《法海遺珠》Vol. 8

Fahai Yizhu (Pearls from the Sea of the Dharma), Juan 8, Part 8

The Ninth Heaven Thunder-Crystal Envoy: Brahmic Qi Hidden-Writing Method

Raising the Thunder and Creating Transformation

First, establish the mutual-conquest principle of the Five Phases (Wuxing) and form the name, the core character-formula of the talisman or incantation.

In visualization, the head returns to the Kan Palace (Water, the northern position), and the thunder-intent arises from the Gallbladder Palace, the thunder's place among the organs. Silently recite the specific hidden syllables (the "five secret formulas"), while visualizing golden light illuminating everything and flashes of lightning. Vocalize the sound chà in the mouth, repeating it without a fixed count.

Pivot (key point): This name issues from the "Worthy Center" (the Central Palace, around the Yellow Court), passes through the five palaces, and plunges into the sea floor, provoking a great thunderous roar that rolls onward. It then exits through the "thirty-six gates" at the crown, and the five thunders crash together.

(Also: virtually write the character mǒu ("so-and-so") in golden light above the Xun position. Xun is wind, which accompanies thunder.)

Oral Formula for Summoning Thunder

The officiant follows the formula "add Xu every month," a Daoist oral method for locating the Heavenly Pivot stars (Tiangang), and observes where the Pivot falls. Facing that direction, they visualize the whole Big Dipper (Beidou) constellation in front. Using the sword gesture (the hand formed into a sword shape), they write the secret character toward the mouth of the Dipper, mentally imagining it flickering and shining. They also visualize a line of golden light rising from the dantian, bursting out between the brows, and shooting straight toward the Pivot's position. With a wrathful expression and a fierce inhalation, they draw this character into the talisman with the sword gesture.

At this point, if the Pivot lies in Mao (east), thunder should follow. In Si (southeast), wind. In Wu (south), lightning. In Zi (north), rain. In Chen, Xu, Chou, or Wei, clouds.

Changing the Direction of the Thunder

If the thunder sounds in the east, visualize one star of the Big Dipper, concentrate the mind, and fix the intention. Use the sword gesture to write the secret character at the Dipper's mouth. Visualize golden light bursting from the dantian through the heavenly center (the crown or the space between the brows) and shooting straight to where the eastern thunder sounds. Then draw it away with the sword gesture, leading the thunder elsewhere.

Tianpeng Drives the Thunder

Visualize nine kinds of qi (the qi of the Nine Heavens) converging in the Central Palace. Blue qi condenses into a blue lotus seed. The seed suddenly splits open, revealing Marshal Tianpeng, chief deity of the thunder ministry, standing on the right. Beneath his feet is a single-horned coiled dragon (qiulong), also standing on the right. The officiant issues three commands in succession. With each recitation of the incantation, the dragon roars loudly and the Marshal grows furious. The officiant, sharing that anger in the heart, dispatches him to hasten and drive the thunders onward.

(Gist of the oral formula: the blue lotus seed contains the mechanism of transformation.)

Formula for Commanding Lightning

With the eyes, virtually write the secret character on the right palm and the symbol ▲ on the left palm. Press the palms together and rub them until very hot, visualizing a ball of golden light gathering in the palms. Then visualize, in the clouds opposite, a golden secret character. The officiant makes a flicking motion from the palm, casting golden fiery sparks toward the clouds, and golden lightning blazes across the sky. At the same time, chant:

"Mingling heaven, sea, and mountains, lightning streams and bursts of light; with divine mechanism, summon and seize: golden light whips the lightning, chà!" (The final word may be shouted as a single chà.)

Meaning: merging the heavens, the seas, and the mountains, electric light erupts and flows. Through the divine mechanism, one summons and commands. Golden light lashes the lightning, and a single shout of chà gives the order.

Note: This text belongs to the secret tradition of Daoist thunder rites (leifa). It is typically used together with talismans, incantations, pace-steps (bugang), visualization, and sword gestures. The "secret characters," chà, Tiangang, Beidou, and Tianpeng are all traditional elements of thunder rites. The original contains missing or variant characters. For example, one variant reads "visualize oneself," and the "Worthy Center" may be read as a Yellow Court-type central palace. Commentaries therefore differ in places. The rendering above follows the common line of thunder-rite literature, with technical names retained and briefly explained.

Interpreting the Fahai Yizhu

After the incantation is recited, hold the "omen" (zhao) in the palm. Two golden rays shoot toward the lunar mansions, drawing forth lightning, and this corresponds with the "Mother of Hidden Ascent" (xing mi zhi mu), an internal visualization name within the snow-summoning method.

The Snow-Summoning Method (Qi Xue Fa)

The Master says: to summon snow, one may take the image of the moon as the method. Gather the Five Planets at the lunar mansion of the Eastern Well (Dong Jing), so that auspicious qi flows in abundance. This is called gathering the Five Phases and uniting the Four Images (cuan wu xing, he si xiang). With harmonious qi joined in accord, auspicious qi arrives of its own accord.

On the talisman, add the character nü, covering it with the image of the Five Planets. In the mind, visualize the Great Yin (Taiyin) at the zenith. The brush held in the hand is itself this star. When the qi of the four stars gathers into auspicious light, harmonious qi fills the mountains and rivers, and the Six Flowers (liu hua, snowflakes) condense, scatter, and drift across heaven and earth. Then move the brush and recite the incantation:

Fei tian xu huo, wan yun dong ling, shang xiang xian qing, rui guang ju ning. Gang feng jian shui, bian hua qiong lin, liu he qu li, bai gu shou jing. Wei guang zheng ji, tian di su qing, zhen wang fu hua, shen bian yu jing. Ji ji ru Taiyin yue di lü ling.

Fly through heaven and kindle fire; turn and move the Eastern Numinous. The high ministers and immortal lords gather auspicious light into one. Hard wind cuts the waters and transforms them into jade forests; the Six Directions are freed from pestilence, and the hundred grains receive their essence. Majestic light sets the order, and heaven and earth are made clear and pure. The True King spreads his transformation, and spirits change in the Jade Capital. Swift, swift, as the decree of the Lunar Emperor of Great Yin.

