《法海遺珠》Vol. 26

Fahai Yizhu (Pearls Left in the Sea of the Dharma), Volume Twenty-Six, "Li Wu": Commanding the Mysterious Secrets of the Social Officers, the Roster of Generals

The Roster of Generals (Divine Commanders' Register)

The main altar is held by the Great Spirit of the Eighty-One Days of Sudden Fire Ordinances, Deng Bowen. The two supervising altars are held by the Taiyi Swift Upright Attendant Envoys Zhang Yuanbo and Xu Xianding. The overall chief of the Social Officer Thunder Deities of the Three Realms and Nine Provinces is Jiang Ze. The commander-in-chief is the Great Spirit of the Thunderous Voice Universal Transformation of the Nine Heavens, Song Guangze. The deputy general is Guan Yu, the General of the Eastern Peak's Chief Office who Drives the Hidden Thunder.

The Social Officer Thunder Deities of the Nine Provinces

The Social Officer of Yangzhou is Zou Hun. The General who Drives Away Evil and Strikes Down Wickedness is Wen Qiong.

Stepping the Gang

Step the Gang constellations and tread the Dipper according to the ritual manual.

Summoning Incantations

First Incantation. Om, ha-na ka-na, Dishi Chashu, the Thunder Spirit: swiftly gather. Huo-tuo... swiftly, swiftly gather; Di-li ka... quickly, quickly gather. Zhi di... ju-mo-ni, swiftly, swiftly, as the statute commands.

Command of the Fire Master, the True King. Then recite: The True King of Jingzhong rules the Nine Heavens with awe. He holds the Three Whites in his hands and treads the Nine Mysteries underfoot. The Golden Tiger charges ahead, the Flying Dragon coils around Qian (Heaven), his majesty moves through the Three Realms, and he governs all spirits. This minister was born of the Supreme Ultimate (Taiji) and has served for many years. Now I hold the divine mandate and grasp the authority of power, commanding the Thunder Spirits with impartial justice. I now employ them; may all grant what is spoken. Swiftly, swiftly, as the statute of the True King of Jingzhong commands.

Visualization and Breath Practice

When the incantation is complete, close the eyes. Form the Zi-Wen thunder seal with the left hand, and hold the right hand in a sword gesture with the fist at the waist. Draw kidney qi upward from below, visualizing it passing the Weilu (tailbone point) and reaching the Jiaji (spinal ridge), then guiding it up to the Jiangong (Crimson Palace). Next, take one breath of heart qi and lead it in the same way to the Crimson Palace, so that the two qi unite as one. Press the tongue against the upper palate and visualize the Golden Bridge in operation. Circulate the qi of the Five Peaks and visualize it forming the three characters "Ling ▲▲." Once they are formed, swallow the true water of the Huachi (Jade Pond, the saliva beneath the tongue) and send it down into the Shenshi (Spirit Chamber).

Next, form the seal of the Tianzhen Beidi (Northern Emperor) incantation. Rub the abdomen clockwise five times. Inhale through the nose and draw in one stream of golden qi from the Yin Dipper into the lower chamber. Then raise a Yang Dipper, visualizing the qi of the Dipper Gang arriving, and immediately recite the secret mantra to summon the forces:

Om, ya-li... ya-li... hum hum ma-ni.

Recite this incantation three times, and visualize the robes and colors of the generals as they arrive at the altar. Then summon the generals Guan and Wen again, using the same thunder seal, and recite: Om, qi-li ka... hum hu-nu-li po-he (three times).

Note: The "▲" in the text marks characters that are missing from the original book or are variant forms. The mantra syllables largely follow the transcription conventions of the Daozang (Daoist Canon), and they should be recited as transmitted orally by a teacher rather than altered on one's own. The titles and functions of the Social Officers, Swift Upright Envoys, and Universal Transformation Spirits belong to thunder rites and to rituals for clearing skies and expelling evil. This modern rendering is intended only as a general guide to meaning. Actual practice must follow the complete ritual manual and its lineage.

"Om Xiyi Dilantuoye" (a mantra), recited three times.

Dismiss the troops of the Ding, Ren, Gui, and Xun directions, swiftly as arrows. Step left to stride onto the Kui and Gang stars (the star positions used in the Daoist ritual of stepping the Gang and treading the Dipper), and the image of Qian and Kun will appear. When all the above generals have arrived before the altar, summon the commanders and generals as usual. One may also address them with a petition, and then, using the earlier method, blow qi onto the brush while reciting "Om Bisen Qi Ti▲Zha Ti Shen She" three times.

Next, recite a string of incantations: "Xu li la li fa na▲ni hu hong ti shen ti li ka shen en he qin sha ti ti na na▲ si die fu yi ge zhi ti hong hong li zha she ka hu zha xie sha fa na." Then recite "Jiji ru zhen wang lüling" (Urgent, urgent, as the True King's statutes command), so that the commanding talisman is carried out at once.

