《金籙祈禱早朝儀》

This passage is part of the morning liturgy from the Daoist "Golden Register Longevity Prayer Triple Audience Ceremony" (Jinlu Qishou Sanchao Yi), detailing the complete ritual process for priests performing longevity rites. Here's a section-by-section explanation:

1. Title Section

"Golden Register Morning Audience Longevity Ritual" refers to the dawn ceremony employing golden talismans (Fulu), forming a set with the midday and evening liturgies collectively called the "Triple Audience Ceremony."

2. Ritual Preparation

Following established protocols, the ritual masters perform ceremonial bows while visualizing patriarchs and silently reciting incantations. They then reverently invite divine beings, chanting: "The supreme azure numinous Qi (Qingling zhi qi) pervades the eastern direction, auspicious light encircles my body, pacifying the five viscera and six bowels, nourishing the hun and po souls, creating luminous clarity for celestial ascension."

3. Summoning Deities

The master strikes the ritual drum twenty-four times (a crucial Daoist ceremonial sequence) to summon various deities:

• The Three Pure Ones (Sanqing: Yuanshi Tianzun, Taishang Daojun, Taishang Laojun)
• Celestial beings of all ranks (functionaries like Gongcao, emissaries, Golden Boys and Jade Maidens)
• The Five Directional Thearchs with their subordinate officials

Each deity arrives with thirty-six attendants, solemnly robed and descending upon the altar.

4. Presenting the Memorial

The master petitions the deities: "We your servants now ascend the altar at dawn to practice the Dao, reverently paying homage to the Celestial Worthies. May the Supreme Ultimate Dao-Qi descend, allowing our sincere hearts to swiftly reach:

• The sacred realms of the Three Pure Ones (highest Daoist abodes)
• The Jade Emperor (Yuhuang Shangdi, among Daoism's supreme deities)
• The Purple Tenuity Emperor (Ziwei Dadi) and other celestial sovereigns."

5. Honoring the Deities

Finally, the master leads all participants in sequential veneration of major Daoist deities:

• The Three Pure Ones
• The Jade Emperor
• The Purple Tenuity sovereigns
• The Empress of Earth (Houtu Huangdiqi)
• All Celestial Worthies and heavenly officials

Including the sun, moon, stars, Southern and Northern Dippers, and the Three Stars of Fortune, Prosperity and Longevity.

This scripture fully demonstrates the core procedures of an advanced Daoist longevity ritual, embodying the tradition's "heaven-human resonance" cultivation principle. Through visualization, incantations, drumming, and prostrations, the ceremony establishes a channel for divine communication.

This scripture is a prayer text from the Daoist Golden Register (Jinlu) purification ritual (Zhaijiao) performed for imperial blessings. The main content is as follows:

The Emperor's Guardian Star Deity and all celestial officials illuminate the Three Realms, resonating with every true spirit. We have heard: The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun) initiated the cosmos, filling heaven and earth with divine winds and wondrous transformations; the August Void Sovereign governs the eight directions, showering wisdom and auspicious light. Above, they regulate the heavenly Dao; below, they order earthly principles. Sages established these norms during primordial chaos to propagate the Great Dao, allowing people to enjoy peace after the cosmic dawn.

We practitioners devote ourselves to the Mystic Gate (Daoism), immersing in cultivation. Though dwelling among worldly thorns, we've yet to penetrate the mysteries of the Yellow Court (Dantian); though wandering immortal mountains, we only concentrate spirit in the Purple Mansion (upper Dantian). We vow to promote teachings through cultivation merits, hoping to receive true transmission for enlightenment. All petitions must first be reported to Heaven.

Now reverently following celestial decree, we conduct this ritual: The seven stars of the Northern Dipper encircle, embodying the auspicious signs of the Yellow Emperor (Xuanyuan); starlight bathes Huazhu, foretelling the blessings of Shaohao the Golden Heavenly Sovereign. These omens herald our enlightened age. On this imperial birthday, we hold a grand ceremony like stars surrounding Polaris, wishing the throne enduring as Southern Mountain. With unified calendars, we inaugurate imperial unity where all people flourish under universal peace.

We devoutly petition Heaven through the Golden Register ritual, expressing gratitude. Precious scriptures unfold; immortal banners and rainbow streamers descend faintly; feathered canopies arrive gloriously. We offer the Three Hua-Feng Blessings (longevity, prosperity, offspring) accompanied by ninefold celestial music.

At dawn we ascend the altar to practice the Dao. Masters perform the initial incense offering. May this smoke rise straight to the heavens as offering to: The Supreme Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, the Jade Emperor, and all sages of the Great Brahma Heaven. We devote body and mind, prostrating before the Three Pure Ones (Yuanshi, Lingbao, Daode Tianzun) and all saints of the ten directions. Through these merits, we pray His Majesty: May his righteousness rival Fuxi and the Yellow Emperor; his achievements surpass Tang of Shang and Wu of Zhou. May blessings flow like rivers to the sea; his reign endure like six dragons riding heaven (celestial sovereignty). May all nations revere, and the Four Seas know peace.

