《法海遺珠》Vol. 27

Plain-language reading of Pearls Left Behind in the Sea of Dharma, Volume 27, “Separation Six”

Secret family-letter text of Master of the Golden Palace

Summoning, combining, and dispatching envoys (summoning spirits, assembling them for service, and sending them out)

Burn incense, transform the spirit, and pace the Big Dipper’s astral steps. Form the Jade Gesture with the left hand and the Sword Gesture with the right. Strike the command tablet three times, then summon the generals.

One stick of precious incense purifies the ten directions; three beats of the ritual drum bring all the spirits to hear. Now burn incense and issue a summons by written dispatch:

Chen, Liu, Sun, and Zhang, the four great merit officers who serve as the Four Direct Officers of the Mysterious Heaven; all the great commanders and generals of the Thunder Bureau under the Fajing authority: hear this summons and descend at once.

Essence of the Mysterious Heaven, mighty spirits of the Four Direct Officers, descend to the altar and listen for orders, then carry them out. Hasten, in accordance with the statutes of the Supreme Emperor.

I respectfully summon Chen An, Liu Ji, Sun De, and Zhang Jing, the four great envoys and merit officers of the Mysterious Heaven’s Four Direct Officers. Descend at once. I obey the edict of the Supreme Emperor of the Mysterious Heaven.

With the right hand, form the Zi-position hand seal and blow northward over the incense smoke. Recite the Tianpeng incantation silently once, then summon again:

By edict, I summon Chen An, Liu Ji, Sun De, and Zhang Jing, the four great envoys and merit officers of the Mysterious Heaven’s Four Direct Officers. By command, come swiftly. Hasten, in accordance with the statutes of the Supreme Emperor of the Mysterious Heaven.

Om, ba, hong, hu, hong, zha, li, she (phonetic syllables of a secret incantation).

Visualize the Four Direct envoys and the other spirits already present at the altar. The ritual master then dispatches the family letter according to the purpose at hand.

Talisman of the Four Direct Merit Officers

Recite the “Middle Section” once, and visualize golden light and Qi descending to cover the space. Then write the talisman.

I obey the edict of the Supreme Emperor of the Mysterious Heaven.

Then recite the sacred hundred-character invocation three times.

Open the Gate of Heaven (the Hai and Qian positions; press the tongue against the upper palate). Close the Earth’s Portal (the Chen and Xun positions; press the tongue against the lower gums). Keep the Human Gate open (the Shen and Kun positions; close the eyes). Repeat three times. Block the Ghost Road (the Yin and Gen positions; close the mouth and flick the hand seal).

Talisman of the Mysterious Heaven’s Merit Officers

I obey the edict of the Jade Emperor (the central palace) and the edict of the Supreme Emperor of the Mysterious Heaven (the Zi position).

Then recite the Jade Emperor’s proclamation and edict of dispatch.

Inner-letter talisman for a family letter

Recite the sacred name of the Mysterious Heaven and write the talisman. Stamp it with the family-letter seal. The talisman paper should be five inches square (using the ordinary ruler as the measure). Use a six-inch sheet of paper, attach it inside the family letter, and post it behind the Grand Duke of Jupiter, according to his direction.

Incantation for consecrating the talisman

The spirits shine amid the layered void; the Brahma net gathers in the blue empyrean. The Primordial Beginning rides the Nine Dragons; the Sovereign Personage attends in the blue carriage. Numinous light gathers the myriad perfected ones; the pearl-like radiance opens the vast Yang firmament. Reveal the Numinous Treasure. (The rest of the talisman incantation follows the source text.)

