《金籙十迴度人早朝開收儀》

This scripture documents the opening and closing rituals of the morning, noon, and evening services in the Daoist Golden Register Grand Retreat (Jinlu Dazhai). It provides a detailed account of the complete morning ceremony procedure:

The ceremony begins with the "Declaration of Retreat Purpose" (Xuan Zhaiyi), where the objective of the ritual is stated, expressing hope that participants may sincerely take refuge in the Three Treasures of Daoism (Dao, the Way; Jing, scriptures; and Shi, teachers), attaining enlightenment through scripture recitation. This is followed by the "Eulogy of Past Karma" (Suming Zan), which criticizes worldly people for their shortsightedness in believing only what they see, while great sages understand Daoist truth and show compassion for the ignorant.

During the first scripture opening, the presiding high priest (Gaogong) reverently recounts the cosmogonic process: how sacred texts (Zhenwen) existed within the primordial void since chaos first divided, until the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun) created heaven and earth during the Dragon Han kalpa (a Daoist cosmic cycle). The scripture describes these sacred texts with the phrase "dragon-seal and phoenix-script" (Longzhang Fengzhuan), considering them more profound than the River Chart and Luo Writing (legendary celestial auspicious signs) or Fuxi's Eight Trigrams (Bagua).

The high priest then leads the assembly to ascend the altar platform, commencing the first recitation of the Scripture of Salvation (Duren Jing), accompanied by obeisance to relevant proclamations. They beseech the celestial deities for empowerment, that the scripture's profound meaning may be revealed, enabling all beings to comprehend the Dao's teachings and receive its blessings.

After scripture recitation comes the "Seat Release" (Jie Zuo) segment, planting virtuous seeds for all sentient beings. The ceremony concludes with dedication of merit (Huixiang), specifically mentioning the east as the place where Yang energy germinates (Shaoyang position), like spring thunder awakening all creation, while the celestial realms rejoice in praise of this ritual's extraordinary virtue.

The Jinlu Shihui Duren Zaochao Kaishou Yi (Golden Register Tenfold Salvation Morning Audience Ritual) describes the first salvation ceremony performed facing east during the Jinlu Zhai (Golden Register purification ritual) - a grand Taoist liturgy conducted for imperial blessings. The core content can be understood as follows:

At the ritual's commencement, the presiding High Priest (Gaogong) leads the assembly of Taoist priests onto the ceremonial altar to recite the Taishang Dongxuan Lingbao Wuliang Duren Shangpin Miaojing (Supreme Cavern Mystery Numinous Treasure Limitless Salvation Supreme Scripture) once. The merits are then dedicated to various celestial deities of the eastern direction, including:

• The Infinite Supreme Numinous Treasure Heavenly Worthy of the East
• The Jade Clarity Blessing-Bestowing Heavenly Worthy of the East
• The Nine Qi Heavenly Lord of Azure Origin who governs the nine celestial energies of the eastern heavens
• The East Dipper Star Lord in charge of lifespan calculation
• The Azure Emperor who protects souls
• The Great Solar Emperor Lord of the Sun Palace and twenty-eight lunar mansions

The priest beseeches these deities to utilize the scripture's meritorious power to safeguard the nation's foundation and prosper the Wood virtue (of the Five Phases) associated with the east. Special petitions are made to Donghua Mugong (the Eastern King) for longevity blessings, the East Dipper Star Lord for recording extended lifespans, and for the descent of auspicious blessings.

This is followed by chanting the Wisdom Hymn, extolling the profound teachings of the Supreme Dao Ancestor (Taoism's highest deity), through whose cultivation one may transcend life-and-death cycles and shine like the sun and moon. The priest respectfully reads and burns memorial petitions (written communications to deities) facing the eastern direction.

The second part's scripture opening passage reveals these texts originated in the primordial Tai Chu era, containing profound cosmic mysteries. The "Five Jade Character Sections" (esoteric Taoist talismanic writings) emerged before heaven and earth's formation, while the "Celestial Inner Sounds" (cosmic harmonics) manifested during the Chiming cosmic cycle. These radiant writings with eight-cornered light rays were refined through Dongyang's sacred fire, swirling with nine-colored brilliance, and should be treasured in celestial realms rather than casually revealed to mortals. The priest solemnly declares his reverent adherence to these sacred scriptures.

This passage describes the complete procedure of the second ceremonial homage in the Daoist Golden Register Grand Retreat (Jinlu Dazhai), focusing on offerings and blessings to the southern celestial deities.