Gather the fire qi within the heart (the qi that inner cultivation speaks of), blow it onto red paper, and write the talisman in cinnabar on the paper. In cases of praying for rain, use black paper instead to write the Social Commander Thunder Talisman (a talisman summoning the Earth Altar Commanders and the generals of the Thunder Ministry). The following decrees and incantations may be written on the talisman in turn: Upper Terrace Xujing, Middle Terrace Xuechun, Lower Terrace Qusheng; the decrees of the three Supreme Emperors of Jade Clarity, Highest Clarity, and Great Clarity; "The Most High has commanded: summon the Five Thunders"; "Demons, goblins, and evil spirits shall not be permitted to work mischief"; and the incantation of the True King of the Jing Constellation. Then recite: "Om hum hum. All gods, kowtow; evil demons, return to the right. Whoever dares disobey shall be turned to fine dust. Jiji ru Haotian Yuhuang Da Tianzun Xuanqiong Gaoshang Di lüling chi" (Urgent, as the statutes of the Great Heavenly Venerable Jade Emperor, Mysterious Sky, Exalted Supreme Lord, command).

Wherever the talisman reaches, the True Emperor descends to carry out its order. Anyone who dares to defy the decree is to be handed over to the City God of a certain city, and to the Altar Commanders and Thunder Ministry, for punishment. The Thunder of the Northern Fengdu shall rise swiftly, issuing commands at once according to the matter at hand, and the Five Directions formulas shall be applied. The Jade Emperor has issued a decree: the Altar Commanders and the Thunder Ministry's officers and soldiers are urgently summoned to come together. The Yin Dipper and the Yang Dipper (the formulas of the two kinds of Dipper stars, yin and yang) shall both be employed. The Northern Emperor has issued a decree: the Altar Commanders shall comply with the Fire Command, acting swiftly and not daring to resist. Decrees issued to the City God and Altar Commanders of a certain prefecture and county are to be carried out accordingly. A talismanic order is urgent and must be obeyed; anyone who delays or disobeys shall be escorted to the Nine Gloomy Depths (the deepest realm of the netherworld).

The Water Thunder God of Heaven, the Fire Thunder God of Heaven, the Water Thunder God of Earth, and the Fire Thunder God of Earth, together with the Five Thunders, descend and manifest efficacy, sealing shut the gates of the ghosts. The elite pivot-generals guard the passes and block evil spirits. Once the decrees and talismanic orders have been issued, everything shall proceed according to the decrees in force when the True Emperor descended, and the Wind, Clouds, Thunder, Lightning, and Rain shall act swiftly.

Upon the jade script (the sacred writing used in Daoist talismans), write, layer upon layer, the names of the local City God and of the Altar Commander of a certain place, ordering them to swiftly obey the talismanic notice and carry out their commands.

Prayer for Rain (Black Ink / Seal-Script Talismans)

Incantation Syllables (recited according to the ritual procedure, without the need to explain each character): he zi, le cha, jiao zhi, fa cha, mo, zuo xie, cha, ming li, and she; together with other graphs such as hui, tuo, ling, yan, hao, li, and zha, which belong to the secret sounds or talisman-core forms commonly used in Thunder Rites (leifa) and rain-prayers.

Intent and Visualization (yizhi yu cunxiang): Visualize golden light (or golden Qi) entering the talisman. Recite lines such as "The Supreme Emperor has issued a decree; the True King shall respond and obey; stir the Office of the Altar, greatly shake the thunder," which mean that Heaven has issued an edict, the Jade Clarity True King (a revered deity of the Shenxiao school) receives the command, and it urges Shè Lìng (the name of the thunder deity who governs wind and rain) to send forth thunder.

The text continues: Heavenly Spirit, Heavenly Spirit, Six Jia and Six Ding, the Flying Heavenly Drums follow, quickly spread the dark clouds (yinying), and let the thunder arrive at once. Hui Zha, Cavern of Heaven, the Heavenly Emperor has issued a command. Tabo (the deity who governs fire) leads the troops; Dongxuan, Dongzha, Dongshen, and Dongling; the Envoy of the Southern Flame (the envoy of the fire department); and the Essence of the Kan Position (the deity of water, of the northern direction). Summon Shè Lìng without delay; to disobey the order is like defying Highest Clarity. Quickly, quickly, in accordance with the statute of the Exalted Shenxiao Jade Clarity True King.

Six-Stage Rain Formula (visualized in accordance with the turning of the double hours): In the first stage, wind rises (zi hour). In the second, clouds gather (wei hour). In the third, lightning flashes (wu hour). In the fourth, thunder roars (yin and hai hours). In the fifth, rain pours down (chen hour). In the sixth, a violent wind and great thunderclap arise, with flying sand and rolling stones. In the seventh, the drought demon Han Ba (the deity of drought) is wiped away. (For this last hour, the sources differ: some give si, others give a variant reading. The ritual should follow the transmitted version.)