Note: This passage belongs to the family-letter secret rites of the Zhenwu (Mysterious Heaven) tradition. Through burning incense, pacing the astral steps, forming hand seals, and reciting incantations, practitioners summon the Four Direct Merit Officers—Chen An, Liu Ji, Sun De, and Zhang Jing—then write and stamp a talisman and insert it into a family letter, for a traveler to carry or for protection at home. “Pacing the Dipper’s astral steps,” the Jade Gesture, the Sword Gesture, the Tianpeng incantation, and “opening the Gate of Heaven and closing the Earth’s Portal” are all common visualization and ritual restriction methods in Daoist Zhaijiao (purification ritual). The specific procedures should follow the complete liturgy and the instructions transmitted by a master; this passage is provided only to clarify the wording.

Pearls Left Behind in the Sea of the Dao (Fahai Yizhu): A Plain-Language Interpretation

Opening Verse

May this piece bring blessings and virtue. The Cavern of Mystery is profound and hidden among lofty cliffs. Its jade-clear tones ring out and echo like clouds of an ancient jade wind instrument. The sea of the Great Dao surges with waves, while the meaning of the teaching flows alongside it, nourishing all things so that fine grain may grow and feed the hungry and poor. May the teaching flourish at court and protect the Central Land. May the Emperor’s life extend for countless years, and may weapons fall silent in an age of peace and prosperity. I bow my head and gaze up toward the Jade Palace of the Heavenly Emperor; numinous light falls like golden strands.

The Four Seasons (Ninety Days Each; Daily Practice)

The following are secret texts to be recited daily for approximately ninety days around each seasonal transition—Beginning of Spring, Beginning of Summer, Beginning of Autumn, and Beginning of Winter. They contain many Daoist talismanic incantations and obscure characters. Manuscripts from different periods vary, and the characters may not each have a fixed, ordinary meaning. They are best used in accordance with oral instruction from a teacher, together with visualization and incense burning, rather than read simply as ordinary prose.

At the Beginning of Spring (ninety days; daily practice)

“Forest horns store clouds; nine souls refine Jing…” [followed by a string of obscure characters from the original] “…the august power reaches the primordial numinous.”

In general, this seasonal visualization and its sounds correspond to spring’s renewal, the first rising of Yang Qi, and the refinement of Jing and cultivation of Shen. Practice them as the seasonal transition into spring begins.

At the Beginning of Summer (ninety days; daily practice)

“Flame gilds the hall; a jade corner of the Great Empyrean…” “eastern red radiance gathers; bowing to jade, the mysterious performance reaches the lord Hou Ba Qu, the ultimate rule.”

In general, this is a seasonal practice text corresponding to summer’s growth, red Yang, and the realm of the Great Empyrean.

At the Beginning of Autumn (ninety days; daily practice)

“Gaozheng zuoshi; Bani shaling…” “the blue office’s work is witnessed, the foundation is established.”

In general, this corresponds to autumn’s harvest, its cutting and purifying force, and the return to storage.

At the Beginning of Winter (ninety days; daily practice)

“Wa hai meng gan; the emerald palace’s nine gates…” “the sage’s broad secret method; greatly suited to the Emperor’s principle of nurturing life and protecting the people.”

In general, this corresponds to winter’s storage, stilling the breath, preserving life, and prolonging longevity.

Order of Practice

1. Burn incense, silently recite the “Central Recitation” once, and perform the corresponding visualization.

2. Visualize Lord Lao, the Most High above you, and inwardly recite the sacred name of his transformation body in the Golden Gate Palace.

3. Write the talisman: it should be five cun square, with the measurement based on the chi.

4. Following the four seasonal divisions—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—use the corresponding incantation and ink to write it. Write the back of the talisman in cinnabar, and add the annotations to the front in cinnabar.

5. Use an incantation of command to activate the talisman. The command incantation must be written on the back, and must not be written too large.

