《高上神霄玉清真王紫書大法》Vol. 8

This is a protective exorcism ritual recorded in the Daoist scripture The Great Rites of the Purple Texts from the Jade Pure True King of Supreme Divine Empyrean. The practice proceeds as follows:

Before the first day of the lunar new year, the practitioner must face north in a secluded chamber and perform four prostrations to the Primordial Sovereign (Yuanshi Tianzun, one of the highest Daoist deities revered as the Primordial Matriarch). Without first paying homage to this Divine Mother, the ritual will lack efficacy. Next, one must compose a confession memorial to present to the deities. After submitting it, knock the teeth three times, then enter meditative visualization:

Visualize Jupiter (the Year Star) appearing over the left hand, emerald-green like jade; Venus (the White Star) manifesting over the right hand, pure as white jade; Mars (the Sparkling Deluder) shining above the head like a fiery pearl; Saturn (the Stabilizing Star) glowing at the heart position, bright as gold; and Mercury (the Water Star) swirling beneath the feet, dark as obsidian. All these stars radiate divine light enveloping the entire body. Silently recite the incantation: "The five stars' radiance suppresses evil, ten thousand spirits guard my true essence, fierce beasts and celestial troops subdue demons, all ghosts and specters turn to ashes, wherever I go, deities welcome me."

Continue the visualization: Jupiter transforms into a spinning wind wheel, Mars becomes encircling flames, Venus in the right hand materializes as a golden sword piercing the heavens, Mercury beneath the feet becomes surging rivers from which five divine dragons emerge. Chant: "Five stars protect my form, fiery light illuminates, preserving my peace, guarding my soul, any demon daring to approach shall be instantly vanquished."

Finally, visualize the Tian Gang stars (the handle of the Big Dipper) descending a swirling aura of black and yellow energy. Inhale through the nose twelve times while reciting: "Tian Gang's fierce qi protects my life, dispelling all calamities and evils. Mountain spirits, ghosts, malicious gossip, venomous creatures—those harming me shall perish, those revering me gain blessings." Simultaneously place the left hand over the heart and rub the crown with the right hand, envisioning the Kui star in the right hand, the Piao star in the left, and the Xing star before the chest, chanting to suppress all malign forces.

This ritual integrates stellar veneration, Five Phases theory, and talismanic power, constructing a protective barrier through visualization of the five planets and Tian Gang energies—a quintessential Daoist method for personal safeguarding and exorcism.

This passage describes an exorcism ritual and the ceremonial process for crafting and consecrating a ritual seal in the Shenxiao (Divine Empyrean) tradition, an important Daoist school that emerged during the Song Dynasty.

The exorcism technique involves three mudras (hand gestures) and incantations:

The first mudra positions the left hand over the heart while the right hand points skyward. The practitioner visualizes the Kuixing star (Alpha Ursae Majoris) in the right hand, the Piaoxing star (Eta Ursae Majoris) in the left, and an unidentified Northern Dipper star above the head. The accompanying incantation petitions the Yangming True Qi to protect the body, repel calamities, thieves, and wild beasts, and cause malicious intentions to rebound upon their originators—with all slander and disputes suppressed by the Tian Gang (Celestial Stem) star.

The second mudra switches to pointing right hand backward while the left hand remains at the heart. The stars' positions are rearranged as the chant repeats, now invoking Tian Gang's True Qi to fortify the Scarlet Palace (Daoist term for the heart chamber), making it impervious to evil spirits.

The third gesture involves both hands supporting an imaginary representation of the Santai (Three Platforms) constellation. The visualization places these stellar deities at the middle fingers and knees while reciting prayers for the Northern Dipper to dispel misfortune and the Southern Dipper to prolong life—creating a celestial net of protection.

Regarding seal crafting:

The artisan must select either a Jiazi or Gengshen day (specific auspicious dates in the Chinese calendar), working between 7-11 AM (Chen-Si hours) while facing southeast in a purified space. Incense is burned to invite Shenxiao True Qi into the material—either green jade or heartwood from a jujube tree—with the carving completed in a single uninterrupted session.

Seal consecration ceremony:

Held on the 3rd, 9th, or Jiazi day of each month between 9-11 PM (RenDing hour) in a sealed chamber. The altar requires thirty-six offerings arranged precisely, including silk, steamed cakes, broth, and candles. Facing northwest, the ritual master bows twice before petitioning the Eternal Sovereign of Long Life (primary Shenxiao deity) and the Sovereign of Azure Florescence, declaring their Daoist devotion while seeking the seal's empowerment.

These rituals exemplify the Song Dynasty Daoist synthesis of stellar veneration, True Qi cultivation, and ritual implements—characterized by astrological timing, purified spaces, and visualization techniques that integrate internal practice (Neidan) with external ritual (Waidan).

