《金鎖流珠引》Vol. 2

This scripture documents the important Daoist practice of "Yu Steps" (Yubu), a ritual walking pattern imitating the footsteps of Yu the Great during his flood control efforts. This method was primarily transmitted by immortal masters (such as Zhang Daoling and Zhao Sheng) through generations, with annotations added by Li Chunfeng.

The essence of Yu Steps lies in the "three steps and nine traces" pattern, said to have been transmitted by Lord Lao (Laozi) to Yu the Great. In practice, regardless of step size, the practitioner must first move both feet in a specific sequence along designated paths. This walking method can be used for longevity prayers and disaster relief. The Later Sage Lord (a Daoist deity) instructed Celestial Master Zhang Daoling that initial practice should begin by treading the "Heavenly Guideline and Earthly Discipline" (cosmic operational principles), transforming Yu Steps into nine footprints corresponding to the Middle Dipper constellation numbers, requiring three forward and three reverse repetitions.

For urgent situations, simplified versions exist: men begin with the left foot and women with the right, each following the old guideline path once, equivalent to completing three full forward-reverse sequences. During perilous circumstances or military campaigns, one may practice Yu Steps corresponding to the twenty-eight lunar mansions—completing one hundred steps will manifest effects regarding water and fire matters within thirty-five days.

The scripture details cultivation essentials for different star constellations: begin with the Northern Dipper, then proceed to Eastern, Southern, and Western Dippers, concluding with the Middle Dipper while avoiding the True Person star. Each direction's constellation corresponds to specific hand seals (mudras): Northern Dipper uses the Jiazi seal, Eastern Dipper the Jiayin seal, Southern Dipper the Jiawu seal, Western Dipper the Jiashen seal, and Middle Dipper the Jiaxu-Jiachen seals. For longevity cultivation, one should draw the Director of Fate's (Siming) seal with cinnabar ink or bind it with five-colored threads. Three years of consistent practice can achieve "Earthly Perfection," where the Director of Fate deity descends to erase one's death register.

Additional annotations specify different Directors of Fate corresponding to Five Phase destinies: Metal destiny people align with Bingwu-Dingsi, Wood destiny with Gengshen-Xinyou, and Water destiny with Wuchen-Jiwei. These methods exemplify Daoism's characteristic integration of stellar worship with longevity cultivation practices.

This scripture elucidates a Daoist cultivation method called "Pacing the Celestial Net" (bugang), which primarily involves the principles of mutual generation and restraint among the Five Phases (Wuxing) and stellar veneration. The practice consists of several distinct stages:

First, it explains how individuals with different destiny configurations correspond to distinct Destiny Officers (Siming, deities governing fate): those with Fire destiny align with Renzi and Guihai, while Earth destiny individuals connect with Jiayin and Yimao. Practitioners must adjust their practice accordingly.

The cultivation process comprises six main steps, each with specific incantations (zhouyu) and hand seals (shoujue, finger mudras). The initial step requires pacing while reciting mantras such as "The Mystic Master once taught me to pace the net," simultaneously forming the "Ghost-Restraining Seal" and "Wandering Master Seal." The second step involves chanting "The Five Phases mutually propel" while traversing the stellar formation with the "Destiny-Palace Alignment Seal."

During the third repetition of pacing the stellar array, practitioners employ the "Celestial Pass Seal." The fourth step involves reverse pacing while facing the Dipper's Handle (Kui, the first star of the Big Dipper), reciting specific incantations with the "Universal Restraint Seal." The fifth repetition toward the Dipper's Handle includes the "Three-Five Weave the Cosmos" mantra to avert calamities like fires.

The sixth step specifically addresses misfortunes caused by Phase conflicts, particularly Fire overcoming Metal. Through "Pacing the Net" cultivation, one can transform these destructive interactions into blessings. The text concludes by noting that for longevity practices, practitioners must harmonize the Five Phases with the Three Primes (sanyuan - Heaven, Earth, and Water) through specific pacing patterns to neutralize Phase conflicts harming the body.

Frequently mentioned terms include "finger seals" (nianjue) referring to Daoist mudra techniques, "invocations" (zhu) denoting mantras or prayers, while "Pacing the Net" represents a comprehensive practice integrating footsteps, hand seals, and incantations.

This scripture describes the specific demon-expelling operations within the Daoist ritual of "Bugang Tadou" (Pacing the Dipper and Treading on the Guideline), a star-walking ceremony that mimics celestial movements. Practitioners subdue malevolent spirits through prescribed footsteps, hand gestures, and incantations.

When stepping on the Kuixing (the first star of the Big Dipper) with the left foot, the practitioner must simultaneously form the left-handed Sword Mudra (a Daoist hand seal) to stab at the demon. The entire movement requires meditative concentration akin to seated cultivation, directing the thrust toward the Pixing (an inauspicious star) while facing the direction of baleful influences. Here, the left hand twists into a mudra aimed at the demon's eyes, delivering fifteen jin of force in a fist strike, while the right hand maintains a specific gesture.

During the seventh pacing, one begins at the starting position (gangtou), sequentially passing the first and second stars. Silently recite the principle of Five Phases mutual conquest to neutralize baleful energies. Upon reaching the fourth star, deliver seven heavy fist strikes (each with fifteen jin of force) against the malign influence while chanting: "The Five Phases generate and conquer each other; the Celestial Guideline holds supreme authority..." This is accompanied by hand seals like the Siming Mudra.