When the incantation is finished, the brush exits from the direction to which it belongs.

Secret Principles of Opening and Closing

The directions correspond to the names of the "gates" (xue) as follows:

Natural phenomena and their Five Phases: wind (Wood), cloud (Earth), thunder (Wood), lightning (Fire), rain (Water), hail (Metal), frost (Metal), snow (Water).

All of these methods belong to the Five Phases and are set in motion from the Life-Prolonging Position (chang sheng wei). Each has its generating and overcoming relations: what generates brings accomplishment, and what overcomes brings destruction. Use the generating relation where it is favorable, and avoid it where it is harmful; use the overcoming relation where it is favorable, and avoid it where it is harmful. These are the subtle workings of summoning wind and raising thunder, none of which departs from the Five Phases.

• Raising wind: Stamp open the Wind Gate, close the Rain Gate, stamp steady the Cloud Gate, and the wind rises.
• Stopping wind: Stamp open the Rain Road, sever the wind road with a sword formula, then close the Wind Gate, and the wind is gathered.
• Raising thunder: Sever the wind road, close the Rain Door, open the Cloud Road to summon clouds, then kick open the Thunder Aperture, and the thunder sounds.
• Dispersing thunder: Open the Wind Road, close the Cloud Road, close the Thunder Aperture, and the thunder disperses and recedes.
• Raising clouds: Kick the Rain Road and kick the Wind Gate, open the Cloud Gate, and the clouds arise.
• Dispersing clouds: Open the Wind Road, close the Cloud Gate, and open the Fire Gate.

Note: The source is a Daoist collection of talismans, incantations, and step-patterns for summoning snow and controlling wind, rain, thunder, and clouds. It mixes lunar mansions, bagua directions, Five Phase generating and overcoming relations, and ritual terms such as "stamping the gates" and "sword formulas." Many terms, such as "omen" (zhao), "Mother of Hidden Ascent" (xing mi zhi mu), and the character nü, are internal names within the oral formulas, and commentators interpret them differently. This rendering follows the literal sense and adds no doctrinal commentary.

Rain Prayer (Qiyu): First open the Cloud Cavity, Wind Cavity, Rain Cavity, and Thunder Cavity. If wind, cloud, and thunder are already present, first stop the Wind Cavity and seal the Thunder Cavity, then fully open the Rain Cavity, and the rain will fall.

Halting Rain (Zhiyu): Open the Wind Cavity and the Fire Cavity, and disperse the gathered Cloud Cavity, and the rain will stop of its own accord.

Memorializing Affairs (Zoushi), Moving Away Baleful Stars (Yi Yaoxing), and Extinguishing Fire Calamities (Mie Huoyang): For all of these, open the Heavenly Gate (Tianmen).

Refining Salvation (Liandu): Open the Earth Gate (Dihu). Curing Illness (Zhibing): Open the Human Gate (Renmen). Subduing Ghosts (Zhigui): Open the Ghost Road (Guilu).

Capturing Malign Spirits That Possess the Body (Zhuisui Futi): Seal the Ghost Road. Cutting Off Evil Influences (Duan Xie): Block the Ghost Road.

The Three Commands of the Gang (Sanling Gang)

Wind arises.

For the Right Gang, use the branches zhong, zi, and chen for praying for rain; xuan, mao, and wei for curing illness; yin, wu, and xu for praying for clear weather; and si, you, and chou for punitive campaigns.

Secret Teachings (Shi Mi)

Wind has its cavity, and cloud has its chamber. What is the Wind Cavity? One should settle the breath and qi, and according to the season and direction, find the Xun gate (Xunhu). This must not be overlooked. As for the cloud chamber, clouds are concealed within mountains and peaks. Through the Dui metal overcoming wood, sharp edges arise and cover the sky, and only then are clouds and mists formed.

Iron Tablet Talisman (Tiezha Fu)

Once the talisman is complete, add the flashing of sunlight (wu) and the unending movement of the moon (zi).

Imperial Incantation (Chizhou): By the command of the Highest Emperor (Shangdi) (zhong), summon the Thunder Spirit (wu). Let clouds surge and lightning sweep (wu), let wind and fire join together (mao), and obey my talismanic command (chou). Hasten and illuminate, urgently, urgently, as the Jade Clarity Highest Emperor's ordinance decrees.

The talisman is to be made of iron plate, three cun and six fen wide and nine cun long. Face east and visualize the Ancestral Master and commanding generals in the air, then write the talisman in cinnabar.

Proclamation After the Iron Tablet (Tiezha Hou Gaowen)

Thunder Ministry Office (Leiting Dusi):

Proclamation to the dragon wells, the twelve stream sources, the rivers and the spirits of such-and-such a place: Reverently obey the talismanic command of the Most High (Taishang) to raise the dragons and bring rain. Do not let violent winds harm living things. Let the rain fall abundantly so that it reaches every grain and crop, relieving the living. Those who render merit shall be memorialized and inscribed in the Shangqing (Highest Clarity) register. Urgently, urgently, as the Jade Clarity Highest Emperor commands.

Reported by the year, month, day, and hour of Taisui.

The officiant, surnamed so-and-so, respectfully receives this proclamation and carries it out.

Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun (Jade Clarity Primordial Heavenly Venerable)

Front Cover Format (on yellow paper)

(Thunder Ministry iron tablet talisman ordinance, proclamation to the dragon wells, the twelve stream sources, and other spirits of such-and-such a place.) The officiant, surnamed so-and-so, respectfully seals this.

Reverse Side of the Cover Format

On the day and hour of the Grand Duke Year (Taisui), month and day, this memorial was submitted and issued.