6. The talisman must state the year, month, day, and hour when it is written.

Note: The four short passages beginning “At the Beginning of…” in the middle commonly correspond to secret incantations and taboo characters in texts such as Pearls Left Behind in the Sea of the Dao. Their emphasis is on sound and visualization, unlike purely doctrinal scriptures such as The Scripture of the Most High Lord Lao on Constant Clarity and Stillness. Anyone seeking a character-by-character interpretation should consult the specific edition and its lineage of transmission. For everyday reading, it is enough to grasp the practice framework: observe each of the four seasonal transitions for ninety days; burn incense and recite the “Central Recitation”; visualize Lord Lao’s transformation body in the Golden Gate Palace; then, according to the season, write a five-cun talisman in ink and cinnabar, and activate it with the command incantation.

A Vernacular Interpretation of Fahai Yizhu

Choosing a Time to Set Out and Awaiting a Response

Before setting out for the chosen place, first perform a divination to determine whether a particular month, day, and hour are suitable. Wait for the master’s instructions about when the response will arrive; do not decide on your own.

Paper and Ink for Different Kinds of Talismans and Petitions

• Temple destruction rites, such as rites to demolish an evil shrine: write with vermilion ink on black silk.
• Prayers for rain: write with vermilion ink on blue-green silk or yellow silk; black silk with vermilion ink is also acceptable.
• Prayers for clear weather: write with vermilion ink on red silk.

Talismanic Rites and the Time of Their Response

After performing a talismanic rite, one generally waits about two double-hours before a response appears. For example, if the rite is performed during the Chen hour, a response is likely to come around the Wu hour.

Preserving Fortune by Presenting a Family Letter to Heaven

Hand Gesture and Visualization

Form the Southern Dipper hand gesture with the left hand; use this method from the Zi hour through the Wu hour. Visualize a mass of red light first rising from the crown of the head. Then flick the fingers and gaze directly toward the Celestial Gate in the north. Visualize the red light stretching from the ritual altar to the Celestial Gate, extending ten thousand miles without end.

The Messengers Show the Way

The Four Commissioners lead the way. Another messenger carries the family letter in his hands. The officials and generals named in the registers of the ritual tradition follow behind, guarding the practitioner as they ascend together on the red light.

Crossing the Bridge and Climbing the Tower

After a long while, a tall bridge comes into view, shimmering with radiant light. Cross it and continue forward on the red light. Soon, a twelve-story golden tower appears. After climbing the tower, continue onward on the red light until a long crimson bridge comes into view. Cross it, and the Jade Palace in the Central Heaven appears, shaded by clouds and rosy mists.

Entering the Palace and Reaching the You Sheng Court

Enter beneath the palace gate. The officials and generals from the registers remain outside to stand guard. Enter the gate with only the Four Commissioners, turn right, and proceed to the You Sheng Court. The guards stand in strict formation; officials, generals, and Thunder Gods are arrayed as one enters.

Presenting the Family Letter

The Four Commissioners are seen holding the family letter. They pass it to the True Official in Charge of Memorials. After receiving it, the True Official welcomes it respectfully with a pleased expression and leads the practitioner directly to the hall. Rise after making nine bows. Ascend into the hall by the dragon-tail staircase on the left, and present the petition as desired before the imperial desk. After completing the prayer, descend by the dragon-tail staircase on the left and make nine bows in gratitude.

The Return Journey

Go straight out through the gate. The Four Commissioners continue to lead the way, while the Great General Who Beheads Demons follows with his officers and troops. At the Jade Palace in the Central Heaven, the officials and generals from the registers are seen rejoicing. The Celestial General leads the practitioner back to the altar by the same route.

Concluding the Rite

Next, visualize the red light returning to the heart, like a ball of fire. Click the teeth three times, swallow the saliva three times, and then withdraw.

Characters to Avoid in the Family Letter

Certain characters are taboo in a family letter submitted to the Celestial Court. The following are to be avoided:

• Qi, Zhong, Xia, Zei, Chen, Fang, and Gao. Each may be avoided for reasons involving homophones, taboos, or other considerations, according to the traditions transmitted within the lineage.

The characters Jin and Ming must also not be used.

