《道法會元》Vol. 169

This text documents an esoteric Daoist method known as the "Great Method of the Primal Chaos Flying Capture and Four Saints Demon Subjugation," which details specific rituals for summoning four powerful divine generals to vanquish demons and evil spirits.

The four marshals (referring to the guardian deities Tianpeng, Tianyou, Yisheng, and Yousheng) possess profound De (Virtue) that permeates the Three Realms of heaven, earth, and humanity, their majestic authority extending throughout all directions. They serve as principal commanders of the Northern Dipper Gangfa (Daoist ritual stepping on star patterns) and are mighty deities under the jurisdiction of the Purple Subtlety Emperor of the North Pole. These four marshals command numerous celestial soldiers and generals, specializing in capturing all manner of demonic entities, their activation relying entirely on a special talismanic incantation.

This talisman, called the "Jade Talisman of Chaotic Heaven's Flying Capture," was personally consecrated by the Jade Emperor of the August Heaven. Empowered through the Three Altars of Celestial Gang (important Daoist ritual spaces), it can summon all immortals across the Three Realms and possesses the capacity to capture any ghost or spirit. Originally concealed within the Golden Palace (celestial court), this talismanic method was transmitted to the human realm only through the compassionate instruction of the Heavenly Emperor to ancestral masters.

When practicing this method, upon completing the Gang stepping (ritual star-stepping by Daoist priests), one can immediately eradicate evil spirits, dispel the darkness of hell, and summon wind and rain with instant effect. The method also enables swift soul capture and demon subjugation, representing the most essential aspect of the Four Saints' methods. It can mobilize celestial constellations and secretly command various divine generals, truly embodying the essence of the Four Saints' practice.

The subsequent section details the cultivation method for the "Four Saints' Divine Transformation Incantation": First recite the mantra "Heavenly Thunder, Earthly Thunder, Wind Thunder, Fire Thunder, Water Thunder..." while invoking the Divine Lord of the Heart Elixir (primary deity of Neidan cultivation) to purify body and mind, dispel evil Qi, and gather true Qi. During recitation, specific hand mudras (Fire Mudra) must be formed while visualizing one's transformation into a celestial general's form before commencing the Gang stepping to summon the divine commanders.

For the actual summoning ritual, practitioners must employ the "Northern Emperor's Demon-Subduing General-Summoning Gang," a specialized technique for invoking the four marshals and their subordinates. The ritualist stands with the right hand forming a sword mudra at the waist and the left hand pressed against the chest, simultaneously intoning: "One stick of Dao incense brings solemn stillness to the ten directions..." Through incense burning, this establishes connection with the Four Saints' Northern Pole Court, sequentially summoning Marshal Tianpeng, Marshal Tianyou, Marshal Yisheng the Virtue-Protector, Marshal Yousheng the Numinous Responder—the four principal deities—along with the four celestial generals Cui, Lu, Deng, and Dou, plus the four divine kings of wind, thunder, water, and fire.

This scripture describes a Daoist ritual for summoning the Six Ding and Six Jia Divine Generals (protective deities in Daoism) along with numerous celestial troops. The content can be divided into several parts:

First is the roster of summoned deities, including the Six Ding and Six Jia Generals, General of the Chan River, the Swift Talisman Capturing General, the Demon-Slaying General, and many others, all commanded to arrive immediately upon hearing the summons.

Next comes the specific incantation for summoning, beginning with "By the Decree of the Northern Emperor" (referring to the command of the Great Emperor of the North Star). It calls upon the True Lords of the Four Directions, the Thirty-Six Generals, the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, and the Twelve Time Guardians, among other celestial forces. Terms like "Zi-Wu Dou" (a hand seal technique) and "Da Sha Wen" (a powerful talismanic gesture) refer to Daoist mudras, while "Northern Qi" denotes the vital energy of the north, which is to be blown into the incense burner to enhance the ritual's efficacy.

The latter section lists additional deities to be summoned: the Star Lords of the Five Directions (such as the Nine Luminaries of the Eastern Dipper and the Seven Spirits of the Western Dipper), the Water and Fire Perfected Ones, the Thunder Department deities, the Twenty-Eight Mansions, the Five Sacred Mountains' divine troops, and the Dragon Kings of rivers and seas. The text emphasizes that these spirits must obey the "Jade Talisman" (a Daoist decree) without delay, mentioning that the two Daoist adepts Xu Xun and Fang Xuan will also assist in overseeing the ceremony.