Procedure for Drawing the Talisman: Hold the brush in the right hand and write the talisman in black ink, applying the ink beneath the words "thunder bureau" and "Shè Lìng." First visualize the True King (Jade Clarity True King), and write his jade taboo name (the concealed name of the deity), visualizing it in gold. Then write the character for "decree," visualizing the envoy's golden tablet. When writing the three characters "Heavenly decree commands," visualize gold, inhale, and blow the breath into the talisman. Next write the two characters "Shè Lìng," visualizing the Five Qi (the Qi of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth) joining in the talisman. The Five Qi represent wind, cloud, thunder, rain, and lightning. Then apply the ink and visualize black wind and heavy rain filling Heaven and Earth. When the talisman is released, form the mudra and visualize a violent thunderclap. Stamp the talisman with the matching-characters seal (hetong zi yin) across the seam of the paper.

Burn the left side of the talisman first, and burn the right side on the appointed day. Then infuse it with Shenxiao Qi. Additionally, write "Shè Lìng Zou Hun of Yangzhou" somewhere on the talisman (the source specifies "the noon position" or similar locations, depending on the copy). Add the single character for the day-officer (zhisu) on the talisman. On the day-officer that falls two days after the Awakening of Insects (Jingzhe) in the current year, stamp the talisman with the twenty-three characters on the back. (This method of stamping depends on the calendar and the day-officer.)

Prayer for Clear Weather (Vermilion Ink / Seal-Script Talismans)

Recite: "Thunder has an order; Shè Lìng obeys and carries it out," or "Let the sunlight rise swiftly, let the shadows of cloud vanish swiftly." Also recite: "Fire-cart, fire-cart, house of the thunder decree," meaning that the command of thunder and fire is used to drive away the clouds.

"Three and Five as Commanders" (possibly referring to the generals of the thunder ministry or to the fire numbers) shine without limit, hurl fire ten thousand miles, and sweep away all clouds and haze. With a covenant to assist the emperor, the dazzling silver teeth open and release the rain (the force of the downpour), swiftly and without error.

(What follows is the counterpart to the Prayer for Rain, the rite for clearing the weather. It uses a vermilion brush to draw a seal, visualizing the sun rising and the clouds dispersing. The procedure for this rite may mirror the Prayer for Rain, but the source gives only the title and the meaning of the incantation here.)

Note: The phrase "Ji, Yan, Qing, Xu, Yang, Jing, Yu, Liang, Yong" refers to the ancient Nine Provinces of China, and the talismans often assign deities to each region. Shè Lìng is the deity who holds the command within the thunder ministry. Shenxiao refers to the important tradition of Thunder Rites and rain-prayers that has existed since the Song dynasty. Day-officer and Awakening of Insects belong to the practice of selecting auspicious days. In Daoist fulu practice, black talismans are generally used to summon rain, and vermilion talismans to summon clear weather. In the incantations, the symbols marked ▲, variant graphs, and bracketed alternative readings indicate that different manuscripts use different characters. When performing the rite, follow the version of the text that has been transmitted to you.

Bowen receives the command and waits for the bright sun at once: the Supreme Thearch's Fire Command, quickly, quickly.

Decree: to be carried out at noon.

I. Method for Writing the Clear-Skies Talisman (Adding and Subtracting Strokes en Route)

When writing this talisman, add or remove strokes according to the established rules. First write the yuhui (jade name, the secret divine title of the immortal). Then write the character chi (decree) into the incantation text. Change "great thunderclap and lightning" to "greatly clear and bright." Next write the Thunder Command (leiling). The fire-chariot talisman (huoche fu, the fire-wheel talisman) should be drawn with flames blazing high and rising toward the heavenly realm, signifying the opening of Yang and the closing of Yin, that is, clearing the skies and dispersing dark clouds. When carrying out the dispatch (xingqian), alter five characters beside the main talisman to read "dispel the overcast, greatly clear the skies," and empower the talisman together with the Sun-Born Fire-Wheel Incantation.

II. Talisman for Slaying Demons (Guosui Fu)

This talisman is used for guosui (destroying malevolent spirits). Only within the black seal-script characters should phrases such as "seven turns, everything becomes calamity" be revised to read that evil demons, ghost-bandits, and the local spirit officials (shelling), once they stir, shall have their traces extinguished. Otherwise, the alterations beside the main talisman follow the same method, and one writes: "Black wind and thunderbolt, thunder-fire slays and burns; swiftly, swiftly."