This passage describes the ritual procedures and invocations related to the use of the "Divine Empyrean Jade Script Treasure Seal" (a potent ritual seal) within the Shenxiao School (an important Daoist lineage specializing in Thunder Magic) of Daoism.

First, the seal bearer declares their body and mind purified while wearing this sacred seal, praying for freedom from internal and external ailments and disasters, seeking to assist the celestial order in saving people and vanquishing demonic forces. The text meticulously records the transmission of Shenxiao lineage seals—including crucial seals like the "Thunder-Fire Demon-Slaying Emergency Capture Seal"—received at a specific date and location.

The practitioner chooses an auspicious day to conduct the seal consecration ceremony in a purified chamber, having already submitted the seal's impression to the Three Sovereign Deities (referring to Daoism's highest triad of divinities), beseeching them to issue celestial decrees that would enable relevant deities to recognize this seal's efficacy. Simultaneously, they invoke celestial immortals, seal-guarding divine kings, and thunderous generals to bless the seal with Daoist Qi (primordial energy), empowering it to summon divine generals, subdue evil entities, and aid common people.

The ritual requires specific altar arrangements: the top tier displays five directional seals, the middle tier arranges nine empyrean lamps, while practitioners perform the Taiwei Star Steps (a Daoist ritual footwork pattern). Offerings include five divine swords with precious mirrors, five silk banners, five bowls of cypress leaf infusion, five plates of seasonal fruits, a cauldron of honeyed agarwood soup, along with pure water, fine wine, and fragrant flowers.

Finally, petitions are presented to deities like the Great Sovereign of Azure Radiance (a revered Daoist divinity), explaining how this Divine Empyrean Jade Script Treasure Seal originated from the highest empyrean realms, enduring eighty thousand kalpas before being transmitted to this world. The text emphasizes that proper sacrificial rites must precede the seal's activation to ensure spiritual efficacy. The ceremony concludes with incense burning, libation offerings, flower scattering, and reverential bows.

This scripture records the ritual procedures for using jade seals in the Shenxiao lineage (an important Daoist school of the Song dynasty) and describes the miraculous powers of five types of ritual seals.

First, it depicts an elaborate seal consecration ceremony: Immortal officials, grateful for the grace of the Dao (the Way), wearing their ordained Fulu (talismanic registers), erect an altar according to the cosmic principle of "round heaven and square earth." They reverently worship the immortal jade seals, praying for celestial beings to infuse them with Dao Qi (primordial energy), empowering the talismans so that those who defy the Daoist teachings would turn to dust upon seeing the seals. After the ceremony, they hope all transgressions will be pardoned, body and mind pacified, and all petitions answered by the divine.

The text then details five types of ritual seals with their materials and functions:

1. The gold seal commands celestial and terrestrial deities, as well as dragon kings of water palaces. It can cure all diseases—ingesting its imprinted characters brings immediate effect.

2. The jujube wood or gold seal, inscribed with cinnabar script, serves as a celestial pass. It ensures memorials reach the Jade Emperor directly, with myriad deities assisting their delivery.

3. The gold/jade or jujube wood seal bearing "Eight Mighty Serpents" script summons thunder gods for rain, exorcises demons, and slays evil spirits. Imprinting on yellow gauze and casting it into water eliminates water monsters and epidemics, curing convulsions and stubborn illnesses.

4. The lightning-struck jujube wood seal mobilizes eight million divine troops to dispel plagues. Imprinting it on doors prevents epidemics, while ingesting its characters induces sweat to avoid contagion.

5. The fifth seal (material unspecified) requires avoidance of impurities during use. When spiritual practice reaches perfection, one may wear it to ascend to Shenxiao Heaven on a phoenix chariot.

The scripture emphasizes these seals require secret transmission. Ordinary jujube wood must be struck by lightning to become seal material, and cinnabar must be used for imprinting. Each seal possesses incredible powers to communicate with deities, cure diseases, and expel evil forces.

This passage describes the specific methods used by the Shenxiao School (an important Daoist lineage specializing in Thunder Magic) for subduing demons and malevolent spirits through ritual seals and incantations.

The ritual seal must be carved from jujube wood that has been struck by lightning. In emergencies, simply stamping this seal immediately compels the relevant deities to act without delay. When capturing ghosts or spirits, the mere presence of the seal summons countless gods to protect the altar, ensuring they dare not depart.

Several key incantations follow:

The first is the "Seal-Presenting Qi-Gathering Incantation" (呈印取炁咒), recited while forming the Chenwen hand gesture (a specific Daoist mudra). The incantation invokes the Great Emperor of Longevity of the South Pole to dispel calamities and calls upon the Three Terraces Star Lords (the Lord of Fate, the Lord of Prosperity, and the Lord of Longevity) to descend, ensuring all virtuous outcomes are fulfilled.

