《道法會元》Vol. 200

The Scripture of Purple Phoenix Qi from the Golden Fire Celestial Warriors chapter records the specific operational methods of the Daoist "Petitioning the Dipper" (Gaodou) ritual. This ceremony is a crucial liturgy (Keyi) for beseeching the Northern Dipper's seven stars to dispel calamities and prolong life.

The ritual master must first calm the mind and focus the spirit (Shen), preparing ritual implements such as cinnabar, ink, paper, and brushes while reciting the esoteric incantation: "Juzhi Di She Su Zha He Nuo Mi Zha Wu Du Zha Ju Qi Zha Bo Lai Di Zha Ye Wei Ruo Zha Wu Qi Zha Ju Luo Di Zha Qi Mo Zha Sha He." This mantra possesses the power to summon divine beings and must be recited swiftly to completion.

The text then describes the miraculous efficacy of the talismans (Fulu): Golden Boys and Jade Maidens from the highest Daoist celestial realm, the Jade Purity Heaven of Divine Empyrean (Shenxiao Yuqingjing), weave these talismans with golden threads and jade strands. Their radiance penetrates the darkest underworld, causing ghosts to wail in terror and mighty demons to submit. While inscribing the talismans, the master chants: "I now draw this talisman—may all things flourish in eternal life. Should any dare defy it, may heavenly thunder strike them down." This invokes the authority of the True King of Jade Purity to amplify the talisman’s spiritual power.

When the talisman is completed, crimson sigils and dragon-shaped characters manifest spontaneously in the air. These possess divine power to suppress calamities, preserve cosmic harmony, heal illnesses, expel evil, and protect all beings. The incantation concludes with the rapid recitation: "Swiftly, swiftly, as commanded by the Golden Fire Bells of the Cinnabar Empyrean!"

Following this is a hymn praising the Nine Stars of the Northern Dipper (Daoism recognizes two hidden stars in addition to the seven visible ones). The text states that the Northern Dipper Lords (Beidou Xingjun) connect the Golden Portal of Heaven (Jinque) above and envelop Mount Kunlun below, governing the order of heaven and earth. It lists the seven stars by name: Greedy Wolf (Tanlang), Giant Gate (Jumen), Prosperity Storehouse (Lucun), Literary Curves (Wenqu), Pure and Upright (Lianzhen), Martial Harmony (Wuqu), and Army Breaker (Pojun), along with the Purple Tenuity Emperor (Ziwei Dijun), the Dipper’s ruling star. The true Qi (Zhenqi) of the Northern Dipper can dissolve misfortunes and bestow blessings, while the Celestial Pivot Star (Tiangang) guides the cycles of day and night. Ordinary people who cultivate the Dao (Dao) with sincerity may behold the true forms of the Dipper Lords and receive their protection for longevity. The incantation references the "Three Platforms" (Santai, a trio of stars) and the "Six Pure Ones" (Liuchun, the Six Jia spirits), both of which nurture and safeguard the physical form.

During the ritual, a lamp altar is arranged, employing various talismans: the Altar Purification Talisman, the Land Pacification Talisman, the Summoning Ten Thousand Spirits Talisman, and the Pacing the Dipper Talisman (Bugang Tadoufu), among others. The recited mantras possess the power to recreate heaven and earth, grant the master longevity, internally observe the Three Hun and Seven Po (Daoism’s conception of the human spiritual and corporeal souls), reverse aging, expel evil, and attract auspiciousness. Finally, the ritual summons the Duty God of the Day (Rizhifu) and the Four Directional Guardian Generals (Sizhifu) to descend and offer protection.

Note: The phrase "Swiftly, swiftly, as commanded by law!" (Jiji rulüling) is a common concluding formula in Daoist incantations, meaning "Execute immediately, as unbreakable as imperial decree." "Celestial Pivot" (Tiangang) refers to the handle of the Northern Dipper. The "Three Hun and Seven Po" represent Daoism’s unique understanding of the human spiritual constitution.

This scripture records various talismans (fulu) used in Daoist rituals and their application methods, primarily divided into two categories: summoning deities and altar arrangement.

The summoning talismans include: the talisman for invoking the Earth God (Tudi Shen), the talisman for summoning the Maiden of Purity (Sunü, a Daoist female immortal), the talisman for calling forth the Celestial Warriors (Tianbing Shenjiang), and the talisman for commanding these warriors. The latter requires specific activation methods in the Gen (艮) position of the Bagua (Eight Trigrams).

For altar arrangement, the talismans consist of: the altar-establishing talisman, the altar-guarding talisman (written in blue ink on four pieces of paper and placed at the four cardinal directions), nine talismans for covering lamp stands, and the talisman for holding lamp stands (which must be inscribed while reciting an incantation, with the seven special characters Kui (魁), Nü (𩲃), Yu (𩵄), Xing (䰢), Bi (魓), Xiao (𩳐), and Piao (魒) written on it). There are also talismans for traversing flames and igniting lamps (using the Wu Wen hand seal to draw in the Qi of the southern direction).

