《太上黃籙齋儀》Vol. 56

This passage documents the lamp-lighting ritual from the Huanglu Zhai (Yellow Register Purification) ceremony in Daoist practice. Compiled by Du Guangting (a renowned Tang dynasty Daoist), this liturgy details both the profound significance and concrete procedures of the lamp ceremony.

Originating from the Jinlu Jianwen (Golden Register Scriptures), the lamp-lighting constitutes one of the most essential elements in zhaijiao (purification rituals). While incense conveys sincerity to the deities, the lamps' radiance dispels darkness to illuminate the netherworld. The scripture explains how these lights shine upward to celestial blessed realms while penetrating downward to relieve suffering souls in hell, granting them liberation through this luminous medium.

The practice follows seasonal and Five Phases (Wuxing) principles: nine lamps in spring (Wood), three in summer (Fire), seven in autumn (Metal), and five in winter (Water), totaling twelve across the seasons. Practitioners must arrange specialized lamp formations—including celestial, terrestrial, Bagua (Eight Trigrams), and Nine Netherworld configurations—according to Jinlu specifications. The ceremony begins three nights before altar consecration, or during a three-to-seven day period, always commencing at sunset. After completion, participants chant hymns at the "earth portal" (a designated ritual direction) while the Celestial Master (Tianshi) leads disciples in circumambulating the lamps, bowing after each incantation.

The Mingdeng Song (Hymn of Luminous Lamps) praises: "The Most High Lord Lao scatters ten-directional lamps, conveying purest devotion. The heavens shimmer with this radiance, the earth basks in brilliance. My very body becomes illuminated, the Five Organs glowing. Fierce light bathes the Great Void, its beams reaching straight to the Jade Capital." This hymn should be intoned in prolonged melodies at sacred sites like Mount Tai and Mount Song, guiding priests to worship beneath the lamps during sunset altar ceremonies.

The conclusion cites Taiji Zhenren (Perfected of the Supreme Ultimate), expounding cosmic Yin-Yang principles: "The clear, light Qi ascends to form heavens where immortals dwell; the turbid, heavy Qi condenses into earth where spirits reside. Beyond the Nine Heavens, no Yin exists; beneath the Nine Earths, sunlight never penetrates. The netherworld knows no natural light—days resemble thick fog, nights become abysmal darkness."

This scripture details the specific procedures and significance of the lantern-lighting ritual in the Daoist Yellow Register Zhai (a major purification ritual for the salvation of deceased souls).

First, it explains the importance of lighting lanterns: in the perpetual darkness of the underworld, sinful souls cannot see the light. Beings who failed to accumulate virtue (De) and perform good deeds in life will sink into hell and suffer after death. Out of compassion, the Celestial Venerable (Tianzun) transmitted this method of lighting lanterns, using their radiance to illuminate the shadowy realms, helping the deceased atone for their sins and attain salvation. Whether rulers, officials, or ordinary people, all who uphold sincere devotion to the Dao (Dao-xin) and prepare oil lamps according to the ritual can shine light upward to the blessed halls of the celestial realm and downward to the Ninefold Darkness of hell, liberating suffering souls.

Next, the scripture meticulously records the steps of the lantern-lighting ritual: Two lamps are lit at the temple gate to dispel calamities for the ritual sponsor (zhai-zhu) and bring peace to their household. Disciples must perform three prostrations beneath the lamps, while the priest recites incantations to summon twelve Illuminating Youths, whose pure yang light brightens heaven and earth, dispels malevolent forces, and ensures divine radiance reaches the spirits.

Three additional lamps are then lit at the "natal position" (a direction corresponding to one’s birth year) to illuminate the three souls (in Daoism, humans possess three hun and seven po). Again, disciples perform three prostrations, invoking sunlight to brighten the three souls so that ten thousand deities may safeguard their form, ensuring eternal peace.