Liujin Da Sha Lei Fang (Flowing Gold Great Killing Thunder Direction)

On Jia days the Dragon flies at Si (the Rooster hour); on Yi and Geng days the Tiger roars at Wei (the Sheep hour); on Bing and Xin days the Monkey and the Dog play in the same flock; on Ding and Ren days the Rabbit faces Shen (the Monkey hour); on Wu and Gui days, Wu and Zi must be firmly remembered. The killing qi of this direction responds to the Heavenly Mechanism. Grasp the Gang (Big Dipper steps) and hold the seal, awaiting the burning of talismans, and the thunderbolts will follow.

Burn talismans toward the above directions to draw in the killing qi. Visualize oneself as the Celestial Gang (Tian Gang), and summon and dispatch thunder, always directing it toward this direction. For example, on a Jia day, draw the qi of the Chen direction and lay out the talismans; the rest follow by analogy.

Bugang Tidou (stepping the Gang with the feet, sweeping the Dipper with the hands)

Taishang Jizou Lingzhang (Urgent Memorial Chapter of the Most High)

(This chapter may be addressed to any of the Dipper Court's sovereigns and palace gates; the chapter form is the same, changing only the name of the sacred rank.)

Rain-Prayer Chapter Form

Your minister so-and-so, in utmost trepidation, kowtows and bows twice, respectfully submitting these words.

I humbly pour out my sincere heart to make my plea reach the Heavenly Hearing. Your minister has received, from such-and-such a place (state the place), an earnest and urgent petition, and reverently undertakes to carry it out. If I do not memorialize at once, I deeply fear that Heaven will withhold rain and harm the lives of the people, a truly pitiable state in which the people will have no means of survival. I do not shrink from the majesty of Heaven, and respectfully submit according to the ancestral form one flying memorial. I specially dispatch a Swift Talisman Envoy of the Three Realms (or the envoy on duty that day), who shall bear it straight to the presence of the August Lord of the Golden Gate, the Supreme Lord of the Vast Heaven, the Commander of Thunder. I humbly hope for the Way's compassion to grant what your minister has memorialized, and to issue a decree to the proper overseeing officials: the Dragon Spirits who govern rain in the current season, the Wind Earl and the Rain Master, the Thunder Duke and the Lightning Mother. Let them, according to the matter set forth in my memorial, urgently whip the pool dragons into motion, raise clouds and spread rain, flash lightning and roll thunder, and pour down abundant rain, reviving all creatures. Let the ponds and reservoirs overflow and the fields flow with water, wholly pardoning the transgressions of the infants and speedily fulfilling the hopes of the living beings, thereby fulfilling my heart's wish and greatly manifesting the true wind of the Way.

Your minister presumes upon the majesty of Heaven, in utmost trepidation, kowtowing and bowing twice. The feelings of my heart cannot contain the intensity of my urgent plea. Respectfully memorialized.

Taisui year, month, day. Submitted by the officiant, your minister so-and-so.

Healing Chapter Form

(The format is similar to the rain-prayer chapter. The scripture text here lists only the heading, and the specific articles were not recorded.)

A Vernacular Explanation of the Fahai Yizhu (Precious Pearls from the Sea of the Dharma)

I. The Memorial Text (Presented by Your Servant So-and-So)

Your servant So-and-so (of the rank of ___), trembling with awe, bows to the ground, touching the forehead to the floor again and again, and bows twice more to respectfully submit these words:

With the humble devotion of a sincere heart, I venture to make my petition known to the Heavenly Ear. Your servant has carefully followed the prescribed rites, entered into their meaning, and sought to uphold them with complete fidelity. What grieves me is the urgency of the illness, which truly calls for pity. Not fearing the peril of incurring punishment, I have, in accordance with the methods handed down from my ancestors, prepared an Urgent Numinous Memorial (jizou lingzhang) and specially dispatched a Flying Express Talisman Envoy of the Three Realms (sanjie feijie fushi), or an envoy of the day, to carry it directly before the Supreme Lord Emperors (zhiel zundi) of the Three Clarities (Sanqing), the highest heavens of Daoism, and the Three Realms of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing).

Sincerely I beg that the Compassion of the Dao (daoci) grant this memorial, issue a decree, and direct the relevant governing officials to act as requested. If the allotted span of life has not yet run out, may (so-and-so) be especially released from accumulated transgressions, have grievances and curses resolved, have calamities dispersed, and have their star-fate restored to its proper course. May all wicked demons be gathered in, and may lingering corpse-qi and ancient miasmas, as well as pestilential vapors, be cut off. May (so-and-so)'s present illness be healed swiftly. If there are ancestors who have died and are entangled in debts with the living, may those bonds be severed and reconciled, and may the dead be liberated into rebirth. If there are karmic creditors and enemies, may they too be reconciled.

I further beg that the Officers of Deliverance from Calamity (jieli lingguan) and the Celestial Physician Immortal Officials (tianyi xianli) be dispatched, each to their office, to treat the root of the illness. May they embody the great Virtue of Heaven's love of life, relieve the suffering of the common people, fulfill my heartfelt wish, and widely manifest the true customs of the Dao.

Your servant, daring to offend the Heavenly Majesty, trembles with awe and bows to the ground. My feelings cannot bear the full measure of this fervent and grieving plea. Respectfully memorialized.

Tai Sui year (Taisui) _, month _, day ___

Respectfully presented by Your Servant So-and-So, of the rank of ___

II. Format of the Memorial Document

For writing a memorial, one uses pure, snow-white paper cut into squares, each side measuring seven cun (about 3.3 cm per cun). The text is written densely and carefully according to the rules, and the finished scroll is roughly one and a half cun across. Rather than the perforated, thread-bound format (kelou), one uses only a yellow waist band (huang dongyao), on which is written "Surname So-and-so Presents the Memorial." The outside is wrapped in a white paper corner-seal.

The corner-seal is topped with a yellow square tag. Within the memorial, the year, month, and day at the top are stamped with the Jade Seal of the Three Qi (sanqi yuzhang).

III. Warrant for Dispatching the Memorial

Thunder Office Commissariat (Leiting Dusi), Three Realms, on a certain day. Warrant for the Urgent Memorial Flying Express Envoy.

