《清微元降大法》Vol. 21

This records the rain-invocation and sun-summoning ritual methods of the Qingwei lineage (one of Daoism's important schools). It primarily details several types of talismanic charms (Fulu) and their associated deity manifestations:

For rain invocation, yellow paper is used to create talismans measuring nine inches tall and four inches wide. The ritualist must silently recite incantations while burning the charm over incense. The talisman must bear the inscription "Rain-Summoning Official [Practitioner's Name] Executes This Command." Similarly, specific formats exist for sun-summoning talismans.

Next are described two Thunder Department generals: Yang Thunder God (Yang Lei Shenjun) wears a celestial crown with a blue face and golden armor, black robes with jade belts, wielding a battle-axe; Yin Thunder God (Yin Lei Shenjun) also wears the celestial crown but has a white face and golden armor, red robes while gripping a sword, surrounded by flames. During rituals, practitioners must visualize these deities riding clam-dragons (Shenlong) while leading ninety million Thunder Department troops.

Various practical talismans are then listed:

• Healing Talisman: Burned and mixed with jujube tea for ingestion
• Childbirth Talisman: Taken with diluted vinegar during labor
• Protective Talisman: Folded yellow paper worn as a square amulet
• Household Guardian Talisman: Written with black ink on gold-edged yellow paper
• Universal Talisman: Can be divided for use, stamped with the "Thunder Covenant Seal"

Finally mentioned is the "Supreme Divine Empyrean Jade Purity Cavern-Mystery Scripture," consisting of sixty secret sigils forming the supreme talisman capable of commanding spirits, exorcising evils, and prolonging life. Each sigil contains unique powers—some summon underground winds, others suppress demonic forces.

(Note: The "▲" symbols represent esoteric Daoist secret characters in the original text, typically requiring oral transmission from master to disciple for full understanding of their meanings and applications.)

This scripture primarily expounds on the ritual protocols of Qingwei Thunder Magic (a core Daoist practice centered on summoning thunder to exorcise evil), a significant tradition within Daoism.

The opening phrases like "Thunder arises" and "Lightning emerges" are esoteric incantations used by Daoist priests to summon natural forces. For instance, "Thunder arises, lightning manifests" invokes the appearance of thunder and the generation of lightning, while "Hail summons hail, dew summons dew" signifies the ability to freely call forth either hailstorms or sweet rain. These mantras exemplify the Daoist belief that humans can harness natural forces through specific rituals.

The text enumerates the Thunder Department's divine generals (executors within the Thunder Magic system), each governing specific months and time periods. For example:

• Marshal Deng oversees the months of Zi, Chou, Yin, and Mao (the 11th to 2th lunar months).
• Celestial Lord Xin presides over the months of Chen, Si, Wu, and Wei (3rd to 6th lunar months).
• Celestial Lord Zhang commands the months of Shen, You, Xu, and Hai (7th to 10th lunar months).
• Celestial Lord Cheng is responsible for the twelve two-hour periods of the day.

Each general is described in detail: wearing a golden helmet, clad in black ritual robes, girded with a golden belt, wielding an axe, and bearing a ritual seal. This reflects the highly structured celestial bureaucracy within Daoist Thunder Magic traditions.

The text particularly highlights the Five Directions Thunder Gods (principal thunder generals governing the east, south, west, north, and center). Take, for instance, Lord Song Xiansheng, the Azure Qi Wood Thunder God of the East: he wears a celestial crown, a red robe with golden armor, black boots, holds a thunder drill, and is accompanied by a thunder chariot. Each thunder deity is meticulously recorded with their formal titles, attire, and ritual implements, demonstrating the highly systematized pantheon developed within Daoist Thunder Magic.

In practice, these elements are employed by Daoist priests alongside talismans (Fulu), hand mudras, and visualization techniques for purposes such as praying for rain during droughts, exorcising evil, healing illnesses, and safeguarding pregnancies. Phrases like "spreading clouds to protect the fetus" and "fragrant blessings for the delivery chamber" clearly pertain to rituals protecting expectant mothers, while "slaying evil and dispersing locusts" refers to ceremonies for eliminating locust plagues.

This passage describes the ritual procedures and talismanic document formats used by the Qingwei lineage (an important Daoist school) for summoning the Five Directional Thunder Gods. The five thunder deities are:

The Western White Qi Golden Thunder God, named Zhou Fang with the courtesy name Xingshen, wears golden armor with a yellow robe and black boots, wields a long axe, and governs thunder in the Geng-Xin (western) direction.

The Northern Black Qi Water Thunder God, named Wu Chong with the courtesy name Puyuan, similarly dons golden armor with a blue robe and holds a water-wheel ritual implement.

The Central Yellow Qi Earth Thunder God, named Wang Yunxin with the courtesy name Liangchen, also wears golden armor but carries a fire-wheel implement.

These five thunder deities rotate every decade in overseeing the celestial thunder forces. The text then outlines the standard document format for ritual masters:

First, the ritualist declares their position: "Your subject [name]", states the ritual's purpose, then writes the fulu (talismanic register) according to celestial protocols. The talisman is written in three lines containing specific temporal instructions for summoning certain divine generals, such as "Commanded to appear by [month/day/hour]".

The document concludes with the characters "Fengxing" (to be implemented), followed by the exact date and time of execution, and the presiding ritual master's name. It also lists the titles of all participating masters.

