman for summoning the She Spirit (the deity governing local altar sacrifices and the soil):

"Qi dai mi pan zha."

For the talisman above, when you need to summon the mountain officials of the Five Marchmounts, pinch the Gen mudra while writing the talisman and recite the incantation seven times. If you wish to summon the City Moat deity, the She Order, or a deity in charge of earth affairs, pinch the Kun mudra beneath the talisman, first write the deity's title clearly, and then summon with this talisman. It was once used to summon the Nanchang She Elder, and it was indeed efficacious.

Talisman for commanding demon spirits to withdraw and clearing the way:

The Huangren (Yellow Person) says that when presenting memorials and submitting petitions, or when audiencing with the true deities and calling on the Heavenly Emperor, one should first burn the "Ming Mo Qian Qian" (Talisman for Commanding Demons to Withdraw) before the altar to open the passage. This talisman is also used when delivering the souls of the dead. Write it on yellow paper with cinnabar, seven cun wide and nine cun long. When sealing the talisman, pinch the Shangdi mudra, write the talisman text, and then infuse the ancestral qi of the Numinous Treasure into it. Visualize the Five Emperors and the great demon bearing the Ming Mo banner, leading the way in front. When passing through the Three Realms, the myriad spirits will not dare detain or obstruct.

Taiqing Xuanguang (Mysterious Light of Supreme Clarity), Yuqing Qiyuan Xingguang (Seven Primal Starlight of Jade Clarity), Huiguang (Light of Wisdom), and Shangqing Baoguang (Precious Light of Highest Clarity), illuminate and open the way.

Chiming kai tu, yun du ziran; chaodu sanjie, wei deng xiangong. (Chiming opens the chart; its movement and measure are spontaneous; delivering the Three Realms, one ascends to the rank of Immortal Lord.)

Baiyuan zunshen, lunzhuan wuse jie. (The Venerable Deity of White Origin, revolving through the Formless Realm.)

Dispatch Incantation for Summoning Demons and Slaying Ghosts

Taiyi Siming (the spirit who governs lifespans and registers of destiny) turns the vital qi of human beings, circulating through the Way of the Five Constants. He roams above Taixia (the Great Rosy Mists), chanting the Dong Scriptures so that clear qi flows in and out.

The Huafang (the immortals' dwelling) passes through ten transformations. Its numinous qi revolves, and myriad primal energies gather so that all beings may attain immortality.

This is the talisman command that summons demons, slays ghosts and fiends, and orders the talisman-clerks who go before to clear the way.

Yuanshi Tianzun (the Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning) commands the True Spirits:

Once the talisman command is issued, the myriad demons scatter like fire going out. The road ahead opens and clears. The Three Sovereigns in the void also reverently carry it out, subduing the demons through awesome power.

Secret Mantra for Commanding Demons

Huangren (the Perfected of the Yellow Court) says: whoever recites this mantra should face northwest and visualize the qi of the Nine Heavens transforming into nine-colored light. Let it descend and pour into oneself, forming a full radiant image that shines across the ten directions. Then inhale the mysterious light, swallow the saliva nine times, knock the teeth nine times so that the breath flows freely, and bow twice. Next, visualize Yuanshi Tianzun descending into the deep and mysterious void, and then recite the mantra:

With the qi of the Yellow Center, plan and measure, cut off the heads of demons, examine and subdue the arrogant spirits, and sever the source of evil. The Supreme One has already issued his command: the Supreme Chamber urgently summons the Northern Emperor to the Jade Palace to receive the august order and proclaim to the demon kings that the qi of the five directions is flourishing and in conflict with the decree. The hidden jade script is about to flourish; the fortune of the Three Heavens is about to shine, and the fortune of the Six Heavens is about to end. Shen zhe zai. (This mantra comes from the Lingbao Yufu Renniao Jing, the Scripture of the Jade Talismans of Lingbao, Human and Bird.)

When the recitation is finished, visualize Yuanshi Tianzun sending down golden light that enters through the crown of the head and reaches the Jianggong (the Crimson Palace, the seat of the heart). The golden light condenses into a golden elixir of liquid gold, its radiance filling the whole body, clear within and without. The myriad spirits reverently await orders, and the Three Realms are at once made bright and pure. Then snap the middle finger to withdraw.