The Nine Luminaries Lamp Talismans correspond to the nine stars of the Northern Dipper (Beidou): Greedy Wolf (Tanlang), Giant Gate (Jumen), Prosperity Preserver (Lucun), Literary Curved (Wenqu), Pure and Upright (Lianzhen), Martial Song (Wuqu), and Army Breaker (Pojun), along with the auxiliary stars Fu (辅) and Bi (弼). The scripture details the appearances of each stellar deity and their associated zodiac signs:

• Greedy Wolf Star Lord (Tanlang Xingjun), named Wuxizhe, resembles a wild ghost king, with disheveled hair and two protruding teeth. He holds a clenched fist in his right hand and a calendar in his left, governing those born in the Year of the Rat.

• Giant Gate Star Lord (Jumen Xingjun), named Wuxili, appears as a celestial maiden wearing a five-colored floral crown and heavenly robes adorned with jewels. Holding a flower tray in her left hand and a fan in her right, she governs those born in the Years of the Ox and Pig.

• Prosperity Preserver Star Lord (Lucun Xingjun), named Wuxitan, takes the form of an immortal clad in straw garments, with loose hair and a brush in hand, governing those born in the Years of the Tiger and Dog.

• Literary Curved Star Lord (Wenqu Xingjun), named Wuximan, resembles a dark-skinned woman draped in red robes and riding a five-colored dragon, governing those born in the Years of the Rabbit and Rooster.

• Pure and Upright Star Lord (Lianzhen Xingjun), named Wuxizha, appears as a figure in a conical hat and purple robes, mounted on a white dragon with attendants bearing halberds, governing those born in the Years of the Dragon and Monkey.

• Martial Song Star Lord (Wuqu Xingjun), named Wuxicha, has an elephant-headed human body, with twin protruding teeth and jeweled ornaments, wielding a sword. He governs those born in the Years of the Snake and Goat.

• Army Breaker Star Lord (Pojun Xingjun), named Wuxita, manifests as a black, monstrous figure with a boar’s head and protruding teeth (the text is incomplete regarding the specific zodiac signs under his governance).

This scripture records a complete Daoist talismanic ritual (Fulu), primarily involving the invocation of the Northern Dipper Lords (the deified seven stars of the Big Dipper venerated in Daoism) and the procedures for conducting the ceremony.

The text first describes the usage of various talismans such as the Descending Dipper Talisman and the Hastening Descent Talisman. Reciting the incantations can summon immortals and sacred beings to descend, harnessing the power of the "Nine Celestial Sovereigns of the Northern Dipper" (referring to the nine stars of the Dipper). Terms like "Jade Chapters of the Dipper" and "Numinous Youth of the Great Unity" appearing in the incantations represent manifestations of the Dipper Lords, whom the ritual master summons to swiftly descend to the altar through specific spells.

The scripture then details seven types of talismans with distinct functions:

1. Incense Offering Talisman: communicates with deities through incense smoke

2. Celestial Libation Talisman: three variations, requiring alignment with northern Qi (vital energy) when inscribed

3. Official Dispatch Talisman: deploys divine officers to carry out tasks

4. Document Sealing Talisman: used to seal memorials to the heavens

5. Dipper Opening Talisman: initiates the Northern Dipper ceremony

6. Fire Passage Talisman: employed in fire-offering rituals

7. Memorial Submission Talisman: presents petitions to the celestial court

Particular emphasis is placed on the Nine Palaces Talismans, with each corresponding to specific hours and directions (represented by the twelve earthly branches such as Zi, Yin, Mao), symbolizing the nine palace orientations. The text concludes with talismans of the Five Celestial Realms (Purple, Radiance, etc.), each requiring inscription with Qi of different colors (blue, black, yellow, etc.) representing the five elemental energies.

The recurring phrase "urgently, urgently, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances" serves as a common Daoist incantation ending, signifying immediate execution of divine commands. This comprehensive ritual system—from deity invocation to spellcasting—features corresponding talismans for each stage, exemplifying the characteristic practices of the Daoist Talismanic tradition (specializing in ritual implements).

This scripture records the talismanic registers (fulu) used in Daoism to dispel various calamities—ritual documents employed for exorcism and blessing. Each type of talisman corresponds to a specific category of misfortune and requires the invocation of particular deities to infuse it with their vital energy (Qi).