The "Seal-Opening Incantation" (开印咒) petitions the Divine Sovereign of Shenxiao to empower the seal, requesting the blessings of Han Jun (likely referring to Han Xiangzi) and compelling evil spirits to submit to the righteous Dao.

The "Seal-Using Incantation" (用印咒) declares that the Shenxiao Treasure Seal commands all deities, with celestial soldiers and generals obeying its authority. A single stamp extends life, forces demons to prostrate, and annihilates a thousand evils.

The "Document-Transmitting Seal Incantation" (通章印咒) ensures that memorials sent to Heaven are swiftly delivered without delay.

The "Seal-Entry Incantation" (入印咒) orders celestial troops to execute their duties, eradicating demonic entities and ensuring the Three Realms (Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld) obey its command.

The "Character-Suppressing Incantation" (押字咒) harnesses the power of the Big Dipper (a key constellation in Daoist cosmology) to summon righteous energy and dispel malign forces.

Finally, the passage explains the "Shenxiao Celestial Prison Establishment Method" (高上神霄建狱法). For stubborn ghosts, malevolent spirits, and unorthodox deities that resist repeated exorcisms, petitions must be submitted to the Three Pure Heavens (Sanqing) and the Divine Sovereign of Shenxiao (the lineage's primary deity), while also notifying the Eastern Peak Bureau (which governs the underworld) and the local City God. Celestial troops are then mobilized to construct a "Celestial Prison" to detain and interrogate these entities—an essential method for upholding orthodoxy and suppressing evil.

The "Investigating Generals and Officers" (推勘将吏) mentioned include divine generals such as Ding Dao'an, Ding Daoning (among four Ding-family generals), as well as the Divine King Wang Weicai and Ziwen, who oversee human affairs.

This describes a ritual procedure from the Daoist Gaoshang Shenxiao School (an important lineage specializing in Thunder Magic) for subduing malevolent ghosts. The process primarily involves summoning divine generals, establishing a Fire Prison (a special boundary in Daoism for punishing evil spirits), and performing the Fire Bell Method (an exorcism technique harnessing fiery power).

First, several divine generals responsible for capturing ghosts are listed: the Great Sage Soul-Chasing General of the Central Heaven's Dipper Prison, Yan Shouzhen (summoned with the "Zhongwen" hand seal); the Ghost-Binding General of the Central Heaven's Dipper Prison, Zhou Chu (summoned with the "Wuwen" hand seal); and the Ghost-Shackling General of the Central Heaven's Dipper Prison, Chao Zhendao (summoned with the "Chenwen" hand seal). These generals must first petition the Celestial Preceptor (a high-ranking Daoist deity) before descending to the underworld to carry out their mission.

When establishing the Fire Prison, one must summon deities from the Fire Bell system, including the Fire Bell Divine Lord, Fire Bell Youths, and Fire Bell Warriors. The summoning requires reciting specific incantations to invoke four generals including Ding Dao'an, the Chief Marshal Wang Weicai, along with the aforementioned Soul-Chasing, Ghost-Binding, Ghost-Shackling, and Ghost-Torturing generals. These work in concert with the Fire Bell deities to hunt down unruly evil spirits and escort them to the Fire Prison for manifestation.

Next, various Fulu (Daoist ritual talismans) are drawn: the Chief Inspector Talisman for Capturing Evil, the Evil-Subduing Talisman, the Capture-Bind-Shackle-Torture Talisman, and the Merit Officer Talisman for Hunting Evil. These talismans must be written with cinnabar on yellow paper and burned within the Fire Prison. Among them, the Nine Heavens Ghost-Interrogating General Du Xing (summoned with the "Chenwen" hand seal combined with Gangqi) specializes in harshly interrogating malevolent ghosts. When encountering particularly stubborn spirits that refuse to submit, a separate Fire Prison may be established to intensify punishment.

The incantation for the Fire Prison Talisman roughly translates as: "Crimson flames fill the iron fortress, detaining guilty ghosts for ceaseless interrogation. The Southern Dipper Star Lord (stellar deity governing life and death) burns their sinews and bones, the Heavenly Emperor manifests might to scorch their forms, restoring peace to the people. Fire soldiers swiftly patrol the ghost camps, recording names of resisters for severe punishment."

During the ritual, the practitioner presses below the middle fingernail (a Daoist hand seal technique) and casts the talisman into fire to burn for three days and nights. A supplementary incantation states: "We beseech the Heavenly Emperor's Fire Bells and Thunder-Fire Generals to descend blazing flames, piercing through demonic hearts. May the Fire Bell deities swiftly bring true fire to incinerate evil entities."