This Office today issues one copy of the Supreme Urgent Numinous Memorial, sealed in full, to be carried directly to the Jade Emperor of the Vast Heavens (Haotian Yudi) and presented before his throne or to his palace. Thus this warrant is issued, and the envoy is dispatched.

The above warrant respectfully follows the Supreme Primordial Urgent Notice Numinous Memorial. In accordance with this Office's directive to relieve the urgent need of the people, the envoy shall proceed directly to the Jade Emperor's throne.

Note: This text describes a Daoist urgent memorial ritual for healing. Believers or Daoist priests, in the role of subjects, submit a memorial to the Heavenly Court and ask Flying Express Envoys to deliver numinous memorials to the Jade Emperor and the Three Pure Ones. The petition seeks pardon for sins, release from grievances, the expulsion of demons, and the healing of illness. Appended are the formats for the paper dimensions and seals used in writing the memorial, together with the Thunder Office Commissariat's warrant for passing it through the celestial gates, for use when performing the rite.

The heavenly court's dispatches and the memorials submitted to it must not be defaced or have their seals broken, and they must not be delayed or held back. Anyone who fails to process them at the prescribed times is to be punished under ordinary penal regulations. In urgent matters that cannot follow the usual procedure, the sender must state the reason at once and report the Grand Duke (Taisui, the deity governing the year) together with the year, month, day, and hour. The clerk who prepares the document must also record his ritual rank and name and sign it.

The talisman used here is the "Feijie Fu" (Swift-Dispatch Talisman, "talisman that sends the memorial quickly"), which accompanies the memorial and the official dispatch. The talisman is drawn on yellow paper nine cun long and three cun wide, with cinnabar writing in the center and ink characters on either side. It is affixed in front of the official dispatch and burned together with the memorial, in the hope that the document will reach heaven within a single ke (quarter-hour). During the burning, the officiant recites a formula such as "Hemingmingtiandi riushu fu" (the talisman of the Sun-Bright Heavenly Emperor), performs the Earthly Branch mudra for the current day to summon the talisman messenger, and then blows the qi of the day's direction over the incense while chanting: "Swift-Dispatch Talisman Messenger, I now summon you to arrive as swiftly as thunder and lightning. Hurry and obey the command of Taishang (the Supreme Lord), and rapidly present this numinous memorial."

When summoning and dispatching the messenger, the officiant must concentrate the spirit and settle the will, draw the talisman's form in the empty air while silently reciting the incantation, perform the mudras and tread the Gang steps (the ritual pacing patterns), and then visualize the messenger arriving before the altar. After reading the dispatch and burning the memorial, the officiant recites the incantation five times. Its general sense is: "Heaven is clear and earth is numinous; once the sacred water is sprinkled, the document will at once reach the Nine Heavens (the highest celestial realms) and be delivered swiftly. Messenger, hurry and come; I wait at the altar for your reply. Hurry and obey the command of Taishang, and rapidly present this numinous memorial."

The Taiji Xuanyin Leifa (Taiji Mysterious Hidden Thunder Rites) contains another talisman, the "Talisman for Summoning the Wind Spirits and the Rain Master to Send Rain." Its text lists phrases such as thunder-fire, lightning-light, wind command, rain command, and the circulation of water and fire, and it names deities including Leifa (Thunder Fire), Dianguang (Lightning Light), Shifang (the Ten Directions), Taishang, Yanjun (the Stern Lord), Haowong (the White-Haired Elder), Jinma (the Golden Horse), Huobo (Lord Fire), Hanbo (Lord Han), the Three Officials (Sanguan), and the Five Emperors (Wudi). The incantation broadly describes black clouds surging, fire and lightning blazing, spirits descending, hail rising, and thunder displaying its might, with great winds and heavy rains subduing demons while the gods respectfully obey, and mountains quaking. It then commands the Dragon Division and the Yakshas (protective spirits), together with the spirit generals Chitian Chi, Long Qian, Xu Huo, and Hengtian Ba, to come before the altar at once and act according to the talisman's command.

The text closes with the heading "Jia-Yi Qu Lei Gang," the Jia-Yi Thunder-Expelling Gang. This names a pacing pattern for expelling thunder, drawn after the Jia-Yi qi (the Heavenly Stems jia and yi) or their directional associations.

Opening the Rite

Knock the teeth nine times, form the Thunder Mudra (leijue) with both hands, pace the Dipper steps (bugang) five times, and chant: "Wind rises, thunder crashes, lightning and fire, swift, swift."

General Principles for Summoning Thunder Servants

Whenever you wish to summon the thunder spirits to serve you, first pace the Thunder-Driving Dipper Step (qu lei gang), one of the Thunder Rite (leifa) pacing steps, in the direction corresponding to Jia and Yi. Then chant the incantation "Black clouds surge, fire and lightning gleam," burn the talisman, and issue the command. Only then may the work proceed.

Thunder Talismans of the Five Directions and Four Seasons (paper color and vermilion writing)

• East, Spring Thunder Talisman: written in vermilion on blue paper
• South, Summer Thunder Talisman: written in vermilion on red paper
• West, Autumn Thunder Talisman: written in vermilion on white paper
• North, Winter Thunder Talisman: written in vermilion on black paper
• Center, Capital Thunder Talisman: written in vermilion on yellow paper

There is also the Pursuing Wind and Thunderbolt Talisman.

Method: write three talismans in vermilion on paper of the color for the current season. First, dispatch notices to the thunder spirit of that season and to the Chuhuo Great Spirit (a deity who moves swiftly within the thunder-fire host). Use them at the proper hour.

The text also lists the Thunder Talismans of the East, South, West, North, and Center; the Shangqing Five Stars Summons Talisman (Shangqing being the Highest Clarity tradition); the Thunder Duke Summons Talisman (that is, the summons of the Winnowing Basket Lunar Mansion); and the Chuhuo True-Form Talisman, which is used to drive the thunder chariot and exterminate evil spirits. When summoning, one may chant the following decree:

Chuhuo stands at the heart's center, the Five Thunders alone are supreme. Clouds rise and flames blaze, lighting the heavens and earth in turn. The Five Sacred Peaks crumble and split, the Yellow River turns utterly dark. The Jade Emperor has personally issued the edict to exterminate the wicked multitudes. Swiftly, swiftly, as the statute commands.

