《法海遺珠》Vol. 44

Fahai Yizhu, Vol. 44, Section 11: The Great Rite for Inspecting the Earthly Bureau under Marshal Yin

Principal Master

Immortal Lord Liao of Nanchang (one of the masters of the Dao whom Daoism honors as transmitters of the Rite)

The Generals (Principal and Subordinate Officers of the Altar)

The principal deity is the Supreme Pole Attendant, Manifest Spirit Who Aids the Dao, Seizes Essences, and Annihilates Demons, Grand Marshal and Chief Officer of the Earthly Bureau, Marshal Yin of Utmost Virtue, named Jiao (Yin Jiao). He appears as a child with a blue face and red hair, wearing two topknots, his hair bound tightly like a cotton knot. His upper body is bare and his calves are exposed. He wears a robe of scarlet with black edging, a red skirt, and a sash at the waist, and a necklace of twelve skulls hangs at his neck. He holds a golden bell (jinzhong) in his left hand and a yellow battle-axe (huangyue) in his right. He is short and stout, and he stands within black clouds, attended on either side by yellow banners and leopard-tail standards.

His deputy is the Urgent Apprehension Envoy Jiang, Spirit Responder Within the Dipper, named Rui. He resembles the Kinnara King, with fangs, vermilion lips, and bare feet, and large gold rings hang from both ears. His face is blue or purple with a band across the forehead, his hair is red, and he wears a flowered red robe and suspended boots. He carries a cord and is flanked by Officers of Merit.

The subordinate Great Generals are: Yellow Banner General Lu Ming, Leopard-Tail General Li Zhongwen, Yellow Axe General Guan Long, and Golden Bell General Chen Tuoji. The Five-Direction Qi Generals are: Eastern Nine-Qi Great General Gong Wenwang, Southern Three-Qi Great General Zhang Zongyi, Western Seven-Qi Great General Ximen Bao, Northern Five-Qi Great General Wu Zhengwen, and Central Qi-Regulating General Liu Zhong. Also present are the Chief General of the Seventy-Two Seasons, Song Wenxing, and the Great General of the Twenty-Four Qi, Han Bao.

Function of the Rite

This Rite is used to capture the Three Qi and Nine Goods (that is, to gather in unwholesome qi and evil spirits) and to expel the Five Pestilences and Six Afflictions (the malign forces of plague and virulent disease).

Invocation (Summoning Text)

The fierce officials of the year, who command the multitude of spirits, go before with the yellow banners and follow behind with the leopard-tail standards. The Seventy-Two Seasons and the Twenty-Four Qi advance with the fierce demons in front and the baleful spirits guarding the flanks. The yellow axe strikes down the essences, and the golden bell smites the spirits of defilement. The envoys of the Five Directions seize the poisons with their awesome power. The August Emperor has issued his command: come swiftly and descend, aid my great Dao, and sweep away the demonic essences. Should anyone resist the Dao, their heads shall be brought forward as proof. By the laws of the Mysterious Capital, the demon spirits shall not rest. Urgent, urgent, as the command of the Great Emperor of the Purple Tenuity of the North Pole, summon them.

The Upper Clarity officer of the Northern Pole and fierce official of the Earthly Bureau, Yin Jiao, come quickly and without delay.

Visualization for Summoning the Generals

Face the heavens and see a yellow cloud-qi within the sky. With your eyes, write the two characters "Yin Jiao," and breathe them into the cloud, and the marshal will appear. Draw his breath back into the spleen palace (pigong) to mix it, then exhale it before the altar. Blow the northeastern qi to unite it, and he will appear at the same moment as Marshal Jiang.

Note: This section belongs to the register of generals and the summoning texts of Daoist liturgy (keyi). The principal deity is the Earthly Bureau Marshal Yin Jiao, accompanied by Envoy Jiang Rui, the banner and leopard-tail officers, and the Five-Direction Qi Generals. The Rite serves to expel pestilence, annihilate demonic essences, and investigate evil spirits. The incantation normally ends with the formula "urgent, as the command" (jijiru lüling), which here is rendered as "as the command of the Great Emperor of the Purple Tenuity of the North Pole." The visualization steps (observing the yellow cloud, inscribing the marshal's name with the eyes, circulating the breath, returning it to the spleen palace, and manifesting the deputy together with him) combine internal cultivation with external altar practice in the method of summoning the generals.

Secret Incantations (with Notes on Practice)

A sequence of sound-syllables, including Ji, Om, and Hum, is chanted in succession. In practice, the practitioner directs the qi of the Gen position (northeast) toward the face of the talisman, enclosing and fixing it. One syllable corresponds to Heaven, one to Earth, and one to Humanity. The ▲ marks secret characters written into the talisman, which are to be drawn according to the master's transmitted models.

Talisman of the Chief Commander (Benshuai Fu)

The talisman carries the inscribed decree: "The Venerable Deity of the Northern Pole summons. Marshal Yin Jiao of the Earth Bureau, come swiftly. May the assembled deities bear the command. Let the fierce officers slay ghosts and devour essences. Those who defy the order shall die." It also bears the Emperor's decree and the fierce-officer incantation Om, Hum, Hum..., which is used to smear the dark spots. The character Ji is used as well, together with the name of the year's Grand Duke (Taisui).

Secret Incantation

"The Emperor commands Yin Jiao to rescue all living beings widely, expel the wicked and malevolent, and hasten to the altar. Marshal Yin Jiao, arrive at the altar at once. Breathe and respond; descend swiftly and answer without delay. Carry out this order with all urgency."

Kaofu: The Method of Transferring the Soul

For the first phrase, "Sun, moon, stars, and celestial bodies, quickly transfer the soul," form the Dipper seal with the left hand and the sword seal with the right. Recite this line silently from the crown of the head down to the feet.

For the second phrase, "Heaven and Earth, numinous generals, gather and seize the soul," begin at the legs and feet and draw the sword seal back up to the crown. Visualize the three souls taking the form of Daoist priests, in green, yellow, and white, emerging from the top of the head.

Once the three souls have left the altar following the sword seal, press the tongue against the upper palate to form the "Golden Bridge." Inhale once, and draw the three priest-souls into the body, storing them in the Golden Tower and Jade Hall of the abdomen. Then direct the attending generals to seize the afflicting spirit and force it into the body.