This scripture showcases the complete process of mobilizing a vast pantheon in Daoist rituals. Through specific incantations, hand seals, and the application of vital energy (Qi), the ceremony aims to summon celestial forces to subdue demons and evil spirits. The repeated use of phrases like "arrive swiftly" and "by command" reflects the Daoist emphasis on absolute authority and immediate compliance in ritual practice.

This scripture records several incantations and hand mudras (ritual hand gestures) used in Daoist exorcism rituals, primarily describing how to summon celestial soldiers and divine generals to subdue demons. I'll explain each section:

The first passage invokes the power of celestial constellations. The Horn constellation (one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions) guards the heavenly realm, while the spiritual energies of the sacred tortoise and serpent command ten thousand celestial troops and deities, all arrayed in homage to the Celestial Emperor. The ritual master must immediately execute the Emperor's command, forming hand mudras corresponding to the earthly branches (Yin, Shen, Si, Hai, etc.) with the right hand, drawing upon northern Qi and Sha Qi (lethal energy), then directing these forces onto the incense burner.

The "Chan Water Incantation" summons water department deities. The Northern Emperor (Purple Subtlety Emperor of the North Pole) issues edicts mobilizing the forces of Yin-Yang between heaven and earth. The incantation mentions dragon gods of the four seas, General Iron-Face among other water department deities, and river gods of the nine rivers like "Zi Mi" and "Zi Ming" (these names prefixed with "Zi" represent guardians of different water domains). Finally, it calls upon natural deities like the Earl of Wind, Master of Rain, and Hail Gods, with divine creatures like flying dragons and tigers rushing to assist.

The "Demon-Confounding Incantation" dispels evil influences. The baleful energies of Rahu (an inauspicious star) and earthly lodgings soar through the air, dimming the sun and moon while disrupting cosmic order. The incantation demands immediate destruction of evil forces, leaving them no escape, while restraining heavenly rivers and sea winds.

The "Four Sagely Governors Incantation" summons the highest Daoist pantheon. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning and the Five Elders of the Five Directions govern the nine heavens and nine earths, controlling Fengdu (the underworld) along with mountain rivers and springs. It mentions using the "Eight Mighty Divine Incantation" (a powerful spell) to summon dragons for water control, gather clouds, and sweep away demons. All celestial bodies—the sun, moon, five planets, and the seven stars of the Northern Dipper—along with various immortals and celestial troops assemble to assist, with golden tigers and fierce beasts providing front and rear guard.

These incantations must be performed with specific hand mudras, mostly using the "Zi-Wu mudra" (thumb pressing the ring finger) or "Sha mudra," while drawing northern Qi to be exhaled into the ritual area.

This scripture describes the summoning of celestial generals and the establishment of the Gangdou battle formation in Daoist demon-subduing rituals. The ritual master employs specific hand seals (mudras) and incantations to invoke divine generals to descend upon the altar space.

The ritual begins with the master forming the Jade Script Hand Seal (Yuwen Jue) to gather Qi from the Celestial Gate (Tianmen) and direct it toward the incense burner. The summoning chant primarily calls upon General Wu Xian, the Flying Dipper Commander of the Thirty-Two Heavens, along with the star-corresponding generals of the Five Directions: General Zhao Ming of the Eastern Thunder Palace (Zhengong), General Wang Zhen of the Western Lake Palace (Duigong), General Han Yan of the Southern Fire Palace (Ligong), General He Ji of the Northern Water Palace (Kangong), and General Kong Ying of the Central Palace. These golden-armored generals, all depicted with fierce countenances, must immediately obey the command of the Great Emperor of the Northern Dipper (Beiji Ziwei Dadi), a major Daoist deity.

During the ritual, the master forms the Supreme Purity Hand Seal (Taiqing Jue, one of the Three Pure Ones' mudras) while visualizing each general manifesting from their respective direction—all appearing as golden-armored warriors with yellow turbans and crimson faces. The master then exhales Qi into the incense burner to distribute the energy.