The entire process strictly adheres to the "Jade Purity True King's Commandments of the Exalted Shenxiao" (the school's highest doctrinal authority), demonstrating the meticulous liturgy of fire-based exorcism within Daoist Thunder Magic systems.

This scripture documents the exorcism ritual procedures of the Shenxiao School (an important Daoist lineage from the Song dynasty). The practitioner must form the Taiqing Mudra (a Daoist hand seal) with the left hand to summon divine generals, while making the Zhuodao Mudra (a gesture for suppressing evil) with the right hand to direct operations. The specific steps are as follows:

First, establish a Fire Prison altar, surrounding the malignant spirits with True Fire from all directions. Recite the "Universal Manifestation Dharma" incantation while erecting two pillars before the Fire Prison, hanging square yellow talismans (Fulu) between them. Subsequent chants guide the sequential activation of the ritual, using the "Flowing Gold Fire Bell Talisman" (a metal-element fire talisman) in conjunction with the "Crystalline Qi Spirit Spell" to suppress the evil forces. The Thunder-Fire Generals guard the Fire Prison, with five "Fire Wheel Talismans" buried beneath directional ashes at each of the five positions (east, south, west, north, and center).

The Fire Wheel Talismans must be inscribed using the Chen Script (a specific calligraphic style) facing south to absorb fire Qi (vital energy), written with cinnabar on yellow paper. The incantation states: "We summon Fire Wheel General Song Wu to bind malignant spirits without restraint, joining the prison officials in vigilant guard to prevent escape of harmful ghosts and spirits."

The ghost-revealing incantation proclaims: "By the command of the Jade Clarity lineage of Shenxiao, let one hundred thousand celestial soldiers swiftly pursue vengeful souls, forcing their manifestation amidst blazing flames!" The ritual must emphasize its authority derives from the Supreme Jade Clarity True King of Shenxiao (the principal deity of the Shenxiao tradition). This method requires prior transformation of prison talismans, with ritual arrangements taking three days to manifest effects.

An alternate "Ice Prison" method involves summoning the Five Stream Envoys (cold-element generals):

• Cold Water Power Warriors
• Cold Water Great Generals
• Swift Messengers

The summoning chant enumerates the celestial prison officials of the Central Heaven Dipper Prison system, including four jailer generals like Ding Dao'an, Chief Warden Deity King Wei Cai, Soul-Pursuing General Yan Shouzhen, Ghost-Binding General Zhou Chu, and twenty-one other direct prison commanders. These divine officers conduct widespread searches for troublesome spirits, delivering them to the Ice Prison for manifestation.

Finally, the practitioner must inscribe the following talismans with cinnabar and burn them sequentially within the prison: the Ghost-Capturing General Talisman, Evil-Summoning Talisman, Binding Shackles Talisman, and Malice-Searching Merit Officer Talisman. The entire ritual is supervised by twenty-one prison generals under the leadership of Hou Zu.

This scripture records the water prison talismanic incantation and related rituals from the "Purple Texts of the Great Method of the Jade Pure True King of Highest Divine Empyrean" in Daoist tradition. It primarily explains how to punish malevolent spirits and demonic deities through talismans and rituals.

Before using the water prison talisman, one must first burn a fulu (Daoist ritual document for exorcism) to summon the Prison Directing General (a divine commander specializing in hell administration) to construct the water prison. Offerings must be made in a purified space to manifest the true form (the visible appearance of the divine general).

The water prison incantation describes: In the vast depths of the Dark Sea stands a stone fortress guarded by fierce baleful deities, where venomous dragons devour vital essences. It commands the Water Official (deity governing aquatic realms) to swiftly arrest and return malevolent spirits for imprisonment. The chant warns that any spirit daring to violate celestial law will face punishment, and wicked entities must immediately confess. It concludes with the "Decree of the Jade Pure True King of Highest Divine Empyrean" (the supreme divine mandate).

The operational method involves: Using the right hand to press the base of the four fingers while drawing the talisman, burning it into water, then sprinkling it toward the water prison. Simultaneously recite the incantation to summon the Water Deities of the North (Ren and Gui), the Great Pure Essential Qi to extinguish fires and melt ice, while invoking divine assistants like Swift Messenger Han Yi and Frost Giant Dou Zixi. All are commanded by the Decree of the Supreme Elder Lord to drive maddened evil spirits into the water prison.

The water wheel talisman follows similar procedures. Establishing this ritual requires three consecutive days of practice until the water prison manifests. Judgment must then be rendered according to the severity of the offense. Special emphasis is placed on cautious dealings with spirits—avoid creating unnecessary enmity and act with prudence.

These practices belong to Daoist exorcism techniques, employing talismans and rituals to mobilize divine power for punishing malevolent spirits. They reflect Daoist applications of supernatural forces and concepts of cosmic order maintenance.