When the Thunder Carriage, Thunder Spirits, Water Deities, and Generals press the afflicting spirit into the yang body, the practitioner should feel cool, like ice. The Heavenly Generals within interrogate it and compel it to declare its name. Swiftly, according to the law of the Supreme Emperor.

Talisman for Reporting Offenses (Baofan Fu)

Write three edict talismans on the front side, and add the rear talisman on the back.

Breaking Ground (Related to Earth-Moving and Plague Fiends)

The talisman contains a mixture of characters, including tian (Heaven), xing (star), di (earth), Ji, Ji, chang (constant), yong (use), san (scatter), lü (law), he (harmony), zhi (govern), and wen (plague), along with secret talismanic script. The ▲ marks follow the talisman models of this lineage.

Cut paper into an octagonal shape, write the talisman on it, and affix it to the outside. Separately, take a piece of the material called maozhunao (its exact referent is unclear in the source), one foot two inches long, with one additional inch in an intercalary month. Once the talisman has been written and the edict completed, send it to the offending direction.

The master strikes with an axe forty-nine times, reciting the Jade Announcement once with each stroke. Then the master uses the stars Feichen and Xudou, and Xudou and Chen, or the stars of the Dipper: Tanlang, Jumen, Lucun, Wenqu, Lianzhen, Wuqu, Pojun, Zuofu, and Youbi.

Affix the talisman to the eastern ridge-pillar of the building. At the site of the earth-breaking, use the talisman and strike three times with the axe. If earth is being disturbed, affix the talisman to fix the work. If the work is at its beginning, dig three times. If a plague from Heaven strikes, first make offerings to give thanks, then drive it away, using this talisman in each case.

Note: This section concerns Daoist talismanic incantations, the summoning of Marshal Yin Jiao, soul-transfer and soul-gathering rites, and earth-breaking rites. The bracketed material mostly gives seals, visualizations, and object dimensions. The ▲ marks are placeholder secret characters in the original book, which must be filled in from the master's transmitted talisman models and not invented.

Notes on Passages from the Fahai Yizhu (Lost Pearls of the Sea of Methods)

Earth Pestilence (dì wēn), the Qi Calamity Caused by Disturbing the Earth

If earth pestilence arises from breaking ground or laying foundations, and the lamps in the household burn dim and unsteadily, one should report the matter to the Marshal of the Earth Emperor (Tǔ Huáng Yuánshuài) and take soil from the site of the disturbance, then cast it into the altar vessel.

Boat Pestilence (chuán wēn)

Dispatch a formal document (xíng dié) and send out talismans (fú) according to the ritual procedures, handling the matter as the instructions direct.

Pen and Livestock Pestilence (láo wēn), Epidemics in Pens and Animal Sheds

Dispatch the marshal's order, and have the City God (Chénghuáng) take custody of the affair and govern it.

Pestilence among the Six Domestic Animals (liù xù wēn)

Write the charm on a bamboo slip and insert it into the animal pen. Then, combined with rites involving sprinkling vinegar and burning charcoal, the animals will be settled.

Runaway Servants (nú bì táowáng)

Write a talisman and paste it upside down on the stove lintel (zào é), the crossbeam or door lintel above the cooking hearth. Results are often seen immediately.

Lost Cats and Dogs (māo quǎn zǒushī)

Write a talisman on white paper and paste it on the stove lintel. This too often brings a quick response.

Curing Evil Influences (zhì xié)

Write a talisman on an iron plate and hang it as a nailed charm, using iron to suppress evil.

Insects and Birds Eating or Trampling Crops (chóng què shí jiàn tián miáo)

Dispatch the local earth god (tǔ shén), the land deity of the immediate locality, to handle the matter.

All of the above follow this method: three seals joined in a row (yìn sān kē yī lián), which are used in sequence to summon and command spirit servants, applied as each matter requires. For major affairs, one presents a memorial to the court, issues formal documents, and dispatches the spirits. The large characters in the talisman are inscribed according to the matter at hand, and then the seal of the "three imperial edicts" (sān chì) is stamped. On the reverse of the three-edict talisman, the character for "union" (hé) and similar marks are written. On the days of the Bright Heavenly Emperor (míng tiān dì rì), an eight-cornered talisman (bā jiǎo fú) may be pasted on the four quarters.

Earth Office Talismans (dì sī fú zhuàn)

Eight-cornered talisman (bā jiǎo fú), detailed in the original text of this method.

The Twelve Generals (shí èr jiàng), whose names are paired with the talismans: the first general is Zhāng Quán, the second Yú Yǒu, the third Hóu Biāo, the fourth Gěng Tōng, the fifth Xuē Wēn, the sixth Wú Wén, the seventh Zhào Yù, the eighth Hé Chōng, the ninth Fēng Lì, the tenth Lú Dé, the eleventh Luó Dàwén, and the twelfth Hé Zhòng.

Iron Barrier Talisman (tiě zhàng fú)

The inner eight generals' talismans bear the surnames Zhāng, Huáng, Qiū, Lǐ, Zhào, Xú, Lǚ, and Yú. The outer eight talismans for curing illness include the Heavenly Physician Marshal Xǔ Yuánshuài talisman, the Five Thunders Marshal Tián Yuánshuài talisman, the Five Thunders Fire-Breaking and Urging-the-Generals talisman, the talisman for seizing the mountain demon Liú Dàjiāngjūn, the Five Thunders shackling-and-interrogating talisman of General Táo, the Gāo Tiāndīng talisman for hastening childbirth (the woman's surname may be written into the talisman), and the Five Thunders talisman for curing myriad diseases.

The meaning of the qi section is roughly: "Supreme Lord's statutes, fierce officers with silver fangs, guard the upright qi and sweep away wicked evils." The meaning of the field section is roughly: "Open the heavenly gate, close the earth gate, leave the human gate open and block the ghost road, pierce the ghost's heart and break the ghost's belly." It also lists star names for suppressing malign influences: Tānláng, Jùmén, Lùcún, Wénqū, Liánzhēn, Wǔqū, Pòjūn, and Kuíxīng. The original gives these in traditional star-spirit script forms, and here they are rendered by their conventional readings.

Taken together, these passages describe the common Daoist registry-method format of dispatching generals, matching talismans to names, and assigning a separate method for each affair, with the generals, talisman names, and seals used together. Readers should consult the original talisman diagrams and the complete liturgical text rather than extracting the wording and attempting these rites on its surface alone.