First, four differently colored talismans are listed:

• Langxiao Talisman (green Qi)
• Yuxiao Talisman (deep red Qi)
• Taixiao Talisman (jade-green Qi)
• Danxiao Talisman (mysterious black Qi)

The text then details twenty-four categories of calamity-dispelling talismans, each requiring the descent of Qi from distinct deities:

• Three Disasters Talisman: Invokes deities Tian Fangwen, Xian Kangzhi, etc.
• Four Baleful Influences Talisman: Invokes Zhou Anding, Ji Youzi, etc.
• Five Phases (Wuxing) Misfortune Talisman: Invokes Guo Renji, Fu Zhongshen, etc.
• Six Harms Talisman: Invokes Lü Shengpeng, Bin Zhoufu, etc.
• Seven Injuries Talisman: Invokes Huang Changgui, Chu Yanyao, etc.
• Eight Difficulties Talisman: Invokes Hua Daben, Kui Yunyan, etc.
• Nine Stars Misfortune Talisman: Invokes Pu Zishao, Ziyin, Zihua, Zichan, Zixin, etc.
• Marital Strife Talisman: Invokes Cai Doucheng, Doulì, Dounan, Douping, Doucong, etc.
• Offspring Misfortune Talisman: Invokes Lin Ting, Tuogang, Zhagong, etc.
• Childbirth Calamity Talisman: Invokes Liu Tiansheng, Tianzhu, Tian’en, Tiande, Tiangai, etc.
• Lineage Continuation Misfortune Talisman: Invokes Ke Feng, Chongchun, Qin Zou, etc.
• Plague and Pestilence Talisman: Invokes Yang Zhen, Rong, Zhu, Kuang, Tie, etc.
• Tiger and Wolf Misfortune Talisman: Invokes Lu Gongshu, Gonghong, Gongshan, Gongyu, Gongbi, etc.
• Insect and Snake Calamity Talisman: Invokes Su Zongzhi, Shizhi, Youzhi, Yuzhi, Nengzhi, etc.
• Banditry Misfortune Talisman: Invokes Wen Xi, Daoren, Zhengtong, etc.
• Punishment and Imprisonment Talisman: Invokes Lüqiu Shou, Qiu Shun, Qiu Ai, Qiu Guan, Qiu Fu, etc.
• Untimely Death Talisman: Invokes Yue Daguang, Dafang, Daming, Dacheng, Dading, etc.
• Curse and Oath Misfortune Talisman: Invokes Ri Zihua, Zizhao, Zisheng, Zilai, Zihe, etc.

These talismans exemplify Daoist cultivation methods that employ specific rituals and divine power to resolve the manifold adversities of human life.

This text records the Daoist Fulu (talismanic scripts) used to dispel various calamities. Each talisman invokes specific deities to infuse it with divine power:

For healing talismans, the five deities Chen Renyong, Ren'an, Renyuan, Renze, and Renrong are invoked to descend their genuine Qi (vital energy) into the script.

For exorcising malevolent spirits, the five deities Shu Shiwen, Shili, Shiyong, Shi'an, and Shifang are summoned to channel their Qi into the talisman.

To dissolve celestial disasters ("Heavenly Net"), the five deities Tian Dongzhen, Dong'an, Dongling, Dongming, and Dongshen are called to imbue the script with their Qi.

For neutralizing terrestrial misfortunes ("Earthly Web"), the five deities Di Daxin, Dali, Daguang, Dayong, and Dasheng are invoked to infuse their Qi.

To rescue from underworld sufferings, the six deities Kai Shang, Sheng Shang, Zhi Shang, Sheng Shang, Xian Shang, and Bao Shang are summoned to descend their Qi.

For dispelling all calamities, the three deities Guan Ru, Yi Ren, and Jiu Da are called to channel their power into the talisman.

Four specialized talismans are then described: the Tianding Talisman (used in the Kun palace position), the Cure-All Talisman (applied above the character "Yu"), and the Baijie Talisman (used within the character "Gui"). These four talismans should be drawn on yellow silk, with small human figures representing the patient depicted at the four corners and center. The phrase "substitute this body" is written on both sides, specifically designed to relieve disciples from twenty-four types of misfortunes encountered in their Minggong (destiny palace), including annual, monthly, daily, and hourly disasters.

Healing talismans are divided into upper, middle, and lower sections, selected according to the afflicted body part. They are burned to ashes and taken with Tianjiang (celestial elixir). The Water Basin Talisman requires drawing the sacred Bei Dou Tiangang symbol on the water's surface, then casting it into the basin while forming Bagua (Eight Trigrams) hand signs to divine auspiciousness. Another Water Basin Talisman, written with cinnabar on yellow paper and placed at the basin's bottom, serves to trace the karmic origins of illness.

For emergencies, white paper with cinnabar inscriptions may be used. Reciting the Seven Stars Mantra (related to the Big Dipper) while stirring the water before casting the talisman determines fortune. The concluding phrase "By the decree of the Primordial Celestial Sovereign" affirms the talisman's efficacy, while "Your servant [name], bearing the mandate to execute" represents the standard Daoist ritual self-designation.