III. Sun-Born Fire-Wheel Incantation (General Sense)

Golden crystal returns in jade, and the heavenly clouds part. The Purple Tenuity descends auspicious signs, and the excessive rain should cease. When the great sun unfurls, its lightning shatters the yin. The Sea Earl and the Wind Master dispel the clouds and shake out the thunder. The Yellow Flower Youth's Yang essence blazes bright, and the Bing fire returns in the Yin hour, the Fire Wheel of Supreme Purity, Purple Tenuity, and the Most High. Flowing-gold fire bells ring out the Heavenly Thearch's decree: gather the clouds, open the light, and issue the flowing-gold fire command. Receive the decree and act, swiftly, as the Most High's fire-wheel and wind-fire statutes. (This is a fire-wheel incantation of the kind used to pray for clear weather, drive away dark clouds, and open the sunlight.)

IV. Moon-Born Water-Wheel Incantation (General Sense)

Thunder light and lightning flash, and the Great One lies hidden and concealed. The Fire Earl and the Wind Command, together with the White-Haired Venerable (the moon deity), strictly guard the waters of the four seas. Hurl the fiery yang crystal, close the rain command, and halt the winds. The lunar radiance and the golden star set out on their course, and water and fire flow through the depths. Han the Earl bears the boat, and the Three Officials open their light, while the Five Emperors are trusted in the dim realm. The Most High's decree: let the dragon fly and the rain pour down. Swiftly, swiftly, as the Supreme Thearch's statutes command. (This is an incantation of the water-wheel type, used to summon or regulate rain.)

V. Secret Incantation of Twenty-Three Characters

(In the original book, these characters are written over the character jing (well). The body text is replaced with ▲ and is not made public. The final line reads: "Swiftly, as the statutes command.")

VI. Usage

Write on yellow paper in cinnabar ink, and affix it before the memorial document and beneath the talisman. State the particular prefecture and county, and address the local City God (Chenghuang, the guardian deity of the walled town). Set a deadline for a response by a specified hour, and demand an urgent reply without delay. Act swiftly, and carry out the order at once.

VII. Altar Procedure for the Burning-Talisman Command

For the burning-talisman command (shao fu ming), which burns the talisman to issue the order, the Master first summons the Two Perfected, Zhang and Xu (generally Zhang Ling and Xu Xun, the ancestral figures of the thunder and water rites), below the altar. The Master then ascends the altar and paces the Dipper steps (bugang ru dou), treading the sequence of the Northern Dipper to activate the rite. Finally, the Master recites the Mulang Incantation aloud to stir up the Dipper qi.

The formula for the Dipper steps and incantation reads: "I receive the Supreme Thearch's decree and summon the Five Thunders. Whoever arrives late shall be cut down and their form annihilated."

Background Note (to Aid Reading the Full Text)

This passage belongs to the practical operations of Daoist thunder rites (leifa), fire commands, and weather control. Through altering characters, empowering talisman, and reciting fire-wheel and water-wheel incantations, combined with time-limited responses from the City God, the rites aim to halt rain, clear the skies, or expel evil. Phrases such as "altering beside the main talisman" and "altering five characters beside the main talisman" describe the rules for writing the talisman's core and issuing its commands. "Pacing the Dipper steps" and the "Mulang Incantation" are the fixed procedures for the Master when ascending the altar to perform the rite.

Calling the Wind and Summoning the Clouds

When performing a rain-prayer rite, one burns the talismans and incantations, then walks the Three Gang Steps (Sāngāng Bù) to urge the Altar-Directive Great Deity (Shèlìng Dàshén), the earth god, to appear from three directions. Once the deity has manifested from all three, the practitioner paces the Dipper and sees a beam of Dipper light strike the Commander's position. The deity of that position then appears before the practitioner to await orders, and the practitioner urges the Altar-Directive to bring the rain.

Kuigang Supreme Sage Incantation

The Kuigang Supreme Sage is again most numinous. I now fly up the steps to ascend to the Yang Heaven. The Earth turns and returns, subduing the Six Dings. Taiwei commands me to drive the thunder. The Fire Master shakes the golden bell once, and the thunderclap bursts forth and echoes through Taiqing. Whoever dares to defy this will be destroyed by Heaven, body and form alike.

Taiyi Incantation

The Altar-Directive is roused to slay the demons. The yang of Li drives away the drought-demon Bá, and all of them vanish without a trace. Water surges, fire blazes, wind and rain follow. The flowing bell hurls fire that flies into the vast sky. Táo Bīn and the Yang Light command Fenglong, and the Altar-Directives of the Nine Provinces gather dense clouds. The Supreme Lord's decree descends and is placed upon your person. Thunder, fire, and bell, do not delay. Swiftly, swiftly, as fire, by command.

Second Summons Incantation

Táo Bīn, Yang Light, the essence of the Willow Star, brilliant and transforming in countless ways, the celestial assistants of Bǐng and Dīng. The sun and moon unite their radiance, and the Jade Spring scatters its light. The great demon of the Red Heaven reveals to me his divine might. The Most High Hàobó and Ē wú bestow upon me the Dragon Tablet, and Taiyi commands that the Nine Demons be destroyed. Swiftly, swiftly, illuminate and command the firelight, seize the poison, seize the poison.