Treasures Left Behind in the Ocean of the Dao: A Plain-Language Interpretation

The Method for Drawing Qi by the Celestial Officials of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Origins

(The Celestial Official of the Upper Origin faces Qian to draw the Qi of the Heavenly Gate; the Earth Official of the Middle Origin draws the Qi of Central Xun; the Water Official of the Lower Origin draws the Qi of the northern direction, Zi.)

The Celestial Official of the Upper Origin faces Qian (northwest) to draw the Qi of the Heavenly Gate; the Earth Official of the Middle Origin draws the Qi of Central Xun (southeast); and the Water Official of the Lower Origin draws the Qi of Zi-North (due north).

The True Qi of the Five Stars and the Five Phases Formula

(True Qi of the Five Stars / Five Phases formula)

(Thunder-fire erupts in the east; thunder-fire erupts in the south; thunder-fire erupts in the west; thunder-fire erupts in the north; thunder-fire erupts at the center.)

(The Celestial Official pierces ghosts; the Earth Official subdues ghosts; the Water Official beheads ghosts.)

(The Dao transforms; numinous, numinous.)

(Qi transforms; Qi transforms into Shen; Shen transforms into form. I obey the Emperor’s command: descend at once, with utmost haste.)

The True Qi of the Five Stars and the Five Phases formula: thunder-fire erupts in the east, south, west, and north; thunder-fire erupts at the center. The Celestial Official pierces ghosts, the Earth Official subdues ghosts, and the Water Official beheads ghosts. The Dao transforms; numinous, numinous. Qi transforms; Qi transforms into Shen; Shen transforms into form. I obey the Emperor’s command: descend at once, with utmost haste.

The Right-Hand Talisman: Yellow Paper Inscribed to Summon the Marshal of the Celestial Physician

The right-hand talisman: write on yellow paper to summon the Marshal of the Celestial Physician.

Various Talismans

Incantation for Summoning the Deputy Marshal

I practice the Supreme High One’s method, searching out and seizing all wicked spirits. At the sound of my call, come at once; when summoned, respond immediately with numinous power. Should any of you disobey or delay, misfortune will befall your bodies. I respectfully summon the manifestly responsive, numinous spirit and urgent-seizure envoy Jiang Rui: come swiftly.

Om, he, wa, li, ni, ji, she.

I practice the Supreme High One’s method, searching out and seizing all wicked spirits. At the sound of my call, come at once; when summoned, respond immediately with numinous power. Should any of you disobey or delay, misfortune will befall your bodies. I respectfully summon the manifestly responsive, numinous spirit and urgent-seizure envoy Jiang Rui: come swiftly.

Om, he, wa, li, ni, ji, she. (Incantation.)

Recite the Incantation Three Times, Traverse the Zi-Wu Dipper, and Visualize the General

Recite the incantation three times, traverse the Zi-Wu Dipper, and visualize the general coming from within the Dipper.

Incantation:

The numinous envoy is an immortal within the Dipper. Riding clouds and driving lightning, his manifest response is boundless. He rescues and protects all beings, and his accomplishments are reported to Heaven. Hear my call and summons; come before me with utmost haste. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the command of the Supreme Emperor.

Recite the incantation three times, traverse the Zi-Wu Dipper (a Dipper hand method), and visualize the generals and officials coming from within the Dipper.

Talisman of Envoy Jiang

(The method is numinous and responsive, moving Heaven and Earth. Turn the Heavenly Pass; unite Qi with Shen. Jiang Rui, come swiftly; follow Shen and unite with Qi, so the talisman becomes numinous and effective.)

(Next, form the Chou-Wei Dipper hand sign and write the general’s name inside the talisman.)

(Wherever you meet Heaven, calamity befalls Heaven; wherever you meet Earth, calamity befalls Earth; wherever you meet a mountain, the mountain collapses; wherever you meet a person, life arises; wherever you meet a ghost, the ghost is destroyed.)

Om, he, wa, li, ni, ji, she.

When the incantation is complete, place the Zi-Wu Dipper within the abdomen.

(The method is numinous and responsive, moving Heaven and Earth. Turn the Heavenly Pass; unite Qi with Shen. Jiang Rui, come swiftly; follow Shen and unite with Qi, so the talisman becomes numinous and effective.)

(Next, form the Chou-Wei Dipper hand sign and write the general’s name inside the talisman.)

(Wherever you meet Heaven, calamity befalls Heaven; wherever you meet Earth, calamity befalls Earth; wherever you meet a mountain, the mountain collapses; wherever you meet a person, life arises; wherever you meet a ghost, the ghost is destroyed.)

Om, he, wa, li, ni, ji, she.

When the incantation is complete, visualize the Zi-Wu Dipper within the abdomen.

Talisman for Suspending Ghosts

The Three Offices come to suspend the ghosts (hold and interrogate them) (incorporate the Six Hand Methods).

I respectfully summon the Year Lord Yin Jiao, together with the four envoys Cui, Lu, Deng, and Dou. Quickly suspend the malign force afflicting the sick person and make it answer; bring a swift response. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes.

The Three Offices come to suspend the ghosts (hold and interrogate them) (incorporate the Six Hand Methods).

I respectfully summon the Year Lord Yin Jiao, together with the four envoys Cui, Lu, Deng, and Dou. Quickly suspend the malign force afflicting the sick person and make it answer; bring a swift response. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes.

Note: This text presents talismans, Dipper hand methods, and techniques for summoning generals used in Daoist liturgy. It involves the Three Officials (of Heaven, Earth, and Water), the Five Stars and Five Phases, the Marshal of the Celestial Physician, generals and officials such as Jiang Rui, and hand methods such as the Zi-Wu Dipper and the Chou-Wei Dipper. These rites are used to pray for the dispelling of calamity, healing, and the resolution of grievances.

This scripture describes a Daoist ritual for summoning celestial physicians and terrestrial marshals, incorporating incantations, talismans (fulu), and visualization methods (cunxiang).

The first section invokes deities of the Celestial Physician system: the Great Sage of Celestial Healing Guo Yu, the Great Sage of Talismanic Healing Zhao De, the Great Sage of Qi Healing Liu Xian (six medical officials in total), along with the Medicinal Officer Meng Feng. The incantation commands these healers to descend swiftly without delay, emphasizing their summoning by imperial decree. It further mentions the Marshal of Celestial Physicians and Immortal Officials of Talismanic Healing, demanding they manifest with medicinal remedies.

