《道法會元》Vol. 140

The "Great Method of Taiyi's Celestial Scripts and Solar Thunderbolts" recorded in Volume 141 of the Daoist Ritual Compendium (Daofa Huiyuan) constitutes a set of esoteric thunder magic techniques in Daoism. The opening "Celestial Scripts" (heavenly documents) contain the essential teachings of the Great Unity Deity (Taiyi Shen, a major Daoist divinity). Adepts who fully master and carry these talismanic spells can ascend to become perfected immortals.

The first Celestial Script commands the celestial constellations. It states that these scriptures govern heaven and earth, oversee all stars, and can suppress malignant astral influences. When terrestrial anomalies occur—such as retrograde meteors violating celestial-terrestrial correspondences (an ancient system aligning starry regions with geographical areas), bringing calamities to rulers, elemental disturbances, or widespread warfare—this script can be employed to restore order.

The second Celestial Script specifically regulates wind, rain, and thunder. During prolonged droughts causing regional disasters, unceasing floods, or demonic thunder disturbances that resist ordinary prayers, practitioners may perform the Three Scripts and Three Offerings ritual (reciting the celestial scriptures thrice with triple libations) to resolve the crisis.

The third Celestial Script commands the Five Sacred Peaks (Wuyue), Four Great Rivers (Sidu), and local City Gods (Chenghuang, territorial guardians). It enables emergency communication across the Three Realms (heaven, earth, and water) to mobilize mountain and river deities.

The fourth Celestial Script specializes in subduing demonic entities that wreak havoc in the human realm. It suppresses great demons and malicious ghosts that defy the Dao's order, delivering them to the Land of Scorching Dew for punishment.

Subsequent sections document five potent talismans: The "Taiyi Summons and Commands Talisman" invokes divine power; the "Solar Talisman" (Taiyang Fu) clears skies by burning away demonic miasmas; the "Mars Talisman" similarly ensures fair weather; the "Venus Talisman" governs martial resolution, destroying heterodox shrines and annihilating ghosts; while the "Mercury Talisman" summons rain and expels plague demons. Each talisman fulfills specific functions, collectively forming a complete thunder magic system.

This text documents a Daoist system of talismanic incantations (Fulu) for exorcising malevolent forces and suppressing baleful influences, primarily used to avert inauspicious astral configurations and reverse misfortunes. The system comprises various specialized talismans targeting specific malignant stars:

The three primary talismans—the "True Talisman for Subduing Rahu (a malefic star)," "True Talisman for Subduing Ketu (a malefic star)," and the "Talisman of Absolute Authority Against the Moon's Dark Essence"—require the addition of a secret character within their inscriptions, said to enhance their efficacy significantly. Additionally, there exists the "True Talisman of Ten Marshals Shaking the Earth," which mobilizes the combined power of ten divine generals.

These talismans must be activated with specific incantations. For instance, reciting the phrase "The Ten Marshals of the Capital Heaven fiercely slay the baleful stars" is believed to shake the celestial axis, alter predestined calamities, and stabilize the cosmos. The term "Root of the Supreme Unity (Taiyi)" in the chant refers to the primordial cosmic force. After the incantation, the power of "thunderclaps" must be infused into the talisman.

When using the "Command Talisman of the Nine Heavens," the practitioner must recite "By the decree of the Nine Heavens, the Three Realms obey," ensuring swift response from myriad deities. All talismanic operations follow the "Four Impacts" procedure: first striking the talisman paper itself, then applying the talisman, next directing it toward a specific方位 (direction), and finally issuing the command.

The system includes five specific astral collision combinations:

• Rahu striking Mars talisman (Celestial position)
• Ketu striking Lunar Essence talisman (Earth position)
• Lunar Essence striking Venus talisman (Mysterious position)
• Mars striking Ketu talisman (Yellow position)
• Saturn striking Mars talisman (Cosmic position)

Directional symbols such as "Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, Yellow, Cosmic, Void" guide these impacts, while时辰 (time period) markers like "Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao" are used in特定 rituals (said to relate to the Moon Goddess's magic).

The final three "Pearl-String Impact Talismans" are used consecutively: first the "Sun" character to breach the target's celestial gate (Tianmen), followed by the "Moon" character, and concluding with the "Fullness" character. Should adversaries persist relentlessly, the Ten Marshals Talisman may be deployed for expulsion. Characters like "Vast, Primordial, Yin" appearing at the text's conclusion form part of the mantra's core syllables.