The ritual commences as the presiding Daoist priest leads the officiants onto the altar platform to begin the second recitation of the Supreme Pervasive Mystery Numinous Treasure Scripture of Infinite Salvation (Taishang Dongxuan Lingbao Wuliang Duren Shangpin Miaojing). With utmost reverence, they pay homage to the Three Supreme Treasures of Daoism (referring to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning [Yuanshi Tianzun], the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure [Lingbao Tianzun], and the Celestial Worthy of Dao and Virtue [Daode Tianzun]) along with the sacred beings of the Ten Directions, praying for the opening of wisdom channels so the merit of scripture recitation may reach the celestial realms.

The ceremony follows established sequences: first setting the ceremonial space with chanted invocations, then performing the complete scripture recitation, and concluding with the dissolution of the altar and merit dedication. During the dedication, special emphasis is placed on the southern direction's fiery nature and luminous symbolism (represented by the Li trigram of the Bagua corresponding to the south), invoking the protection of southern deities through the accumulated merit of scripture recitation.

The text enumerates numerous southern celestial titles, including:

• The Supreme Numinous Treasure Celestial Worthy of the Southern Limitless
• The Southern Dipper Star Lords (who govern lifespan)
• The Red Emperor (Southern Celestial Emperor)
• The Sparkling Deluder Star (Mars) and other stellar deities
• Various constellation deities of the southern heavens

The final prayers beseech these deities to: stabilize the nation's foundation, safeguard the people's wellbeing, bestow longevity and blessings, and ensure societal harmony with flourishing rites and culture. Through the merit of scripture recitation, the entire ceremony aims to achieve the religious objectives of "pacifying and stabilizing the southern region" (balancing southern energies) and "prolonging life while preserving destiny."

This passage describes the ritual procedures and hymns from the Daoist Golden Register Tenfold Salvation Morning Liturgy. The ceremony unfolds in several key stages:

The opening hymns depict an ideal civilization holding rituals, expressing devotion through circumambulation and sacred chanting. The Wisdom Hymn teaches that cultivating immortality requires severing worldly attachments and maintaining mental tranquility to enter the state of sublime emptiness. Practitioners must thirst for scriptures as one thirsts for water, with determination as firm as metal and stone, thereby securing protection from the Five Directional Deities (Wuling).

The ritual proper begins with the High Priest (Gaogong) making reverent obeisance in the southern direction. He solemnly recites memorial petitions to the deities before burning them, followed by three recitations of the scripture-opening invocation.

The scripture passage recounts how the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun), the supreme Daoist deity, incarnated in the Jade Kingdom to transmit the Wondrous Scripture of Infinite Salvation from the Cavern of Mystery - a foundational text of the Lingbao tradition. This profound scripture, containing the essence of the Dao, serves as the source for numerous texts of the Divine Empyrean (Shenxiao) lineage. The priest leads the assembly in ascending the altar to chant the scripture, beseeching protection from the Ten Directions' celestial beings while praying for all sentient beings to comprehend the Dao's ultimate truth.

The ceremony concludes with the priest performing merit transference (Huixiang) toward western deities including the Infinite Supreme Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure, the Eight Trigrams (Bagua) Body-Protecting Celestial Worthy, and the Seven Qi Lords of the Great Simplicity Heaven. Their protection and remembrance are invoked through these dedications.

This liturgy exemplifies Daoist religious practice through scripture recitation and ritual veneration to commune with the divine. Key terms include: the "Five Numinous Ones" (Wuling) representing directional deities; the "Three Treasures" (Sanbao) of Dao, scriptures, and masters; and "Twofold Mystery" (Chongxuan), a profound philosophical concept describing the Dao's layered profundity. The ceremony integrates Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) and Lingbao traditions while emphasizing the transformative power of ritual engagement with cosmic forces.

This passage is from the Western Direction liturgy in the Taoist Golden Register Tenfold Salvation Morning Ceremony, detailing the veneration of Western deities and blessing rituals. Here's the vernacular interpretation:

The Western pantheon includes: The Imperial Throne Star Lord (deity governing monarchic destiny), the White Sovereign Perfected Lord of Minor Yin from the Great Simplicity of Metal Virtue, the Great White Star Lord (Venus deity), the Stomach Constellation Heavenly Granary Star Lord, the Pleiades Constellation Heavenly Eye Star Lord, the Hyades Constellation Heavenly Ear Star Lord (all among the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions), along with the stellar lords of the Zhao territory in the You celestial division and the sacred spirits of the Taurus Palace. Also invoked are the Supreme Perfected Great Spirits of the Western Limitless Realm, the Soaring Celestial Kings, the Great Sage of Longevity and Limitless Salvation, the True Officers of the Western Spirit Registry Bureau, and the Venerable Deities of Personal Destiny including the Year Guardian and Prosperity Steed.