Secret Mantra for Holding the Talisman and Opening the Way

Yuanshi Tianzun summons the Great True Spirits of Heaven, the Supreme Sages and Lofty Exalted Ones, the Perfected of Wondrous Conduct, and the Utmost True Great Spirits of the boundless ten directions. He asks them to lower their light, return to their chariots, oversee true conditions, and ferry all beings across. The Great Spirit Han, Director of Registers and Supervisor of Life in the Upper Palace of Nanchang, who governs the spirits of the ledgers and registers, also comes before the Heavenly Emperor. Following the case of each person to be delivered, examine strictly the registers of all the heavens, and universally proclaim to the Three Realms, the divine realms of the boundless, the Halls of the Underworld, the Northern Capital of Luofeng, the Three Offices and Nine Bureaus, and the Twelve Sources of the Rivers, that from ancestors and parents down to kin across successive kalpas, all must be released from the registers of guilt and have their roots of evil dissolved. They must not be detained or forced to join the ghostly multitudes. Once the Yuanshi talisman command is issued, they must rise on schedule. Hasten to obey the decrees of the Emperor of Eternal Life! Ji ji ru lü ling!

After the mantra has been recited three times, take one breath of the Heavenly Gate, blow it onto the talisman, form the finger-snapping seal, then form the seal and tear the talisman.

Recite the "Filth-Clearing Formula," burn talismans at the Ghost Gate (Guimen), and then recite the incantation:

"The Primordial Talisman Decree; moment by moment, ascend and advance."

The Celestial Master (Tianshi) Zhang Wanfu says: Before the Heavenly Honored One (Tianzun) expounded the scriptures, the demon kings of the heavens and the three realms, together with the Great Demons of the Five Emperors, served as chiefs of the myriad spirits. They commanded ghost soldiers and roamed through outer space. They claimed their majesty was resplendent and their merits rivaled Heaven's, and they acted without restraint, poisoning the multitudes and bringing illness and suffering upon men and women alike. People prayed, made petitions, beat drums, and danced, awaiting the Honored One's teaching with reverent hearts.

After the Honored One expounded the scriptures, the hundred demons were subdued and transformed, and the divine lords received their mandate to sweep away all inauspicious influences universally. Demons could no longer disturb, and ghosts and spirits could no longer work harm. Once the demons had been subdued, the Honored One instructed the sacred beings of the heavens and the Wonderfully Virtuous Perfected to drive chariots as vanguards, clearing away defilement and opening the way. Therefore, when the holy ones were about to tour the heavens, they first ordered the demons to go ahead, opening the road and leading the chariots. The scripture says, "The demon kings receive their duties with reverence," and this is why they could present themselves before the heavens. Accordingly, when performing the Zhaijiao (purification ritual), one should first visualize and summon the demons.

The teaching on summoning the demons at the three audiences has been fully explained by Zhang Qing. When Zhao Daosheng revised the Huang Lu Yi (Ritual of the Yellow Register), he held that the internal rites ended with the summoning of demons at the noon audience. This was probably based on the Zhenghe Jinlu (Zhenghe Golden Register), and it is an error he encountered, not the original intent of the scripture.

Memorial Prayer Chapter to the Attending Perfected Lord Xuanwu

Huangren says: Xuanwu is the embodiment of the true Primordial Qi. He embraces the lunar lodges Xu and Wei and unites the essences of water and fire. His awe-inspiring voice shakes the Nine Heavens, and his power subdues the hosts of demons. Practitioners who worship the perfected sages, gaze toward the palaces, and enter quiet chambers to visualize the gods rely on Xuanwu's spiritual powers and talismans to perform the registers, drive out pestilence, and eradicate evil demons. Xuanwu examines whether the practitioner's heart is pure and then recommends them before the Jade Emperor. Whoever sincerely seeks his aid and serves him will have every request granted. Xuanwu is one of the subordinate heavenly generals of the Lingbao (Numinous Treasure) methods.

Prayer Text

Heaven hears and observes from afar; when a person speaks, it is surely made clear. The gods who witness us are close at hand; when a person wishes, it can be fulfilled. When the horn sounds, the gongs answer in turn; when sincerity responds to sincerity, virtue calls forth virtue. Even one of poor conduct, if he fasts, bathes, and reverently serves the Heavenly Emperor, may receive protection.

