《金籙十迴度人晚朝轉經儀》

This passage describes the ritual procedure of the Taoist "Golden Register Tenfold Salvation Evening Scripture Recitation Ceremony," a liturgical service performed by Taoist priests in the evening to liberate departed souls and pray for longevity. Here's the vernacular interpretation:

At the commencement of the ritual, the presiding high priest (the master of ceremonies) leads fellow priests in orderly formation before the altar. Kneeling, the presiding priest announces: "Disciple [name] once again reverently invites all ancestral masters"—including the Mysterious Great Master of Numinous Treasure, scripture-transmitting teachers, Celestial Master Zhang Daoling (Tianshi) of Orthodox Unity (Zhengyi) lineage with his successive transmission masters, and the Great Supervising Master of Purification—entreating these important Taoist patriarchs to compassionately witness the ceremony.

The presiding priest continues: "This disciple has heard that the Numinous Treasure scriptures contain wondrous methods to subdue all demons, and that tenfold scripture recitation can accomplish supreme merit. Now we commence the ninth to tenth cycles of scripture chanting to pray for the emperor's longevity and the nation's enduring prosperity. We beseech the ancestral masters to protect this altar, allowing the recitations to reach the Three Pure Heavens above and penetrate the Nine Nether Realms below, enabling all beings to attain salvation. Now we lead the assembly to ascend the altar and perform the liturgy according to ritual protocol."

The specific ceremonial steps follow:

1. Chanting the introductory scripture (daoyin), the procession approaches the altar

2. Ascending the altar in sequence to offer incense

3. Paying homage to the ancestral masters

4. Visualization (cunxiang) of the patriarchs while silently reciting the true words: "Jade tones gather qi..." This mantra signifies immortal music condensing primordial energy, with purple vapors assisting the celestial host, achieving perfect harmony through natural perfection

5. Striking the ritual drum twenty-four times, symbolizing communication between heaven and earth

6. Reverently inviting the Supreme Dao Lord, summoning the thirty-two protective deities within the priest's body (including the Three-Five Merit Officers, Golden Lad and Jade Maiden), praying for the infusion of righteous qi from the ten directions to ensure petitions reach the Primordial Heavenly Worthy

Finally, the presiding priest declares again: "Disciple [name] most sincerely invites the supreme deities of Taoism—the Supreme Limitless Great Dao, the Primordial Heavenly Worthy, the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Worthy, and other venerable divinities."

Note: This represents a classic Taoist purification ritual (zhaijiao) employing scripture recitation, visualization, and prostrations to communicate with deities and save departed souls. The "tenfold recitation" refers to chanting the Salvation Scripture (Durenjing) ten times consecutively, believed to generate special merit.

This passage is an excerpt from the Daoist scripture Golden Register Ten-Cycle Salvation Evening Scripture Recitation Liturgy, detailing the ceremonial process of invoking celestial deities and expressing devout prayers during evening scripture recitation.

The text first enumerates the revered deities of Daoist belief, including:

• The Celestial Worthy of Dao and De (Daode Tianzun, also known as Lord Lao, one of the Three Pure Ones)
• The Jade Emperor of the Vast Heaven (one of the supreme deities in Daoism)
• The Celestial Emperor of the South Pole and the Great Emperor of the Purple Subtlety of the North Pole (important deities governing the celestial poles)
• The Salvation-Bestowing Celestial Worthy of the Vermilion Mound (a deity overseeing deliverance)
• The Earthly Sovereign Queen of the Earth (goddess of the earth)
• Along with the Thirty-Two Heavenly Emperors, Thirty-Six Guardian Deities of the Scriptures, and numerous other divine beings.

It then expresses the reciter's sincere devotion: though lacking in wisdom, they humbly participate in this sacred scripture recitation through fortunate circumstances. As the evening's meritorious recitation nears completion, they pray for divine protection through the scripture's power to harmonize Yin-Yang and connect heaven and earth.

The specific ritual sequence follows:

1. First, paying homage to the "Limitless Great Dao" (the origin of the Dao)

2. Vowing that all beings may turn toward the true path

3. Reciting the "Eulogy of Past Destinies" (scriptural praises)

4. The scripture attendant announcing the ninth opening of the scripture

5. Preparing the ritual seat and settling the mind for recitation

6. Chanting the arcane preparatory incantation to open the scripture

7. Reverently inviting deities to turn the Dharma wheel (symbolizing spreading the teachings)

8. The ritual master explaining the scripture's essential meaning

9. Formal scripture recitation

10. Concluding the session after recitation

11. Finally, the scripture attendant performing the dedication of merit (transferring merits to all beings)

This passage fully presents the sacred atmosphere and meticulous procedure of a Daoist evening scripture service, embodying the religious practice of communicating with deities and delivering sentient beings through ritual recitation.

This scripture describes the complete procedure of the Daoist "Golden Register Tenfold Salvation" evening scripture recitation ritual. The entire process is solemn and dignified, imbued with sacredness:

At the beginning of the ritual, the presiding master (Shi) and participating ritual officers (Zhaiguan) first offer incense and kneel in reverence toward the celestial realm. The master respectfully chants hymns of praise, extolling the Supreme Lingbao Heavenly Worthy of the Limitless Supreme (one of Daoism's highest deities) and celestial flying divine kings, honoring their merits in universal salvation. The master then invites the deities to descend, praying for harmony between Yin and Yang, orderly seasons, and national auspiciousness. Following this, a memorial document (addressed to the deities) is read aloud before being burned to ascend to the celestial court.