The text reveals that four principal generals correspond to the human body's five organs: General Cui governs the liver (East), General Lu the heart (South), General Deng the lungs (West), and General Dou the kidneys (North). This reflects the Daoist cosmological principle of correspondence between heaven and humanity.

The latter part of the incantation invokes the authority of the Primordial Heavenly King (Yuanshi Tianwang, one of Daoism's supreme deities), commanding the starlight to illuminate the ritual space and render evil spirits incapable of hiding. The master visualizes transforming into a True Lord (Zhenjun) as celestial light descends, concluding the ritual by inhaling Qi while facing north and swallowing it—thus completing the demon-subduing Gang method. The phrase "Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances" (Ji Ji Ru Lü Ling) serves as the standard Daoist imperative formula, demanding immediate execution of the divine command.

This scripture describes several advanced Daoist practices of "flying star stepping" (gangbu) and incantations, primarily used for subduing demons and summoning divine beings. Let me explain these esoteric cultivation methods section by section:

The first section discusses the "Flying Purple Qi Concentration Gang." During practice, one visualizes primordial purple qi condensing into gang energy, which can command myriad spirits. Imagine twelve-tiered jade towers in the heavens, with radiant clouds encircling purple-gold palaces. Within these reside nine immortals in azure golden robes, the most revered being the True Elder of Cinnabar Emperor (a high-ranking Daoist deity). They hold jade tablets and spirit banners capable of commanding the demon lords of the five directions. Practitioners should visualize ingesting the essence of sun, moon, and stars, filling their bodies with golden light, entering the Dipper constellation (one of the twenty-eight mansions) through star-stepping while maintaining mental purity.

The specific method involves: starting with the left hand at the zi position (first earthly branch direction), sequentially forming hand seals through the hai position, finally forming the Jade Script Seal (a specific mudra), facing the Celestial Gate (northwest direction). Coordinating with inhalation and exhalation, one recites incantations while stepping the gang patterns to the positions of the nine flying stars. This is said to subdue all malignant stars in heaven, summon wind and rain, and slay spiritual entities.

The second section is the "Celestial Emperor's Demon-Subduing Flying Star Gang Incantation." When stepping the gang patterns, visualize starlight filling the celestial sphere, with both visible and hidden stars radiating brilliance. Yang qi penetrates the 106 degrees (referring to celestial circuits), while yin qi circulates through 9,000. Treading the purple qi with flying steps, gather true qi back to the dantian (lower abdominal energy center) to capture demons and deliver them to the northern region.

The specific practice involves reciting the incantation at the twelfth flying star position, with hand seals following the sequence of chou, mao, shen, chou, zi, hai, xu, finally exhaling northern qi. This subdues demons that fly through skies, burrow underground, or stir up sandstorms.

The third section, the "Flying Cloud Demon-Slaying Great Incantation," concerns wielding the power of the Dipper stars, whose light connects to the Great Void (cosmic origin), vast and boundless. This section is relatively brief, likely intended for use with specific gang steps.

The scripture concludes by emphasizing that these secret methods require diligent practice—three years of serious cultivation can ensure self-preservation, while nine years of accomplishment may lead to feathered ascent, donning phoenix robes and dragon garments to attend the celestial court. One must strictly adhere to the decrees of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) and the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity (sovereign of the stars).

These incantations belong to the advanced esoteric arts of the Shangqing tradition, requiring proper transmission from a master and integration with internal cultivation to be effective. The mentioned techniques of hand seals, gang stepping, and visualization constitute essential components of Daoist ritual practice.

This scripture records Daoist exorcism incantations and hand seals, detailing the Northern Dipper Step Ritual (a form of star-stepping ceremony) from the Compendium of Daoist Rituals. The content is divided into several key components:

The opening section contains invocations summoning the power of the Northern Dipper Lords. "Primordial Unity Qi (Hunyuan Yiqi)" refers to the fundamental energy of the cosmos, while "pervading the myriad heavens" signifies its omnipresence. Through these chants, the ritual master calls upon the Bright and Dark Lords of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper, along with celestial troops, to assist in the rite. Each incantation concludes by invoking the authority of the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity (the Daoist deity governing the North Star and all celestial bodies).