The subsequent passage details another pantheon of martial deities, led by Yin Jiao—the Fierce Marshal of Earthly Authority under the Northern Dipper's jurisdiction. His iconography is meticulously described: a blue-faced youth with twin topknots, wearing twelve skulls around his neck, wielding a yellow battle-axe (huangyue) in his right hand and a golden bell in his left, clad in black robes and boots. His retinue includes Deputy Marshal Jiang Rui the Swift Arbiter, Generals of the Golden Bell and Yellow Axe, along with seventy-two Seasonal Commanders and twenty-four Qi Generals.

The summoning mantra begins with the sacred syllables "Om Hong Hong," commanding the Marshal of Annual Cycles to lead his forces—preceded by yellow banners and followed by leopard-tail standards—with each deity performing designated functions. The incantation reiterates their obligation to descend by the Supreme Emperor's decree, assisting the practitioner in dispelling demonic obstructions, with disobedience punishable by decapitation. The mandate is explicitly attributed to the Purple Tenuity Emperor (Ziwei Dadi), a paramount Daoist divinity.

The ritual practice involves synchronized visualization: drawing ambient radiance into the heart through inhalation, blending it internally, then exhaling with the sound "ha" while forming mudra hand-seals. The closing honorific incantation "Om Hong Hong" compels deities to bow and demons to submit, with resisters reduced to dust. Special emphasis notes Yin Jiao's dual jurisdiction under the Celestial and Terrestrial Sovereigns.

This text exemplifies the integrated Daoist ceremonial approach—combining incantations, visualization, and mudras—to invoke divine assistance for exorcism and healing. Key concepts like "Grand Jupiter" (Taisui, the annual cycle deity) and "Qi" (vital energy) reflect distinctive Daoist cosmological frameworks.

Before the Human Sovereign or Lord Emperor begins excavation, he must first “report the violation”: declare to the gods and spirits of Heaven and Earth where the ground will be broken and what might be offended. Once this has been done, he issues an order for the appointed divine generals to carry out the rites according to ritual procedure.

The rites include presenting a memorial and making a formal petition, warding off and dispelling star spirits and baleful forces, reporting violations before breaking ground, treating illness according to the month, hastening childbirth, and delivering unoffered lonely ghosts (jian) from suffering.

When performing a report of violation, one may calculate the position of the “Heavenly Dipper” (Tiangang) from the calendar for that month. The Heavenly Dipper is the direction indicated by the handle of the Northern Dipper, which practitioners use to choose auspicious times and directions. Wherever it falls, the appropriate time is set there. One may also determine the direction of the violation from the orientation of the mountain and the surrounding directions. The report must wait until the Heavenly Dipper reaches its proper position; this is considered the art’s subtle efficacy.

Talisman for Pursuing and Seizing

The talisman’s general meaning is as follows: By order of the Northern Emperor (the Great Emperor of the North Pole and Purple Tenuity), the Divine Lord of the Grand Tenuity captures the chief of the bandits and slays demons. The Divine Lord seizes the gods of Heavenly Calamity, Earthly Calamity, and the Heavenly Prison. The Mighty Warrior captures the Blood Blade, slays the bandits, and hooks and shackles them. The baleful forces of Heaven, Earth, the year, month, day, and hour; the Flying-Heaven Collision-with-Destiny Sha; the Life-Seizing Sha; and all the rest are to heed Yin Jiao’s commands. The gods of Heavenly Calamity, Earthly Calamity, and Sha Calamity; the gods of the Heavenly and Earthly Prisons; the gods of Blood Blade and Shackles; the gods of Collision-with-Destiny and Life-Seizing; the gods of Chiyou’s drums and horns … turn the Golden Wheel. When Youdu (a deity in the Northern Emperor’s retinue) does not shine upon them and the Great White Star does not approach, seize them. Heaven does not admit them, Earth does not bear them, and Water does not receive them: capture and send them to the Grand Tenuity. The Collision-with-Destiny Sha, Life-Seizing Sha, Blood Blade Sha, Hidden Metal Sha, Seven-Gods Sha, Heaven-and-Earth Turning Sha … act with urgent dispatch, in accordance with the law. By order of the Northern Emperor.

Day-Traveler Talisman

Lords of the Three Terraces and the Northern Dipper, I obey the command of the Supreme Emperor and the order of the Most High Daoist Venerable: may the honored gods of De and Sha carry out this talisman’s command, sweep away demons, and prevent them from bringing calamity and unjust harm upon my people.

Om, bu, lin, huo, ji, ya — these are words used in the incantation. Begin the report and offer thanks to all the gods and baleful forces of the Earthly Palace. Should any dare disobey the command, send them forever to the Northern Yin. May the people be safe and all things prosper; may the Dao Qi endure forever. With urgent dispatch, in accordance with the law: swiftly withdraw all baleful forces of Heaven and Earth, and of the year, month, day, and hour.

When treating an epidemic, add a secret character afterward.

Appendix: Distinguishing Illness from Offenses Against Baleful Forces (Ritual Note)

A patient with a flushed face and headache has often offended a celestial star; use the Heaven Talisman to dispel it.

If a patient has offended a Terrestrial Luminary (a baleful star on Earth), use the Earth Talisman to dispel it.

If a patient is delirious or appears to be afflicted by ghosts, treat them with this method, using talismans such as those for pursuing and seizing.

Inner Secret of the Three Commands

The command of the Celestial Emperor: turn the Dipper and traverse the Winnowing Basket; return the courses of the Five Constants. In response to the heights of the Nine Heavens, the sun, moon, and stars can all be set in motion. Presenting petitions and memorials at court, and driving and commanding the thunder spirits, are also carried out within this ritual procedure.

The final sentence may be incomplete in the surviving text. Its apparent meaning is that the Celestial Emperor’s command accords with the Dipper lodges and the directions of the Five Constants, reaches up to the Nine Heavens, and can command the stars and carry out rites involving thunder.

Note for readers: This passage is a practical entry combining Daoist Fulu, the selection of auspicious dates, ground-breaking rites, and healing. “Reporting a violation” and “breaking ground” refer to notifying the Earthly Palace and the gods and baleful forces before disturbing the earth. The “Heavenly Dipper” and the mountain’s orientation are used to select directions and times. The “Talisman for Pursuing and Seizing” and the “Day-Traveler Talisman” are templates for summoning gods, capturing demons, and restraining baleful forces. The Heaven and Earth Talismans and the Inner Secret of the Three Commands correspond to different diagnoses, such as afflictions attributed to celestial stars, terrestrial luminaries, or ghosts. The original lists many divine and baleful-force names together, following the conventions of ritual recitation and talismanic inscriptions. A plain-language interpretation can describe their purpose, but their actual use depends on the complete ritual tradition and a teacher’s transmission.