The tenth cycle of scripture recitation then begins: first, the ritual seat is arranged, hymns are sung, and the Dharma Wheel (symbolizing the teaching of scriptures) is invited to turn. The master holds the scripture text and enters a state of visualization (Cunsi). The master then recites passages from the Salvation Scripture (Duren Jing), including the lines "Once in the primordial azure heavens," while expounding upon its profound and mysterious principles. After completing the recitation, concluding hymns are chanted, and the scripture attendants perform merit dedication (Huixiang) for all beings.

The ritual then shifts to offering incense and kneeling toward the earthly realm. The master again chants, expressing sincere devotion through tenfold scripture recitation while seeking divine grace. Praises are offered to the Supreme Lingbao Heavenly Worthy of the Limitless Below and other deities who govern the four directions and bring salvation to both humans and celestials. The master prays for blessings and requests that merits be recorded in the immortal registers. Another memorial document is read and burned accordingly.

The concluding phase begins: scripture attendants praise the sacred texts, and all participants reverently receive the teachings three times. The master chants closing hymns, praying for imperial peace and universal tranquility. The assembly then bows in homage to the Limitless Great Dao. The master performs thirty-six tooth-tapping (a Daoist cultivation practice), mentally paying respects to the ten directions, before making three ceremonial bows to the east. With eyes closed, the master silently recites the incantation: "Your servant [name] has reverently recited the Primordial Salvation of Humanity," signifying the successful completion of the scripture recitation.

Through its solemn liturgy connecting the celestial realms above and the earthly domains below, this ritual embodies the Daoist ideal of "reaching the Nine Heavens above while delivering salvation to the netherworld below"—a profound expression of universal compassion.

This scripture describes the complete procedure of the evening scripture-recitation ritual in the Daoist Golden Register Purification Ceremony (Jinlu Zhaijiao), comprising the following key components:

1. Scripture Recitation Phase:

• After chanting the Scripture on Salvation (Duren Jing) ten times, practitioners invoke celestial deities to descend (the term "dragon chariot" refers to divine vehicles)
• Ritual movements including tooth-tapping (kouchi, a Daoist practice to gather Shen/spirit) and swallowing saliva (yanye, for nourishing vitality) are performed
• Mantras for ascension are recited: "May the Supreme Celestial Venerable (Shanghuang Tianzun) assist my soul to soar. Through purification fasting and reciting sacred texts, may seven generations of ancestors be liberated, behold the celestial court, attain immortality, and have their names recorded in the register of transcendents"

2. Closing Phase:

• Upon completing the ritual, internal deities (such as the Merit Officials [Gongcao], Divine Messengers, Golden Lads and Jade Maidens [Jintong Yunü] - protective deities in Daoism) are respectfully escorted back to their respective positions
• The ritual master (Shi) concentrates his spirit to complete the palace-returning ceremony

3. Vow-Making Phase:

• Invitations are extended to various transcendents (deities of the Five Sacred Mountains [Wuyue], the Three Qi Pure Deities [Sanqi Zhengshen], etc.) to descend upon the ritual platform
• Prayers request the Golden Lads and Jade Maidens to swiftly deliver petitions before the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun, the supreme deity in Daoism)

4. Deity-Thanking Phase:

• The master humbly acknowledges his mortal limitations, admitting possible errors despite sincere recitations
• Gratitude is expressed to the Ten Directions Divine Kings (including the Flying Celestial Kings [Feitian Shenwang] and other protective deities) for witnessing the merit of the purification ritual
• A declaration confirms the completion of ten recitations of the Scripture on Salvation, offered with heartfelt thanksgiving

The entire ceremony exemplifies the fundamental Daoist ritual structure of "deity invitation - scripture recitation - deity dismissal," emphasizing communication between heaven and humanity through bodily purification, scripture chanting, and visualization. The frequent mentions of "tooth-tapping and saliva-swallowing" represent common Daoist cultivation methods believed to connect with deities and nurture vitality. Terms like "Three-Five Merit Officials" and "Golden Lads and Jade Maidens" refer to the innate deities Daoism believes reside within the human body.

This passage describes the concluding scene of the Taoist "Golden Register Tenfold Salvation Evening Scripture Recitation Ritual" (a ceremony for guiding departed souls), where the ritual master offers gratitude to the ancestral masters:

The master first confesses his inadequate cultivation ("having failed to attain the luminous wisdom of the Dongqing Heaven"), expressing concern over possible oversights during the ritual. With reverence, he reads aloud the formal petition, seeking the ancestral masters' forgiveness while praying for the widespread dissemination of Taoist scriptures, that both state and common people may receive the Dao's blessings.

The master then leads the assembly in descending from the altar platform to make ceremonial bows and offer incense before the ancestral masters' sacred tablets in the ritual tent. Addressing himself humbly as "your servant," he expresses gratitude to the Lingbao lineage masters—including the Great Master of Mysterious Midst, Scripture Masters, and Salvation Masters—reporting the completion of recitations from the ninth to tenth cycles of the Salvation Scripture (Duren Jing).

With self-deprecation about his shallow attainment ("my body not yet penetrating truth," "my learning not reaching the Dao"), the master earnestly pleads for the ancestral masters' compassion toward this latecomer, asking to be spared reproach. The ceremony concludes with prayers for national prosperity, salvation for the deceased, fulfillment of all virtuous merits, and liberation for all sentient beings—all culminating in the master's devout prostrations before the ancestral masters.

[Note: This text demonstrates the standardized procedure of the "Master Gratitude" segment in Taoist rituals, reflecting the tradition's emphasis on lineage transmission and humble practice. The "Golden Register" (Jinlu) refers to golden talismans, representing one of Taoism's highest-ranking Zhaijiao purification ceremonies.]