I, your disciple, am shallow in the Way and insufficient in cultivation, and illness has harmed my practice. Now I burn incense to pray for blessing, respectfully invoking the Mysterious Heaven Great Sage and taking refuge in the Spirit of the Northern Pole. You receive the sunlight to form your body and embrace yin essence to receive your form. Born divine, grown in valor, you devote yourself wholly to cultivation, assisting the Jade Emperor in slaying demons and eradicating evil to save all beings. You wear a purple robe of gold…

Clad in boots patterned with tortoise shells and carrying a sword inlaid with a giant serpent, he sends the light of his blade between the Xu and Wei lunar lodges, and his divine presence reaches the border between the regions of Wu and Qi. The Six Ding Spirits (liuding shen) lead the way ahead, and the Eight Sha Spirits (bashasheng) follow behind. He commands the myriad numinous beings and awes the Five Sacred Peaks. He can make mountains leap into the sky and shake heaven and earth. Like lightning racing across the clouds, he strikes down demons and scatters ghosts and thieves. The hundred spirits keep his commands, lesser ghosts dare not appear, the common people are spared untimely deaths, and the household and the state find peace. What is prayed for is answered without fail, for where there is response, there is communion.

I have been fortunate to receive the Great Rite and to obtain the mysterious scriptures and sections of the Lingbao (Lingbao, the scriptures and methods revered by Daoism). I carry the seals and perform the talismans, acting in accordance with the seasons and the measures of the Heavenly Dao. I fear that when I set up the mysterious altar (xuantan, the ritual platform for ceremonies), filth and evil things will intrude. If I were to abandon the wondrous power of the gods, how could I proceed in peace? Now, on the day the divinities descend, I have particularly prepared this offering ceremony, humbly asking that the divine light shine upon us and that sacred power communicate in secret. May gods and ghosts each return to their proper places, and the upright and the wicked each keep their allotted stations. May every request be answered and every unwarranted disaster quietly dissipate. May this Daoist temple flourish and the demon kings be fearful, so that I may soon achieve merit, receive registration, and quickly become a meritorious minister of the Great Dao. I bow my head to the ground and bow again.

Summoning the Xuanwu Jade Talisman

Blessings and fortune descend immediately: the six mysterious and true characters.

Perform the above talisman formula, with the right hand forming the zi wen gesture (a finger-pinching mudra of Daoist ritual), and recite the incantation:

The heavens of pure conduct (fanxing) pervade the ten directions, and the countless great spirits all emerge from my body. I command that wherever the talisman reaches, the myriad things and the qi of the dark netherworld merge and communicate. Swiftly, swiftly, as the statute commands! (Ji ji ru lü ling)

Memorial Hymn for Offering to Beichen (the North Star)

Reverently it is said: when the Supreme Ultimate (Taiji) had not yet divided, the Three Powers (sancai: heaven, earth, and humanity) had not been established, and the myriad things all existed within a single qi. After heaven and earth separated into the two forms (liangyi), the Seven Governors (qizheng: the sun, the moon, and the five planets) each moved in their order and harmonized the four seasons. The Dipper's pole turns at the center of heaven, and the stars are arrayed within the celestial image. The divinities each govern their offices, proclaim transformation to the myriad things, establish the guiding principles, and uphold the mandate of heaven.

The Eight Kings are the lords of the myriad things, and the Seven Sages are the ancestral masters of living beings. They gather the qi of the seventy-two pentads (hou) and govern the offices of the twenty-eight lunar lodges (xiu). The Northern Dipper turns through its circuit, looking down upon the earth as though a chariot in motion, regulating the principles of heaven and earth. The stars surround Beichen and govern the universe. Its throat and tongue are held by it, and its pivot is grasped by it. Observing where the Wei Star (weixing) points, the four seas know the season. Watching the radiance of the Gang qi (gangqi, the protective qi), the eight directions receive blessings. The Three Platforms (santai) stars share one color, and the Nine Qi share one light. They govern the balance of the celestial heavens and determine the fortunes and misfortunes of the human world.