Finally, the text mentions lighting lamps in the "annual position" (a direction tied to the current year’s fortune), though the details are not fully elaborated. Through this carefully oriented lantern-lighting, the ritual achieves multiple purposes: dispelling misfortune, redeeming the deceased, and protecting the living.

This passage records the specific procedures for the lamp-lighting ritual in the Daoist Yellow Register Retreat (Huanglu Zhai), a ceremony for the salvation of deceased souls. According to the Shangyuan Jinlu Jianwen Zhenxian Pin scripture, multiple sets of lamps are lit during the ritual, each carrying specific symbolic meanings and blessings.

First, seven lamps are lit to illuminate the seven corporeal souls (in Daoist belief, humans possess three ethereal hun souls and seven corporeal po souls). These help disciples stabilize their Shen (spirit), dispel calamities, and regulate their souls. Disciples perform three prostrations before these lamps. The scripture describes how the lamplight gathers scattered Qi (vital energy), anchoring the seven po souls to their proper positions, allowing all spiritual consciousness to return like the eternal radiance of moonlight.

Next, a lamp is lit in the direction of the Year Guardian (Taisui) to eliminate annual misfortunes and attract blessings for disciples, who again perform three prostrations. The text mentions how the sun's radiance penetrates both body and void.

Three lamps are lit in the direction of the Great Tomb to deliver the retreat patron's ancestral souls across generations from underworld suffering to pure rebirth, severing all underworld litigation. Disciples bow according to specific orientations. The scripture depicts moonlight illuminating withered bones—when deceased souls receive this light, they attain rebirth.

Five lamps are lit in the direction of the Small Tomb to elevate recent ancestors to heaven while blessing living descendants with prosperity. Disciples bow accordingly. The text states that the youth holding solar light illuminates the souls, enabling their deliverance.

Before the altar, seven lamps shine upon seven generations of ancestors to elevate them heavenward, with three prostrations performed. The scripture describes the cosmos in motion, the Nine Darknesses of the underworld, where only solar radiance can guide departed souls.

Finally, the "Nine Darknesses Lamp" is lit in the central courtyard specifically to illuminate the deepest underworld realms (in Daoist cosmology, the darkest nether regions), delivering suffering souls therein. Through the symbolic power of illumination, these lamp rituals achieve religious purposes of soul pacification, calamity dispelling, and transcendental salvation.

This passage describes the lamp-lighting ritual in the Daoist Yellow Register Purification Ceremony (Huanglu Zhaijiao). According to the Shangyuan Jinlu Jianwen Zhenxian Pin scripture, during the ritual, specific numbers of lamps are lit in designated directions to illuminate the underworld, liberate souls, exorcise evil, and offer protection.

First, two lamps are lit at the "gate wings" (flanking the entrance) to illuminate the residence. This dispels malevolent forces, captures evil spirits, and safeguards the household. The disciple bows three times before the lamps. The text states this light penetrates the dark underworld, allowing trapped souls to see again and enabling the salvation of seven generations of ancestors to ascend to the celestial palaces.

Next, twenty-four lamps are lit at the "earth portal" (threshold of the earthly realm), corresponding to the twenty-four vital energies (Qi) of the human body. This extends the disciple's lifespan, enhances vitality, increases blessings, stabilizes the spirit (Shen), registers their name in the immortal records, and erases their name from death registers. The disciple bows three times facing the earth portal. The scripture explains the human body consists of the "three regions and eight luminaries" (Daoist anatomical divisions), with the twenty-four energies forming the divine essence. The lamplight ascends to the supreme mystery (Taixuan), helping one transcend disasters of water and fire.

Then, eight lamps are lit—one in each cardinal and intercardinal direction—corresponding to the Eight Trigrams (Bagua). This illuminates the disciple's paths in all directions, opens the nine palaces (key Neidan meditation centers), and summons eight deities to provide hidden protection. The disciple bows three times facing the center. The text describes how the light activates the "three luminaries" (sun, moon, stars), opens the windows of the Eight Trigrams, calms celestial energies, conceals the lunar essence (Taiyin), and fulfills all wishes.

