《法海遺珠》Vol. 12

Pearls Left Behind in the Sea of Dao (Fahai Yizhu), Scroll Twelve, Part Two: A Plain-Language Commentary

The Order for Establishing the Xuanji Altar and Offering Prayers

Reciting the Heaven-and-Earth Incantation

Within the cavern, the void and mystery shine brilliantly. The awe-inspiring spirits of the Eight Directions of Great Origin protect me, and all comes naturally. By the command of the Lingbao talismans, I proclaim this throughout the Nine Heavens: Ganluo Datan, Donggang, and Taixuan—cut down demons, bind the wicked, and slay countless ghosts. The divine incantation of Zhongshan, the jade text of Yuanshi, drives away ghosts and prolongs life when recited once. As I traverse the Five Sacred Mountains and the Eight Seas, all shall hear and know. The Demon Kings bow their heads and guard my altar. Evil and impurity vanish; the Dao’s Qi endures forever. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

The meaning: As you recite this incantation, visualize the cavern’s void and mystery filled with light, and the awe-inspiring spirits of the Eight Directions of Great Origin protecting you and bringing things to completion naturally. By the command of the Lingbao talismans, proclaim your prayer throughout the Nine Heavens, asking Ganluo Datan, Donggang, Taixuan, and other divine powers to cut down demons, bind the wicked, and slay countless ghosts. The divine incantation of Zhongshan comes from Yuanshi Tianzun’s jade text. Reciting it once can drive away ghosts and prolong life. As you travel throughout the Five Sacred Mountains and the Eight Seas, the Demon Kings bow their heads and guard the altar; evil and impurity disperse, and the Dao’s Qi endures forever. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

Incantation for Entering the Room

Four-Ming Gongcao, Messengers Who Reach the True, the Living Qi of Lingbao, Jade Maidens Who Attend the Quiet, and Enlightened Boys, enter the Yellow Chamber together with me. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

The meaning: Invoke the Four-Ming Gongcao, the Messengers Who Reach the True, the Living Qi of Lingbao, the Jade Maidens Who Attend the Quiet, and the Enlightened Boys to enter the Yellow Chamber—the altar room—with the Daoist officiant. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

First Step in with the Left Foot; Light Incense Before the Altar Table and Recite This Invocation

Jade radiance scatters its light; the Nine Qi gather into mist. Clouds of incense densely spread, rising straight to the Nine Heavens. Attendant Incense Golden Boys and Message-Bearing Jade Maidens receive and escort the incense smoke, bearing it upward before the Emperor, so that all I, your servant, request may be granted as spoken.

The meaning: First step into the room with your left foot. Light incense before the cavern altar table and recite: “Jade radiance scatters its light; the Nine Qi gather into mist. Clouds of incense spread thickly, rising straight to the Nine Heavens. Attendant Incense Golden Boys and Message-Bearing Jade Maidens escort the incense smoke upward before the Emperor, so that all my petitions may be answered as spoken.”

Reciting the General Register of the Immortal Offices

Above the high heavens, Jade Purity is supreme. There are the Great Dipper of the Dark Firmament and the Celestial Palace of Taixuan’s life-giving power. Within them dwell the Lord Emperors and Jade Maidens of Numinous Emptiness, who examine essences and distinguish demons. They command the officials and report upward to the Three Heavens. They raise petitions through the offices of body and spirit, transmit reports and decrees, dispel calamity and relieve suffering, guard the righteous Dao, bind ghosts who insult and defy, circulate throughout the heavens, save the living and deliver the dead, release people from danger and subdue misfortune, and reach the Purple Palace. The Ten Heavens proclaim their commands and summon those under their charge. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

The meaning: In the high heavens, the Jade Purity realm is supreme. There are the Great Dipper of the Dark Firmament, the Celestial Palace of Taixuan’s life-giving power, and other celestial offices. Within them dwell the Lord Emperors and Jade Maidens of Numinous Emptiness, who examine essences and distinguish demons. They command the officials and report upward to the Three Heavens. They raise petitions through the offices of body and spirit, transmit reports and decrees, dispel calamity and relieve suffering, guard the righteous Dao, bind ghosts who defy and insult, circulate throughout the heavens, save the living and deliver the dead, release people from danger and subdue misfortune, and reach the Purple Palace—the Dantian or brain palace. The Ten Heavens proclaim their commands and summon those under their charge. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

Next, Visualize the Four Sages Guarding the Left, Right, Front, and Rear; Golden Boys and Jade Maidens Standing Guard; Kick Up a Seat of the Dipper Stars; Visualize Golden Light Filling the Room; Then Summon the Generals and Recite the Tianpeng Incantation

The meaning: Next, visualize the Four Sages—the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—guarding you from the left, right, front, and rear, with Golden Boys and Jade Maidens standing guard. Kick up a seat of the Dipper stars and visualize golden light filling the room. Summon the generals and officials, then recite the Tianpeng Incantation.