Next comes the precise execution of star-stepping patterns and hand seals. The practitioner must walk specific 17-star, 23-star, or 29-star formations while forming the "Flying Dipper Seal" (a specific hand gesture) with the left hand, simultaneously exhaling Qi (breath magic) toward the north. References to "Wu pattern" and "Sha pattern" denote distinct finger positions in Daoist hand seals, each corresponding to different divine powers.

The Central Altar Celestial Dipper Chant particularly emphasizes mobilizing the energy of the Five Directional Star Constellations (celestial bodies governing the five cardinal directions). It describes capturing malignant stars above, shaking the Five Sacred Mountains at the earthly level, and summoning underworld spirits below. The phrase "Five Thunder Fierce Officers" refers to thunder department deities, while "stars arrayed like an inescapable net" illustrates the spell's comprehensive efficacy.

The concluding Great Celestial Dipper Step Incantation presents the complete ghost-subjugation process: first transforming demons with True Yang Qi, then gathering quintessential stellar energies from all directions, before 120 divine generals including "Mighty General Jiyou Jiucha" instantly capture the malevolent entities. All chants emphasize the phrase "urgently as by imperial decree," demanding immediate execution of the North Emperor's command.

These rituals require the practitioner to visualize (Cunxiang) the descent of five-directional starlight while coordinating star-stepping, hand seals, incantations, and breath techniques—demonstrating how Daoist magic integrates cosmic energies, divine powers, and human cultivation into a unified ceremonial practice.

This scripture records several Daoist ritual techniques for subduing demons and exorcising evil. The first method involves performing the Bugang (Pacing the Stars, a Daoist footwork technique) to the sixth stellar position while forming the Sha Hand Seal (a specific mudra) with the left hand. The practitioner then inhales the malevolent Qi from the northern direction and exhales it to subdue all demonic forces. This is followed by the "Altar-Descending Kuixing Kuigang Incantation," which summons celestial beings through mantra recitation—including the Northern Dipper Star Lords, the Four Saints (Daoism's four guardian deities), and the Eight Ding (eight divine generals)—commanding them to arrive immediately upon hearing the incantation to assist in capturing evil spirits. The ritual concludes by invoking the authority of the Great Emperor of the Purple Subtlety of the North Pole (a major Daoist deity).

The second incantation, "The Heavenly Emperor's Decree," calls upon an even broader pantheon: the Star Lords of the Eight Trigrams (Bagua) and Nine Palaces, the Mountain Gods of the Five Sacred Peaks, and the Six Ding Divine Generals, all uniting their divine power to help the ritual master swiftly capture and slay demonic entities. The chant emphasizes immediate execution of the commands issued by the Three Heavenly Sovereigns (supreme Daoist deities) and the Four Great Perfected Lords.

The "Black Canopy Incantation" describes a dark boundary spell: the practitioner visualizes dark forces from all directions forming an inescapable net—comprising black winds, black mists, and black nets—while invoking the martial prowess of the True Warrior Lord of the North (a major Daoist war deity) and the Black Sha Marshal. This incantation particularly highlights the overwhelming power of darkness, leaving no hiding place for malevolent spirits, and ultimately enacts the capture under the authority of the Purple Subtlety Emperor.

The final "Canopy-Dropping Spell" requires the practitioner to visualize the form of the Great Black Canopy Deity King (a specialized deity governing dark boundaries): clad in black robes and wielding a black net to perform the ritual. The entire ceremony constructs a protective and capturing system of dark energy through specific footwork, hand seals, visualization techniques, and incantations.

This scripture primarily details Daoist incantations and talismanic methods (fulu) for summoning various deities and stellar lords to subdue demons and eliminate malevolent forces.

It begins by describing how the Thunder Gods and Lightning Mothers transcend all directions, with the radiance of the stars enveloping the earthly realm and illuminating the "six palaces" (referring to six vital regions within the human body). The text urgently invokes the decrees of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing)—the highest Daoist deities: the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun), the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure (Lingbao Tianzun), and the Celestial Worthy of the Dao and Its Virtue (Daode Tianzun)—as well as the Jade Emperor (Yuhuang Dadi).