Secret Incantation (transliterated, recited during the rite):

Gou di duo na dao li cha na ha su tu na tan jia chuan na wei lu he na feng yun ju na chuan mo ju ti ju he ye, command the thunder, lightning, and fire to hasten at once.

Major Killing, Hidden, Flying, and Exit Directions (also called Chuyou Feifu)

Assign the Twelve Earthly Branches to the days: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai, each marked as a "day." Then assign the Hidden (fu), Flying (fei), and Exit (chu) directions of the Eight Trigrams.

Example: For the Chen day, the Hidden direction is Li, the Flying direction is Kan, and the Exit direction is Qian. The other days are deduced in the same way.

Full Honorific of Heavenly Lord Yan Di (Flame Emperor)

Gao Shang Shen Xiao Yu Qing Zhen Wang (Supreme True King of the Jade Clarity of the Shenxiao Heavens), Nan Ji Chang Sheng Zhu Ling Da Di (Great Emperor of Eternal Life and Vermilion Spirit of the Southern Pole). This is the complete honorific of Heavenly Lord Yan Di.

Taiyi Fire Thunder and the Swift Retribution Envoy Zhang

This section concerns a talisman ritual for the Taiyi Huolei (Taiyi Fire Thunder) and Jieji Baoying Zhang Shizhe (Swift Retribution Envoy Zhang). The honorific titles of the invoked deity are very long. They begin with Yangjiu Longhuang Jun (Lord Dragon Emperor of the Nine Yang) and the Nanchang Huofu Shoulian Zhenren (Perfected of the Fire Palace of Nanchang, who received refinement), and continue through Yanzhen Hengtian Da Yuanshuai (Grand Marshal Who Spreads Truth and Traverses the Heavens), and the Zhang Xing Feng Cui Yu, Chu Xie Po Miao, Qu Zhu Tan Dong zhi Leiting Dou Zongguan (Chief Administrator of Thunder Who Commands Wind, Drives Rain, Expels Evil, Breaks Shrines, and Drives Away the Thunderclaps of the Pools and Caves). The title finally returns to Yuanshi Yiqi Fenzhen, Taiyi Leisheng Puhua Tianzun (the Heavenly Venerable Universal Transformer of Taiyi's Thunder Sound, a Divine Realization of the Primordial Single Qi). He is a thunder-department deity in Daoism who governs the issuing of thunder and punishes evil.

Procedure (outline)

Before beginning the rite, the practitioner must settle the mind and rectify the intention, burn incense and offer a petition, and visualize the founding master, the Yuqing Wuji Zhizun (Supreme Venerable of the Jade Clarity, Limitless Ultimate) and the Haotian Yuhuang Shangdi (Jade Emperor, Lord of the August Heaven). The practitioner then bows in worship while visualizing the deities. Next, the practitioner takes one breath of huangqi (yellow qi, visualized as arising from the dantian or the spleen earth) and visualizes golden light shooting into the body.

Next comes tidou (sweeping the Dipper), a body movement and finger-sign method within thunder rites, which includes stepping patterns known as bugang. The practitioner first breaks the Xun and opens the Qian. Xun is the trigram of wind and the "wind gate," and Qian is the trigram of heaven and the celestial position, so these phrases describe opening the trigram positions. While intoning the name Tianhuang Jiaye Pili (Celestial Emperor Jiaye of the Thunderbolt), the practitioner draws in the Xun trigram. Then the practitioner sweeps the Dipper so that the golden light appears quickly and opens the Qian trigram. After the sweep, the practitioner draws the golden qi back into the zugong (ancestral palace, usually the dantian or the niwan, the upper cinnabar field), where it transforms into a talisman-character, which serves as the talisman's core. The character emerges above the Xun trigram, and above it the practitioner sets up the Yuhuang ju (Jade Emperor Configuration), an altar layout centered on the Jade Emperor as chief deity.

In the spell that summons the envoy, the envoy rises from the ground, appears within black clouds, and grows in stature to a height of one hundred zhang (about three hundred meters). His whole body glows with fire, and he holds a jade staff, resembling xuhuo (a sudden flash of fire, an image of thunder-fire). The practitioner continues to rub the kidney area while visualizing and chanting the three syllables "ya, ya," followed by the talisman-character. The practitioner then joins the envoy with the qi of si (the Earth Branch fire) and Kan (the water trigram), so that fire and water are refined together. Finally, the practitioner inhales one breath of zhonghuang qi (central yellow qi) and exhales it toward the envoy, pinning him in place before the altar to await commands.

The Yuhuang ju Spell (Essentials)

The spell pairs finger joints with Earthly Branches, such as Wei, Zi, Chou, and Yin. Its general meaning is this: the Jade Emperor has issued a decree and commands the assembled perfected beings. Above the nine heavens are auspicious clouds of five colors. Golden light intertwines and illuminates heaven and earth. Evil spirits are destroyed, and all numinous beings are brought under control. The Xun gate is quickly broken, and evil spirits are struck down. The Three Officials hold the orders, and the Nine Offices are informed. The spell closes with the words "Yuan, heng, zhen, di" (the four virtues of origin, flourishing, benefit, and correctness, here used as a divine invocation), calling for the deity to manifest his true form at once. The final phrase, "jí jí rú lǜ lìng" (urgently, as the statute commands), asks the honored deity to descend swiftly and the envoy to appear and receive orders.

The Envoy-Summoning Spell (Essentials)

The spell addresses the envoy as the Leibu Shizhe (Envoy of the Thunder Department), the zhishi zhifu (officiating duty-guardian), and the weiling jiejie (swift, awe-inspiring spirit). It describes him as sharing one body with the Great Void, and asks him to come quickly before the altar, receive the commands of the Jade Emperor, and carry out tasks of fire-thunder swift reports and retribution.