Imperial Edict of the Human Sovereign: Regulate and blend the Five Qi, command and marshal the hundred spirits, and accord with the Nine Palaces, Eight Trigrams, meridians, and bodily fields. Harmonize the Original Qi and destroy calamities such as corpse plague.

Imperial Edict of the Earth Sovereign: Restrain the earth deities and command them to serve as guards, escorting those who depart and welcoming those who arrive. Accord with the divisions of the Nine Provinces, the Nine Layers of Earth and their sovereigns, the directions and quarters of Yin-Yang, and the various spirits of baleful influence. All are subject to this command, which can drive out and attack ghosts and spirits.

These three edicts are matched in sequence with the ancestors’ taboo names, then placed under the authority of the Northern Emperor’s edict. The edict for breaking ground places the Five Yang above and makes amends to the Five Yin below. It receives the command of Heaven and undergoes eight transformations.

The Eight Transformation Mantras and Their Uses

The syllables om, hum, and she serve as closing words in the incantations.

For breaking ground in the Gen direction: om, di, ka, hum, she.

For reporting an offense in the Qian direction—reporting that an earth baleful influence has been disturbed: om, ye, zhe, wa, li, ti, she.

For making offerings to the earth in the Dui direction after work is complete: om, mo, ni, da, li, hum, she.

For treating illness with alternating chills and fever: xiao, ti, bo, li, she. Use separately for upper-body fever and lower-body chills.

For treating spiritual afflictions in the Gen direction: zha, nuo, hum, duo, zha, ye, she.

For beginning a burial in the Xun direction: mo, wu, hum, zhu, she.

For forcibly seizing in the Gen direction, meaning to pursue and capture: zha, luo, mo, she.

For treating plague: om, zha, huan, hong, ta, lu, da, nie, luo, she.

The Emperors’ Taboo Names

These are concealed names of revered deities, including the Northern Emperor. When used in ritual, select the appropriate characters according to the day’s cyclical designation.

For Yin days, Yang days, the first, the Heavenly Star of the second, the Earthly Luminary of the third, Hong, and Chang, there are corresponding characters for each.

The general title for sealing talismans is: om, hum, zha, li; followed by wu and either jie or yong.

When livestock are struck by calamity, write the two characters gui and yu on their left and right sides.

The Great Thunder Arrow Method

When Heaven and Earth are in turmoil and Yin and Yang clash and break apart, the causes are often inauspicious stars, powerful celestial influences, poisonous thunder, thunder arrows, and thunder baleful influences. Each lineage master has their own transmission. Using diagrams and directional aiming, practitioners harmonize the workings of creation and transformation, alter the principles of Yin and Yang, strike down demon stars, and test talismans for efficacy.

For example, the Flowing Fire Baleful Star is governed by the Sun. The Great Metal Tiger Baleful Influence is commanded by Tiangang and is the star of flowing metal, Taibai, in the west. Taiyin presides over the Thunderclap Baleful Influence. The baleful influences of Black Thunder and Black Tiger belong to spirits that overturn Heaven and Earth. When the Flowing Fire Baleful Star is inauspicious and a talismanic mandate incurs the Metal Tiger, black thunder and rain respond. This is the basis for the Great Thunder Arrow Method.

A Plain-Language Interpretation

The Five Phases relationship between stars and talismans

Stars belong to Metal, and talismans belong to Fire. This draws on the principle that “Fire overcomes Metal.” Divine generals capable of turning heaven and earth upside down must use talismans such as “flying swords that behead corpses.” If the rules are violated, baleful energy may harm the Thunder Department’s retinue. The rite must be carried out under the protection of the Celestial Emperor’s command; otherwise, the practitioner will suffer a backlash. If “the dragon takes flight” on a Jia or Ji day, or a rooster crows at the proper hour, and the event also falls in the direction of Black Thunder, Black Tiger, Golden Tiger, or similar forces, the results are often especially swift and fierce.

Taiwei and thunder baleful forces

In general, when the Taiwei star rests in a particular palace, the rite may be initiated. First, locate the thunder baleful force precisely and shoot a thunder arrow toward it; this step is also crucial. Each kind of thunder arrow has its own method for determining when to begin and its own configuration diagram. What follows describes the sequence of relocation.

The appointed day of response: preparations the day before

Suppose the response is due on a certain appointed day. One day in advance, first determine the directions of “Flowing Fire” and “White Tiger,” then use the altar’s own natal talisman to summon the generals. When they arrive, visualize each general’s clothing, headwear, and colors; offer tea and clearly state the reason for the rite. Next, circulate the Nine Qi and blow it onto the knife. Hold the knife in the right hand and cut the chicken with the left, letting its blood drip into wine. Place the chicken in the inauspicious direction, then circulate the Nine Qi into the wine and spray it from the chicken toward the directions of Flowing Fire and White Tiger. Command Flowing Fire and White Tiger to manifest a clear response on a specified day and at a specified hour.

How to use petitions and talismans

Prepare four petitions, inscribed with: “Edict of the Jade Emperor,” “Talisman of the Fire Earl,” “Thunder Character Talisman,” and “Nine Qi Talisman.” Each of the four talisman commands may be cut into eight or four pieces: attach four pieces to the front of the petition and leave four on the altar for summoning the generals. The petition follows the same format as a “contract.” For the altar’s own officers and generals, use one Fire Earl Talisman, cut into two pieces, as described above. On the back of each petition, it is advisable to write a brief record of its purpose. Burn the talisman facing the direction of the Direct Talisman, and summon the Direct Talisman deity to carry the petition and distribute it in the appointed directions.

Also prepare one Taiwei petition to command the flourishing Qi of the current year. Order the White Tiger and Flowing Fire officers and generals, together with the sword, the Vermilion Bird, and the four Thunder Arrows, to raise clouds and release mist in a specified direction, with thunder crashing loudly. Then prepare a petition reporting the rite’s completion and results. Attach one complete Taiwei Talisman to its front and burn it facing the direction of Taiwei.