Finally, nine lamps are lit at the center of the four directions, corresponding to the nine palaces. This resolves misfortunes in the nine palaces and registers the disciple in celestial records. After three bows, the scripture depicts the nine palaces standing distinct as heaven and earth separate, with mystic light latent and the moon hidden. The radiant lamps shine upon the nine palaces, dispelling darkness to bring prosperity.

The full ceremony includes lamps lit in all ten directions (cardinals plus zenith and nadir), using luminous power to achieve religious purposes. These lamp rituals exemplify Daoist practices employing symbolic light to commune with cosmic forces, liberate souls, and avert calamities through liturgical action.

This passage describes the lantern-lighting ceremony in the Taoist Yellow Register Retreat (Huanglu Zhaiji). According to the Shangyuan Jinlu Jianwen Zhenxian Pin (Scripture of the Golden Register of Upper Prime), there are four solemn rituals for lighting lamps:

The first involves lighting twenty-eight lamps around the four sides of the ritual space, corresponding to the twenty-eight lunar mansions. Disciples face east and south to pay homage, beseeching the Northern Dipper Star Lord to erase their names from the death register and the Southern Dipper Star Lord to extend their lifespans. The accompanying incantation states: "The radiant starlight illuminates the ten directions, the mysterious Qi shines upon the nine netherworlds. May the azure canopy protect my ethereal soul."

The second ritual requires lighting thirty-six lamps above the Heavenly Gate, symbolizing the thirty-six heavens. Disciples bow toward the Heavenly Gate to elevate seven generations of ancestors to paradise. The chant describes the vast kalpa of Dragon Han (Longhan), where the Qi of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) circulates, praying that today's luminous lamps may lift both the practitioner and ancestors through the celestial realms.

The third practice involves lighting five lamps at the five directions, representing the Five Sacred Mountains (Wuyue). Disciples pay homage to request their names be inscribed in the immortal registers and seek protection from the Five Mountain Deities. The incantation declares: "The Five Peaks guard the cardinal directions, the Five Directional Emperors reign as supreme divinities. Through these lamps ascending to the Celestial Kings, may our names be recorded in the immortal rolls, and seven generations of ancestors attain liberation."

The passage concludes by extolling the immense merit of lantern lighting—illuminating both celestial realms and the earthly plane, bringing light to the eight directions and nine netherworlds. Witnesses to these lamps receive absolution and blessings, while those who light them accumulate even greater merit: nine generations of ancestors ascend to paradise, freed from the sufferings of the underworld, and their living descendants enjoy peace and prosperity.

This scripture details the regulations and profound significance of the lamp-lighting ritual in the Daoist Yellow Register Retreat (Huanglu Zhai) – a ceremonial practice for delivering deceased souls and dispelling calamities.

During the Yellow Register Retreat, lamps must be lit according to the seasonal requirements specified in the True Text Jade Instructions (Zhenwen Yujue), with additional Golden Register (Jinlu) lamps. The ritual master may perform three consecutive days of bowing and incantations, or just one night – both methods generate blessings. The text particularly emphasizes keeping the lamps brightly lit throughout the night without interruption, as dim or flickering lights may incur karmic consequences. At dawn when extinguishing the lamps, the master recites a special incantation: "Let darkness close, while eternal lamps prolong their radiance; as the sun ascends, the netherworld opens to clarity. The lamp flames return to the Great Yin (Taiyin), their brilliance merging with sunlight – may the twin lights of sun and moon unite with my being."