Background

Texts of this kind belong to the Daoist tradition of leifa (thunder rites) and huolei fushi (fire-thunder talismanic envoys). Their central deities are the Jade Emperor and the Universal Transformer Heavenly Venerable. Through visualization, qi, dipper-sweeping methods, and incantations, the practitioner summons Envoy Zhang to the altar to handle tasks such as expelling evil, breaking shrines, summoning rain, and calling down thunder and fire. In this text, terms such as tidou (sweeping the Dipper), pojua (breaking the trigrams), zugong (ancestral palace), and huangqi (yellow qi) describe a practice that combines inner cultivation with outer ritual. Modern readers who are not familiar with thunder rites should note that the emphasis lies on orderly visualization and the correspondence between incantation and directional positions. The text should not be read literally as a set of instructions to be carried out independently.

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

Petitioning for Orders to Summon Thunder

The resonance between Heaven and humanity, and the retribution of cause and effect, flow without obstruction. Those who guard the passes and keep the registers must first report to the Thunder Division: today, during the ritual, it must manifest at the altar. Upon hearing the summons, it must come at once to receive its orders and hurry off to carry them out.

By the command of the Supreme Emperor, I summon the Five Thunders to strike as one. Let thunder race and lightning surge, aiding me in displaying my power, sweeping away demons and monsters, and crushing evil spirits. Wherever divine light shines, let all ghosts be shattered. The bells ring out an urgent summons; thunder and fire fly forth. Hong, ji, zha, li—the Four-Eyed, Old, and Ugly (thunder generals): strike the thunder and split the skies, beat the drums and make the thunder roar. Hurry to the altar court; do not violate the ordinances.

Illuminate the Three Realms; let wisdom penetrate and command forms. As the primordial Qi first divides, swiftly descend with awesome power. I respectfully summon the messenger Zhang Yuanbo: descend swiftly, descend swiftly. With a single thought, restore and uphold what is natural. Urgently, urgently, in accordance with the ordinances.

(Incantation) Om li hong, om li hong zha ▲ hong om li hong om om li li

Incantation for Grinding Ink

The sky is dark: Ali Luomoluō. The earth is dark: Sha Jie Tuojiabān.

Incantation for Writing Talismans

The sky is dark: Ali Duomoye. The earth is white: Sha Jie Tuojiabān. Om jili jili molihe yangjiu jili mohe.

Above: Recite the Om Li Hong incantation, then finish writing the talisman. Next, first write the character Thunder beneath your feet, reciting:

Heavenly Thunder, strike swiftly; Divine Thunder, strike swiftly; Dragon Thunder, strike swiftly; Water Thunder, strike swiftly; Sheling Man Thunder, strike swiftly.

Next, smear the character Thunder and recite:

Heavenly Thunder rumbles faintly; Divine Thunder crashes loudly; Dragon Thunder makes the waters rise; Water Thunder sends waves surging; Sheling Thunder Lords send lightning flashing everywhere. At the release of divine power, cut down and destroy evil essences. May the eleven great generals swiftly set thunder in motion. By the Supreme Emperor’s command, carry this out with the utmost haste.

Next, write three characters for Fire (combine them into the character for blazing fire and smear it), reciting:

Heavenly fire rises with the sun; earthly fire rises from the quarter of thunder; human fire springs forth from Xun (the southeast). Burn away all that is inauspicious. Let flames soar ten thousand fathoms high and destroy every demon and evil spirit.

Next, draw five circles, beginning with the first, and recite:

May the Man Thunder Messenger of the East rise swiftly; may the Man Thunder Messenger of the South rise swiftly; may the Man Thunder Messenger of the West rise swiftly; may the Man Thunder Messenger of the North rise swiftly; may the Man Thunder Messenger of the Center rise swiftly.

Incantation of the Four Seas (Used for Praying for Rain or Snow)

When praying for rain, use the Incantation of the Four Seas at the rain altar. Praying for snow follows the same method as praying for rain; write it in powder on blue paper.

The Incantation of the Four Seas says:

Protective Brightness, Primordial Consort; Pure Radiance, Golden Heavenly Hero; Spirit of the Dark Dipper’s Ladle; Primordial Lord of Great Unity…

(Continue reciting the incantation according to the source text.)

Notes to Help with Reading the Original

The passages above have been translated in the order of the original. Commonly used spellings are used for the incantation sounds, and the order of the ritual procedures has not been changed. If a particular section, such as the full Incantation of the Four Seas, needs a separate detailed translation, specify the passage.

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

(First section: Titles and duties of the water-department deities summoned for rainmaking)

The principal deity commands the water troops and dispatches the Penglai messengers, the Water-Control Thunder Deities, and others. The waters of the Ruoshui River are clear, without a trace of dust; they gather in the source of the Yellow River and flow into the Four Seas. The gods of the Four Seas and the essence of Tianyi drive their chariots to move the waters and open the Heavenly City. Within the nine depths of the Great Yin’s cold waters are the masters Dongyang, Xuanyou, Lingyu, Leigao, and others. They swiftly unleash thunder, riding on the giant Tianhua heavenly horses. Flowing essence glows brilliantly and rushes toward the fire bells. Black clouds gather on every side as sea vapors rise; rain pours down over the hundred rivers, falling in torrents until even a small amount of moisture becomes an abundant flood. The Rain Marshal Yuanli, the star Rahu, and others carry the command swiftly to the two stars Ji and Bi. Fish and dragons stretch across the sky; fins and manes raise the waves, and the great whales ride the swells. From between their scales, armor, hairs, and pores, the hundred rivers pour forth. The red talisman lies hidden, its light rising in darkness. The Supreme Emperor has issued an order: there must be no delay. Axiang, the wife of the Thunder Deity who is said to command thunder, scatters flowers and carries the Heavenly Incense. She urgently orders the messengers to carry out the decree and strike the glass bottle with a jade staff, shattering it so that rain pours everywhere and all living things may thrive. The Fire Bell General obeys the Supreme Emperor’s decree. The Jade Clarity (Yuqing), one of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) and the realm of Jade Clarity, commands my heavenly spirit. Clouds fly through the nine chapters, dispelling calamities. The thirty-six messengers, the Four Seas, Mulang, the Three Mountain Lords, and others are all summoned.