A Common Opening for “Sending the Family Letter and Dispatching the Generals”

“My office has received the Emperor’s command. I hold the seal and talismans and possess authority over the commands of Thunder, adjudicating the merits and faults of ghosts and spirits…” The formula continues according to the complete text.

Note: This text describes a visualization ritual for submitting a memorial and presenting a family letter to Heaven. It invokes celestial offices and figures such as the Four Commissioners, the You Sheng Court, and the True Official in Charge of Memorials. The rite should be practiced under the guidance of a transmitted teacher and in accordance with the rules governing the ritual altar. Taboos concerning written characters may differ among traditions and versions of the ritual text; follow the version transmitted in your own lineage.

Pearls Left in the Sea of the Dao

Urgent Commands and Prompt Execution

For assigned tasks, the command must be as swift as wind and fire. Once the ritual instruction has been issued, it must be carried out as quickly as thunder, without a moment’s delay. Stand ready at the side, make everything clear, and report at once; complete the task immediately.

Heavenly numina and earthly numina, Heaven and Earth joined together: Merit Officers and their clerks and generals—the guardian deities who handle documents and lead troops at the ritual altar—receive the command and hurry forth. Do not delay. I act under the decrees of the Supreme Emperor.

Thunder rumbles faintly in Heaven; dragons and tigers cross paths. Sun and moon are arrayed in their places, illuminating me clearly. The Thunder Duke and the Lightning Mother surge ahead through the darkness, escorting the command with thunder as rain boils and winds rise. If anyone dares to resist, let them be shattered into dust. Hasten, hasten, as commanded by the Jade Emperor, the August Sovereign of Heaven.

One Qi, formed as a unity, existed before Heaven and Earth. I wear the sword of the Dipper’s astral power and command the numinous spirits. Whoever violates my order shall be executed without hesitation. Hasten, hasten, as the statutes command.

The wind rushes; fire moves swiftly. Upon receiving the command, act at once. Report back with proof of its fulfillment and present the merit to Yuxu. I stand before the altar with my sword upright, waiting for the result and watching for your report. Do not stop on the way. Quickly, quickly!

Method for Writing an Internal Talisman to Guide a Spirit

First write the character ling, then the Jade Emperor’s secret sign. Write the character hai repeatedly, then recite the title of the Dark Warrior (the Great Emperor Zhenwu). Apply the markings according to the other method. It is especially effective when the Heavenly Generals who answer the summons escort it as well. One may also add a formal dispatch, or write it within the talisman; either method works.

Secret Method for Seizing and Capturing

I am the emperor, the Heavenly One, the human, and the spirit; I now summon you. Ascend first to the realm of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), then descend to the Five Sacred Peaks. Convey in your heart the intent of the hidden prisons; my Way opens everything to clear understanding. Raise your eyes and see a thousand miles: what ghost would dare conceal itself? Hasten, hasten, as the statutes command.

(Write the syllable om internally.)

Om hum hum phat ta—capture.

Om ti ni—capture. Om zhi ni soha. (Do not draw it in one continuous stroke; apply it repeatedly.)

The Yin-Yang Dipper: prick this onto the banner. Take a small piece of paper, one inch wide, write on it, and roll it into a small tube. It will rise along with the banner.

Talisman of the Four Sagely Lords for Subduing Demons (Layout Notes)

The titles are written in separate lines on the talisman. A common format is:

• By command of the Great Emperor Ziwei of the Northern Pole
• Subduing demons: Marshal Tianpeng
• Subduing demons: Deputy Marshal Tianyou
• Subduing demons: Lord Yisheng Baode
• Subduing demons: Lord Yousheng Zhenwu
• Subduing demons: Great Spirit of the Heavenly Pass
• Subduing demons: Great Spirit of the Earth’s Axis
• Subduing demons: the heavenly demon, earthly demon, year demon, month demon, day demon, and hour demon

As you write, you may recite a verse such as: “With the first stroke, Heaven is clear; with the second, Earth is calm; with the third, people attain long life; with the fourth, ghosts lose their form” (one line).