The scripture further describes the special "Nine Nether Divine Lamps" (Jiuyou Shen Deng) that illuminate the nine layers of hell. These lamps can eliminate celestial disasters for emperors and deliver deceased souls for common people. Their light reaches upward to the blessed realms of the Nine Heavens and downward through the Nine Nether Hells, benefiting both the living and the dead. The Wonderful Scripture of Golden Register Salvation Through the Nine True Precepts (Jiuzhen Miaojie Jinlu Duoming Miaojing) states that eight directions contain nine hell realms where souls suffer for earthly transgressions – without the Heavenly Worthies' (Tianzun) merciful intervention through lamp-lighting rituals, they would remain eternally submerged in darkness.

Finally, the text clarifies that identical merit accrues whether the Nine Nether Lamps are lit at the ritual altar or elsewhere, provided the proper ceremonial procedures and incantations are followed. A dedicated Ritual of Bowing and Incantations for Nine Nether Lamps is recorded in an appended section of the scripture.

This scripture explains the ritual methods and efficacy of the Daoist "Nine Netherworlds Lamp Ceremony" (Jiuyou Dengyi). The Nine Netherworlds Lamp is a crucial Daoist ritual for delivering deceased souls and dispelling misfortunes.

Pure sesame oil must be used to light the Nine Netherworlds Lamps—never oil purchased with ill-gotten wealth or contaminated by meat or impurities. Ideally, various fragrant herbs should be steeped in the oil beforehand, allowing the lamp flames to emit a pure fragrance that ascends to the celestial courts, dissolving foul and turbid energies. The radiant light of these lamps dispels darkness and brings illumination, generating immense merit.

When arranging the Nine Netherworlds Lamps, they should be placed according to the Nine Palaces (Jiugong) formation within the ritual altar or temple hall where deities are venerated. One may distribute nine lamps each across nine locations or construct a nine-tiered lamp stand with nine lamps per tier—totaling eighty-one lamps (9×9), symbolizing the numerical patterns of heaven and earth. This configuration connects with the Nine Heavens above and illuminates the Nine Netherworlds below, simultaneously delivering deceased souls and blessing the living. If resources are limited, a minimum of nine lamps must be lit.

Before commencing the ritual, prepare nine portions of ritual water, congee, and seasonal fruits, arranged according to the Nine Palaces orientation. The Daoist priest should first burn incense to calm the mind, then tap the teeth twenty-four times before petitioning the deities: "This disciple [name], at [location] for [purpose], now lights the Divine Lamps of the Nine Netherworlds. May their radiance shine upward upon celestial realms and blessed lands, illuminating all; shine midward upon the divine continent to dissolve disasters and difficulties; shine downward upon the hells to deliver suffering souls." The ceremony concludes with reverent bows.

The scripture particularly emphasizes that the Nine Netherworlds Lamps illuminate the underworld, bringing peace to tormented souls. Wherever this divine light reaches, wandering spirits are relieved from suffering. Through the merit of lamp-lighting, the deceased may ascend to heaven while the living receive protection from calamities—an immeasurable blessing. Similar accounts are recorded in such classics as the Golden Register (Jinlu), Nine Netherworlds (Jiuyou), and Numinous Treasure (Lingbao) scriptures.

This scripture describes the ritual process of lighting the Nine Netherworld Divine Lamps (special lamps for illuminating the underworld) during the Daoist Yellow Register Purification (Zhaijiao ritual for redeeming deceased souls). The ritual master (referring to himself as "disciple so-and-so") successively lights lamps in five directions, praying for their radiance to dispel the suffering of hell.

First, the eastern divine lamp is lit: Its light shines upward to illuminate the blessed celestial realms of the east, where sunlight pervades; in the middle realm, it illuminates the Zhen palace (the eastern position in the Bagua/ Eight Trigrams) where the Green Emperor (deity of the east) resides, dispelling calamities; downward it shines upon the eastern Wind and Thunder Hell, causing swords to sheathe and thunder to cease, granting relief to tormented souls and enabling their liberation.

Next, the southern divine lamp is kindled: Its radiance ascends to illuminate the southern celestial realms with boundless brilliance; at the center, it lights the Wu position (true south) domain of the Red Emperor (southern deity), pacifying disasters; downward it penetrates the southern Fire Hell, extinguishing flames to grant cooling relief to souls suffering fiery torment.