Emperor Ming of the Han gazed up at the model of the stars, and the Celestial Master Zhang (Zhang Tianshi) received the true scriptures and established the Xuan Teaching (Xuanjiao) in the mortal world, freeing foolish and deluded common people from worldly bonds. Moreover, now...

Every living thing among the plants and animals has somewhere to return. I follow the great method that has been handed down to me and seek to deliver both the living and the dead. Without relying on the turning of the Dou constellation (Dou Xiu), and without causing the Kan and Li qi (the energies of the Water and Fire trigrams) to move in their proper and reversed courses, the Dao methods cannot be accomplished. To use this method to its fullness, one must also draw on the power of the Northern Dipper, symbolized by stars such as Xuanheng. Now that the divine beings are about to descend, I have prepared lamps and candles as offerings and humbly request that the Seven Stars look over the altar, temporarily leaving the lofty heaven of Tianshu. I also request that the two Emperors deign to descend and pause at the altar. May the deities add living names to the registers of life and strike the names of the dead from the rolls, so that the true qi of the Seven Star Lords of the Northern Dipper constantly fills the Five Viscera, protecting all people so that they may soon attain the constant and true Dao and swiftly accomplish pure cultivation. Your servant respectfully bows twice.

Summoning the Jade Talisman of the Northern Dipper

Silently circulate the two characters "Xuanji" (the Revolving Pearl, the name of the Dipper's first stars) in the mind.

For the above talisman method, one should form the Kan mudra (a hand-sealing gesture made with the fingers) and recite the incantation:

"Xuanji and Yuheng, pause your revolving for a moment. Holding the talisman and the register, come together before the Emperor. In a thousand and ten thousand ways, let all things harmonize without obstruction, and let the true person be naturally perfected. Act immediately in accordance with the commands of the Lingbao Dafa (Great Method of the Numinous Treasure)!"

Summoning and Presenting the Charter of the Spirits Within the Body

The Xuan Master says: Whoever receives and recites the divine scriptures, confesses transgressions, and petitions for grace should pay homage to Shangxuan (the Supreme Mystery, the exalted deities of the highest heaven) three times a day. On every day of practice, incense should also be offered during the six periods.

The "three audiences" refer to sunrise, midday, and sunset. There are other forms of practice as well, which should be carried out according to the liturgies (Keyi) of this school. The "six periods" refer to midnight, dawn, the morning meal, midday, the late afternoon (around the hour of shen, 3 to 5 p.m.), and dusk, which are the six Yang hours. Offering incense during the six periods refers precisely to these times.

The ash for incense must not come from the stove, because the fire there may be mixed with subduing-dragon dung (fulong fen), which is a grave taboo in Daoist ritual. Instead, use ash burned from pine and cypress twigs and leaves, and store it in the incense burner. If you want the fire to burn strongly and the fragrance to be rich, let the flames be fierce and the smoke rise, so that sincerity ascends with the incense smoke. Do not let the smoke be weak or stagnant. If the practice requires continuous recitation, the incense smoke should be kept unbroken.

No pungent or strongly scented plants may be mixed into the incense fire, nor may there be any worm-eaten matter, hair, or shells, lest they defile the Supreme Realm. The Immortal Elder of Taiji (Taiji Xianweng) often burned charcoal dust from willow and bamboo branches, pounded it together with the stems and leaves of mallow, and added a little gansong (spikenard) to make incense, which was entirely sufficient. This kind of incense is not only easy to light but also long-burning, so it will not quickly burn out or go dark. Use more and the fire grows strong; use less and it burns slowly and steadily.

The Immortal Elder also often took the root of an ancient vine, washed it in running water, dried it in the sun, and then pounded and burned it together with qingmuxiang (aristolochia) and xuanshen (figwort root). This was used to cleanse impurities, express sincerity, summon the true spirits, and seek the Immortal Dao. Other pungent or irritating scents should not be used.

When burning incense, one must rectify the mind and concentrate with single-minded focus, fixing the spirit within the smoke.

Do not turn around, and hold your breath while you silently recite the prayer text through your nostrils. Once your breathing has returned to normal, then make the bows.

When bowing, be careful not to tilt the body. The scripture says that the Nine Palaces (the positions where the gods within the body reside) should be visualized in accordance with the body, so that as the body bends and bows, the mind is concentrated accordingly.