Note: The passages above mostly give ritual invocations and instructions for talismans and commands. Terms such as “Merit Officers and their clerks and generals,” “sword of the Dipper’s astral power,” “formal dispatch,” and “the Four Sagely Lords” belong to Daoist Zhaijiao purification rites and traditions for exorcising evil. “Hasten, hasten, as the statutes command” is a conventional closing formula urging the spirit generals to act swiftly.

Pearls Left Behind in the Sea of the Dao: A Plain-Language Interpretation

The Iron Pillar Suppresses Evil Forces; Ghosts and Spirits Who Defy Heaven and Violate the Dao

(Talismans, incantations, and pacing the stars)

(The Iron Pillar suppresses evil forces and ghosts and spirits who defy Heaven and violate the Dao)

(At the first turn, the Six Spirits hide; at the second, the Four Fiends vanish; at the third, the Kui and Gang constellations are set in motion; at the fourth, thunder and fire surge; at the fifth, thunderbolts strike; at the sixth, mountain demons are destroyed; at the seventh...)

With the first turn of the body, the Six Spirits conceal themselves; with the second, the Four Fiends disperse; with the third, the Kui and Gang constellations are roused; with the fourth, thunder and fire surge upward; with the fifth, thunderbolts erupt; with the sixth, mountain demons are wiped out; with the seventh, seize and subdue all ghostly bandits who defy Heaven, violate the Dao, and practice evil, bringing them beneath my “Three-Five Kui and Gang” so that they dare neither move nor act recklessly.

Once the talisman is complete, recite the Celestial Peng Incantation and Command, then recite this command:

Black fiends, mighty and divine; Celestial You, commander of the troops; may the Marshal Celestial Peng (a fierce general under the Daoist Northern Emperor) descend with the protection of the Sagely Protector. May the Northern Emperor’s fiends turn to dust. Wherever the Celestial Talisman arrives, may the myriad ghosts be swiftly seized. Hasten, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances!

Incantation for Dispatching the Talisman

The Four Sagely Ones roam on patrol, with the Seven Fiends following behind; the Great Demons of the Five Emperors, and the Eight Caverns, all take refuge. The heavenly gate and earthly axis, above and below, cross and fly; heavenly troops and earthly troops surround all sides, above and below. With mighty shouts, they drag their spears and banners. They remain at my left and right and must not leave me. Having received my talismanic command, they must not disobey. They charge into Heaven and descend into Earth; ghosts and spirits tremble at the sight. Those who follow the Law will prosper; those who defy it will be executed. Hasten, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances!

Talisman for Secretly Seizing Demons with Wind and Thunder

(By command of the Jade Emperor, Supreme Lord of the August Heavens; by command of the Great Emperor Ziwei of the Northern Pole; by command of the Great Emperor of Fengdu, the Northern Yin)

(The Terrace Stars)

Wherever it arrives, may great and mighty divine power be bestowed; may disasters be quietly dispelled and good fortune brought forth. May the myriad spirits keep to their duties, and all strange beings vanish.

(The wind of Qian: origin, success, benefit, and perseverance)

(The thunder blade beheads ghostly souls)

(The Great General of Fengdu, Emperor ▲, stirs wind and thunder)

(By the statutes and command of Fengdu: swiftly seize and capture the unrighteous, lawless ghosts and spirits throughout the world, and consign them beneath my talisman to be destroyed)

(The eight great generals Wei, Liu, Wang, Meng, Che, Xia, Lie, and Sang secretly seize evil spirits)

Heavenly fiends, earthly fiends, fiends of the year, month, day, and hour—all evil spirits are destroyed when they encounter the talisman.

Commanding Incantation

Fengdu protects the soul; the dark Heaven endures forever. Fierce generals of Fengdu, swiftly manifest your spiritual power. Obeying the command of the Most High, you dare not fail to come. With wind and thunder, seize them in secret; bind them swiftly to the body, bind them swiftly to the body; swiftly obey the command—

By command of the Great Emperor Ziwei of the Northern Pole.