The ritual seeks through the merit of scripture recitation and vow power to stabilize the Great Beam stellar period (associated with the Metal phase in the Five Phases system) in the Geng-Xin western quadrant, gathering blessings for the nation and populace while extending auspicious fortune. It prays for universal peace with tributary states paying homage, virtuous deeds recorded in the Western Dipper constellation (part of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper), and celestial auspices manifesting eternally in this golden age.

Following this comes the Wisdom Verse, expounding how practicing the Six Perfections (generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom) liberates from the Three Woeful Realms. Through fasting rituals venerating the Great Simplicity (primordial qi) and breath cultivation nurturing the "cloud sprouts" (neidan practice), adepts wander freely within the Golden Portal (celestial court), making the Jade Capital (Taoism's highest heaven) their home. Here the Seven Treasures (sacred Taoist jewels) manifest spontaneously, with all seated upon lotus thrones. Partaking of the Mystic Capital's immortal fruits above and drinking the Void Realm's divine dew below, their radiant countenances outshine ten suns (symbolizing eternal youth), transcending temporal cycles altogether.

Subsequently described are ritual drums summoning immortals and bells subduing demons. The High Priest solemnly reads and burns memorials facing west. This constitutes the fourth recitation cycle of the Supreme Profound Numinous Treasure Limitless Salvation Supreme Scripture, with veneration of sacred texts relying on the compassionate vows of the Three Supreme Treasures (Dao, Scriptures, and Masters) and the Great Sages of the Ten Directions.

This scripture exemplifies the complete Taoist zhaijiao ritual sequence—deity invitation, scripture recitation, prostration, and memorial presentation—embodying Taoism's religious practice of heaven-human communication through liturgy for blessings and calamity prevention.

This passage describes the northern dedication ritual within the Daoist "Golden Register Tenfold Salvation Morning Ceremony." The core elements include:

After ascending the altar and reciting scriptures (the fourth repetition of the Supreme Pervasive Lingbao Salvation Supreme Scripture), the ritual master leads the assembly in making supplications to northern deities. These include: the Northern Limitless Supreme Lingbao Celestial Worthy (highest northern divinity), the Disaster-Dispelling Celestial Worthy, the Great Dipper Lord (who governs life and death), the Water Virtue Star Lord (ruler of northern waters), and the twenty-eight lunar mansions.

The dedicatory prayers contain four main petitions:

1. Seeking protection from northern deities to eliminate misfortunes

2. Praying for imperial stability and national prosperity

3. Liberating seven generations of ancestors to bless descendants

4. Cleansing devotees' karmic obstacles while nurturing virtuous roots

The ceremony incorporates liturgical chants ("Seat Preparation Hymn" and "Seat Closing Hymn") along with the "Ode to Wisdom." This hymn describes: miraculous blossoms blooming in immortal realms, celestial beings making music, and practitioners maintaining devotion to the supreme Wuwei (non-action) principle of Dao. The high priest concludes by reading and burning memorial documents facing north.

Key notes:

• "Dedication" (huixiang) refers to redirecting ritual merit toward specific purposes
• The "twenty-eight mansions" represent ancient Chinese stellar divisions
• "Seven ancestors" denotes seven generations of lineal forebears
• "Supreme Wuwei Dao" embodies Daoism's fundamental teaching of natural harmony

This scripture describes the concluding sequence of the morning ritual in the Daoist "Golden Register Grand Rite" (Jinlu Dazhai), an elaborate ceremony for the salvation of departed souls:

After hearing the sacred scriptures, may all sentient beings truly comprehend the profound mysteries of the Dao (the Way), accepting them with sincere faith and devotion. May they forever be liberated from stubborn delusions and eternally follow the true path.

The ritual then proceeds through these essential stages:

The "Expression of Vows" (Fayuan) where priests articulate the devotees' aspirations to the deities. Next comes the "Returning the Censer" (Fulu), restoring the altar's incense burner to its original position as the ceremony approaches completion. This is followed by the "Ninefold Prostration" (Ti Jiu) - the highest form of Daoist obeisance involving nine full bows.

The presiding master then "Descends from the Altar" (Xiatan), concluding his ritual position. "Honoring the Master" (Xieshi) follows, showing reverence to the ceremony's leading priest. Finally, the "Dedication of Merit" (Huixiang) redirects the ritual's spiritual benefits to all living beings.

This structured process embodies the Daoist core principle of "universal salvation" (Pudu Zhongsheng), achieving the deliverance of souls through meticulous liturgy. The "Golden Register" (Jinlu) specifically refers to the precious talismanic scriptures used for soul salvation, while "Ten Repetitions" (Shihui) indicates the tenfold recitation of scriptures to amplify spiritual efficacy.