Praying for rain

When writing a talisman, first write the character Xuan behind the position of its right eye. Then infuse it with solar Qi (yang energy), and draw the trigram above it. Cover it with Qi from the southern direction and Qi from the heart, while silently reciting the solar incantation:

Om vajra yunali svaha

When the incantation is complete, write the character Nuo behind the position of the left eye. Infuse it with lunar Qi (yin energy), and draw the trigram above it. Cover it with Qi from the northern direction and Qi from the kidneys, while visualizing the heavens and earth growing dim and silently reciting the lunar incantation:

Om vajra boluo suopo saha

To pray for clear weather, do the opposite: begin with the moon and then the sun, visualizing the heavens and earth as bright and clear, without a trace of drifting haze. To deal with harmful spirits, add the characters Tiangang (“Heavenly Dipper”), then expel this Qi through the mouth of the talisman while silently reciting the incantation:

Om hum yun dali svaha

When the incantation is complete, write characters such as Shu in the rear section of the talisman’s body; these are secret characters written on the talisman in the original. Visualize the true sovereign’s jade light flowing from the crown of the head into the talisman, while black Qi from the kidneys surges up into the spleen palace. Make a faint “ya ya” sound with the mouth. Form the Thunder Hand Seal with the left hand, draw up Qi from the two kidney regions and guide it forcefully up to the ears, then send it in and out through the talisman. Fix the eyes on a single character at the talisman’s mouth, visualize the ancestral Qi entering the talisman, and exhale golden Qi.

Note: Many of the divine names in the first section are titles for water- and thunder-department deities, as well as names of celestial bodies used in Daoist rainmaking liturgy. Their written forms include archaic and variant characters, so the plain-language rendering conveys their duties in broad terms. The instructions for writing talismans, visualization, and incantations should be understood in the context of the complete liturgy and its oral transmission; this translation renders only the steps described in the text.

This scripture describes the concrete operational procedures of Daoist Thunder Magic (Leifa), a ritual technique for summoning wind and rain or exorcising evil influences. The practitioner must first silently recite specific incantations, then combine visualization (cunxiang) and talismanic writings (fulu) to perform rainmaking, weather clearing, or exorcism rituals.

The initial incantation "Om Zha ▲ Ji Li Si Mu Lao Chou Lei Yin Dian Guang She" consists of esoteric syllables summoning the Thunder Department's divine generals. The practitioner then visualizes nine mystical characters in the southeast (Xun position), drawing their golden light into the talisman. Different characters are inscribed for different purposes: "Hui" (輝) for rainmaking, "Hua" (劃) for clearing skies, and "Peng" (烹) for exorcism.

Next comes the dispatch incantation "Om Hong Hong Po Po Qie Zha Ma Cheng Ji Li Zhun Ling Feng Xing Su Zhan," commanding the Thunder generals to swift action. The concluding phrase "urgently, urgently, in accordance with the statutes" (jiji rulüling) is a standard Daoist formula meaning "execute immediately according to divine decree."

The practitioner simultaneously forms hand seals (leiju mudras), generating power from the kidney region (Dantian) while emitting specific syllables through both ears. A visualization of golden light condensing into characters directs the divine generals to ride clouds into action.

The "Earth-Vein Shattering Thunder-Summoning Talisman" invokes multiple Daoist deities: the Jade Pure Celestial Worthy (Yuqing Shangdi), Supreme Pure Great Emperor (Shangqing Dadi), Grand Pure Great Emperor (Taiqing Dadi), and Heaven-King Celestial Worthy (Haotian Shangdi)—each governing different thunder types (celestial, divine, dragon, and water thunders). The text summons the Six Jia and Six Ding divine generals, the Flaming Light Great Spirit (Chuhuo Dashen), and other Thunder Department troops, using thunderous fire to split earthly veins and produce rainclouds. The concluding "whipping dragons to harness lightning" vividly depicts thunder generals wielding whips to command rain dragons amid crashing thunderbolts.

Plain-Language Interpretation of Fahai Yizhu (Pearls Left Behind in the Sea of Daoist Teachings)

Command Spell for Dispatching Thunder (Thunder Spell Issued by Imperial Decree)

By the command of the Celestial Emperor, summon the Thunder Lords of the Five Directions. Let wind and fire communicate and respond with utmost urgency. Open the gate at the Xun position, the direction of wind, and split apart the Yin Qi (vital energy), sending it soaring into the empty sky. Taiyi, one of the revered Daoist deities, sends forth radiant light; flames illuminate the heavens, thunder surges through the nine heavens, and true Qi descends. Thunder erupts from the Xun Palace, the trigram position associated with wind. I now wield talismans and spells, tread the astral steps and the Dipper, and ride the Nine Dragons. The Six Waves Heaven has issued its command; rain must fall in an instant. Thunder Lord, swiftly carry out the thunder command. Show no mercy to evil spirits and demons; smash them into the sunken mud. Let thunderbolts strike down every trace of evil. If you so much as disobey Taiyi’s command, I will seize you and send you to Fengdu, the underworld seat of authority over ghosts. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and commands.

After reciting this spell, draw in Qi from the Xun direction, form the Thunder Hand Seal with the left hand, and send it forth.

Method for Ascending the Altar and Shrouding the Sun

Whenever performing a Daoist rite, use a bowl of water. First draw in the sun’s Qi and blow it onto the palm of the left hand, forming the character for the lunar mansion Bi. Then draw in the sun’s Qi again and blow it onto the palm of the right hand, forming the character for the lunar mansion Zhang. Next, look up at the sun, rub both hands together, and silently recite the secret spell:

Om, ni ni, hong hong! Dark Heaven Spirit, Luo Hou Earth Star, baleful Qi surges upward; heaven and earth grow dim, east and west can no longer be told apart, the Three Realms descend into chaos, and the Qi of the sea rises straight up. Swiftly carry out my command.