This intricate talismanic system blends astrology, geomancy, and incantatory magic, embodying the Daoist ritual tradition's sophisticated conceptualization of cosmic energy manipulation.

At that time, the Jade Emperor of the Vast Heaven (the supreme deity in Daoism) was expounding the Three Vehicles of the Great Dharma (the three realms of Daoist cultivation) to deliver celestial and human beings in the Haojie Heavenly Palace of the Jade Pure Realm. Present were numerous celestial emperors, the Four Ministers and Nine High Officials, deities of the sun and moon and stars, as well as celestial immortals (tianxian), spirit immortals (shenxian), terrestrial immortals (dixian), water immortals (shuixian), the Fusang Great Emperor who governs the Five Sacred Mountains and Four Great Rivers (deities of mountains and waterways), flying celestial kings within and beyond the Three Realms, and countless other immortals. Suddenly, the northwestern Heavenly Gate burst open as a surge of dark poisonous qi (evil energy) erupted skyward, coiling ominously without dispersing, alarming all the assembled immortals.

The Fusang Great Emperor (deity governing the earthly and watery realms) stepped forward and reported: "This humble servant oversees affairs of the earthly and watery realms, yet knows not what disturbance has occurred below to cause such poisonous qi to surge toward the Nine Heavens. I beseech Your Majesty's compassion to reveal the cause to this assembly."

The Jade Emperor explained: "This poisonous qi arises from the mingling of humans and ghosts below. Mountain spirits and water demons (shanjing shuiguai) have cultivated for prolonged periods—their essence-energies (jingpo) failing to disperse, they cling to plants and trees, transforming their forms without returning to the proper path. Their nature is inherently vicious: some demand improper sacrifices (yinsi), others stir storms to harm people; some hurl fireballs to terrify mortals, others steal possessions; some inflict lingering illnesses, while others transform into birds to spread poisonous qi and slaughter living beings."

Addressing the Fusang Great Emperor, the Jade Emperor continued: "You govern the earthly and watery realms beyond the Thirty-Two Heavens. Now is the time for your intervention." The Fusang Great Emperor knelt reverently: "Though entrusted by sacred grace to administer these two domains, I know not what method to employ in subduing these demons and delivering sentient beings."

Thus the Jade Emperor revealed to the Fusang Great Emperor and assembled deities: "In my past cultivation, obeying the command of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun, Daoism's supreme divinity), I was destined to reign as emperor governing the human world. But relinquishing the throne to cultivate in mountains, through over five hundred kalpas (immense cosmic time cycles), I ultimately realized the Great Vehicle's true fruit, becoming known as 'Tathagata King of Tranquil Nature Awakening' to instruct bodhisattvas. Establishing teachings across heavens, I enabled even practitioners of the Lesser Vehicle to attain realization. After ten thousand kalpas, the Celestial Worthy bestowed upon me the sacred Jade Pure Realm to oversee all heavens..."

(Note: This scripture passage primarily recounts the Jade Emperor's transmission regarding subduing demons, incorporating key Daoist concepts of kalpic cycles, cultivation stages, and celestial administration. The Fusang Great Emperor, a major deity governing earthly and watery domains, frequently oversees matters of demon subjugation.)

This scripture describes the miraculous feat of the Jade Emperor of the Vast Heaven (one of Daoism's highest deities) commanding thunder deities to subdue demonic forces. At that time, the sun, moon, and stars had lost their proper courses, and demons ran rampant in the human realm, slaughtering innocent people. The Jade Emperor thus summoned eight mighty thunder deities of immense power:

These thunder deities possessed extraordinary abilities—some could leap eighty thousand yojanas (an ancient Indian unit of distance) into the sky in an instant and devour stars with a single gulp; others could lift Mount Tai and move it at will; some could drain the waters of the four seas in one draught; and when others unleashed their thunderous roars, the celestial constellations would bow in reverence, while earthly demons would instantly turn to ashes. It was through the power of these thunder deities that cosmic order was restored.

Yet now, demons from rivers, mountains, and wilderness have emerged once more to harm living beings. Moved by compassion, the Jade Emperor dispatched ten Great Unity Perfected Lords (high-ranking celestial officials) bearing the "Three Caverns Precious Registers" (scriptures containing the secret thunder methods of the Shangqing tradition) to descend to the mortal realm. They were instructed to seek virtuous Daoist practitioners to transmit these thunder techniques, with the following conditions: recipients must genuinely aspire to aid the world, be capable of guiding sentient beings, and must have formally received ordination certificates (proof of Daoist transmission).

