《太上洞淵神咒經》Vol. 6

From this present time until the years of Jiaxu and Renwu, the human realm will be filled with calamities, and the common people will suffer untimely deaths and displacement. However, the true Qi (primordial energy) of Daoism will flourish increasingly in the regions south of the Yangtze and in Shu (Sichuan). The Three Caverns (Dongzhen, Dongxuan, Dongshen) scriptures—the sacred texts of the Shangqing, Lingbao, and Dongshen traditions—will spread widely, while the barbarians of the four directions will ultimately perish. Yet malevolent ghosts and demonic soldiers will wreak havoc everywhere, spreading plagues to harm the people.

From now on, all who sincerely revere this scripture will receive divine protection from Heaven. As for those evil spirits and demons that bring disaster, I, the Supreme Dao Lord (Taishang Daojun), shall establish a covenant with them: wherever a Daoist priest heals the afflicted, legal disputes will naturally dissolve, and illnesses will surely be cured. Should any remain unhealed, the Supreme Dao Lord will dispatch 490,000 celestial soldiers and generals to drive the haunting demons a thousand miles away. When Daoist priests practice their rituals to cure ailments, none will fail—deities from all ten directions will come to assist them.

From this moment onward, if the sick encounter a Daoist priest who recites the Three Caverns scriptures, all plague-bringing demons will flee ten thousand miles away upon hearing the sacred chants. Those imprisoned will also be spontaneously released. Should any malevolent ghosts refuse to depart, I will command millions of celestial soldiers to descend and execute them.

During the three years of Xinsi, Renwu, and Guiwei, seventy-two kinds of plagues will emerge in the world, specifically targeting those wicked people who reject the Daoist teachings. Wherever a Daoist priest heals the afflicted, I will command the Nine Heavens' Sovereign (a high-ranking Daoist deity) to establish a covenant, banishing all evil spirits far away so they cannot harass those under the priest’s care. Any who defy this will be immediately slain by the celestial armies without mercy.

From now on, wherever a Daoist priest recites scriptures and performs rituals, that place becomes the Supreme Mystic Hall (Taishang Xuantang), a sacred Daoist sanctuary. All who seek relief from legal troubles or plagues will be healed, disputes will naturally dissolve, and prisoners will be freed. Because this is the supreme wondrous teaching proclaimed directly by the Supreme Dao Lord, it can summon celestial soldiers to exterminate plague demons.

Today, true masters (accomplished Daoist priests) do not covet worldly fame or status but devote themselves to cultivating the Three Caverns scriptures, walking among humanity to relieve suffering. When they witness people in distress, they focus wholeheartedly on saving them, aiding those entangled in lawsuits or afflicted by illness...

This scripture recounts the stern warning issued by the Supreme Dao Lord (one of the highest deities in Daoism) against the plague demons and malevolent spirits of the world. Those who accumulated great merit in past lives will become guides for sentient beings in this life, specially appointed to heal the people. Wherever these ritual masters perform their healing, all plague demons shall swear never to return.

The Dao Lord proclaims: From this time forth, great epidemics shall spread across the land, particularly in cyclical years like Jiaxu and Renwu. Crimson-scarfed demons will infest the Nine Provinces, wreaking havoc across 1,200 commanderies, 18,000 counties, and 300 million villages—slaughtering virtuous people, spreading virulent plagues, and causing innocent deaths. These calamities are all wrought by you demonic spirits: ancient generals fallen in battle, deceased officials and ministers, wandering evil ghosts, and those spirits transformed through deaths by flood, fire, blade, warfare, or dying abroad. Seizing upon periods of human misfortune, they collectively create disturbances—not only killing people to claim lives, but also stealing reputations and sacrificial offerings. Tens of thousands of these specters surround homes, creating eerie phenomena, stirring disputes, and inciting legal calamities.

The Dao Lord sternly warns: Any demons who still disbelieve these warnings and linger shall be utterly exterminated by the 300,000 "Great Generals of the Ten Directions Who Slay Demons." Should any remain, the 200,000-strong army of demonic kings will shatter their skulls into twelve pieces.

The text then mentions the "Three Heavens' Demon Kings" (three high-ranking demonic deities commanding ghostly troops) leading 120,000 troops to patrol the human realm. It specifically identifies a plague demon called the "Red Ding Fire Demon"—should it dare lead 780,000 demonic minions to spread pestilence and kill good people, the 36,000 "Officers and Soldiers of Established Harmony" will capture them and deliver them to the Nine Heavens Prison (Daoism's highest level of infernal detention). Only through such measures can the people's diseases be cured, populations secured, lawsuits ceased, and disputes settled—allowing truth-seekers to comprehend the Dao's profound mysteries. Should any demons still refuse compliance, the Hundred-Zhang Demon King will personally execute them.

Finally, it prophesies that in Jiaxu and Renwu years will appear the "Black-Footed Demon"—three zhang and six chi tall, with crimson-yellow eyes, capable of transforming into a crimson monstrous bird called "Foot-Day," specializing in spreading tens of thousands of diseases. The Dao Lord emphasizes these are all calamities that must be eradicated.