After reciting the spell, use the characters in your hands to make cutting motions into the water, then blow Qi over it to seal it in place. Draw in the sun’s Qi once more and blow it into the water, then recite:

Om, wu [missing character] zha, hei tu zha, hei an zha, da hei an zha, man tian hei an zha. Swiftly carry out my command.

Next, visualize the black Qi in your kidneys and blow it toward the sun, shouting the command for it to be covered at once. If the sun is still not obscured, step the rear astral pattern, forming the Thunder Hand Seal with both hands at each step and reciting:

Wind Earl, come! Rain Master, come! Swiftly seize and carry out the fire command!

If the spell still brings no response, call out again:

Barbarian Thunder of the Five Directions, drive the clouds and cover the sun at once! Swiftly!

With this method, the sunlight can be obscured.

Method for Cutting Off a Rainbow

Use a blade of grass to measure the distance between your eyebrows. Facing the rainbow, draw in one breath of Qi from the Celestial Dipper and blow it onto the grass. Break the grass in two while reciting:

Beast of wicked karma, vanish at once, vanish at once; be destroyed at once, be destroyed at once.

Thunderclap Talisman for Cutting Off a Rainbow (Talismans often bear the names of divine generals, such as Wang Bayu, Envoy of Heavenly Thunder; Zhao Fu, Envoy of Earthly Thunder; the Strongman Who Strikes Down Evil; and the Great Immortal of Thunderclaps.)

The Five Thunders strike at once: Li Qianyou, Barbarian Thunder of the East; [Barbarian Thunder of the South], who cuts down and destroys demons; Barbarian Thunder of Flaming Fire Xi; Barbarian Thunder of the West … (The following text may be missing from the surviving fragment.)

(The talisman above bears the names Liu Haijin, Northern Manlei Wen Da, and Central Manlei Yan Zhongying, along with phrases such as “seize and bind,” “shackle and flog,” and “the four great heavenly soldiers.” These indicate that the thunder department’s divine generals are being summoned to capture evil spirits.) Kui, Gui, He, Xing, Bi, Fu, and Piao are also names of deities listed on the talisman.

Commanding Incantation:

The officials and clerks of the Three Departments, who transmit and carry out orders in the celestial realm, are on duty today and will heed the command. Follow my orders, bear the heavenly talisman, and immediately unleash its power. Drive away baleful influences and dispel evil; make ghosts and spirits retreat, illnesses vanish, and disasters subside. Whoever dares defy my command shall be swiftly destroyed by the thunder axe. By the command of the Supreme Emperor, drive them out at once; let all things be carried out in accordance with his laws.

The talisman on the right is used to attack evil. Write it swiftly, like fire; apply it with the left hand according to the method, and it will destroy evil spirits. To sever a rainbow, simply write this talisman by itself. Walk the compass steps along the stars of the Northern Dipper once, face the Xun direction (southeast), and recite the incantation, “The Great Mystery, Jade Clarity, ascends as a jade dragon.” Step with both feet toward the Dipper’s handle and burn the talisman. Then form the Thunder Mudra with the left hand and press it against the chest; form the Sword Mudra with the right hand and hold it at the waist. Summon the Thunder Deities and recite:

The Great Mystery, Jade Clarity, ascends as a jade dragon. Flames suddenly leap up; the red-faced divine general appears. Golden winds and thunder roar, and lightning races across the blue sky. Rain and hail descend, waters surge and swell. Riding a yellow dragon, wreathed in purple clouds, I range across the northwest, east, and west. The waters of the four seas reflect the heavens; between heaven and earth, all changes unfold with ease. Earth spirits appear amid nine-colored crimson light; the heavenly axe flies forth to strike down the mirage demon and the dragon. Thunderclaps shake the world, lightning flashes bright, and thunder booms like molten gold. The Thunder Duke’s attendants and the Jade Maidens follow the wind; the Wind Earl howls in fury, and thunder beats like a drum. The Rain Master sends down sweet rain, spreading blessings through the void. The fierce thunder officer Xin Hanchen carries out the law. For a time, Bowen faces east, draws in breath, and rises into the sky; the bright, sharp edge of the treasured sword appears. Suddenly, the Jade Emperor’s command descends: in the east are the stars named Yi and Zhen, and a deity named Red Fire Bell. No sooner is the white horse heard mounting the golden dragon than the Jade Emperor’s countenance appears. Should any demon or evil spirit dare to offend, the divine fire sword will cut it down, leaving nothing behind. Now I transform into a thunder envoy and command all the gods to answer in unison. Reverently obey the talisman’s command and go swiftly to sever for me the rainbow that brings drought. Urgently carry out the Jade Emperor’s command.

When the incantation is complete, visualize yourself transformed into the true form of the Fire-Thunder Marshal, then recite the “Incantation for Severing the Rainbow”:

Heavenly numen, heavenly numen: heaven and earth unite and move together. As divine light rises, all ghosts lose their forms and perish. Let the rainbow and the drought demon be severed at once, and let this be carried out swiftly according to the law.

When the incantation is complete, breathe out the Qi of the Dipper Steps—the Qi visualized and wielded while walking the compass steps—and shout:

Heaven severed, earth severed, demons severed, rainbow severed! By the Jade Emperor’s command, I slay the demon. Let the rainbow be severed at once and reduced to dust. Urgently carry this out according to the Jade Emperor’s law.

When the incantation is complete, recite the following incantation.

(This passage describes an exorcism ritual in Daoist magic.)

When thunder rumbles, recite the incantation “Om Hong Zha Ji She” three times in succession while forming the Sword Mudra and sweeping it forward in a cutting motion. If a rainbow appears at that moment, it signifies that the evil presence has been cut down and driven away.

(Note: The Sword Mudra is a hand seal commonly used in Daoist magic. The index and middle fingers are held together like a sword and used with an incantation to perform an exorcism. In Daoism, a rainbow is often regarded as an auspicious sign between Heaven and Earth; here it symbolizes that the ritual has taken effect.)