Incantation for the Fengdu Command

The true numinous powers of the Great Emperor of Fengdu step the astral pace; fierce generals of Fengdu, swiftly descend.

Related Passages from Fahai Yizhu: A Plain-Language Interpretation

Essentials of Using Talismans to Seize Evil

Follow the talisman’s command and proceed swiftly. Capture and seize the target at once, and make the evil spirit give its name immediately. You may dispatch the Eight Great Generals to apprehend the Northern Qi Sha, the baleful Qi of the north, sending the generals forth by activating the talisman with both hands.

Talisman of the Three Qi and Flowing Light

At the center of the talisman, write the four syllables Om, Hong, Zha, and Li within the painted area.

Incantation

Primordial Beginning Supreme Emperor, Venerable Celestial Sovereign of the Void, Most High Lord Lao of the Boundless Great Dao; primordial Qi of the Dark Origin, true script of the Nine Heavens. Yuanyi conceives the pearl; Jie Lin holds the radiance. The Three Lights shine brightly; the Seven Origins flow like pearls. Grace spreads to the Springs and the Winding River; blessings flow through the Blood Lake. The light of compassion receives and guides, ascending to the heavenly road.

Divine Talisman of Ding and Jia

On Yin days, use the Northern Dipper first; on Yang days, use the Southern Dipper first.

The names and honorific titles of generals are commonly arranged on the talisman, including Kui, Gui, Yu, Xing, Bi, Shu, Piao, and Chi. It also bears commands such as “By decree of the Jade Pure Supreme Emperor,” “By decree of the Upper Pure Supreme Emperor,” “By decree of the Great Pure Supreme Emperor,” and “By decree of the August Jade Emperor of Heaven.” Sanskrit syllables may also be written, such as Om vaṃ vajra phaṭ prasvāhā and Om vaṃ vajra yuṃ li svāhā.

Incantation to Seize and Subdue — General Meaning

Supreme Lords of the Six Jia, perfected ones of the Grand Tenuity: seize and subdue evil ghosts, pacify the earth spirits, drive away demons and apparitions in front, and destroy harmful spirits behind. May the great generals of the Six Ding join forces with Kui Gang. The Six Ding generals descend to seize the Earth Sovereign; the Azure Dragon and White Tiger join the True Sovereign, while the Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise together destroy calamity. Subdue lingering ghosts and spirits, and seize them for delivery to Kui Gang. The Six Jia and Six Ding act by command of the Supreme Emperor: seize the Nine Luminaries in front, drive away mountain spirits, flying dragons, and earth monsters behind, and suppress the evil spirits of Kui Gang. May the buried corpse swiftly bring about its own destruction.

The great generals of Ding and Jia govern all ghosts and spirits. Above, they communicate with the Purple Pole; below, they join with Qianyuan. By command of the Nine Perfected Ones, they are ordered to seize evil spirits.

In accordance with the command of the Upper Pure Six Jia, the Upper Pure talisman is activated as commanded, to seize and subdue ill omens. The offices and titles of the Upper Pure Primordial Command, and the names of Jia and Ding, are honored as sacred ranks second only to Tianpeng. The lands of the Nine Provinces all belong to the Primordial Lords. Seize evil and return it to the righteous; those who defy the command shall be cast down. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands!

Incantation for Refinement

Generals of Ding and Jia, revered deity Tianpeng: may the Three Terraces lend aid to the Six Jia and Six Ding. Lead the Nine Luminaries in the vanguard and destroy mountain spirits behind. May the spirits of the Springs bring passage and relief. By command of the Supreme Emperor, let the lands of the Nine Provinces, mountains, marshes, river sources, and the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions be governed; may the Six Spirits be at peace, and may the attendant boy carry out the command.