Tianpeng Incantation

Tianpeng, Tianpeng, youths of the Nine Origins who wield baleful power; commanders of the Five Dings; Gaodiao Beiweng; the Seven Luminaries and Eight Spirits; the Supreme One, radiant and fearsome; long-skulled giant beasts holding the Emperor’s Bell; the three plain-feathered owl gods, solemnly mounted on Kui dragons; the Divine King of the Awe-Inspiring Sword, who cuts down evil and erases its traces. Purple Qi rides the heavens; crimson clouds blaze and surge upward. Swallow demons and devour ghosts; stretch across the air and drink the wind. The old men with blue tongues, green teeth, and four eyes; the mighty warriors of Heaven—guard the south with power and repel the wicked. The celestial steeds charge forth in fury; their sharp points blaze in the north. Three hundred thousand troops guard my Ninefold Heaven, ward off corpses for a thousand miles, and drive away ill fortune. Should any petty ghost dare to appear, the great axe that cleaves Heaven shall strike down its five forms.

The meaning: Tianpeng, Tianpeng, youths of the Nine Origins who wield baleful power, commanders of the Five Dings, Gaodiao Beiweng, the Seven Luminaries and Eight Spirits, the Supreme One who is radiant and fearsome, and the other divine generals: long-skulled giant beasts hold the Emperor’s Bell; the three plain-feathered owl gods ride solemnly on Kui dragons; the Divine King of the Awe-Inspiring Sword cuts down evil and erases its traces. Purple Qi rides the heavens, and crimson clouds blaze and surge upward. The gods swallow demons and devour ghosts, stretch across the air and drink the wind. The old men with blue tongues, green teeth, and four eyes, and the mighty warriors of Heaven, guard the south with power and repel the wicked. The celestial steeds charge forth in fury, their sharp points blazing in the north. Three hundred thousand troops guard my Ninefold Heaven, ward off corpses for a thousand miles, and drive away ill fortune. If any petty ghost dares to appear, the great axe that cleaves Heaven shall strike down its five forms: form, Qi, spirit, hun, and po.

May the body be like the blazing blood of the Flame Emperor; may the Northern Dipper burn the bones, the Four Luminaries shatter the corpse, and the Celestial Marshal Tianyou destroy the baleful spirit known as Lei.

With a single stroke of the divine blade, all ghosts crumble of their own accord. Act swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

Incantation for Protection

The Heavenly Emperor’s light shines brightly; the sun and moon cast their radiance down, and no evil can intrude. The Four Sacred Beasts guard the body; the Southern Dipper preserves life, and the Northern Dipper prolongs it. The Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper remove names entered among the dead. Wenqu and Wuqu erase the death registers, and the Northern Dipper extends the years of life. Lords of the Heavens: Luxing and Lianzhen alter the records of death; Tanlang and Jumen protect the body. Act swiftly, in accordance with the Heavenly Emperor’s statutes and commands.

Incantation for Establishing the Altar

The heavens are deep and the earth shallow; the sun and moon revolve, and the Five Planets move. Following the celestial patterns, I establish this altar. The myriad ghosts submit and prostrate themselves; with a single stroke of the divine blade, all ghosts are destroyed. Act swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

Next, hold the paper talisman in the right hand, draw up the azure Qi, make the Mao hand-seal, and flick it into the talisman.

Incantation for Invoking Light

The numinous light of Heaven (Hai); the numinous light of Earth (Shen); the light of the sun and moon (Wu/Wei); the light of the stars and constellations; the numinous light of the Five Directions and Five Dippers (form the hand-seals for the Five Directions); the divine light of the Celestial Pole and Tiangang (Chen); the numinous light of my body; the awe-inspiring light of the High Sages—may the numinous light descend at once.

Incantation for Holding the Talisman

The bright radiance of Zhengyi blazes upward; vermilion smoke opens into light. Twelve acolytes illuminate the entire room and the bodies of me and my companions. A hundred evils are subdued; countless baleful ghosts are overcome. The light shines clear and bright, reaching the True and attaining the numinous. It ascends into formlessness and joins with the Dao in perfect truth. Act swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

Incantation for Lighting the Lamp

(In spring and summer, begin with Kui; in autumn and winter, begin with Xu and proceed to Chen. Hold the hand-seal, contain the breath, and recite one incantation for each lamp as it is lit.)