The summoning method is then specified: interlace the fingers of both hands and cast them outward, visualizing sparks igniting and dark qi (energy) spreading through the air. The incantation begins by reverently inviting the Three Pure Ones and the Great Emperor of the North Pole (who governs the Big Dipper) to issue their commands for summoning:

1. The seven stellar lords of the Big Dipper (including Kui and other archaic star names)

2. The five planetary lords of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth (Five Phases)

3. The four celestial luminaries, such as Rahu and Ketu

4. The twenty-eight lunar mansions (divided into the Azure Dragon of the East, Black Tortoise of the North, White Tiger of the West, and Vermilion Bird of the South)

5. The twelve zodiacal spirits

6. The stellar lords overseeing fortune and misfortune

7. The thunder generals of wind, fire, and the five thunders

The incantation emphasizes swift response, with the talisman (fu) to be upheld and enacted immediately. It further summons the essence of solar qi (sunlight), demanding the stars above and the five directional generals (guardians of east, south, center, west, and north) below to descend rapidly.

A more detailed list of summoned entities follows, including:

• The seven stellar lords of the Big Dipper
• The Great Lord of the Central Dipper (the primary star in the Ursa Major constellation)
• The six directors of the Southern Dipper (stars governing lifespan)
• The stellar lords of the sun and moon (Taiyang Xingjun and Taiyin Xingjun)
• The three platforms stars (responsible for longevity)
• The five planets (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth)
• Lunar nodes like Yuebo and Ziqi
• The twenty-eight lunar mansions
• The twelve celestial palace deities (zodiacal signs)
• The 365 stellar deities (corresponding to celestial degrees)
• Auspicious and inauspicious stars of the yellow and black paths
• The five radiant lords of the Five Sacred Mountains (Wuyue)
• The sect’s divine generals, including the Great General of Flowing Gold and Fiery Bells

The text concludes with the "Precious Talisman of the Four Sages for Subduing the Demons of the Six Heavens," listing the titles of the Great Emperor of the North Star (Ziwei Dadi) and several key stellar lords, along with their corresponding directions (north, south, east, and west, aligned with the earthly branches Zi, Wu, Mao, and You). All are commanded to capture and suppress demonic entities.

These incantations embody the Daoist principle of "cosmic resonance" (tianren ganying), where correct recitation of divine names and spells can invoke celestial forces to exorcise evil. The extensive catalog of stellar deities reflects Daoism’s deep reverence for astronomical phenomena and astral symbolism.

This scripture primarily documents several Daoist talismans (fulu) and ritual procedures for exorcising evil spirits and binding demons. The term "Sovereigns of Life" (shengjun) mentioned refers to the three deities governing life (upper, middle, and lower realms), while the "Five Star Sovereigns" (wuxing jun) represent the celestial deities of the five directional stars (corresponding to the qi movements of east, south, west, north, and center).

The text meticulously enumerates the names of the twenty-eight lunar mansions and their associated directional attributes. For instance, the seven eastern mansions (Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, Ji) belong to Wood qi, while the seven northern mansions (Wei, Shi, Bi, etc.) correspond to Water qi. These stellar deities are frequently invoked in Daoist ritual magic for exorcism purposes.

Subsequently, the scripture details the practical application of demon-subduing talismans: a twelve-foot length of yellow silk must be inscribed with cinnabar characters, accompanied by the burning of ritual coins. It specifically mentions summoning General Zhao Xuangji, the "Fire-Bell Commander of Flowing Gold," a deity specializing in subduing demons who captures malevolent spirits with fiery ropes. The text also prescribes the creation and simultaneous burning of eighteen cinnabar-inscribed yellow paper talismans.

The incantation section repeatedly emphasizes acting under the command of the "Three Pure Ones" (Sanqing, the supreme Daoist deities: Jade Pure, Upper Pure, and Grand Pure) and the "Great Emperor of the Northern Dipper" (the deity governing celestial bodies). The spells incorporate specific Daoist ritual hand seals (mudras) like the "Fire Seal of Noon" (wu wen, corresponding to the Fire phase at noon) and the "Wood Seal of Dawn" (mao wen, corresponding to the Wood phase at dawn).

The concluding passage presents a more concise demon-compelling incantation, thrice invoking the decree of the Three Pure Ones to amplify the talisman's potency through the authority of the Jade Pure, Upper Pure, and Grand Pure deities. Collectively, this scripture exemplifies traditional Daoist methods of exorcism that harness stellar powers, sacred incantations, and talismanic rituals.