The Jade Emperor specifically warned: Thunder deities possess fiery, volatile temperaments and are difficult to control. Thus, he transmitted the "Pace of Yu the Sky-Opener Divine Incantation" as an auxiliary method—reciting the incantation silently twenty-one times each dawn while facing southeast (without vocalizing) would amplify the thunder deities' power. However, he cautioned: those who study this incantation without proper ordination will be struck by thunder and torn apart; ordained practitioners who leak these secrets will cause their seven generations of ancestors to suffer punishment, their souls scattered beyond recovery.

The scripture concludes with the incantation's content, which roughly invokes the pure qi of the Nine Heavens to subdue celestial bodies, illuminate heaven and earth, and calm winds and thunder (the full incantation is not fully disclosed due to its esoteric nature). This passage exemplifies the Daoist cultivation concept of "using thunder methods to aid the world," emphasizing that the transmission of these arts must strictly follow ritual protocols.

This scripture describes the formidable powers of the Thunder Department deities in Daoist Thunder Magic (a ritual art for summoning lightning to exorcise evil), along with their divine mission to vanquish demons under the command of the Jade Purity Celestial Sovereign (one of the Three Pure Ones, the highest Daoist deities).

The Thunder Department pantheon includes the Thunder God (Leigong), the Lightning Mother (Dianmu, goddess of lightning), the Three Qi Thunder Lords (Sanqi Leijun), and others who wield control over thunder, lightning, wind, and rain—possessing even the power to revive the dead. These deities manifest in awe-inspiring forms: some can swallow stars whole, while others multiply into countless manifestations. Notably mentioned are Tang Xin, Xin Deng, and other Thunder Generals who patrol the Three Realms with thunderfire talismans (Fulu), specializing in slaying demonic entities.

Amid golden radiance, the Jade Purity Celestial Sovereign issues an imperial decree: the Eight Heaven Thunder Gods (deities of the eight directional thunder divisions) must obey the summons of those who possess the Three Caverns Scriptures and Registers (Dongzhen/Dongxuan/Dongshen Jinglu, pivotal Daoist texts), assisting ritual masters in eradicating evil and delivering sentient beings. The Sovereign warns that any Thunder God daring to defy this command will be executed by the Great Unity True Lord (Taiji Zhenjun, a high-ranking divinity), their spirit annihilated. The Thunder Gods unanimously vow to uphold the decree, pledging to purge all demonic forces.

The latter section emphasizes that devotees who sincerely worship and receive this scripture shall attain exalted status among the Nine Heavens’ immortal realms. The text concludes with the standard Daoist incantation formula: "Urgently, urgently, in accordance with the primordial decree of the Jade Purity Celestial Sovereign"—signifying the immediate enforcement of the supreme deity’s command.

The Celestial Emperor solemnly instructed the Water Mansion's Fusang Great Emperor (the Daoist deity governing eastern waters): "You must select among mortals those with genuine devotion to the Dao, have them renew their sacred vows, and have their sincere petitions swiftly delivered to me. I shall personally recommend them to receive the Three Caverns (Dongzhen/Dongxuan/Dongshen) scriptures transmitted by the Supreme Unity True Lord. Should anyone disrespect or divulge these texts, they shall be eternally condemned as base spirits, forever barred from human rebirth."

All the celestial emperors present, along with the deities of sun, moon, stars, the Five Sacred Peaks, and Four Great Rivers, prostrated in gratitude for this divine grace. They unanimously pledged to receive the Shangqing Three Caverns scriptures to safeguard their forms and stabilize their spirits (Shen). The assembly vowed: "With the protection of the Nine Heavens' Sovereign, we shall strictly uphold these sacred laws to universally deliver all living beings."

The Fusang Great Emperor reverently responded: "This humble servant shall meticulously follow Your Majesty's decree, carefully selecting true Dao-hearted individuals to transmit the scriptures. I shall dispatch terrestrial and aquatic deities to secretly protect these Three Caverns masters (practitioners of the highest rituals), assisting them in vanquishing demons." Thereupon, the celestial emperors, astral deities, mountain and river gods, and the Fusang Great Emperor collectively kowtowed before withdrawing.