The human body is governed by Shen (spirit) and Qi (vital energy). Only when Shen and Qi are united can one reach the true and respond to the numinous. If the spirit-soul scatters and the breath becomes disordered, prayer will struggle to connect. Moreover, the human body is itself the place where the Numinous Treasure (the subtle, spiritual essence within the body, as the Daoists understand it) dwells, so bowing with the heart is in fact bowing with the Shen.

The Lingbao Wufu Mixu (Secret Sequence of the Five Numinous Talismans) records methods for summoning the gods within the body, and practitioners should train in them diligently. This is the first of all the Dao's methods and the foremost of all rites. It should be performed on jiazi days, on one's own birth-year days, on the second and sixteenth days of each month, and on the last day of the month, five times in all each month. After entering the quiet chamber (a pure space set aside for stillness and ritual practice), prepare a sincere and focused heart, along with clean vegetarian food, wine, and eight kinds of fruit. Sit facing east, gather the mind, and let the breath settle. After sitting quietly for a while, offer incense three times, tap the teeth twenty-four times, and then recite the prayer text:

Perfected Dan Yuan, Perfected Tai Yi, Perfected Tao Kang, Perfected Tai Guang, Perfected You Jing, Perfected Shuang Ling; Brow Spirit of the Celestial Summit, Brain Spirit of the Primal Origin, Crown Spirit of the Eastern King; Ear Spirit Jiao Nü, Eye Spirit Ying Ming, Hair Spirit Chang Shou, Nose Spirit Tong Ling, Mouth Spirit Dan Zhu, Tongue Spirit Dan Huang, Teeth Spirit Wei Shi, Throat Spirit Hu Ben; Shoulder Spirit Yu Ling, Hand Spirit Hun Yin, Heart Spirit Xu Xu, Liver Spirit Lin Lin, Lung Spirit Zhu Zhu, Navel Spirit Yu Lu, Stomach Spirit Zu Zu, Spleen Spirit Pi Pi, Kidney Spirit Piao Piao, Gallbladder Spirit Huo Huo, Dantian Spirit Cang Jing; Large Intestine Spirit Tuo Tuo, Small Intestine Spirit Liang Liang; Yang Spirit Qiong Ying, Yin Spirit You Ling, Thigh Spirit Yin Yin, Knee Spirit Ou Ou, Waist Spirit Kong Nan, Foot Spirit Xuan Yuan; Great Strength Celestial Guardians.

Then summon them three times, saying: "You all come forth from within my body and sit each in your own place, before, behind, to the left and to the right of me. Today is an auspicious day, and I have set out offerings to summon you. Please eat and drink freely and enjoy the offerings until you are satisfied."

When the prayer is complete, visualize the gods within the body appearing like perfected immortals, numbering a hundred or more, bowing and yielding to one another. Then partake of the offerings until they are finished. Pray again, saying:

"Having now eaten and drunk your fill, your hearts are joyful and content. From now on, on every auspicious day, when I set out offerings and summon you, you must all come. Even on ordinary days, do not leave me. If any fortune or misfortune is about to come, report each of them to me in advance. As long as my body endures, you will endure; if I am grieved or troubled with sorrow, you also..."

If there are sorrows and troubles, or an elixir that grants long life, bring it and let us take it. Now I bestow upon you the Dao of longevity, whose span is reckoned by the kalpas through which all things pass. You should return to my body and each keep to the post you govern. Jí jí rú lǜ lìng (Hasten, hasten, as the statute commands!).

The Mysterious Master (xuánshī) says: To sit in meditation and foreknow the future, to release the form at death and ascend to the heavenly court, and to attain immortality and penetrate the true are all attainments that must first be reached in cultivation. Only after ten rites may one speak with the one who receives the method, and only after a hundred rites may one obtain the immortals, the Golden Elixir (jīndān), lingzhi (língzhī) mushrooms, and a complete provision of food and offerings. If even a single sentence of these secret methods is divulged, ten years of one's lifespan will be lost, and the techniques themselves will cease to be efficacious. Be exceedingly careful, and do not transmit them rashly.

Great Method of the Upper Scripture on the Boundless Salvation of Humankind (Língbǎo Wúliàng Dù Rén Shàng Jīng Dàfǎ), Scroll Forty-Nine