This scripture documents the incantations and magical techniques of the Daoist Northern Emperor (Beidi) tradition, which venerates the Great Emperor of the North Star (Ziwei Dadi) as its primary deity. The content primarily consists of several key components:

First, it invokes various celestial generals including the Lord of the Central Dipper (Zhongdou Xingjun), the Three Platforms Star Lords (Santai Xingjun), the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions (Ershiba Xiu), and specifically Marshal Zhao Xuanji, the Great General of the Flowing Gold Fire Bells (Liujin Huoling Dajiangjun) who specializes in subduing demons. The repeated phrase "urgently as by law and ordinance" (jiji rulüling) emphasizes the immediate execution of commands without delay.

Next, it details the step-by-step ritual process for capturing spirits and monsters: first reciting the Purifying Mouth Incantation to maintain the practitioner's purity, followed by the Spirit Transformation Incantation to unite one's primordial spirit (Yuanshen) with the divine power of the Northern Emperor, then casting the Netting Spell to deploy celestial nets preventing escape. The "Nine Great Mountain Spirits" (Jiu Da Xiao) specifically refer to animal spirits that have attained supernatural powers through cultivation—including cats, dogs, raccoons, tigers, monkeys, pigs, goats, and foxes.

The concluding General Summons Incantation mobilizes the entire demon-subduing hierarchy under the Northern Emperor's command: Marshal Qiongkui leads thirty-six generals, while Commanders Mingyuan, Yao, and Qi each command celestial troops, coordinating with the Twenty-Eight Mansions and Twelve Palaces deities to form a formidable spirit-capturing formation. Phrases like "devouring demons and consuming ghosts" vividly portray the divine generals' ferocious power in exterminating malevolent entities.

These incantations must be performed with specific hand seals (such as the Wuwen mudra) and visualizations of fiery Qi (flame energy), demonstrating the Daoist magical principle of integrating four elements: divine power (Shen), energy (Qi), talismans (Fu), and incantations (Zhou). The recurring concluding phrase "urgently carry out this order" (jiji fengxing) represents the standard Daoist incantation ending, signifying absolute obedience to divine authority.

This scripture belongs to the Beidi (Northern Emperor) tradition of Daoism, which venerates the Great Emperor of the Northern Dipper (Ziwei Dadi, the supreme deity governing all stars). It describes an incantation for exorcising demons and capturing malevolent spirits by summoning celestial generals.

The Great Emperor of the Northern Dipper commands his celestial army: Deputy Commander Mingyuan leads the vanguard, while Generals Yao and Qi command the left and right divisions respectively. General Cui Lei controls thunder, and General Lü Dian commands fierce troops. These divine warriors swiftly capture and execute spirits—General Deng Yun binds them at the front, while General Dou Xiao interrogates them from the rear.

Next, the incantation summons the Four Perfected Ones and Four Divine Generals to pursue a specific spirit, demanding its immediate manifestation and confession. The Great Emperor reprimands the demonic entity, vowing to annihilate ghosts, subdue evil spirits, and force them to reveal themselves under duress.

General Pan Yong, the Mighty Mountain-Shaker, is then invoked: his first shake makes mountains tremble, his second destroys spirits, and his third compels evil entities to possess a host and confess. Simultaneously, perfected immortals (saintly adepts) are summoned to drive demonic forces into possessed individuals, forcing them to speak quickly.

The scripture further mobilizes an entire demon-subduing hierarchy: Marshal Qiongkui with his thirty-six generals, Deputy Commander Mingyuan with fifteen generals, the Fire God of Virtue-Protection (Yisheng Baode), the Great Perfected Warrior of Divine Protection (Youshen Zhenwu), and others. The Four Celestial Beasts—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—form battle formations, combining their power with the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) to execute the Northern Emperor’s decree.

The incantation concludes with the "Chan River Ghost-Capturing Spell," emphasizing its power to swiftly seize harmful spirits and make them tremble before the Northern Emperor’s divine might. Through layered invocations of celestial forces, the text constructs a complete heavenly military system for suppression, embodying the Daoist religious concept of "governing ghosts through divine authority."