Now we burn incense, taking refuge in our masters and all perfected sages, praying to attain the Dao and share heaven-earth's eternity. (Chorus response) Merging completely with the Great Dao.

Note: "Golden Register" refers to Daoism's highest imperial ritual; "Three Blessings" denotes traditional wishes for prosperity, longevity, and descendants; "Six Dragons Riding Heaven" derives from the Yijing, symbolizing imperial majesty.

This passage is from the Golden Register Morning Audience Ritual (Jinlu Qidao Zaochao Yi) of Daoist liturgy, depicting the ceremonial proceedings conducted by priests at dawn. The content is divided into two main sections:

The first part describes the morning audience ceremony:

At sunrise, the Daoist priests ascend the ritual platform holding incense, their prayers rising with the fragrant smoke as offerings to the supreme deities (including the Jade Capital Numinous Treasure Heavenly Lord and the Purple Tenuity Celestial Great Emperor) and the celestial host. With utmost sincerity, they pray for the emperor's prosperous reign, seasonal harmony, and national flourishing. Simultaneously, they seek cultivation of the Great Dao, Great Virtue (De), and Great Benevolence, aspiring to attain Primordial Qi, Primordial Essence (Jing), and Primordial Spirit (Shen) for immortality. The section concludes with their ultimate aspiration of union with the Dao.

The second part continues the ritual description:

Emphasizing that Heaven values only virtuous conduct and that good deeds inevitably bring blessings, the text portrays the priests making further incense offerings at dawn's first light to the Five Numinous Venerable Heavenly Lords and the Purple Tenuity North Pole Great Emperor. Their prayers extend to the emperor's health, cosmic harmony, widespread moral transformation, and peace across the realm, while anticipating auspicious signs like propitious clouds and sweet dew.

The final portion outlines the ceremonial sequence:

This includes prostrations to all directions, confession of transgressions, chanting of buxu hymns (cosmic pacing verses), threefold petitions, and triple prostrations. The presiding priest (referring to himself as "your servant") reverently expresses devotion to the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) and the entire celestial pantheon.

Note: This morning audience liturgy (zaochao keyi) from the Golden Register purification rituals (jinlu zhaijiao) was primarily performed to bless imperial rulers. The ceremony involves veneration of the Three Treasures (Dao Treasure, Scripture Treasure, and Master Treasure), employing incense burning and scripture recitation to bridge heaven and humanity while praying for national prosperity and the sovereign's longevity.

This passage is from the Daoist scripture Golden Register Morning Audience Ritual for Prayers, describing the invocations recited by priests during the dawn blessing ceremony. Here is a plain interpretation:

With utmost reverence, we gaze upon the assembly of lunar and stellar deities (venerated celestial spirits in Daoism), the sacred masters of the ten directions, and all divine beings of the Three Realms (heaven, earth, and water), humbly beseeching their compassionate attention. Hearing that eight thousand years make but a single spring and autumn (symbolizing longevity), we yearn for the eternity of the sacred lingchun tree (a symbol of immortality). May the ninefold blessings of sovereigns (imperial fortune) align with heaven and earth, as we reverently receive the virtuous teachings of the Hongfan (a chapter in the Book of Documents).

We devoutly contemplate the supreme Huangji Tianzun (one of the highest Daoist deities) — even the most elaborate ceremonial praises fall short. On this sacred day (shengdan), we carry out the celestial decree (lunyin), performing the Chongke ritual (a Daoist ceremony) with solemnity before the awe-inspiring divine presence. We pray for blessings to descend, offering again our utmost sincerity. Though the celestial ear is near, its profound workings are unfathomable; may the spirits respond and extend their omniscient gaze.

We pray for: the nation’s prosperity, with spring’s vitality filling the Nine Heavens (highest celestial realm) with joy; the imperial lineage’s flourishing, celebrated by all lands; annual harvests of abundance, free from calamity; eternal peace at the borders, with auspicious qilin and phoenixes gracing the capital; tranquil seas and harmonious winds and rains. Thus may the great compassion of the celestial deities be manifested, fulfilling our sincere devotion. With this, we reverently present our plea.

Following are twelve specific petitions, including visualizations of deities and incense offerings. O Messengers of Incense, Dragon-Tiger Guardians, and all attending spirit officials (Daoist protector deities), as we ascend the altar at dawn to perform this ritual (xingdao), may golden elixirs (jinye), cinnabar hues, and immortal herbs like zhiying (glossy ganoderma) spontaneously arise here. May the assembled hundred spirits gather before this censer. We pray for the sagely ones to witness our devotion, that our fervor may move the divine. May the jade maidens and immortal youths of the ten directions carry this incense smoke, swiftly conveying our heartfelt petitions to the supreme Three Pure Ones (Sanqing: Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun, and Daode Tianzun) and the August Jade Emperor of the Golden Palace (Yuhuang Dadi).

The ritual concludes with a chutang song (closing hymn) and merit dedication (huixiang, transferring blessings to all beings). This encapsulates the essence of the Golden Register Morning Audience Ritual for Longevity.