《清微元降大法》Vol. 15

The fifteenth volume of the Qingwei Yuanjiang Dafa (Great Rites of the Original Descent from Qingwei) records an advanced Daoist ritual system known as the "Qingwei Dragon Radiance Inner Method," primarily describing several thunder deities and their summoning techniques.

The core deities of this method include two great marshals: Marshal Zhou Guangqing, who rides a blue-green dragon and holds a tally scepter, and Marshal Zhao Xun, who rides a crimson dragon and wields a giant axe. They command multiple thunder generals, such as General Zhu Hui (blue-faced, golden-armored, barefoot with a sword, accompanied by a flying eagle), General Yan Zhuo (red-faced, golden-armored, clad in black robes and red shoes, in charge of a fiery chariot, led by a black dog), and the emissary Qu Gangying (black-faced with a red forehead, golden armor and white robe, commanding millions of poison-spewing thunder gods).

A notable talisman recorded here is the "Dragon Radiance Revitalizing Thunderfire Locust-Sweeping Talisman." To use it, one must mix ink with soil from the current year’s Tai Sui (Year God) direction and inscribe the talisman on high-quality incense before burning it. The talisman operates in three stages: the first application disperses locusts, the second drives them away completely, and the third eradicates the plague entirely.

The scripture also describes two principal deities governing the Yin-Yang Five Thunders: the Great Yang Thunder God Zhu Qing (aligned with Fire) and the Great Yin Thunder God Chang Huiqing (aligned with Water). They wield thunder magic through the Hongxian Haobo Shuji Yin-Yang Leiting Jixin Dongzhang (Pivotal Chapter of the Expansive Yin-Yang Thunderbolt Urgent Dispatch). This esoteric text contains six key commands: Yang Thunder is crimson, Yin Thunder is dark black, the heart-seal connects them, healing the sick, aiding childbirth, and daily cultivation.

The final section documents several significant thunder lords from the Yuqing (Jade Purity) lineage’s Five Thunders system: Celestial Lord Yu Zhao (white-faced, regal in appearance), Celestial Lord Deng Yi (manifestation of the Flame Emperor), True Lord Xin Zhongyi, and Divine Lord Xun Fuyan. Each oversees different thunder functions, such as enforcing cosmic laws, wielding fire-bells, and transmitting talismanic spells. The concluding symbols "▲▲𩄡" represent a secret heart-mantra, to be silently recited without vocalization.

(Note: This thunder method integrates traditions from the Qingwei and Yuqing schools, primarily used in Daoist ritual practices such as rain prayers, locust eradication, exorcism, and healing. It requires specific talismans, hand-seals, and visualization techniques.)

This scripture documents the talismans (fulu) and ritual procedures used by the Qingwei lineage (a major Daoist school) for ceremonies such as rain summoning, flood prevention, exorcism, and healing.

The main content is divided into several sections. First are various functional talismans, including those for summoning wind and rain, commanding thunder and lightning, halting hail and snow, dispelling calamities, and curing illnesses. Each talisman has a specific name and corresponding deities—for example, the "Qingwei Swift Five Thunder" talisman is associated with the main deity Yangxian Zhenjun, along with envoys like Ding Fu and Wang Yuan, all clad in golden armor and red robes, wielding ritual implements such as axes and swords.

Next are the incantations for summoning deities and the methods for using talismanic seals. For instance, the incantation "Danlie" must be paired with the "Three Heavens Urgent Fire" seal and accompanied by specific hand mudras (heart seals). The "Purple Tenuity and Green Jade Great Unity Five Thunder Method" also records the names of deities like Tianfu Jun and Tianshun Jun, as well as marshals such as Tang Qi and Zhao Lang, and envoys like Liang Yuan and Zhang Ang.

The scripture specifies the dimensions of the talisman paper: it must be red paper measuring one chi and nine cun (approx. 63 cm), inscribed with cinnabar, and burned while reciting a heart incantation. It also details the requirements for crafting the "Great Unity Command Token": it must be made of jujube wood, nine cun tall, two cun wide, and eight fen thick.

These talismans are primarily used for rituals such as rain prayers, flood prevention, exorcism, healing, aiding childbirth, protecting pregnancies, and safeguarding homes. Their use requires strict adherence to prescribed ceremonial procedures, including reciting specific incantations, employing designated seals, and invoking the corresponding deities.

This scripture describes the Thunder Method system of the Qingwei School (one of Daoism's major lineages), documenting the appearances, functions, and related talismanic rituals of various thunder deities and generals.