Nine Provinces Altar-Directive Gang

I issue forth from the central palace into Yōngzhōu, named Qián, shifting across Liáng. Duì establishes Yǎnzhōu and dwells at the Gèn Gate. The true fire of Nányáng holds the position of Jìzhōu. Dwelling in Kǎn and settling in the Kūn position is Jīngzhōu. Above, Zhèn holds the position of the Azure Dragon's root. Xúzhōu dwells at the Xùn gate, and Yùzhōu. The central palace preserves me, and I perform the Great Cavern method. Seize the ghosts and draw their power into me.

Jade Pivot Great Marshal Talisman

(The left eye is the sun; the right eye is the moon.)

(Heaven is round and Earth square, where thunder dwells; this is the Bagua formula of the Thunder Hall.)

(Fire flares with dazzling light that scorches a hundred evils.)

(Smash and shatter.)

(The Envoy of the Five Mysterious Savage Thunders rises swiftly, with the Five Directions formula.)

(Drag down the sky and pull the earth, lift the heavens and spit clouds.)

(Bosom.)

(Vast and boundless, embracing all the myriad phenomena.)

(Left foot walking Li, burn and slay the evil ghosts.)

(Right foot walking Xùn, blow out and extinguish the ghosts and spirits.)

(The Supreme Lord has issued a decree: sweep the Nine Provinces clean.)

(Celestial thunder rise swiftly, divine thunder rise swiftly, dragon thunder rise swiftly, water thunder rise swiftly.)

(Altar-Directive thunder.)

(The thunder axe strikes once, and the thunderclaps crash in profusion.)

Vernacular Interpretation:

Calling the Wind and Summoning the Clouds

During a rain-prayer rite, one first burns the talismans, then walks the Three Gang Steps to urge the Altar-Directive Great Deity (the god who governs the land) to appear from the east, south, and west. Once the deity has manifested in all three directions, the practitioner, while pacing the Dipper, sees a beam of Dipper light strike the Commander's position. The deity of that position then appears before the practitioner to await commands, and the practitioner urges the Altar-Directive to carry out the rainfall.

(Upon reciting this passage, rise to your feet at once. If any ghost or spirit dares to offend, let its form and spirit be utterly shattered.)

From the southern fire clouds comes aid for the pili (thunderclap), and from the northern water spirits issue the thunder. The left eye opens light to illuminate the eight directions, while the right eye gives birth to thunder-light and fire-lightning. Wind rises from the left ribs and fire from the right. Thunder and fire burn the ghosts, the ghosts are extinguished, and the spirits grieve. (The text further lists the Sha of Heaven, Sha of Earth, Sha of the Year, Sha of the Month, Sha of the Day, and Sha of the Hour. This means that all lawless ghosts and spirits perish of their own accord upon meeting this talisman.)

For this talisman, one should recite incantations such as "Taiyi Kuigang Pili" (Great Unity, Kuigang Thunderclap), repeating them any number of times. Rub the talisman over the body and compose yourself as if presenting a memorial at court. One may hold an axe and press it downward to pin something in place, or strike upward to smite evil. The talisman may also be used to carry memorials and report to the throne, to seize ghosts and guard the altar, to heal illness and secure safety, and to pin down and pacify afflictions. Beneath the talisman, one writes the character for sha (malign influence). When praying for clear skies or rain, one writes the character for lei (thunder) instead.

Secret Edicts for Dispatching Officers

Visualize the Perfected Danyuan (Danyuan Zhenren) attending court. Once the memorial is completed at the Golden Gate of the Vast Heaven, the Vast Heaven sends down golden light, which enters the talisman. The officiant follows the light and writes the two strokes, then writes the command "chi cha xu huo heng tian ba ji zhi" (Imperial order: the Sudden Fire that spans the heavens, the Overlord, arrive at once). Visualize the back of the talisman, recite the memorial incantation aloud, and when the incantation is finished, the talisman and the officiant become one. The two strokes beneath the wings store the qi of the two kidneys, red and black, in the talisman, where it transforms into two emissaries. To summon them, write "arrive at once."

Secret Essentials of Inner Circulation

To transform the spirit into a thunder envoy, visualize the qi of the five viscera gathering in the Yellow Court (Huangting). Suddenly a Perfected Danyuan is born from it, and then recite:

Heavenly thunder rumbles faintly, spirit thunder roars and roars.

Dragon thunder raises the waters, water-thunder churns the waves.

The Sheling and the thunder-fire crash in a double clap.

When the divine mechanism is released, demons and goblins are slain.

By the Supreme Emperor's command, act with all speed.

Then recite again:

Black fire surges vigorously, lightning-fire blazes and gleams.

Spirits descend, hail rises, and the might of thunder rises high.

Wind and rain shatter demons, and the myriad spirits clasp their hands.