This scripture describes several types of malevolent ghosts that bring calamities and diseases to the human realm, along with Daoist incantations to expel them.

First, it speaks of a group of demons called "Black-Footed Ghosts," led by their king named Great-Head Lu, who commands eighty million ghostly minions. These ghosts cause sudden illnesses with symptoms including yellowed skin, alternating chills and fever, bloody diarrhea, a greenish complexion, loss of appetite, vomiting blood after eating, bloody urine, reddened eyes, headaches, and convulsions in the hands and feet. The scripture warns these ghosts to retreat a thousand miles immediately, or they will be slain.

Next, it mentions that in the year of Jia-Chen, four hundred ninety thousand "Black-Faced Ghosts" will appear, led by their king Zhang Chang. They bring dysentery, back and waist pain, teary eyes, coughing, and also cause household unrest and family deaths. The scripture threatens that if these ghosts do not leave, they will be beheaded into eighty-six pieces.

Then, it describes two hundred thousand "Red-Rope Ghosts" and the four hundred ninety thousand female ghosts they command, who wreak havoc according to the seasons: harming men in spring, women in autumn, children in winter, and the elderly in summer. They hide in water by day and infiltrate homes at night or harm livestock, bringing poverty and illness. The warning states that if they do not depart swiftly, their king will be executed, and the ghostly horde will be chopped into twelve pieces.

Finally, it says that in the year of Jia-Zi, thirty thousand "White-Bottomed Ghosts" will appear, led by their king Chi Du. They spread seventy-eight incurable diseases, causing madness, delirious speech, diarrhea, abscesses, and death by vomiting blood. If crows are seen circling a house, it is a sign of these ghosts at work. The scripture warns that if they do not withdraw their forces and leave, their king will be cut into thirty-eight pieces.

These passages reflect a Daoist method of exorcism and healing: by identifying the haunting spirits, declaring their crimes, and using stern incantations to drive them away. They illustrate a Daoist explanatory framework and solution for disease and misfortune, rooted in spiritual intervention.

This scripture describes various demon kings and their ghostly armies that emerge during different time periods to wreak havoc in the human realm. The text employs the sexagenary cycle system (designating periods as "the jiawu decade," "the jiashen decade," etc.), with each era plagued by specific demonic rulers.

During the jiawu years, the Yellow Ox Demon King named Red Stone leads ninety million crimson-headed crow-shaped ghost soldiers who invade homes, specifically targeting children and the elderly while spreading various diseases. These entities claim allegiance to the brothers Li Zi'ao and kill indiscriminately. The scripture warns that unless these ghostly forces depart, they will suffer their heads being shattered into ten thousand fragments.

In the jiashen years, Demon Kings Meng Tian and Wang Jian each command thirty thousand crimson ghosts who roam the land, inflicting people with qi-combat sickness, malignant dysentery, facial abscesses, chest and abdominal distension, as well as causing infant convulsions, legal disputes, and imprisonment misfortunes. The text threatens that unless these demon kings withdraw their forces, their ghostly soldiers will be utterly annihilated while the kings themselves will have their heads broken into eighty pieces.

The jiaxu years witness even more powerful demon kings—fallen generals from the five vanquished states of Song, Zhao, Yan, Wei, and Lu—each leading thirty-six thousand ghost soldiers who terrorize the Shu-Han region, specifically slaughtering women, children, and the elderly while bringing forty-six types of diseases. The scripture directly warns Demon Kings Huainanzi, Duke Bai, and Han She that continued evil deeds will result in their heads being fractured into seventy-eight fragments.

The jiayin years see thirty-nine thousand demon kings descending upon the human realm, each commanding eight hundred thousand ghostly troops to spread sixteen thousand varieties of maladies. Through these terrifying numerical enumerations and disease classifications, the text emphasizes the severity of demonic afflictions while compelling the demon kings' retreat through dire threats of punishment.

The entire passage reflects early Daoist exorcistic thought, meticulously detailing various demonic harms while invoking the authority of "the Dao's pronouncement" to issue expulsion commands. This exemplifies the Daoist framework for interpreting and resolving human suffering—identifying supernatural causes and employing ritual countermeasures through sacred injunctions.

This scripture primarily explains how to expel malevolent spirits, cure illnesses, and receive divine protection through the practice of Daoist teachings. It states that when incurable diseases plague a nation, neighboring states invade, or evil ghosts infiltrate homes, these calamities arise from the mischief of malignant spirits. The text commands ghost kings and their legions to disperse of their own accord. Should they disobey, celestial generals will descend to slay them, preventing innocent people from suffering wrongful deaths.

The scripture emphasizes that during times of great chaos—when floods ravage the land and the people endure hardship—devotion to the Three Caverns (Sanqing, the highest scriptural system in Daoism) and guidance from Daoist masters will compel ghost kings to stand in fearful reverence, daring not to encroach. A Daoist who cultivates the Mysterious Way of Supreme Clarity (Taiqing) will repel all ghosts; one who attains samadhi (meditative absorption) may naturally ascend as an immortal; those who receive this teaching can subdue demonic kings; students of the Great Exorcism Scripture will gain celestial aid; practitioners of the Immeasurable Grades Scripture may behold True Lords (high-ranking immortals); those granted immortal registers receive protection from transcendents; and cultivators of the Yellow Court Scripture will welcome the personal descent of Lord Lao (Laojun). These constitute the core tenets of the Three Caverns teachings.