Receiving the command, returning to the altar, and the response

At the appointed hour for receiving the command, check whether activity has arisen in the direction of the White Tiger, then return to the altar. At dawn, circulate the scripture and observe whether any Qi has been felt. The four Backlash-Dispelling Talismans may be secretly burned together in the incense burner; this often brings a strong response. If black Qi or baleful energy approaches with great force, quickly burn the Release Talisman secretly in the burner. After a short while, burn the Sudden-Fire Talisman and the Thunder-Command Talisman, then use the General Thunder-and-Rain Urging Talisman. Continue the practice without interruption and proceed in this way.

The Six Yi relocation method

For the Six Yi relocation method, first prepare one dispatch on the preceding day. (The following text should continue with the dispatch’s format and the sequence for sending it.)

Colloquial Interpretation of the Pearls Left Behind in the Ocean of the Dao

The Order for Burning Talismans and Urging Dispatches

After burning the initial talisman at the auspicious hour, do not reverse the order. Next, use the Xin talisman to expedite the official document, then use the Deng talisman to urge the dispatch. Then check whether the Thunder Office, the divine bureau in charge of thunder, has issued its orders, and determine the location of the day’s inauspicious direction. Raise the banner and take your seat according to that direction, then circulate the scripture and summon the Five-Thunder Celestial Generals, representing the thunder deities of the five directions and the Celestial General… (The text is missing here; it seems to concern the Golden Terrace General and corresponding positions for the Five Phases, the sun, and the moon.)

Rainbow-Cutting Incantation (excerpt)

By command, I cut off the rainbow’s demonic influence, leaving not a trace. The thunder’s order must be carried out at once. The stars shift and the Dipper turns; the clouds open and the Qi disperses. Cut and destroy swiftly—urgently, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

Technique for Inserting a Talisman

With the right hand, circulate the golden light, referring either to a hand gesture or to light cultivated within. Direct the character “Nie,” used to suppress evil, into the talisman.

Dispatch Incantation (Flying Sword to Slay Demons)

I receive the Supreme Emperor’s command: let the flying sword slay the celestial demon. Wherever my sword goes, the rainbow perishes at once—urgently, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

Talisman for Turning Back the Sea and Bringing Rain

This talisman is used to “turn back the sea and bring rain.” The names of deities are commonly assigned to its sections. In broad outline, they are as follows; the names in parentheses identify the revered deities or officers assigned to each section:

The Generals of the Six Jia, the Sun Lord, and the Moon Lord; the section beginning “I am of the South,” paired with phrases such as “May the sun’s Dharma flow into the bowels; swiftly descend with true Qi”; the Nine Star deities—Tanlang, Jumen, Lucun, Wenqu, Lianzhen, Wuqu, and Pojun—together with Kui, Chi, Ba, Xiao, and Piao; Marshal Tianpeng, Marshal Tianyou, Perfected Lord Yisheng, and Perfected Lord Yousheng; the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water; and the recitation: “Om, hong, hong. May all the deities bow their heads. May evil spirits return to the right path. Whoever dares disobey the command shall turn to dust. Urgently, in accordance with the statutes and commands.”

Also assigned are the Three Generals Tang, Ge, and Zhou; the Divine Generals of the Six Ding; the deities and spirits Tian’gang, Taiyi, Shengguang, Xiaoji, Chuansong, Congkui, Hekui, Dengming, Shenhou, Daji, Gongcao, and Taichong; the revered deities of the Five Planets—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—descending; the Primordial Lady of the Nine Heavens; the left formation’s “rumbling chariots and thunderclaps”; the right formation’s “flying, swift lightning” and “swift thunder that seizes”; the Radiant Heavenly Emperor Sun; the Three Heavens’ Great Dharma Masters; the Heavenly Stems Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, and Gui, aligned with the Earthly Branches; the names Zixin and Ziyin, as well as Zihui, Zizhen, Zilin, Ziwux, and Zigeng; the Eight-Heaven Vajras; and the Dharma-Protecting Divine Kings of the four directions, together with the Great Heavenly Kings of the east, south, west, north, and center, who guard the five directions.

The above is a general explanation, based on the original, of the liturgical procedure, dispatch incantations, and the arrangement of deities associated with the rain-bringing talisman. Any missing or corrupted characters in the text must be checked against a reliable edition of the Pearls Left Behind in the Ocean of the Dao before its reading can be established.

《Fahai yizhu》: A Plain-Language Interpretation

Constellations and omens

(The Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions: Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, Ji, Dou, Niu, Nü, Xu, Wei, Shi, Bi, Kui, Lou, Wei, Mao, Bi, Zi, Shen, Jing, Gui, Liu, Xing, Zhang, Yi, Zhen.)

(When the Zhen trigram is activated, the earth shakes; the hundred grains churn like boiling water.)

Dimensions of the talisman

The talisman is one chi and two cun long and two fen thick. In a leap year, it is one chi and three fen long and two cun and three fen wide.

Incantation for consecrating the talisman

Om, hong, hong—the spirits bow their heads, and demons return to the righteous path. Should anything rebel or disobey, let it dissolve into fine dust. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

Procedure: Form the Jade Emperor mudra by holding the middle finger upright. Silently recite the consecration incantation twenty-one times. Blow toward the northwest, directing your breath into the talisman, then seal it in a pouch made of blue silk or black paper.

Inscription on the front of the talisman pouch: “The official of [surname] affixes his seal. Respectfully sealed.”

Inscription on the back of the talisman pouch: “The Shangqing command to overturn the sea and bring rain is hereby issued to the master of the Dragon Pool and Water Palace at [place], among the Nine Rivers and Nine Streams. Carry it out with utmost urgency.”

Incantation for summoning dragons

Auspicious black clouds rise and swirl; Taiyi attends the court. Jade-colored clouds fill the numinous grotto; descend into Yin and follow the dragon. Cast down an iron tablet, and the Rain Master shall assist and obey. Summon the dragon to bear water; let primordial essence spread in all four directions. Supreme Elder of Bright Radiance, Tabai, the Five Dragons—swiftly, swiftly, obey the command of the Supreme One.

Five-Direction Brick Talismans

Write the Five-Direction Thunder Talismans on bricks. Burn fifty jin of charcoal until the bricks glow red, then place them in the five directional urns. Daoist practitioners recite the Mulang incantation while the ritual master forms the Five-Direction mudras and stirs the water in the urn with a sword. Thunder and rain arrive at once.

(There is one talisman for each of the five directions: east, south, west, north, and center. The central talisman bears the character pronounced hong.)