Mountains and peaks collapse. Dispatch the yaksha of the Dragon Host and the Chitian Chichi (Red Heaven Command), so that the dragon-dry fire and the Overlord of the heavens come before me at once, following the talisman to carry out the order.

Establishing the Thunder Bureau through Omens and Circulation

Visualize the water of the kidneys rising from the tail-end (weilü), climbing the spine (jiaji), and passing through to Niwan (the Mud Pellet, the upper cinnabar field). It then pours into the Heart Palace, where it bathes and nourishes the heart-fire. Water and fire collide with a great roar, surge toward the Xun direction (southeast), and become a single thunderclap, and the great spirit appears. Next, recite:

Xu-fire stands at the heart; the Five Thunders alone are honored.

Clouds rise, smoke and flame kindle, and in proper order (the following text, which urges thunder and summons the generals, is fragmentary; its general sense is that the clouds and thunder rise together and the spirit-generals await orders).

Note: This section records a Daoist thunder-rite (leifa) procedure that combines talisman-writing, incantation, and visualization (cunxiang). Names such as Danyuan Zhenren, Huangting, Xu-huo Heng-tian Ba, and Taiyi Kuigang are the names of spirits, generals, and inner-landscape locations in the thunder-rite tradition. The two strokes beneath the talisman's wings and the red and black qi of the kidneys join inner cultivation, talisman-making, and summoning of generals into a single ritual sequence. The latter part of the original contains lacunae in the incantations. This vernacular rendering follows only the surviving characters and conveys their general sense. It does not restore the missing text.

Opening Decree (Formula of the Thunder Department)

Light illuminates heaven and earth. The Five Sacred Peaks crumble, the Yellow River churns, and heaven and earth turn black. The Jade Emperor (Yuhuang Dadi) personally issues a decree to annihilate the wicked multitudes of beings. Hasten, hasten, as the statute commands: the Statute of the Five Thunders of Shangqing.

Visualizing the Great Spirit and Achieving Union

At the moment of the "omen" (the stirring of intention, the initiating posture), take one breath in. The Great Spirit (dashen) enters through the "Gate of All Mysteries" (zhongmiao men), the region around the Muddy Pellet Palace (Niwan Gong) at the crown of the head. Visualize it standing back to back with the "True Person" (zhenren).

Recite the incantation to summon the Great Spirit, and visualize its arrival, its force like a torrential rain and a flooding river. Draw it inward into the "Yellow Court" (Huangting), the middle Dantian (Dantian), where it merges into one body with the "Perfected Danyuan" (Danyuan Zhenren).

Incantations of Command and Summoning the Thunder

Recite: Gouduo nuo dao li... (transliterated incantation), cha na he, su tu na, tan jia, qing na, wei lu he na, feng yun ju na, ong mo ju... ju he ye. Command the thunder, lightning, and fire to stir swiftly.

The Spirit of Brilliance of the Nine Heavens

"Spirit of Brilliance of the Nine Heavens, the light of the heart commands and seizes." (Recite this line three times.)

Visualize the Marshal still dwelling in the central palace, then recite the statute again: "Great Spirit Taiyi, containing the True." When the incantation is complete, see the Marshal emerge from the crown of the head and stand before you to receive orders. The two become one. Activate the thunder-formula and release it, using it freely before you; or write it into a talisman, and as you take in the omen, exhale a breath upon it so that the Marshal also transforms into qi.

Afterward the Marshal is no longer seen, and only a ball of fiery light appears. Draw it into the heart.

Dispatching Generals and Working the Thunder

Grip the thunder-formula, straighten the body, and draw the "Worthy Water" (xian shui, the water of the kidneys or the water of the Kan trigram) upward from between the shoulder blades to the Muddy Pellet. The heart-fire is felt to grow ever hotter. Use the formula to lead the water down to pour into the Crimson Palace (the heart), where water and fire clash with crackling sounds. Turn the formula in empty space beside both ears to strengthen its momentum: when the eyes turn, lightning is produced; when the formula strikes, thunder is produced. Peals of thunder fill the sky, and the Marshal and the practitioner merge into one body.

Incantation Spoken

The Statute Great Spirit Taiyi, containing the True: five carriages and eight horses, thunder and lightning crushing and toppling. The Supreme Emperor has commanded it to assist my body. Golden light bursts forth as lightning; swiftly reveal your true form. If you dare to disobey or neglect this, calamity will flow down upon your body. Hasten, hasten, obeying the command of the Jade Emperor of the August Heaven, Supreme Lord, who seizes and gathers.

Secret Incantation for Matching the Marshal to the Talisman

Dispatch the sudden fire that spans the heavens and dominates. Arrive immediately. One generates one, one generates two, two generates three: the Primordial Heavenly Venerable (Yuanshi Tianzun) governs and gathers all. One generates one, one generates two, two generates three: the Great Spirit of Sudden Fire, Deng Ye (Lord Deng), governs and gathers all.