The Supreme Unity Celestial Script of Accumulated Thunder records: "When thunder's might shakes heaven and earth, celestial officials manifest their forms. As thunder erupts, sun and moon dim, the Dipper conceals itself, hail descends abruptly, and winds rage violently. Thunderclaps resonate distinctly, lightning strikes consecutively, as if to split the cosmos and startle myriad stars. The Tian Gang star (Big Dipper's handle) guards me, the Kui star leads my way, flanked by celestial warrior generals, with seventy-two divine commanders advancing in retinue. Heaven's gates open for me, earth's passages clear before me—three thousand six hundred deities perpetually dwell within me. When heaven and earth darken, I stride forth as ghosts and spirits wail in terror."

Five directional deities assist accordingly:

• East: Golden Radiance True One
• South: Fire Wheel True One
• West: Primordial Destiny Emissary
• North: Water Numen Lord
• Center: Five Emperors' Elder

Jade Maidens revere the Five Emperors' majesty, dispersing their power across the Jasper Pool paradise. Each thunderbolt whirls urgently, lightning pierces clouds, startling ghosts to weep, gales obscure constellations, toppling trees and lifting stones, commanding the celestial host.

The Eight Trigram (Bagua) deities perform distinct duties:

• Qian (Heaven) provides complete protection
• Kan (Water) aids advancement
• Gen (Mountain) transmits commands
• Zhen (Thunder) deploys troops
• Xun (Wind) sweeps obstacles
• Li (Fire) captures demons
• Kun (Earth) descends to slay specters
• Dui (Marsh) pursues ghosts unceasingly

Eight divine generals distribute Qi (vital energy)—the first emission being pure primordial Qi (the primal energy of creation).

This scripture describes how Daoist ritual masters invoke deities from the five directions (east, south, west, north, and center) and various divine emissaries (such as the Great Unity Perfected Beings and Wandering Toxin Messengers) to assist in ritual operations. Through reciting these incantations, the master mobilizes cosmic forces, compelling winds, waters, ghosts, and deities to obey commands.

Each cardinal direction has its designated emissaries: the Kunling Messenger of the east, the Fire Bell Messenger of the south, the Mystic Yang Messenger of the west, the Roc Messenger of the north, and the Dragon-Subduing Messenger of the center. The incantations command these divine beings into action, shaking heaven and earth while striking awe into ghosts and spirits. The Great Unity Perfected Beings (Taiji Zhenren, among Daoism's supreme deities) empower the master, ensuring their authentic Qi (cultivated vital energy) flows perpetually.

When the incantations are chanted, winds still, ghosts dissolve into dust, and deities follow the master's lead. The Five Direction True Lords—such as the Great Unity Awesome Virtue True Lord of the east and the Blood-Severing True Lord of the south—descend from the heavens at the master's command to capture the essential energies of malign spirits. The master further summons emissaries like the Celestial Roaming Messenger, the Obsessed Ox Messenger, and the Azure Roaming Messenger, who embody the flow of Five Phase energies (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) to assist in exorcisms.

The Great Unity Perfected Beings include figures like the Primordial Life Perfected Being, the Life-Seizing Perfected Being, and the Moonlight Perfected Being, each wielding distinct divine powers—thunder control, blazing fire, and celestial strikes. Through the incantations, the master gains their aid, ensuring enduring Qi, the transformation of the Dipper's handle (symbolizing celestial authority), the execution of heavenly decrees, the roar of thunderbolts, and the reduction of ghosts to ashes.

Ultimately, the master commands the Thirty-Two Heavens (layered celestial realms in Daoist cosmology), with all celestial generals—such as the Heaven-Net General and Heaven-Toxin General—obeying his orders. Deities rally to capture countless dragons and serpents. This scripture vividly illustrates the potency of Daoist ritual arts, where incantations mobilize divine forces, highlighting the resonant collaboration between master and the sacred.

This scripture passage depicts the ritual invocation of thunder deities in Daoist Thunder Magic (a ritual practice summoning thunder department deities). It primarily describes the formidable powers of the Five Directions Thunder Emperors (the thunder deity commanders of east, south, west, north and center) and numerous thunder department generals.