Several specialized talismans are mentioned:

• Prayer Talismans (for blessings)
• Purification Talismans (for exorcism and cleansing)
• Supreme Purity Jade Pivot Thunder Summoning Talismans (advanced thunder invocation)

Each talisman must specify which thunder department general is being summoned and their required arrival time/location. Written with cinnabar on long paper strips, they're finally sealed with a cover bearing the dispatch time on the reverse.

The complete procedure involves: first drawing the talisman to summon the general, then dispatching a messenger to deliver it. Special mention is made of summoning "Jade Pivot Annual Emissary Wang Xin of Dongqing Cavern", a specialized message-carrying deity, with the command to "urgently deliver this talisman and report to the ritual platform by [date/time]". All talismanic documents must strictly follow prescribed formats to demonstrate proper reverence for the divine.

This records the ritual contents of spirit summoning in the Qingwei lineage (an important Daoist school), primarily describing the physical appearances and functions of four main divine generals and their subordinates.

The four principal envoys are:

• Jade Pivot Moon Duty Radiant Envoy Wu Lie
• Jade Pivot Sun Duty Numinous Envoy Shang Wei
• Jade Pivot Hour Duty Illuminated Envoy Tang Jing

They specialize in delivering various documents and talismanic orders, with only one envoy dispatched per mission.

The chief general is the Support Heaven Vast Sage Chongxuan Cavern Harmony True Lord Zhao Gongming (commonly known as Marshal Zhao in folk tradition). His majestic form appears with:

• A celestial crown
• Crimson complexion
• Triangular eyes and handsome beard
• Golden armor with red boots
• A treasured sword in hand
• A black tiger attendant

Two deputy generals accompany him:

Left Guard Vast Fierceness Chongfu Talisman Envoy Yu Liang - blue face with vermilion robes

Right Auxiliary Vast Fierceness Chongtian Talisman Envoy Song Wei - red face with black robes

Both wear crossed-leg headdresses (ancient turbans) with red forehead bands, golden armor and cloud-patterned boots, each holding treasured swords.

Five additional generals include Celestial Guard Awesome Fierceness Grand Radiance General Lu Wan - all featuring blue faces, ancient helmets (mou), iron armor, and dragon-cleaving sabers.

The Celestial Auxiliary Commander Flying Mystery Talisman Envoy Ge Chong has a distinctive appearance:

• Disheveled hair
• Black face with five eyes
• Golden armor over red robes
• Bare feet holding a ritual tablet (fujie)

The text then details specific summoning incantations and talisman usage protocols:

"Dan Qin Di Yu" serves as the incantation's opening phrase. When using summoning talismans, the ritual master must first declare their name, e.g. "Your servant [name] respectfully summons..."

The Shangqing Tongxuan Golden Talisman requires incense offering and prayer, with corresponding manifestations based on the petition's purpose. Subsequent talismans employ specific formats like "Prompt the cloud-canopy to protect and prolong life."

The Deputy General Command Talisman uses the incantation "Dun Ling" for disaster relief. The special divine name "Chang" may only be written once, formatted as "Your servant [name] reports to General [X]."

A complete talismanic template includes:

1. Purpose statement

2. Chief General Zhao Chang's (Zhao Gongming) special command authorization

3. Specific directive content

4. Current year's celestial stem/branch date

5. Designated envoy for celestial delivery

6. Notation of using the "Shangqing Western Numen Vast Sage Chongxuan Inner Formula"

These ritual incantations exemplify the Daoist system of invoking divine assistance through precise ceremonial protocols, requiring strict adherence to prescribed formats and procedures.

This scripture describes the thunder ritual practices of the Qingwei lineage (an important Daoist school during the Song-Yuan period), focusing on the cultivation method of calming the mind, reciting incantations, and visualization to mobilize inner energies, ultimately attaining the supernatural ability to command thunder and lightning.

Practitioners must first achieve mental tranquility, silently chanting mantras in a meditative state. These incantations invoke fundamental cosmic forces such as the Three Primordial Qi (Xuan-Yuan-Shi) and the dual energies of Yin-Yang. During recitation, one visualizes vital Qi (vital energy) emanating like fine mist from all bodily pores (thirty-six thousand hair follicles), forming talismanic symbols (Daoist ritual sigils) woven from azure clouds and golden light, before finally gathering this energy back into the heart center.

The practice then activates the "Thunder Treasure Seal" method, with mantras depicting cosmic genesis from chaos, the movement of thunder, and the harmonious interaction of Yin-Yang. The incantations incorporate numerous Sanskrit-derived syllables (such as "Da Fan Hong ▲ Xi Heng"), believed to directly commune with divine powers. Complete recitation grants the supernatural ability of "soaring through the void," referencing the Daoist concept of "traveling from the Northern Sea to Southern Mountains in a single day."

The text emphasizes the potency of these mantras—a single complete recitation compels the Eastern Green Emperor (one of the Five Directional Deities) to offer assistance, making thunder manipulation as effortless as turning one's palm. Daily practice involves repetitive chanting of specific esoteric syllables (like "Gu Gu Qing Jin Jie Xie"), which harmonize internal energies.

The latter section details key thunder deities: the commander-in-chief is Supreme Mystic Cloud-Path Divine General Zhao Zhenjun (the folk-revered Zhao Gongming), depicted as a majestic red-robed deity with jade belt riding a black tiger; the messenger is Five Directions Harmony General He Conglong. Concluding with practical ritual tools, the "Command Talisman" and "Secret Mantras" include talismanic diagrams and syllables for specific functions—parenthetical notations indicate specialized talismans like the "Spirit Travel Talisman" for astral movement or the "Acceleration Talisman" for hastening spell effects.