It first introduces the thunder deity system of the "Shangqing Flying Primordial Supreme Unity" tradition, including:

• The commander-in-chief General Long Shao, depicted as a blue-faced great general wearing shoes and wielding an axe
• Five directional thunder gods (East, South, West, North, Center), all with disheveled hair, blue faces, golden armor, crimson robes, bare feet, and holding drills and hammers. Each commands thunder troops and can instantly summon thunderstorms.
• The "Supreme Unity Flying Primordial Talisman Emissary" Wu Dai, wearing a crossed-leg headscarf, blue-faced with golden armor, green robe and boots, carrying a sword. He specializes in transmitting Supreme Unity's commands and summoning thunderbolts.

The text then records the thunder-summoning incantation "Hōng Ōu Lán Gān Líng" which can invoke thunder when recited with focused intention. Various functional talismans are described, including:

• Weather-control "Summoning and Subduing" talismans (capable of summoning wind, clouds, thunder, lightning, rain, snow, hail, fog, and thunderclaps)
• Special-purpose talismans (for clearing skies, exorcising evil, healing illnesses, hastening childbirth, etc.)

The second section explains the "Primordial Fire Command" method, featuring two emissaries:

• "Flying Hawk Emissary" Guan Yuancheng, with blue face, golden armor, red clothes, carrying a sword accompanied by a hawk
• "Running Hound Emissary" Hui Rixin, with red face, golden armor, black clothes, wielding a fire wheel with a fire hound leading the way

These are accompanied by the mantra "Ōm Hōng Zhà Lī" and various fire command talismans (for swift movement, driving away mountain beasts, etc.)

The final section covers the "Qingwei Primordial Chaos" and "Immortal Capital Mandate" thunder methods:

• Documents healing, childbirth-accelerating, and protective talismans
• Mentions "Qingwei Immortal Capital Mandate Talisman Emissary" You Zhong, depicted with green face, black clothes, and sword in hand

These contents reflect how Daoist thunder methods employ deities with specific visual characteristics, talismans, and rituals to summon rain, exorcise evil, and cure diseases. Each thunder general possesses distinct iconographic features and functions that, when combined with corresponding incantations, produce different effects.

This scripture describes the divine generals of thunder from the Qingwei lineage (a major Thunder Ritual tradition of the Song Dynasty), detailing their distinctive appearances and summoning methods. These deities govern thunder and lightning, each possessing unique visages and ritual implements:

General Yang Yan has a bluish-green complexion, wears emerald robes, and carries a wild-goose-feather saber at his waist. General Yi Qian appears with a purplish-red countenance, exuding solemn majesty, similarly clad in green garments while wielding an axe. General Liang Heng manifests with the celestial male form—a blue face with five eyes, dressed in vermilion robes, holding a hammer and drill, followed by a thunder chariot. General Yang Guo sports triangular eyes with an elegant beard yet displays feminine features, robed in black while gripping a ceremonial tally and riding a azure dragon. All wear towering "soaring-to-heaven crowns" (chongtian guan), golden armor, and crimson boots, some additionally bearing dragon-headed swords.

To summon these generals, one must recite the specific incantation "Dun Xuan Yang Yi Yu" and employ the "Qingwei Celestial Capital Thunder Jade Talisman" (a Daoist ritual document). Parenthetical notations like "urgent use" or "common use" indicate contextual variations in talismanic application.

The text further outlines the divine retinue of the Jiutian Xingzheng Thunder Method: General Chen Rongchen appears blue-faced wielding an axe, capable of transforming into a fiery-crowned, crimson-faced form with four eyes—golden-armored and scarlet-robed while bearing a halberd. General Xie Long possesses handsome features holding a banner staff, transforming into a red-complexioned, round-eyed golden-armored figure in vermilion robes gripping a blade. General Lin Yu shows a faintly red face with phoenix eyes and three-pronged beard, standing sword in hand. All wear soaring-head scarves (chongtian futou), golden armor, vermilion robes, jade belts, and leather boots.

Their summoning requires the mantra "Fang Qi Yu Ping" and the "Jiutian Xingzheng Talisman," with parenthetical cues like "Zhao Zhao Shu Ling" or "urgent" specifying ritual procedures. Collectively, this passage demonstrates the complete Thunder Ritual framework in Daoist practice—invoking deities through precise iconography, ritual implements, and incantatory formulas.