In the east resides the Heaven-Shaking Thunder Emperor of the Eastern Gate; in the south, the Crimson Heaven Firelight Thunder Emperor who subdues baleful forces; in the west, the Great Darkness Earth-Subduing Thunder Emperor; in the north, the Water Virtue Heaven-Overturning Thunder Emperor; while the center is governed by the Yellow Gate Cataclysmic Thunder Emperor. Collectively known as the "Great Mystery Life-Saving Perfected Ones," these are accompanied by five other deities including the Great Mystery Timber-Snapping Numinous Official, representing the five primordial energies (Wuqi) of heaven and earth.

The scripture further describes the powers of these thunder deities: The August Heaven grants us life, the sun and moon illuminate us, rivers and lakes nourish us. The Five Directions Thunder Emperors permanently reside in our world, with the radiance of celestial bodies protecting practitioners' bodies. When performing Thunder Magic, thousands of celestial soldiers follow the practitioner's command—a single thunderclap summons the thunder generals' divine manifestations.

The text then enumerates the five directional envoys: the Blazing Life Envoy of the east, the Fire Wheel Envoy of the south, the Suspended Radiance Envoy of the west, the Water Yin Envoy of the north, and the Solitary Roaming Envoy of the center. These envoys govern the five directional energies. They can darken the sun and moon yet also command profound illumination. At the thunder deities' decree, heaven and earth tremble while constellations shift. When celestial thunder arises, all things take form; when divine thunder sounds, water officials (water deities) obey; when demonic thunder strikes, livestock suffer calamity. The five thunder envoys' lightning crashes resound from the Five Sacred Mountains above to the Four Seas' dragon kings below—all celestial bodies and spirits of heaven and earth must heed their commands.

The passage further mentions various baleful deities (malignant spirits) including the Seven Killers, Nine Luminaries, Moon Baleful, and Poison Baleful—all subject to the practitioner's summons. When chanting incantations, practitioners can command the Great Lords of Five Directions Hailstorms, the Great Lords of Rain and Hail, and other deities to subdue wicked dragons. Finally mentioned are enforcers like the Earth-Poison Lightning Envoy and the Mysterious-Sand Lightning Envoy—specialized thunder department generals who execute divine punishment.

This scripture depicts a thunder ritual (leifa) in Daoist practice—a form of magic characterized by summoning thunder and commanding lightning—where celestial thunder generals are invoked to subdue demonic dragons. The envoys of Tiangang (the handle of the Big Dipper) are awe-inspiring figures: some have wings that crackle with thunderbolts, others specialize in poisonous vapors, and some guard the gates of the underworld. All can unleash earth-shaking peals of thunder powerful enough to topple mountains.

These thunder envoys specialize in capturing unruly dragons that stir up chaos, including: the East Sea's Dragon-Subduing Envoy, the South Sea's Fire-Breathing Envoy, the West Sea's White Sand and Churning Waves Envoy, the North Sea's River-Overturning and Sea-Roiling Envoy, and the Central Sea's Wind-Seizing Envoy. The dragon spirits of the Five Lakes (Poyang Lake, Changyang Lake, Baimian Lake, Qingcao Dongting Lake, and Daye Lake) must manifest immediately upon summoning. So too must the Nine River Dragon Lords (spirits of the Yangtze's nine tributaries) and the lesser dragons of streams and springs—all answer to the thunder ritual's command.

The repeated phrase "pili honghong" (thunder rumbling fiercely) evokes the deafening roar of thunder, while "bengshan daoyue" (mountains collapsing, peaks toppling) demonstrates divine might. Once these thunder gods and dragon spirits receive the decree, they either gather clouds to release rain or halt storms to bring clear skies, nourishing all living things with sweet dew. The passage concludes by invoking "Huangtian" (Heavenly Sovereign) in resonance with "human virtue," subtly conveying the harmony of the Three Powers (heaven, earth, and humanity).

In actual ritual use, Daoist priests accompany this incantation with hand seals (qiejue) and star-stepping (bugang, a special footwork), summoning natural forces to regulate floods and droughts. This embodies the Daoist cosmological principle of "heaven-human resonance" (tianren ganying), where celestial and earthly energies interact.

This passage depicts the spectacular scene of Daoist Thunder Magic (Leifa, a ritual technique invoking thunder deities), where wind and rain are summoned to exorcise evil and aid the world. Celestial dragon deities each perform their duties: the Wind Master (Fengbo, deity governing winds) stirs the clouds, the Rain Master (Yushi, deity governing rain) bestows sweet dew, while the Five Directional Divine Dragons bring forth rainfall, causing rivers and lakes to surge in response. Mountain and river spirits gather to execute the Thunder Ministry's commands as celestial drums shake the heavens.