The eighth pacing requires walking backward from the seventh to the third star to confront "Celestial Execution Demons"—those evil forces that clash with one's own energy. Here, strike with the left fist and stomp with the right foot, applying twenty-five jin of force per stomp, executing nine consecutive punches and ten stomps. Simultaneously chant incantations while pressing the "Celestial Execution Demon Eye" acupoint beneath the nail of the left hand's third finger.

For the ninth pacing, hold a sword in the left hand while forming mudras with the right, specifically targeting the "Three Corpses Worms" (three malevolent spirits believed to reside within the human body in Daoist thought). Capture them using Yubu (the Pace of Yu, said to be invented by the Great Yu for flood control), stabbing their ears nine times and striking seven blows with the left knee before execution. The incantation emphasizes Five Phases conquest principles while pressing the acupoint on the right side of the second segment of the left hand's fourth finger.

The tenth pacing requires alternating left and right footsteps along the Celestial Guideline and Earthly Matrix (symbolizing cosmic and terrestrial orientations). On the ninth step, the right foot must land precisely on the second star of the Earthly Matrix. Every movement must strictly follow stellar positions—the slightest deviation risks counterproductive effects.

This scripture describes a Daoist ritual practice for exorcising malevolent forces and averting disasters. The practitioner must perform specific Gangbu stepping patterns (a ceremonial Daoist footwork) in designated directions, coordinated with hand mudras and incantations to dispel baleful influences.

The method proceeds as follows: First step with the left foot on the fourth stellar position to eliminate cosmic calamities, then move to the first stellar position reaching the center of the formation (gangtou), and finally sit at the sixth stellar position. Visualize malevolent spirits trapped within the ritual formation, then thrust leftward nine times and rightward ten times with a ritual sword while reciting the "Five Phases mutually pushing" incantation, forming the prescribed hand seal with the fourth finger of the left hand.

This technique proves particularly effective for swiftly resolving slanderous disputes and averting flood/fire disasters. Subsequent steps include: stepping through the formation with the right foot, turning to face west, treading the Kuixing position (the first star of the Big Dipper), seizing the demon's head with the left hand while delivering fifteen powerful blows with the right fist, simultaneously chanting the "Five entrusted within the Three-Five" incantation. Practicing this stepping method consistently for three years enables one to heal illnesses and exorcise spirits remotely through talismans, with malevolent ghosts being vanquished by divine generals.

To pursue fleeing evil entities, point toward their suspected location, particularly toward local earth god shrines (shemiao). The twelfth step begins from the Kuixing position, with the left foot ascending the Heavenly Pass (a stellar position), then turning right to return to the formation while executing left-right striking motions. This stepping method can subdue calamitous influences from the Five Phases that threaten one's wellbeing.

Against ghosts under the jurisdiction of the Three Officials (Daoist triad of Heaven, Earth and Water deities), invert the right hand while delivering fifteen heavy blows with the left fist. Upon completion, bury objects representing the evil spirits beneath the Heavenly Bridge star position. Meditate on the Heavenly Bridge star in the northwest while reciting: "Five Phases mutually push, Metal and Wood contend, Water and Fire extinguish," forming the Demon-Subduing Knife mudra.

These incantations, together with the preceding eleven spells, effectively eliminate domestic and national disasters along with disease-related suffering. When applied, one must completely recite all Five Benedictions and Twelve Benedictions from beginning to end while repeatedly stepping through the Three Platforms (Upper, Middle and Lower) and Five Star positions three times each—this ensures complete protection from all evil. Conclude by facing east and striking a drum twelve times to complete the ritual.

Note: Terms like "twisting the demon's eye" and "Demon-Subduing Knife mudra" refer to distinctive Daoist hand techniques. "Yu Steps" denote the legendary stepping patterns used by Yu the Great in flood control. The "Three Officials" represent the celestial administrators (Heavenly Official, Earthly Official and Water Official) who oversee human morality.

This scripture elucidates a Daoist cultivation method known as "Golden Lock and Flowing Pearls." The Celestial Masters (Tianshi) and female masters transmitted this method to later practitioners, preserving it through successive generations.

The effects of this practice are profound: within the first year, it subdues all manner of demonic influences; by the second year, it instills fear in celestial soldiers and generals; and by the third year, it grants immortality, compelling ghosts and deities throughout the world to submit willingly. The text specifically notes that those who persist in dual cultivation (referring to the simultaneous practice of both Yin and Yang methods) for fourteen years will achieve even greater results. After three or four years, practitioners attain spiritual resonance—not only soaring through the heavens to patrol the Celestial Net (the cosmic order) but also dispelling calamities and swiftly mobilizing celestial forces to resolve emergencies like floods or fires.

Historically, the adept Wang Jun maintained dual cultivation for ten years before ascending as an immortal. However, those who focus solely on the Celestial Net while neglecting the Earthly Guidelines (the laws of the terrestrial realm) are doomed to fail. Cultivation must begin with the Earthly Guidelines, progressing step by step to the Celestial Net. Only by performing the ritual continuously for three days and nights, divided into nine two-hour periods (an ancient timekeeping unit), can one achieve complete success.

This esoteric method cannot be casually transmitted. Prospective disciples must first undergo a trial: the master deliberately displays anger and hurls insults, and only those who remain composed in the face of such provocation are deemed worthy of receiving the teaching. This passage is drawn from the second volume of The Guidance of Golden Lock and Flowing Pearls.