《道法會元》Vol. 182

The Daofa Huiyuan (Compendium of Daoist Rituals) documents the Shangqing (Highest Clarity) tradition's esoteric methods for ritual petitions and talismanic practices (Fulu). This section details the creation and application of several key talismans:

The Sanyuan Chaoyuan Fu (Three Primes Celestial Audience Talisman) and Shengdu Gangfeng Fu (Ascension Through Celestial Winds Talisman) must be inscribed with cinnabar on cyan-green silk, then stored in yellow silk pouches. Each measures nine inches long—the Celestial Audience Talisman is worn on the left side, while the Celestial Winds Talisman adorns the right. The Tongtian Shengzhen Daquan (Great Covenant for Celestial Ascension) similarly uses cinnabar on cyan silk and is worn atop the head.

The Tongtian Zhenfu (True Celestial Passage Talisman) requires unique crafting: use jujube wood struck by lightning, measuring five inches long and two-and-a-half inches wide, pierced with five-colored threads. During inscription, practitioners must synchronize with their Benming Jue (Destiny Chant corresponding to birth hour). The completed talisman is tied behind the left elbow.

The Taiqing Peifu Shenzhang (Great Clarity Divine Talisman) demands inscription on yellow paper with cinnabar during the Jiazi day (first Heavenly Stem/Earthly Branch cycle), measuring three square inches. It can be worn or inscribed on the reverse of celestial passage talismans. Petition talismans require the Taiqing Jue (Great Clarity Hand Seal) and Tiantong Zhou (Celestial Youth Mantra), written on yellow paper worn on the back, while wind-traversing talismans employ the Shangqing Jue (Highest Clarity Seal) and Tianpeng Zhou (Celestial Canopy Mantra), worn over the heart.

Soul-calming talismans (Anhun Fu) are worn left, while spirit-stabilizing talismans (Dingpo Fu) adorn the right. The Shangzhang Feishen Fu (Flying Spirit Petition Talismans) come in left/right pairs—both cinnabar on yellow silk—tied to respective feet. Special precautions govern Jianshang Fu (Documentary Talismans) and Jiehui Fu (Purification Talismans): since divine manifestations require purity, contamination renders them ineffective. Practitioners must first recite the Jing Tiandi Zhou (Heaven-Earth Purification Mantra), click teeth thirty-two times, calm the breath, then inscribe with the Yudi Jue (Jade Emperor Seal) to channel southeast's pure Qi (vital energy). Finally, blend with Xuanquan (Mystic Spring, the ritual holy water) for ingestion.

The Tongzhen Daling Fu (Spirit-Communion Talisman) requires dawn ingestion with this mantra: "By this true talisman, I commune with the divine; Hundred spirits heed, revealing truth sublime. Six Jia guardians bring serene peace, Five Phase energies darken deep. Returning to Primal Chaos, names resound in sound; Upon ingestion, awakening brings Great Peace profound, soaring naturally to Purple Court's sacred ground." Subsequent references indicate Wushen Fu (Five Spirits Talisman) instructions appear in Volume Eight.

All talismans emphasize three elements: material selection (specific silk colors, lightning-struck wood), temporal alignment (e.g., Jiazi days), and synchronized mantra-seals with breathwork. Purification talismans particularly stress cleanliness—reflecting Daoism's foundational principle that somatic and mental purity enables divine communion.

This describes the use of talismans (Fulu) and altar arrangements in the Daoist ritual of submitting memorials (Shangzhang) to the celestial court. The specific procedures are as follows:

Vermilion ink is used to draw talismans on yellow paper, which are then burned, and the ashes placed in a water vessel. This consecrated water is sprinkled to purify the memorial documents and ritual space.

The fumigation talisman must be drawn during the Chen hour (7-9 AM), harnessing solar energy. It is burned over incense to fumigate the memorial while reciting: "May five-colored clouds lift this memorial to the celestial court, may five-colored true Qi (vital energy) convey it directly to the Jade Emperor. No earthly impurities shall obstruct it—swiftly as the celestial decree!"

The wrapping talisman, drawn with vermilion on nine-inch yellow paper, is placed inside the memorial case (Zhanghan) to enfold the document. When dispatching the memorial, recite: "May celestial spirits descend promptly," while forming the Jade Emperor hand-seal (Yudi Jue) and placing it beneath the case with the radiance of Three Lights (sun, moon, stars).

Two Divine Artisan talismans are required: one burned and consumed in purified water, the other placed unseen on the altar table. The protective talisman is burned with the memorial while visualizing thunder-fire escorting the document through the Three Heavens (Yuqing, Shangqing, and Taiqing celestial realms).

The altar must honor the Three Origin Generals: General Tang Hong (Upper Origin), General Ge Yong (Middle Origin), and General Zhou Wu (Lower Origin). Their vermilion-drawn talismans on yellow paper are affixed in three layers on the memorial case, sealed with the Contract Seal or Xiandu Seal. Five directional talismans (left, right, front, back, center) are arranged on the altar.

For the Heaven-Opening talisman, form hand-seals while invoking the assistance of the Jade Pure God, Supreme Pure God, and Grand Pure God to open the celestial gates. Summon Generals Tang, Ge, and Zhou with the Supreme Unity Flying Talisman Envoy to disperse obstructive winds, ensuring the memorial's direct ascent. The optimal ritual timeframe spans from Hai hour (9-11 PM) to Si hour (9-11 AM).

This passage describes the specific procedures of the Daoist Shangzhang ritual (submitting memorials to the celestial court). First, one must form the Taiqing hand seal (a mudra) to prevent interference from evil Qi. The incantation "urgently and swiftly as the law commands" indicates immediate execution, as rapid as a legal decree.

The guardian of the celestial gate is General Wang Su, depicted with disheveled hair, bare feet, wearing black robes with golden armor, and holding a black banner—his appearance resembling the True Warrior Emperor (Zhenwu Dadi). The Taiji Zhenren (Perfected Being of the Supreme Ultimate) instructs that before submitting memorials, one must first pray to General Wang: "General Wang of the Celestial Gate, by imperial decree, open the celestial gate. Let the merit officials (celestial messengers) come swiftly to urgently deliver this memorial."

The specific steps of the Shangzhang ritual are as follows: Prepare between the hours of Xu (7-9 PM) and Hai (9-11 PM). Begin by burning paper money and horses (symbolic offerings) while reciting the "Opening the Celestial Gate" incantation: "The divine dragon soars through the sky, with lightning and thunderbolts escorting this celestial document straight to the heavenly court." Then, prostrate and chant: "Heaven and earth open wide, protected by the Five Phases and Eight Trigrams. I hereby submit an important memorial—may the great Dao bestow auspicious blessings."

There is also a specialized "Supreme Taishang Penetrating the Celestial Pass Talisman," which comes in two forms for yang and yin days. One must invite celestial officials such as the Messenger of Communicating Truth and the Jade Maidens to escort the memorial directly to the Three Pure Heavens (Sanqing Tian). During the journey, precautions must be taken against interference from the Six Heavens' Outer Demons and lingering evil Qi. If obstructed, General Liu Jin Huo Ling (Flowing Gold Fire Bell) is dispatched to arrest the offenders and deliver them to the celestial prison for punishment.

Finally, the time of execution must be recorded, performed by a qualified Daoist priest (so-and-so). This content is sourced from Volume 182 of the Daoist Ritual Compendium (Daofa Huiyuan), which meticulously documents the procedures, incantations, and precautions of the Daoist Shangzhang ritual.