The Supreme Emperor has issued a command: light the Dipper lamps. The Seven Lords descend to save and protect all living beings. Zuofu and Youbi reveal their awe-inspiring light; Marshal Tianpeng leads the celestial troops, with the Five Thunder Messengers, the Six Jia and Six Ding, and the Great Sage Xuanwu. The Three Stars of the Terrace remove illness and avert disaster, turn death into life, restore the three Hun souls to the body, and bring peace to the seven Po souls. Those who disobey the command shall die; those who comply shall prosper. When a Dipper lamp is lit, the dwelling of the body shines bright. Act swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

Talisman for Dispelling Misfortune

Tiangang hand-seal and Qi.

Beneath the lamp, place seven talismans: Tanlang, Jumen, Luxing, Wenqu, Lianzhen, Wuqu, and Pojun.

Note for reading the scripture: The text frequently invokes the names of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper. Tanlang, Jumen, and the others are alternative names for stars used in Daoist traditions. The rites include establishing an altar, holding a talisman, and lighting Dipper lamps. “Act swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands” is a closing formula that calls for the command to be carried out without delay. “I” or “your servant” may be the ritual speaker’s self-reference; this varies by version.

Excerpt from Pearls Left Behind in the Sea of Methods: Lamp, Banner, and Other Talismans

The Seven Talismans Inside the Lamp

Place seven talismans inside the lamp, each corresponding to one of the seven stars of the Northern Dipper, its associated color of Qi, and its incantation:

• Greedy Wolf (associated with blue-green Qi): recite “Om hu lu / jie suo he”
• Giant Gate (associated with black Qi): recite “Om du mi / suo he”
• Preserving Prosperity (associated with yellow Qi): recite “Om na lu jia hu / lu tuo suo he”
• Civil Star (associated with red Qi): recite “Om [missing character] na si xu / zhe jia suo he” - Integrity (associated with white Qi): recite “Om po di na / yin luo suo he”
• Military Song (associated with green Qi): recite “Om duo du lu / tuo suo he”
• Army Breaker (associated with deep crimson Qi): recite “Om na po / ji suo he”

The Three Platforms Talisman

Write this talisman on yellow paper with a cinnabar brush. Recite the incantation, draw in Qi, and blow it onto the talisman; then burn it over the lamp.

The Seven Talismans Beneath the Lampwick

Greedy Wolf, Giant Gate, Preserving Prosperity, Civil Star, Integrity, Military Song, and Army Breaker—the seven talismans are written in cinnabar on red paper. Place one beneath the lampwick of each lamp.

Lamp-Lighting Talisman (written in cinnabar on blue-green paper; alternatively, the text may read “burn the paper”)

Used in the lamp-lighting ritual.

The Seven Talismans on the Banner

Use the same seven star names as above. Make a banner from blue-green paper, write the talismans on it in cinnabar, and set it in the altar’s Dipper position.

Purification Talisman

Burn the talisman into a water bowl, then sprinkle the water to purify the altar. When the ritual is complete, have the participants drink this purified water, also called ritual water.

Manifesting the Dipper Talisman and Inviting the Dipper’s True Spirits Talisman

The incantation says: “Summon the immortals, and the immortals arrive; summon the sages, and the sages descend. Transform this into a true talisman, joining it to the bright heart of Heaven. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the ordinances.”

Write this talisman in ink on yellow paper. When inviting the sages, transform the talisman in the incense burner; alternatively, on a quiet night every seven days, burn it beneath the Dipper stars, silently bow, and make a vow. Thereafter, whenever they are invited, they will surely descend.

Water-Basin Talisman

“I, your servant, so-and-so, declare that I am performing this rite” (the officiant gives their ritual name according to the liturgy).

On white paper seven inches long and three inches wide, write this talisman in cinnabar. Stir the water three times using the Northern Dipper hand method, place the talisman in the basin, and cover it with a rice sieve or a garment. Read good or ill fortune from the direction in which the talisman points.

Another prayer has roughly this meaning: “May the seven stars of the Northern Dipper remove my name from the register of the dead.” The Civil Star and Military Song remove my death register; Preserving Prosperity and Integrity grant me reprieve from death; Greedy Wolf and Giant Gate cut off the source of my death. It also invokes names such as the Celestial Dipper. All these are expressions used in Northern Dipper rites for removing a person from the register of the dead and extending their lifespan.