A stern warning follows: malevolent spirits harm humanity because wicked people abound in the world. Henceforth, however, all who uphold the Three Caverns scriptures will be treated with deference by ghost kings, who will not dare transgress. Should anyone offend a Three Caverns master, ghost kings will split their skulls into eighteen pieces; those who humiliate or plot against such masters will face utter annihilation, with seven generations of their ancestors condemned to eternal darkness.

The scripture concludes: henceforth, illnesses will stem from the mischief of thirty-two demonic kings. If these entities refuse to disperse, Lord Lao (Laojun) will dispatch eighty million divine troops to eradicate them. All ghostly soldiers must submit, restoring peace to the mortal realm. Even if nine hundred fifty thousand minor ghosts wreak havoc, those with great virtue or dedicated to spiritual practice will receive divine guardianship.

This passage comes from the Taishang Dongyuan Shenzhou Jing (Great Supreme Cavernous Abyss Divine Incantation Scripture), describing how various ghost kings should assist in exorcism and healing when Daoist priests recite scriptures. Here's a plain explanation:

When practitioners receive and recite the incantations from the Three Caverns (Dongzhen, Dongxuan, Dongshen - the threefold classification of Daoist scriptures), all ghost kings and guardian deities must come to assist. They are responsible for subduing mischievous spirits including:

• The kitchen ghost that brings misfortune to households
• Relatives transformed into malevolent spirits
• Corpse-demons lurking in dwellings
• Wandering souls without ancestral worship

These evil spirits must be escorted to the Northern Prison of Heavenly Unity (one of Daoism's underworld realms) for execution. Should the ghost kings disobey, the great demon kings will be cleaved into eighty pieces.

The Great Dao proclaims: Henceforth, all human illnesses are caused by you minor ghost kings. Whenever men or women fall ill and Daoist priests come to recite healing scriptures, you must immediately retreat ten thousand miles away, allowing patients to recover naturally. If any patient fails to heal, you will be chopped into ten thousand pieces without mercy! This is the direct command of the Most High Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun).

The Great Dao further declares: Henceforth, sudden illnesses and legal disputes are all caused by the Deng Hou ghost and Liu Dou Wu (two types of vicious spirits) harming people. The heavens have already dispatched General Crimson Thunder leading 280,000 celestial troops to exterminate them. The great ghost kings must immediately restrain their subordinate demons and banish them to distant lands. If any patient remains unhealed, you shall all perish! Withdraw immediately - this is the stern decree of the Most High.

The Great Dao prophesies: In the future, 800,000 minor demons will harm humans, but if even one person believes in this Divine Incantation Scripture and receives a Daoist priest's help, all ghost kings must obey. During the Renwu year (a specific year in the sexagenary cycle), mountain-dwelling Daoists will be mocked, but subsequently a great flood will drown these fools. The sages (enlightened beings) can foresee impending disasters, hence they transmit the Three Caverns scriptures to enlighten people. Those foolish unbelievers will ultimately be swept away like mud in the flood - how lamentable! The Most High Dao Ancestor shows boundless compassion to all beings in the ten directions.

This scripture reflects Daoism's belief in "controlling spirits through scriptural power," emphasizing the dual function of incantation efficacy and supernatural retribution. The phrase "urgently as the law commands" (急急如律令) is a common liturgical conclusion, indicating immediate enforcement of divine decrees.

This scripture passage discusses Daoist exorcism and healing practices. It states that when malevolent ghosts cause illness, various deities will come to assist by driving away the harmful spirits to cure the afflicted. If these spirits refuse to leave and worsen the condition, they will be annihilated.

The text mentions that many ignorant people in the world reject Daoist teachings, particularly 490,000 stubborn evildoers. Heaven will dispatch 300,000 Red Execution Ghosts (specialized spirits that punish the wicked) to deal with them. However, when someone sincerely embraces the Dao, celestial beings will enlighten them. Even if 8,000 Epidemic Ghosts (disease-spreading spirits) invade their home, a Daoist priest's intervention will eliminate these harmful entities.

The scripture emphasizes that from now on, priests devoted to the Three Caverns (Sanqing) scriptures must recite this divine incantation for all beings. If celestial beings or demon kings fail to assist when illness strikes, these deities will face punishment. When people suffer from ghostly afflictions and life-threatening conditions, the Great Ghost Kings must ensure immediate recovery upon a priest's intervention. Deities who successfully heal will be promoted, while those who fail will be executed.

The passage concludes by urging priests to swiftly aid those in distress. The Supreme Lord Lao (Laozi, the highest Daoist deity) will send 30,000 celestial warriors (divine strongmen) to assist them. Henceforth, wherever priests perform healings, these celestial warriors will provide protection, ensuring natural recovery. Celestial beings and demon kings who succeed in healing will be promoted; those who fail will face execution. These decrees must be implemented immediately as if personally commanded by the Supreme Lord Lao himself.