This scripture records the ritual procedures of the Beidi (Northern Emperor) School of Daoism (a sect primarily venerating the Great Emperor of the North Star, Ziwei) for exorcism and healing. It primarily includes the methods for employing several incantations and talismanic commands.

First is the summoning of divine generals under the Northern Emperor's command, including celestial troops like the Flying Dragon Cavalry and Flying Tiger Cavalry—spiritual beings capable of riding clouds to capture malevolent entities. The incantations repeatedly emphasize "urgently obeying the Northern Emperor's decree and the Four Saints' orders," indicating these rituals are performed under the authority of the Great Emperor of the North Star (Ziwei) and the Four Saints (the guardian deities Tianpeng, Tianyou, Yisheng, and Yousheng).

Next are specific exorcism incantations, such as those commanding evil spirits to exit the patient's body through defecation or summoning the Qi (vital energy) of the Tian Gang Star (the leader of the Big Dipper's seven stars) to disperse malignant influences. There are also specialized incantations for bewildering spirits, capable of darkening the sun and moon and disrupting cosmic order, leaving evil entities with no place to hide.

The mentioned "Four Saints' Spirit-Bewildering Talisman" requires the combined power of the four directional deities: the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. For binding ghosts, the ritual calls upon Ding Guangbo (a divine general specialized in ghost-binding) to arrive with iron chains for capture.

Lastly, the text enumerates key divine generals of the Beidi School: including the Four Great Divine Kings governing wind, thunder, water, and fire; the Four Celestial Generals Cui, Lu, Deng, and Dou; and the Four Deputy Generals Wen, Li, Wu, and Liu. These deities all belong to the Taiwei Court (the military institution of the Great Emperor of the North Star) and serve as the primary forces for executing exorcism missions.

Note: The recurrent term "Northern Qi (炁)" refers to the spiritual energy of the Great Emperor Ziwei, while "blowing" signifies the accompanying breath technique during ritual performance. "Swiftly" conveys urgency, and "lethal script" denotes the destructive power inherent in the talismanic characters.

This scripture records a Daoist ritual for summoning divine generals and exorcising evil spirits. It primarily involves several important celestial commanders:

First, it enumerates thirty-six mighty generals under the command of the Six Jia Divine Kings (Daoist guardian deities), including Great General Fire-Bell, General Tanzhuo of the River, General Panyue the Mountain-Shaker, along with messengers like Flying Dragon Riders and Flying Tiger Riders—all formidable protectors possessing great spiritual power.

Next come incantations for summoning the Four Great Divine Kings of Wind, Thunder, Water, and Fire, beseeching their swift descent to obey the ritual master's commands and assist in capturing malevolent entities. The text specifies these actions are performed under the decree of the Great Emperor of the Northern Dipper and Purple Tenuity (a major Daoist deity) and the Four Saints (the guardian quartet: Tianpeng, Tianyou, Yisheng, and Yousheng).

The Four Saints' Flying Capture Talismans (Fulu) then describe how attendants from the Jade Pure Realm (Daoism's highest celestial abode) and Flying Dragon envoys descend to cooperate with the ritual master in using talismanic spells to subdue haunting spirits. Particular emphasis is placed on compelling the evil spirits to immediately submit beneath the authority of Kuigang Stars (two stars in the Big Dipper constellation representing cosmic authority in Daoist practice).

The text meticulously documents each of the Four Saints' corresponding talismans and their designated time periods:

• Tianpeng Talisman (used during Tiger-Horse-Dog hours)
• Tianyou Talisman (used during Snake-Rooster-Ox hours)
• Yisheng Talisman (used during Pig-Rabbit-Goat hours)
• Yousheng Talisman (used during Monkey-Rat-Dragon hours)

When employing these talismans, practitioners must inscribe the exact year, month, day, and hour on the reverse side. The ritual requires counting time from the Pig hour through the Rat hour while forming hand seals (mudras) and reciting incantations. After inscribing the talismans, golden spirit money (Jinzhi Jiama) must be burned, with the practitioner exhaling toward the target direction to dispatch the talisman. The entire ceremony demands strict adherence to temporal cycles and procedural steps to achieve effective spirit expulsion and binding.