Silently recite the above incantation three times, and the spirit will certainly descend.

Heart Incantation of the Great Spirit

Tianhuang jiaye, seize with the thunderbolt.

The secret incantation for matching the Jade Emperor.

This scripture records the incantations and ritual procedures of Daoist Thunder Magic (a secret technique for summoning thunderstorms and praying for rain), containing numerous special symbols and esoteric mantras. These seemingly peculiar characters are actually "cloud seal script" (a sacred writing system) in Thunder Magic, with each character representing specific divine power.

The text first describes the method for drawing ritual talismans (fulu): one must inscribe six special characters using the "Jade Emperor's Verification Mantra," followed by writing the thunder character with the "Marshal's Secret Code." This constitutes the life talisman through which the Jade Emperor summons the "Swift Fire" deities (thunder department spirits). During rain-praying ceremonies, the ritual master must visualize drawing water from the Heavenly River above Mount Penglai with the tip of their tongue, then recite purification incantations for the altar.

Next comes the "Central Mountain Divine Mantra," a secret text transmitted by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun). Reciting it once can expel ghosts and prolong life. The incantation claims to command the deities of the Five Sacred Mountains and Eight Seas, compel demon kings to surrender and serve as guardians, eliminate impurities, and ensure the eternal presence of Dao-Qi (primordial energy).

The specific practice involves: forming the "Thunder Seal" hand gesture with the left hand while placing the right hand in "sword mudra" posture at the waist. After entering meditative stillness, the master recites the "Golden Light Mantra," visualizing golden radiance filling heaven and earth while their body becomes transparent inside and out. Then they recite the Jade Emperor's orally transmitted decree to summon various true deities.

The incantation content roughly divides into several parts: first describing scenes of auspicious clouds across the nine heavens and interwoven golden light; then commanding the thunder department to destroy evil forces (visualizing golden light breaking through the thunder fortress in the Xun/X-wind trigram position); finally summoning the "Primordial Prosperity True Emperor" to manifest his true form.

The final esoteric mantra constitutes the key step for activating Thunder Magic: syllables like "Om Hong Hong" serve as secret codes of thunder deities, corresponding respectively to: the first sound initiating the thunder chariot (Zi hour direction), the second triggering lightning (Wei hour direction), the third producing thunderclaps (Wu hour direction), and the fourth completing the entire thunder ritual. These combined syllables form the complete activation code for Thunder Magic.

A Plain-Language Reading of an Excerpt from Fahai Yizhu

The following material comes from Daoist ritual texts concerning talismans, incantations, and Thunder Rites. It describes the mental methods, astral steps, incantations, and order of writing used to summon thunder, pray for rain, and write talismans. The terms yin, chen, si, mao, chou, and zi in parentheses are Earthly Branch directions, matched with the Nine Palaces, the astral steps, and the hours. They are not arbitrary characters.

I. Initiating the Thunder Rite and Urgent Commands

Visualize shaking at the yin position. At the fifth movement, there should be the appearance of sand and stones flying. At the chen position, at the sixth movement, there should be violent winds and booming thunder.

At the si position, recite: “Hurry, hurry, ignite the fire; hurry, hurry, carry out the command.” This urges the thunder and fire to act, and the ritual command to take effect at once.

Then, according to the directions, issue commands summoning the different kinds of thunder: chen—Heavenly Thunder; mao—Divine Thunder; yin—Dragon Thunder; chou—Water Thunder; zi—Thunder of the Earth Altar, associated with the land and its local spirits.

II. Astral Steps, Trigram Images, and the Manifestation of the Messenger

• Form the Thunder Formation mudra with the left hand and the Sword mudra with the right.
• Visualize the Six Stars, a group of six stars in the system of the Southern Dipper and related constellations, and circulate the Primordial Qi: the original, innate breath cultivated and directed from within the body or through the eyes during ritual practice.
• Send this vital energy out through the gaze to draw the Qian trigram in the air. Then sweep the Sword mudra as though breaking through a barrier.
• See golden light burst from beneath the ground. Point the sword upward, and the golden light breaks open the Xun Gate. Xun is associated with the wind gate and one of the gates of Heaven, symbolizing access to the celestial path.
• At this point, see not only the Six Stars but also a messenger beside the sixth star—a small star next to it.
• Visualize the Water of the Celestial River, imagining the Milky Way’s waters descending and flowing into the talisman, and pour it into the talisman all at once.
• Bring the Ancestral Qi, the qi of the lineage and its founding masters, to the tip of the tongue. Press the tongue against the upper palate, where the two kinds of qi, such as the Ancestral Qi and the Water of the Celestial River, meet.
• Use the character “wu,” a mental and spoken character employed in ritual, to project it before you. Hold it briefly in your visualization, glare fiercely, and recite the sixteen-character incantation below.
• See the messenger appear in its true form, filling the empty expanse.