Then, the western divine lamp is ignited: Its glow rises to bathe the western celestial realms in divine light; at the middle level, it illuminates the You position (true west) realm of the White Emperor (western deity), cleansing impurities; downward it reaches the western Diamond Hell, stopping iron rods and golden hammers from torture, delivering afflicted souls.

Subsequently, the northern divine lamp is lit: Its luminous blessing spreads upward through northern celestial realms; at the center, it brightens the Kan position (true north) domain of the Black Emperor (northern deity), dispelling malignant energies; downward it melts the torments of northern Frozen Ice Hell, neutralizing poisonous pools to liberate souls enduring freezing punishment.

Finally, the northeastern divine lamp is lit (though the text remains incomplete): Following the established pattern, it would illuminate corresponding celestial, divine and infernal realms of the northeast, granting similar liberation. After each lighting, the ritual master bows again, praying for souls to attain "carefree joy"—the liberated state of transcendence.

Within the Hall of Blessings in the celestial realm, divine radiance shines with crystalline clarity, illuminating the entire void. This light first illuminates the direction of the Gen trigram (one of the Eight Trigrams/Bagua, representing the northeast), covering the earthly branches of Chou and Yin, dispelling calamities and banishing malignant energies. It then descends to shine upon the Cauldron Hell (a Daoist purgatory where sinful souls are boiled in iron cauldrons) in the northeast, shattering darkness and bringing forth illumination. All trapped souls thereby receive blessings—the torment of boiling in iron cauldrons ceases, enabling them to swiftly ascend to the celestial realm and attain carefree joy. The disciple (so-and-so) reverently bows once more.

The disciple lights the Ninefold Netherworld Divine Lamp (a ritual implement for liberating souls), directing its light upward to illuminate the boundless heavens of the southeast. The radiance within the Hall of Blessings spreads universally, boundless in its brilliance. The middle portion of the light shines upon the Xun trigram (one of the Eight Trigrams/Bagua, representing the southeast) in the Chen and Si directions, eradicating wickedness and annihilating disasters. Descending further, it illuminates the Copper Pillar Hell (where sinful souls are forced to embrace scorching bronze pillars) in the southeast, dispelling darkness and ushering in light. All sinful souls are relieved of their burning torment; the roots of their transgressions are cleansed, restoring coolness to their bodies and minds, enabling them to ascend to the celestial realm and attain carefree joy. The disciple bows reverently once more.

The disciple lights the Ninefold Netherworld Divine Lamp, directing its light upward to illuminate the boundless heavens of the southwest. Within the Hall of Blessings, numinous radiance permeates the void. The middle portion of the light shines upon the Kun position (the southwest in the Bagua) and the region corresponding to the Well and Net constellations, eliminating plagues and sweeping away malevolent forces. Descending further, it illuminates the Slaughter and Dismemberment Hell (where sinful souls are cut by blades) in the southwest, dispelling darkness and bringing forth light. All sinful souls are spared the agony of blades, swiftly ascending to the celestial realm to attain carefree joy. The disciple bows reverently again.

The disciple lights the Ninefold Netherworld Divine Lamp, directing its light upward to illuminate the boundless heavens of the northwest. Within the Hall of Blessings, radiant light spreads infinitely. The middle portion of the light shines upon the Qian palace (the northwest in the Bagua) and the region corresponding to the Legs and Wall constellations, eradicating wickedness and destroying calamities. Descending further, it illuminates the Chariot of Fire Hell (where sinful souls are crushed by blazing chariots) in the northwest, dispelling darkness and ushering in light. All sinful souls receive this blessing—the fiery chariots cease their torment, the torture of burning coals is lifted, enabling them to swiftly ascend to the celestial realm and attain carefree joy. The disciple bows reverently once more.