《太上黃籙齋儀》Vol. 46

This passage records the repentance ritual from the 46th volume of the Supreme Yellow Register Purification Rites (Taishang Huanglu Zhaiyi) compiled by Master Guangcheng Du Guangting during the Tang Dynasty. The Yellow Register Retreat (Huanglu Zhai) serves as a crucial Daoist ceremony for redeeming deceased souls and praying for blessings while averting disasters.

At the commencement of the ritual, the presiding Daoist priest leads the congregation in solemn repentance toward the Infinite Supreme Numinous Treasure Celestial Worthy (Wuji Taishang Lingbao Tianzun, one of Daoism's highest deities) and various Perfected Immortals (Zhenxian) across the ten directions (the eight cardinal points plus zenith and nadir). They declare: The Dao transforms endlessly, and with sincere supplication, the divine will respond and descend. Presently, the emperor establishes this Yellow Register ceremonial arena (Daochang) to repay divine grace, offering continuous three-day-and-night sacrifices with incense, flowers, lamps, silks, and other ritual items, beseeching the celestial worthies and immortals to descend and bestow blessings.

The prayer petitions: May the myriad sages descend with auspicious signs, safeguarding the imperial ancestral temples' longevity. May the emperor's wisdom rival ancient sage-kings like the Yellow Emperor (Xuanyuan), Suiren, and Fuxi, shining like sun and moon while attaining the longevity of Penglai's immortal isles. May empresses display virtuous conduct, princes demonstrate worthy capability, bringing universal peace with favorable weather, abundant harvests, and cessation of warfare. Not only the living but also waterbound and landbound wandering souls—even beings from the three wretched paths (hell, hungry ghosts, and animals)—may all receive salvation, ultimately merging with the Dao.

Subsequently, repentance extends to the Three Luminaries (Sanguang)—the sun, moon, and stars—central objects of Daoist veneration. The text describes how these celestial bodies move in orderly cycles, their radiance and eclipses revealing human fortunes while governing all creation. The priests earnestly repent, seeking the Three Luminaries' forgiveness and protection.

Note: The ritual references "Yu's demarcation" (Yufeng) alludes to the Great Yu's division of the nine provinces, while "Zhou divination" (Zhoubu) recalls King Wen of Zhou's fateful trigram calculations—both metaphors for territorial stability and national prosperity.

This scripture records the prayer text used by ancient emperors during the Yellow Register Retreat (Huanglu Zhaijiao) — a major Daoist ritual for redeeming deceased souls and praying for blessings. It consists of three sections addressing celestial bodies, mountain deities, and water spirits respectively.

The first section invokes the Three Luminaries (sun, moon, and stars). The emperor acknowledges the Dao's bestowed blessings and divine resonance, hence conducting this purification ritual (Zhaijiao) to repay heaven. He prays for the celestial deities to extend their grace, drawing auspicious signs into the heavenly realm to make the imperial foundation outlast the Zhou dynasty and surpass the Han in prosperity. May the emperor establish a golden age where his virtue (De) endures like the Five Sacred Mountains, his achievements surpass ancient sage-kings, with harmonious support from the imperial household and officials, bringing universal peace. Ultimately may he ascend through Dao-realization to unite with the Dao.

The second section addresses the Five Sacred Mountains (Wuyue) deities. These peaks — including Eastern Mount Tai and Western Mount Hua — stabilize the earth, correspond with celestial bodies above and govern rivers below, overseeing human morality and life-death cycles. The emperor devoutly petitions the True Lords of the Five Peaks and enlightened immortals dwelling in mountain grottoes, beseeching their witness that imperial ancestors may achieve transcendence and the realm endure eternally. May the emperor's wisdom shine like sun and moon, his longevity rival the mountains, governing through non-action (Wuwei). May empresses, consorts, crown princes and nobles all be inscribed in celestial registers to enjoy heavenly longevity. All living beings — including souls in the underworld — may share these blessings, ultimately ascending through Dao-realization.

The third section invokes water palace deities. The Great Emperor of Fusang (legendary divine ruler where the sun rises) and the Solar Valley God-King (deity of the sun's resting place) command water palace spirits governing three rivers, four seas, and nine major river sources. These water deities channel all waterways, connecting the Nine Heavens while nourishing creation and judging sin and merit. During the ritual, ministers reverently bow, imploring the water gods to widely distribute their beneficence.

This scripture records the prayer text used by ancient emperors during the Yellow Register Retreat (Huanglu Zhai), a major Daoist ritual for delivering deceased souls and seeking blessings while dispelling calamities. The emperor would calm his mind and focus his spirit, visualizing the sacred realms of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) — the highest Daoist deities dwelling in the Jade Clarity, Upper Clarity, and Great Clarity realms — while devoutly praying for the Dao to bestow its blessings.

The emperor addressed his supplications to the Fusang Great Emperor (the solar deity), the Sun Valley Divine King (deity of the sunrise lands), water deities of the Three Rivers and Four Seas, the Dragon Kings of the Nine Rivers, and immortal officials of the Twelve Water Sources, hoping they would generously extend their grace. He sought protection for the nation to be as tranquil as the four seas and imperial authority as steadfast as ten sacred mountains. Simultaneously, he prayed for the imperial consorts and civil-military officials to maintain unwavering loyalty while eternally enjoying prosperity; for royal relatives and regional lords to uphold Dao-De (Virtue/Power) and share in this golden age of peace.

The text particularly emphasizes reverence for the Supreme Thirty-Six Sections of Sacred Scriptures (Wushang Sanshiliubu Zunjing), a pivotal Daoist canon believed to contain cosmic truths that have governed both the human and underworld realms since the creation of heaven and earth. The emperor humbly acknowledged receiving the Dao's grace, seeking through this Zhaijiao (purification ritual) to repay heaven, earth, and the deities. He prayed for longevity rivaling Mount Heng and Hua, wisdom as luminous as the sun and moon, and achievements surpassing those of ancient sage-kings Yao and Tang.

Finally, the prayer expresses the wish that the imperial family, ministers, and all common people might together ascend to longevity, with all living beings (including souls in the underworld) receiving the Dao's transformative grace — ultimately attaining the supreme state of "merging with the Dao in truth" (Yu Dao He Zhen), transcending physical form to unite completely with the Dao. This liturgy fully embodies the Daoist religious ideal of "universal salvation" (Pudu Zhongsheng) and the cultivation goal of "harmony between heaven and humanity" (Tianren Heyi).