Incantation for unfurling the banner and stirring the urn:

Om, hong, hong—the Qi of mountains and rivers and the essence of the hundred stars gather into a canopy of splendor; the earth stirs and becomes clouds. Thunder-driving Envoy, Numinous Lord of Coalesced Qi, carry out the Emperor’s command and do not delay. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes of Shangqing Xuandu.

Incantation for the baleful Qi of the Luohou earth spirit to rise into the sky: Om, chi, du, zha, li, hong, hong, seize!

This incantation should be recited loudly, like the roar of a tiger.

Cutting the rainbow

Take a strand of hair and, facing the rainbow, peer at it with narrowed eyes. A certain talisman character will appear in the sky above the crown of the head. Once it has passed, take up the proper position: when a streak of white and red Qi appears above the Celestial Gate, inhale and blow onto the strand of hair, then command, “I summon the envoy to cut the rainbow.” The rainbow will sever itself.

Another consecration incantation

By the talisman’s command, spirits are consecrated; by the talisman’s command, spirits are consecrated. The Thunder Lord Great Emperor’s majestic, awe-inspiring voice, the Five…

(The original text appears to be incomplete here. It consists largely of repeated commands and the names of revered Thunder Department deities, recited rapidly when wielding a talisman.)

Note: This text belongs to a Daoist ritual tradition concerned with rainmaking, controlling thunder, and cutting rainbows. The Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions and the Zhen trigram image signify celestial changes and earthquakes. The talismans have prescribed dimensions and pouch-sealing formats. The Five-Direction Brick Talismans, the Mulang incantation, stirring the urn, and unfurling the banner form a coordinated rainmaking ritual. The account of cutting a rainbow records a folk technique involving visualization of the Celestial Gate, blowing breath, and issuing a command. Specialized terms have been retained in customary Daoist usage, and the incomplete passage has not been conjecturally restored.

《Pearls Left Behind in the Sea of Rituals》: A Plain-Language Interpretation

The thunder bureau’s community commandant must not linger; come forth in obedience to the teaching. Within a hundred li, show your numinous power. Let the fire wheels, axes, and drums be set in motion; manifest your power swiftly. I act by the decree of the Supreme Emperor.

(Invocation) Thunder bureau community commandant, do not delay or linger; come at once in obedience to the command. Within a hundred li, let your numinous power appear. Let the fire wheels, axes, and drums move together; manifest your power swiftly. I act by the decree of the Supreme Emperor (here referring to one of the highest Daoist deities, such as the Jade Emperor).

Above: Chant the spell three times while concentrating the primal Qi; form the Jade Emperor mudra and burn the talisman while chanting.

Ritual procedure: As you chant, gather the Qi into one; recite the spell three times. Form the Jade Emperor mudra (a hand gesture associated with the Jade Emperor), then burn the talisman while reciting the spell.

Numinous and wondrous, the Five Qi; one Qi divides into forms. At the beginning, vast and chaotic; the mysterious pole, deep and dim. Circling the Six Directions, it gives life everywhere to the numinous spirits. Through a thousand changes and ten thousand transformations, one Qi spreads into the five directions. The thunder bureau’s community commandant leads the thunder troops: thunder crashes, lightning flashes, wind is ridden, and thunderbolts are driven. Hear my summons and hasten to the altar.

The numinous powers of the five directions gather as the Five Qi; one Qi takes form. The primordial beginning is chaotic, and the mysterious pole is deep and remote. It extends throughout the Six Directions and spreads numinous spirits everywhere. Through a thousand changes and ten thousand transformations, one Qi flows into the five directions. The thunder bureau’s community commandant leads the thunder troops, bringing crashing thunder and flashing lightning, riding the wind and driving thunderbolts. Hear my summons and come swiftly to the altar.

Silent Invocation Spell

Om zha li duo ye hong hong bo zha ye luo li suo he

(This is a spell in Sanskrit or mixed ritual sounds. It is chanted silently during the rite; it need not be translated for meaning.)

I bow to the Community Commandant, Lord Yang of Thunder. One spirit divides into forms in the five directions. The divine drums thunder as he drives forth, and all respond; he sends down true Qi into my body. Wherever I summon, an immediate response is made; his mighty voice is heard throughout a hundred li. (Visualize the Thunder Lord appearing.)

Om zha hong. I summon and command General Yang Ji, General Sun De, Hong Jin of the West, General Zhu Xi of the Kan position, and the Central Commander, the Great Spirit Ma Guang. Myriad beams of thunderlight, thunder Qi swirling everywhere, thunder crashing loudly, thunderfire rushing forth. Thirteen deputy thunder spirits: mountains collapse and seas overturn; trees are felled and forests destroyed; thunder flies and lightning strikes, with the mighty sound of thunderclaps. The Xun wind rises swiftly; a tiger roars in the Gen palace; thunder in the Zhen position howls, and rain pours down like a flood. When my command talisman arrives, Heaven and Earth are purified. Beat the thunder drum with a mighty crash; swiftly manifest the response. The five directions clash and move; beat the drum with a rumble of thunder. The five directions respond, sweeping away filth and evil.

(I summon and command the thunder generals: General Yang Ji, General Sun De, Hong Jin of the West, General Zhu Xi of the Kan position, and Ma Guang, the Central Commander.) Thunderlight blazes in myriad beams; thunder Qi surges; thunder booms, and thunderfire races forth. The thirteen deputy thunder spirits topple mountains and overturn seas, destroy forests and fell trees, hurl thunder and flash lightning with the might of thunderclaps. The Xun wind rises suddenly; a tiger roars in the Gen palace; thunder in the Zhen position bellows, and rain pours down like a flood. When my command talisman arrives, Heaven and Earth are purified. Beat the thunder drum with a mighty crash and swiftly manifest the response. The five directions surge and clash; the drum rumbles like thunder. The five directions respond, cleansing filth and evil.

Yellow thunder and green Qi surge eastward; to the north, white thunder and black Qi strike, cutting down traces of evil. Black thunder and yellow Qi move, aligned with the Nine Palaces. Red thunder and white Qi rise to the vault of Heaven. The Thunder Duke of the Celestial Realm blazes with might and shakes the wind; green thunder and red Qi join with the thunderclap talisman. Om. Thunder rushes and lightning moves: heng hong hua la jiu jing. By decree, summon and command the Five Thunders and their divine powers; by decree, order the true gods of the prefectures and districts to submit their memorials. They respectfully obey the Emperor’s decree and must not delay. Let the community commandants of the five directions carry this out swiftly. The mysterious proceeds from the mysterious and the correct; it flies from the Great Thousand World. Hasten, hasten, in accordance with the decreed command of the Most High Thunder Lord.