Note: This section belongs to Daoist talisman-and-incantation liturgy. Ding and Jia, Kui Gang, and Tianpeng are protective generals and deities. Using the Northern Dipper on Yin days and the Southern Dipper on Yang days is a common method for choosing the day to activate a talisman. The original contains many damaged and variant characters; this explanation follows commonly accepted readings to make the text coherent without changing its principles.

Plain-Language Interpretation of Fahai Yizhu

General meaning of the command spell

By command: Among the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), the Qian trigram is supreme. The Vermilion Bird assists it, and the Black Tortoise takes its place. The Azure Dragon stands in its proper position as the principal, while the White Tiger crouches close by. Above, it connects with the Golden Palace; below, it joins with Qianyuan, and it commands all ghost troops. When the talisman reaches Kui Gang, all demons flee at once—swiftly, in accordance with the law!

Edict of the Great Emperor of Shangqing to the Generals Ding and Jia (edict and talisman spell)

Ancestor of Taiwei, whose name is listed among the Shangqing; guarded by true Qi, you travel far and wide. Destroy the wicked and evil, seize and subdue malign spirits; shatter mountains and sweep through caverns, break dreams and dispel souls. Roam throughout the six directions, spreading Qi and divine power; your might surges forth, joining Heaven and Earth. Heaven tilts and Earth turns upward; bind and capture ghosts and spirits. The heavenly weapon wields a halberd, shaking the Five Planets. Use it to drive out evil; whoever violates it will be utterly destroyed. The spirits are arrayed across the Five Sacred Peaks; ghosts are driven from the eight gates and the thirty-two heavens. They pursue the wind and race swiftly; the myriad forms stand in ordered ranks, with the true form held supreme. Eight horses guard the forbidden precincts, and all things are at peace. Whoever stands against them dies; whoever defies them perishes. May blessings endure and spirits flourish; may grace reach far and bring peace along the way. The spirits are called the Six Jia, and the generals are named the Six Ding. Put them to work to aid what is right, and their merit surpasses that of the Nine Perfected. When the true talisman is raised, ten thousand ghosts are terrified—swiftly, in accordance with the command of the Great Emperor of Shangqing to the Generals Ding and Jia!

Spell for dispatching the spirits

Great Generals of the Six Jia, divine beings of the Six Ding and Shangyang: by the decree of the High One of Great Purity, receive the order from Lord Kui Gang. Seize the ghosts of mountains and marshes; capture below the gods of the Earth Sovereign. If anything is unrighteous, let Qianyuan bring forth, benefit, and fulfillment—swiftly, in accordance with the command of the Great Emperor of Shangqing to the Generals Ding and Jia!

Ritual method

During visualization, imagine yourself emerging from the Sun Palace: dressed in red, with disheveled hair, holding a sword and shaking the Yaoguang star. Insert the talisman into the center and add the Tianpeng spell. Form the Ziwen hand seal with the right hand and the Tianding hand seal with the left.

The master says

The Ding-Jia talisman is the ancestor of the Six Jia of Taiwei. It can also be used to treat children’s night crying and ominous dreams. Write it in vermilion on yellow paper. It can also be used when people’s building work violates the taboos of the year’s Tai Sui or the Earth Office deities, or when the mountain deity of a burial site is disturbed and the fengshui is unfavorable. Use this talisman to secure and pacify the place. Then benevolent spirits will protect the household, and baleful stars and malign forces will not dare approach.

Talisman for subduing and pacifying harmful ghosts

(For catching ghosts: in the Upper Origin, General Tang; in the Middle Origin, the Celestial Worthy of the Dao and De; in the Lower Origin, General Ge, who binds ghosts. The names of the generals for the three origins are usually divided among the talisman’s sections; these are the associated deities for the talisman for subduing and pacifying harmful ghosts.)