The recurring incantations like "Pandi Panluo Jie" are esoteric thunder mantras (mizhou, secret phrases with supernatural power) used to summon thunder generals. These deities can topple mountains and nurture all living beings. The text emphasizes that Thunder Magic practitioners must regularly recite the Heavenly Scripture of Eighty-Six Verses That Startle Ghosts (a key Leifa classic) to master the power of thunder.

The latter section details Thunder Magic's formidable effects: the ritualist receives heaven and earth's protection, commanding the sun, moon, and stars, with seventy-two Thunder Generals (the Daoist thunder pantheon) ready at their call. Through ritual implements like the "Golden Flame Wheel," they can mobilize the Five Directional Dragon Kings (rulers of east, south, west, north and center), making the Eastern Sea churn and Southern Sea spew fire, ultimately achieving the benevolent effect where "when heavenly thunder arises, all beings are revived."

The passage concludes with Thunder Magic's fundamental purpose: the August Heaven (Huangtian, Daoist honorific for supreme heaven) protects the human realm while severing ghostly paths. Through secret mantras and thunder commands, practitioners gain the supernatural ability to reshape landscapes and save multitudes. The scripture specially cautions that cultivators must maintain ritual purity (qingzhai, the purified physical and mental state for Daoist practice), otherwise they cannot truly harness thunder's power.

This scripture records several types of Daoist Thunder Magic (thunder-summoning exorcism techniques), containing the names of multiple Thunder Department deities and essential ritual instructions. The incantations are composed in rhythmic verse, brimming with the overwhelming power of thunder and lightning.

The first incantation, "Poison Dragon Roars in Dragon Prison," depicts the summoning of Thunder Department generals: divine beasts like the Poison Dragon and Golden Tiger manifest with the chant, while the Stern Lord (Water Official Emperor) of the Northern Capital Water Mansion (one of Daoism's underworld realms) guards the frigid underworld, and the Golden Mother of Lunar Radiance (an epithet of the Queen Mother of the West) displays her majesty. The Three Officials (Heavenly, Earthly, and Water Officials) open the celestial gates as the Five Directional Thearchs descend with talismanic decrees, while Thunder Department generals race forth like lightning. Reciting this incantation commands a hundred deities—those who disobey shall be struck down by heavenly thunder, while the compliant shall receive blessings and ascend to the imperial courts.

The "Supreme One's Triple Celestial Capital Incantation" begins with obeisance to the constellations, explaining Thunder Magic's origin: when primordial chaos first parted, thunderclaps resounded, and the Green Thearch (Eastern Thearch) dispatched the Azure Youth to convey his edict as thunder descended from the heavens. The practitioner mobilizes star lords through the incantation, harnessing the thunderous force generated by celestial revolutions.

The "Nine Heavens' Law-Ruling Holy Queen Incantation" summons the Mother of the Turtle Platform (an epithet of the Northern Dipper Mother), who transmits divine decrees through lunar yin and lunar radiance (the power of the Moon Star), commanding the eleven great luminaries (sun, moon, and nine planets) to govern thunder. The chant references the movements of the Five Planets (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth), and when combined with divine talismans, it shakes the celestial court—the Supreme One deity (Polaris God) holds authority over creation.

The "Northern Dipper-Establishing Incantation" dispatches the Great Thunder God of the North, who wields banners to sweep away malevolent forces. The Five Sacred Mountains and Four Rivers (deities of renowned mountains and rivers) follow the Northern Dipper's course, and when the practitioner roams alone between heaven and earth, all deities must obey.

The "Heaven-Darkening Dipper Wall Incantation" describes thunder's overwhelming might: as the Dipper Pivot (Northern Dipper's central axis) rotates, heaven and earth darken while 3,600 thunder generals march in formation. It can make the sun plunge into the sea and the moon reverse its course, possessing power to shatter souls, divide forms, and dispatch ghosts to Mount Wutai (a Buddhist symbol of hell).

These incantations exemplify Daoist Thunder Magic's characteristic "commanding deities through Qi (vital energy)," summoning Thunder Department generals through specific sonic vibrations, often used in exorcisms and rain-praying rituals. The frequent concluding phrase "urgently, urgently, in accordance with statutes and ordinances" (急急如律令) is a common Daoist incantation ending, meaning "execute swiftly as commanded."