Sixteen-character incantation:

Om li hum, om li hum li hum, om om li, om om li hum hum. Repeat in the order given in this scripture; these are common ritual sounds in Thunder Rites.

III. Writing the Talisman: The Eight Trigrams Formation and the Nine-Character Thunder Seal

• While writing the talisman, use golden light to form an Eight Trigrams arrangement, setting out the trigrams’ directions on the talisman or in the mind.
• Imagine a messenger in Heaven and Earth, shaped like the figure drawn in the talisman, whose golden light illuminates Heaven and Earth.
• Write the talisman in one continuous breath, then apply the Nine-Character Thunder Seal, a secret seal commonly found on Thunder Rite talismans.

Taboo names and characters—which differ according to whether one prays for rain, prays for clear skies, or exorcises ghosts:

A taboo name is a concealed form of a deity’s or star’s name, which must not be written in its ordinary form. The three “huang” characters are secret characters assigned to these respective purposes.

IV. The Function of the Rain Dispatch: Sending a Dispatch to Pray for Rain

1. Transform the spirit and perform the astral steps: First transform the spirit, then step through star positions such as Chi and another star name preserved differently in the text. Visualize fire beneath the feet bursting outward in all directions, filling the entire ritual realm. The positions of all Six Stars should shine with this same light.

2. When the steps are complete, retreat and stand on the fifth star. Plant the sword upright on the sixth star.

3. Burn the dispatch, the memorial or written order, and command the messenger.

4. Set the water in motion and bring down rain: Visualize the Celestial River surging and pouring down. The messenger drives the Celestial Chariot, turning the Water of the Celestial River into rain that falls to earth.

V. The Messenger Talisman

• Face toward the direction of the Celestial Dipper. Use the transformations of Creation to direct qi into the brush.
• Secretly recite the sixteen-character incantation, then gather the Primordial Qi into a shape at the talisman’s central point on the paper. After that, write the talisman and add its identifying name.
• Once the talisman is complete, write the character “huang” below it and visualize golden light filling the entire talisman.
• Then visualize the small star beyond the sixth star of the Southern Dipper emitting golden light. First wait for an omen to appear; only then may you formally use the talisman.

Note: The source text contains many damaged or missing characters, including star names in the instructions for the astral steps and some individual character forms. The passage has been interpreted coherently according to common conventions in Thunder Rite and astral-step texts. To compare it with a specific edition, the characters should be checked against the copy of Fahai Yizhu at hand.

Collected Gems from the Ocean of the Dao: A Plain-Language Interpretation

Scroll Twenty-Six

Imagine primordial chaos beginning to open: a light like white jade meets another light. The two lights join, then suddenly burst apart, and an envoy appears. Next, mobilize the ancestral Qi (the fundamental vital energy within the practitioner) and draw the envoy into the talisman.

Instructions for Drawing Talismans

First, recite the sixteen-character incantation to form the talisman, then draw the Kan and Li trigrams (Kan represents water, Li represents fire; together they symbolize water and fire) over a flame.

Next, write the sun and moon signs on the trigrams. To pray for clear weather, use the Tiangang Incantation to mark the Li trigram. Pull the Li trigram downward and place it over the Kan trigram, fixing it with a dot. Direct the ancestral Qi straight into and out through the Li trigram. Then write the clear-weather sign below and mark it with the incantation.

To pray for rain, do the opposite, reversing how the Kan and Li trigrams are used.

To treat harmful spirits (drive away evil influences), place the Kan and Li trigrams side by side and use them together.

Continue to visualize the envoy entering the talisman and filling it with golden light, then seal the talisman with astral Qi.

If one breath is divided for three uses, first write your personal sign at the top of the talisman. When burning it, mobilize and transform its power, and visualize the character “command” in the sky to urge it on.

For praying for rain, mark the talisman with the Mulang Incantation; for praying for clear weather, use the Great Awe-Inspiring Virtue Incantation.

The talisman also has additional marks for different purposes, shown in the original with symbols. Each purpose—praying for rain or clear weather, treating harmful spirits, shielding the body, treating epidemics, and so forth—has its corresponding form.

Whipping the Dragon (a method for summoning dragons to bring rain): Write on an iron tablet using swallow’s blood, realgar, and raw vermilion (cinnabar).

The Method for Obscuring Sunlight

Recite the Jade Emperor’s name and use the method of “creation and transformation”—writing with the tongue on the upper palate—to blow into a water bowl.

After reciting this, recite the following incantation, draw in Tiangang crimson Qi (the red true Qi of Tiangang), and spray it toward the sunlight. The sun will then grow dim. Continue by drawing a talisman in the air with your gaze.

The Rahu Incantation

By command of the Child of Taiwei: Om cheli svaha.

Om, Rahu, Ketu, Earth Star, be subdued.

(Title of the following scroll)

Collected Gems from the Ocean of the Dao, Scroll Twenty-Six