Yellow thunder and green Qi surge eastward; to the north, white thunder and black Qi strike, eradicating traces of evil. Black thunder and yellow Qi move in accord with the Nine Palaces arrangement. Red thunder and white Qi rise toward the vault of Heaven. The Thunder Duke of the Celestial Realm blazes with might and shakes the wind; green thunder and red Qi are joined with the thunderclap talisman. Om. (Thunder rushes and lightning moves; heng hong hua la jiu jing is ritual sound.) By decree, summon and command the Five Thunders and their divine powers; by decree, order the true gods of the prefectures and districts to submit their memorials. They respectfully obey the Emperor’s decree and must not delay. Let the community commandants of the five directions carry this out swiftly. The mysterious proceeds from the mysterious and the correct; it flies from the Great Thousand World. Hasten, hasten, in accordance with the decreed command of the Most High Thunder Lord.

○ The Secret Teaching of the Five Thunders

Spell of the Primordial Jade Clarity Decree

The Azure Emperor’s headcloth, the Red Emperor’s cap, the White Emperor’s robe, the Black Emperor’s belt, the Yellow Emperor’s descendant, the office of the Great Sovereign. Coming from the realm of Wuying, departing for the domain without bounds. I summon…

(The Five Emperors of the five directions: the Azure, Red, White, Black, and Yellow Emperors, each associated with garments such as a headcloth, cap, robe, and belt. These symbolize the thunder Qi and divine powers of the five directions.) Coming from the realm of Wuying, returning to the domain without bounds. I summon… (The text may continue with specific divine names.)

(This passage serves as the general framework for the Five Thunders decrees in the Primordial Jade Clarity tradition, and is connected to the commands to the thunder generals and community commandants above. To reconstruct the full ritual, one must consult a complete edition of Pearls Left Behind in the Sea of Rituals and the oral teachings transmitted by a master.)

Note: The text belongs to a category of thunder rituals involving the summoning of generals, the burning of talismans, and the secret teachings of the Five Thunders. It contains many ritual sounds, names of divine generals, and correspondences between directions and Qi colors, such as yellow thunder with green Qi and white thunder with black Qi. Study requires transmission from a qualified master; the text alone is not a basis for practice.

You take the form of wind and thunder: the wind stirs, thunder rolls, and lightning crashes in quick succession. The servants of the east wear headcloths and carry wooden staffs; those of the south wear caps and shine with a brilliant glow; those of the west wear robes, their golden ornaments flashing; those of the north wear belts, wrapped in streaming flames; and those at the center move in concert with the Yellow Pole. Thunder rises from the Xun quarter (southeast), while lightning surges up from beneath the earth and enters the Thunder City, where it assists the True King.

When the incantation is complete, hold the Great Thunder Hand Seal, settle into stillness, and focus the spirit. After a long while, visualize yourself as Mount Kongtong, a mountain of immortals, with the five internal organs as caverns and grottoes. Within them, thunder chariots roll, thunder resounds, and clouds, mist, and lightning-fire circulate all around. Hold the breath and direct its movement, making the Qi flow rapidly. When sweat streams through the limbs and pores, urgently recite the Incantation of the Celestial Thunder Lord and the Incantation of the Great Wooden Staff. As you maintain this visualization, see the crown of your head split open. Your Original Destiny Spirit sits upright within a golden hall and jade chamber. At this point, body and form suddenly fall from awareness: I am the Original Destiny Spirit, and the Original Destiny Spirit is me. Auspicious light and wondrous Qi surround my body. Looking up into the heavens, you see the True King of Jade Clarity: black clouds cover the sky, thunder and lightning clash, and wind and rain spread in every direction. The Xun portal splits open; lightning crashes thunderously, opening the earth’s veins as springs surge forth. My Original Destiny Spirit ascends to pay court at the mansion of the True King of Jade Clarity, reports the matter, and requests an edict commanding the thunder powers to dispatch their marshals and generals to me, so that I may command them. After receiving the decree, I bow in farewell and return to the jade chamber of the mud pill, the upper Dantian. Within the black thunder, I see the assembled gods of the Thunder Department and the officials of wind, clouds, thunder, rain, and lightning. At this point, recite the secret incantation of the Five Thunders and visualize the five spirits descending before me. Let the gods return into the thunder grottoes within me. After a long while, open the eyes slightly. The Original Destiny Spirit and I become one, and I may then write talismans, or ascend the altar to summon generals and carry out the rite.

(Another method.) When writing the character “jing” in the form of a well, visualize heaven and earth before they were lit, the primordial chaos, the mysterious brightness of the Taiji, the mysterious stillness of the Taiji, and the birth of the two primal powers. The Three and Five form vertical and horizontal lines; the Four and Seven luminaries shine with numinous power; the Thunder Lord and his generals descend to the imperial court. Command the thunder spirits: “Let lightning crash and thunder shake the heavens; let wind, clouds, thunder, and rain surge, with darkness boiling everywhere. Lay mountains low and uproot trees; overturn the seas and pour down in torrents. Let wind and thunder roar without end, and rain crash with thunderous force. Strike down demons and ghosts; let lightning crisscross—just as the thunder command decrees.”

(The full visualization and invocation for writing the character “jing” by this method are given above.)

Collected Pearls Left by the Sea of Teachings (Fahai Yizhu): A Plain Language Interpretation

“Great Simplicity” (Taisu) and “Dark Mystery” (Xuanming) both refer to the undifferentiated chaos that existed before Heaven and Earth separated. The Two Principles (Yin-Yang) began to emerge from this state, and the force of life gradually took shape: the One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, and Three gives birth to the myriad things. Heaven and Earth, people and other beings, as well as wind and clouds, thunder and rain, lightning, frost and snow, plants and trees—all appeared in succession after each received its own Qi (vital energy).

In the case of human beings, the “Two Worthies” (which may be understood as Yin and Yang, or as certain fundamental endowments) take shape first. Then the two eyes come into being, followed by the limbs, the five viscera, and so on. The eyes correspond to the sun and moon: blinking is like lightning, pressing the ears is like thunder, breathing out is like wind, and sweating is like rain.

The transformations of primordial creation are not limited to these correspondences. Wind, clouds, thunder, and rain as commonly discussed mostly belong to the changes of the postnatal realm.