(The main text is similar to the preceding one and belongs to the same system of Ding-Jia, Kui Gang, ghost capture, and household pacification talismans and spells. If specific wording differs from the manuscript, follow the version in the collection.)

Notes to aid reading the original

• Kui Gang: In Daoist spells and talismans, this often refers to the direction indicated by the handle of the Northern Dipper. When the talisman reaches that direction, evil spirits flee.
• Six Jia and Six Ding: Names of Daoist divine generals. The Six Jia are generals, and the Six Ding are spirits; they commonly protect talismans and drive away evil.
• Tai Sui and the Earth Office: Tai Sui governs the taboos associated with the direction of the year. The Earth Office refers to divine officials beneath the ground and is associated with burial sites and ground-breaking.
• Ziwen and Tianding hand seals: Two hand seals, one formed with the right hand and one with the left, used in conjunction with reciting spells and drawing talismans.

A Plain-Language Interpretation of Related Passages from Fahai Yizhu (Pearls Left Behind in the Sea of Ritual Methods)

(General Zhou, Who Beheads Ghosts)

(At the upper altar, one yellow [register] drives away ill omens; at the middle altar, two white [registers] protect the body and guard the home; at the lower altar, three blue-green [registers] destroy and subdue calamities.)

(Exorcising Demons)

The Azure Dragon on the left, the White Tiger on the right, the Vermilion Bird above, and the Black Tortoise below.

Xiaoji, Chuansong, Congkui, Hekui, Dengming, Shenhou, Daji, Gongcao, Tiangang, Taichong, Taiyi, and Shengguang.

Heavenly Sha, Earthly Sha, Year Sha, Month Sha, Day Sha, and Hour Sha: every evil ghost under heaven, upon encountering this talisman, will perish of its own accord.

(The Star Lords of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions)

The Lord of Blue-Green Qi in the east, the Lord of Red Qi in the south, the Lord of White Qi in the west, the Lord of Black Qi in the north, and the Lord of Yellow Qi at the center.

At the first turn, the Six Spirits hide; at the second, the Four Sha disappear; at the third, the Kui and Gang stir; at the fourth, thunder and fire surge; at the fifth, thunderbolts strike; at the sixth, mountain ghosts are destroyed; at the seventh, all who defy Heaven and reject the Dao, along with evil ghosts and spirits, are captured and brought beneath my Kui and Gang. They can neither move nor act.

Notes to help explain the terms:

• General Zhou is a protective divine general commonly invoked in Daoist talismans and incantations to behead ghosts and drive away evil.
• The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise are guardian deities of the east, west, south, and north. They also represent the Four Emblems, which protect the four directions.
• Congkui, Hekui, Dengming, Shenhou, Daji, Gongcao, Tiangang, Taichong, Taiyi, and Shengguang, among others, are names drawn largely from the Six Ren system, spirit and Sha designations, and talismanic registers. They are used to command ghosts and spirits and restrain harmful forces.
• Heavenly Sha, Earthly Sha, Year Sha, Month Sha, Day Sha, and Hour Sha refer to baleful forces and harmful influences at different levels. “Upon encountering the talisman, they perish of their own accord” means that the talisman causes them to vanish, leaving them unable to cause trouble.
• The Star Lords of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions are the deities associated with the twenty-eight lunar mansions through which the moon travels over the course of a cycle. Each mansion has a star lord who governs celestial signs and fortune or misfortune.
• The Lords of Blue-Green, Red, White, Black, and Yellow Qi correspond to the five directions, five colors, and Five Qi. They symbolize upright Qi filling every direction between Heaven and Earth.
• Kui and Gang are positions of great importance in talismanic methods, used to suppress and command. “They can neither move nor act” means that once subdued, the evil spirits can no longer move or harm people.

The passage establishes prohibitions and recites an incantation in sequence by altar, direction, lunar mansion, and spirit or Sha designation. Its purpose is to make evil spirits and mountain ghosts perish or be captured, thereby protecting the home and its occupants.