Note: The text concerns the use of talismans and registers in Northern Dipper Zhaijiao (purification ritual). It emphasizes the colors of the paper (yellow, red, blue-green, jade-green, and white), the use of cinnabar and ink, the placement of the talismans (inside the lamp, beneath the lampwick, on the banner, or in the water bowl), and the incantations associated with the seven stars and their seven colors (blue-green, black, yellow, red, white, green, and crimson). In practice, one must follow the complete liturgical text and one’s teacher’s transmission; the paper colors, directions, and incantations must not be altered independently.

Talismanic Spell to Dispel the Baleful Qi of the Po Jun Star

If the baleful influence of the Po Jun Star is not countered by the Three Terrace Stars, may the Three Terrace Stars come to nourish, support, and protect me, so that during years, months, days, and hours of misfortune, your servant suffers no calamity, but returns from death to life. Quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.

Talisman for Seeing Ghosts and Spirits Clearly

The sun is my father, the moon is my mother, and the Five Planets are my elder brothers. I command the divine generals to go forth and capture ghosts and spirits. Quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.

Before performing the practice described above, first write three talismans. When you are ready to perform it, swallow one; after completing the purification offering, swallow the other two. First recite the incantation seven times, then swallow them. Even if you do not see ghosts and spirits, you will be able to hear them.

Eye-Cleansing Talisman

Write the talisman above in cinnabar, burn it to ash, and place the ash in water to wash the eyes. This will purify the eyes and enable one to see ghosts and spirits clearly. It may also be used to treat illness, and is highly efficacious.

Incantation: May the Divine Lords of the Three Terraces aid my brush and open communication with the spirits, remove calamities and avert misfortune, and destroy evil essences. Quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.

Talisman of the Yin and Yang Aspects of the Dipper for Divining Signs (on unwritten yellow paper)

For the yang talisman, take the Greedy Wolf Star as an example; for the yin talisman, take the Great Gate Star as an example.

Four Spirits Talisman for Protection and Preservation of Life (men wear it on the left, women on the right)

Incantation: Emperor of Heaven, radiant and bright; sun and moon, shine upon me. May the myriad evils not intrude. May the Four Luminaries protect my person; may the Southern Dipper preserve my life, and the Northern Dipper prolong my years. May all the Lords of Heaven and Emperors protect my body. Quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.

Talisman for Purifying Defilement

Ziwen Astral Pace Formula

Talisman for Facing the Dipper, Setting the Astral Pace, and Communing with the True

Incantation: May the Three Hun souls be upright and their vital energy pure; may the Seven Po souls be at peace. Preserve me in long life; may the hundred spirits aid me. Let no evil thought stir, and let me reach the Highest Truth. Quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.

Talisman for Escaping Misfortune

True Talisman for Resolving the Twenty-Four Misfortunes

The misfortune of the Three Calamities; the four directional misfortunes: Siwen, Siyuan, Sizhi, and Sichong; the Four Baleful Misfortunes; Zhou An, Zhou Ding, Zhou Shou, Zhou You, and Zhou Yu; the Five Phases misfortune; Guo Ren, Guo Ji, Guo Chuan, Guo Shen, and Guo Shen; the Six Harms misfortune; Lü Sheng, Lü Peng, Lü Bin, Lü Shi, and Lü Fu; the Seven Injuries misfortune; Huang Chang, Huang Sheng, Huang Chu, Huang Yan, and Huang Yao; the Eight Difficulties misfortune; Hua Da, Hua Ben, Hua Gui, Hua Tai, and Hua Yuan; and the Nine Stars misfortune.

This passage lists various disasters and afflictions to be warded off, along with the corresponding talisman names or divine names. Here, “affliction” means calamity or misfortune. The name-like titles in each group are proper names used in talismans and are retained as in the original.

“Man Zishao, Man Ziyin, Man Zhang, Man Zichan, and Man Zixing” correspond to afflictions affecting husbands and wives; “Lin Ting, Lin Tuo, Lin Kang, Lin Zha, and Lin Gong” correspond to afflictions affecting men and women; and “Cai Doucheng, Cai Douli, Cai Douyong, Cai Douhu, and Cai Doucong” correspond to afflictions related to childbirth, meaning disasters concerning fertility and birth.

“Liu Tiangai, Liu Tiansheng, Liu Tianzhu, Liu Tian’en, and Liu Tiande” correspond to recurring afflictions; “Ke Feng, Ke Xiang, Ke Tai, Ke Zou, and Ke Qin” correspond to epidemic afflictions, meaning disasters caused by the spread of infectious disease; and “Zhi Keng, Zhi Yu, Zhi Zhu, Zhi Du, and Zhi Que” correspond to afflictions of illness.

