《靈寶領教濟度金書》Vol. 267

The Lingbao Lingjiao Jidu Jinshu (Precious Scripture of Numinous Treasure for Salvation and Deliverance) documents a system of Daoist talismans (fulu) for delivering deceased souls, transmitted by the Southern Song dynasty master Ning Quanzhen and compiled by Lin Lingzhen. These talismans primarily aid wandering spirits who suffered untimely deaths, helping them escape suffering.

First, it outlines the directional correspondences for summoning souls from the Nine Provinces (ancient China's nine geographical regions): Xuzhou corresponds to the Xun position (southeast), Yangzhou to the Li position (due south), Yanzhou to the Gen position (northeast), and so forth—each region has its specific directional attribute.

Next, it details over thirty types of talismans with distinct functions, broadly categorized as follows:

The first category comprises summoning talismans, including those for calling wandering spirits from different regions—mountain and forest ghosts, water-dwelling souls, and other types of displaced spirits.

The second category consists of liberation talismans, which relieve spirits from various states of suffering: for example, the "Talisman for Removing Shackles" frees bound souls, the "Talisman for Severing Bonds" cuts lingering attachments, and the "Talisman for Opening the Throat" enables mute spirits to speak. Others like the "Talisman for Restoring Heads" or "Talisman for Restoring Hands" repair fragmented or maimed souls.

The third category is healing talismans, administered by the "Celestial Physician Envoys" and "Healing Merit Officers" (Daoist deities specializing in medical aid). These target 24 types of unnatural deaths, including poisoning, curses, mauling by beasts, drowning, childbirth fatalities, war casualties, lightning strikes, and even specific talismans for cases where "mother and child perish together" during labor.

The fourth category focuses on grievance-resolution talismans, designed to dissolve karmic enmities: the "Talisman for Nullifying Curses" counters dark magic, the "Talisman for Resolving Ten Kinds of Enmity" addresses ten forms of grudges, and specialized talismans exist for specific grievances like hanging, drowning, poisoning, or childbirth deaths. Some even resolve karmic debts accumulated over three lifetimes.

These talismans embody the Daoist compassionate ideal of "delivering all beings" (jidu zhongsheng), asserting that through ritual liturgy (keyi) and talismanic methods, souls who died by misfortune or injustice can attain liberation. Each talisman addresses a particular form of postmortem suffering, forming a comprehensive system for salvation.

This passage records the names of various talismans (fulu) from the Daoist scripture Lingbao Lingjiao Jidu Jinshu, used for redeeming departed souls and purifying body and mind. These talismans are primarily employed in rituals for the salvation of spirits, each serving specific functions.

First are talismans related to physical transformation: The "Talisman of Red Light and Three Qi (sanqi) Precious Radiance for Shedding Form and Leaving Suffering" helps souls escape misery; the "Borrowed Garment Talisman" and "Form-Altering Visage-Changing Talisman" modify a soul's appearance; the "Five Emperors' Complete Form Talisman" includes five variants corresponding to the Green, Red, White, Black, and Yellow Emperors—each aligned with the Five Phases (wuxing) to restore a soul's physical form; while the "Five-Limb Restoration Talisman" fully repairs the departed's head, torso, and limbs.

Next are talismans for redeeming deceased fetuses: The "Emerging from the Womb Talisman" assists souls in leaving fetal form; the "Expelling Stillborn Talisman" and "Womb-Cleansing Talisman" specifically redeem miscarried or prematurely deceased infants; the "Purifying Blood and Corpse Talisman" cleanses defilement from the deceased's flesh.

Purification through bathing involves numerous talismans: "Male Bathing Talisman" and "Female Bathing Talisman" cater to souls of different genders; the "Formal Salvation Bathing Talisman" is used in official redemption ceremonies; the "Orphaned Soul Bathing Talisman" serves masterless wandering spirits; while transformative talismans like "Male Bathhouse Transformation Talisman" and "Female Bathhouse Transformation Talisman" alter bathing spaces.

The "Great Unity (Taiyi) Bathing and Form-Refining Talisman" series represents more advanced practices. Among these, the "Male Hall Great Unity Bathing, Form-Refining, and Ascension Talisman" and "Female Chamber Great Unity Bathing and Ascension Talisman" aid souls in celestial ascent, while the "Return to Life Talisman" may grant rebirth opportunities. Additional purification talismans include the "Soul-Summoning Bathing Talisman" and "Defilement-Cleansing Bathing Talisman."

Clothing transformation talismans comprise the "Garment-Changing Talisman," "Male Attire Transformation Talisman," and "Female Attire Transformation Talisman" for providing spirit garments. The "Celestial Emperor Image Talisman" and "Materializing Robes Talisman" likely represent higher-level transformation spells.

Water-related talismans such as the "Great Unity Divine Water Talisman," "Cinnabar Sun Talisman," "Yellow Blossom Divine Water Drawing Talisman," "Eastern Well Talisman," and "Water Vessel Talisman" invoke empowered sacred waters.

The "Currency Transformation Talisman" and "Eightfold Ritual Food Talismans" (with grades from First to Eighth Rotation) manifest underworld wealth and ritual offerings. The "Six Brahma Food Transformation Talisman" includes six tiers of ritual food spells: Spiritual Brahma, Jade Brahma, Secret Brahma, Great Brahma, Treasure Brahma, and True Brahma. Other functional variants include the "Nectar Ritual Food Talisman" and "Refined Transformation Ritual Food Talisman."

Finally, celestial stems (Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui), earthly branches (Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai), and temporal markers like "Year-Month-Day-Hour of Tai Sui" are essential chronographic elements for inscribing talismans. The notation "Proclamation Issued" indicates these talismans derive their efficacy from celestial authority.