“Chen Renyong, Chen Ren’an, Chen Renda, Chen Renze, and Chen Rende” correspond to afflictions caused by demons and evil spirits; “Chen Shiwen, Chen Shili, Chen Shiyong, Chen Shi’an, and Chen Shizheng” correspond to afflictions caused by tigers and wolves; and “Lu Gongshu, Lu Gongbi, Lu Gonghong, Lu Gongshan, and Lu Gongli” correspond to afflictions caused by insects and snakes.

“Huo Congzhi, Huo Shizhi, Huo Youzhi, Huo Weizhi, and Huo Nengzhi” correspond to afflictions of the underworld; “Kai Shangsheng, Kai Shangzhi, Kai Shangsheng, Kai Shangxian, and Kai Shangcong” correspond to all kinds of affliction; and “Guan You, Guan Ren, Guan Jiu, Guan Da, and Guan Ru” correspond to afflictions caused by bandits.

“Wen Shan, Wen Dao, Wen Ren, Wen Zheng, and Wen Tong” correspond to afflictions involving stocks and the rod, meaning punishment by being put in the stocks or beaten; “Wen Shou, Wen Shun, Wen Ai, Wen Guan, and Wen Fu” correspond to sudden-death afflictions; and “Yue Daguang, Yue Dafang, Yue Daming, Yue Dacheng, and Yue Dading” correspond to afflictions caused by curses and oaths.

“Ri Zihua, Ri Zishao, Ri Zilai, Ri Zisheng, and Ri Zihe” correspond to afflictions of the heavenly net; “Tian Dongzhen, Tian Dong’an, Tian Dongling, Tian Dongming, and Tian Dongshen” correspond to afflictions of the earthly net; and “Di Daxin, Di Dali, Di Daguang, Di Dapang, and Di Dasheng” are also listed under the heading of earthly-net afflictions.

These talismans are to be written on yellow paper in cinnabar. Then take 120 copper coins and string them with five-colored thread, five coins to each string. After reciting the incantation, place the talismans and strings of coins in a water basin. A water basin is a vessel for holding water, often used in Daoist rites involving talisman water.

The incantation says: “O Northern Dipper (the seven stars of the Northern Dipper), may this talisman reach and illuminate the sacred rites, make the wondrous radiance clear, and reach the spirits of the netherworld.”

Modern Interpretation

This passage comes from Volume Twelve of Fahai Yizhu. It is a Daoist incantation used when establishing the Dipper altar and inviting the stars. Its general meaning is as follows.

The incantation:

“True Great Sage, wondrous and all-penetrating; all follow the Dipper steps. Establish the Dipper altar and kindle the ritual torch; may the Nine True Star Deities descend from Heaven. Origination, success, benefit, and constancy—swiftly, in accordance with the law!”

Line-by-line explanation:

“True Great Sage, wondrous and all-penetrating” praises the True Great Sage as possessing mysterious power and reaching throughout Heaven and Earth, able to respond to prayers and protect the ritual.

“All follow the Dipper steps” broadly means that everything proceeds according to the Dipper steps and Dipper rites. In liturgy, “Dipper” often refers to the ritual steps and methods associated with pacing the Dipper and circling the Dipper altar.

“Establish the Dipper altar and kindle the ritual torch” means to set up the Dipper altar and light the ritual lamp or candles, formally establishing the altar and beginning the rite.

“May the Nine True Star Deities descend from Heaven” is a prayer for the celestial Nine True Ones to descend upon the altar. In Daoist Dipper rites, star deities such as those of the Northern Dipper are often personified and assigned distinct roles. The term “Nine True Ones” conveys that the numinous powers of the stars have all arrived.

“Origination, success, benefit, and constancy” are the four virtues of the Qian hexagram in the Zhouyi (Classic of Changes): beginning, flourishing, benefit, and rightness. In the incantation, they express good fortune, a smooth course, and alignment with the Way of Heaven, serving much like a blessing.

“Swiftly, in accordance with the law!” is a common concluding phrase in Daoist liturgy. It means “may this be accomplished swiftly, as a command under the law,” and marks the end of the invocation, command, or rite.

Overall meaning:

During the rite of establishing the Dipper altar and lighting the ritual torch, the practitioner recites the name of the True Great Sage and proceeds according to the Dipper steps and rites, praying for the Nine True Star Deities to descend and protect the altar. The practitioner then invokes good fortune and the successful completion of the rite, ending with the command, “Swiftly, in accordance with the law!”

Source note:

The material above is a liturgical incantation recorded in Volume Twelve of Fahai Yizhu. It is best approached as a textual and religious-cultural document, rather than as everyday speech or wording to be casually adapted for other uses.