《道法會元》Vol. 247

This scripture records the esoteric rituals of the Daoist Northern Emperor School (a lineage venerating the Great Emperor of the Northern Dipper as its primary deity) concerning Marshal Yin Jiao, a guardian deity in Daoism specifically tasked with subduing malignant spirits and demonic forces.

The presiding deity is the Great Emperor of the Northern Dipper at the Center of Heaven (one of the Four Heavenly Sovereigns in Daoism, governing celestial movements), while the lineage founder is the Supreme Clarity Perfected Being Liao Shouzhen of the Lingbao School (a major Daoist tradition).

Marshal Yin Jiao is depicted with distinctive iconography: a blue face and body, wearing a golden crown with crimson hair, robed in deep red official garments trimmed with black. He fastens a belt at the waist, cradling the sun in his left hand and the moon in his right. His lower right hand wields a battle-axe while his lower left holds a golden bell. Twelve skulls hang around his neck as he descends from five-colored clouds in the southern sky.

The text proceeds to detail specific talismans (fulu) and ritual procedures:

First are several crucial talismans, including those for summoning the Northern Emperor, Yin Jiao, and attendant deities, along with talismans for suppressing evil forces and punishing disobedient spirits. Special emphasis is placed on the warning "spirit-devourers shall perish," referring to the annihilation of demons that consume human vital essence (jing).

The Spell of the Fierce Officers of the Year Star invokes the divine generals of Jupiter (the Year Star). These generals command legions of spirits, preceded by yellow banners and followed by leopard-tail attendants, overseeing the seventy-two climatic periods (ancient subdivisions of solar terms) and malignant influences within the twenty-four solar terms. Wielding golden axes to execute demons and striking bells to expel evil, they dispatch five-directional envoys to eliminate poisons while territorial deities of the nine provinces receive blood sacrifices. The incantation commands these powers to descend swiftly, assisting practitioners in eradicating spiritual disturbances—with immediate decimation for any who resist.

During practice, one must form the "Purple Tenuity Mudra" (a specific hand seal), face southward, and channel the qi of the Year Star Deity into the talisman. When inscribing the talisman, begin by writing the character "Officer" (吏), followed below by specific purposes—such as wealth attraction, thief capture, illness curing, or evil expulsion—using no more than three characters. Finally, cover the first two characters with the third while reciting the spell, revealing only half of the initial character. Upon completion, visually project the Northern Emperor's sacred name into the talisman through focused gaze.

The document concludes with an official proclamation format, stating: "The Earthly Department of the Northern Emperor under Supreme Clarity has received the sincere petition of [practitioner's name]. Beyond the performed rituals for purification, this official dispatch (modeled after imperial documents) is hereby issued."

Before the differentiation of Heaven and Earth (when Taiji was undivided), concepts of auspicious and inauspicious directions did not exist, nor were there notions of misfortune or blessing. Only after the formation of Heaven and Earth, when all people could speak freely, did calamities arise—all because humanity failed to abide by the laws of the celestial Dao. These directional deities should rightfully submit to my command (return to my elbow's reach). I hold esoteric methods to summon Marshal Yin Jiao (a Daoist protector deity) for assistance—capable of annihilating your form or severing your head. Now you must immediately obey my decree: swiftly retreat from my Gangdou ritual formation, withdrawing ten thousand li away, without even harming livestock.

(Mantra portion preserved in transliteration) Om ha ga ni du suo he... These sacred syllables summon divine power, commanding deities to swiftly execute the talismanic order.

This proclamation specifically summons: the Great Virtuous Divine King of Earthly Ministry and Grand Duke of Jupiter (annual deity governing human fortunes) and his principal general Marshal Yin, requiring them to immediately lead General Gao Gongshu and other troops to a specified location to address violations of earth taboos. Those malignant Qi currents that have disturbed earth veins and alarmed the deities must be immediately recalled, restoring harmony to the directional palaces (referring to fengshui configurations). No further defiance of Daoist law or harm to the people shall be tolerated—immediate protection of the realm and pacification of the populace shall serve as proof of efficacy. This decree travels with the speed of wind and fire for instant execution.

(Document format) Issued at [specific year/month/day/hour], carried out by an ordained Daoist priest (holding ritual rank) in accordance with the Mandate of Heaven.

Another pantheon of divine generals includes: Marshal Yin of the Northern Pole's Celestial Heart Earthly Ministry (Yin Jiao) and his subordinate Jiang the Messenger (a spiritually responsive lieutenant), seventy-two Seasonal Generals (corresponding to solar terms), twenty-four Qi Generals (governing climatic energies), the Great General Who Quells Evil bearing golden bells and yellow battle-axes, the Ceremonial General holding yellow streamers and leopard-tail banners, along with twelve Vanquishing Malevolence Generals and 1,200 officer troops.

The summoning incantation proclaims: The Grand Duke of Jupiter descends with his host, yellow streamers clearing the path and leopard tails securing the rear. The seventy-two Seasonal Deities and twenty-four Qi Deities advance as vanguard, with fierce spirits guarding the flanks. Yellow axes behead demons, golden bells terrify specters, and the Five Directional Envoys manifest awesome spiritual might. By the Celestial Emperor's decree, come swiftly to aid my Dao practice, sweeping away demonic obstructions. Those who disobey shall be instantly executed according to the Mystic Capital's Legal Code (Daoist celestial statutes), with ghosts subdued immediately. This order carries the authority of the Great Emperor of the Purple Subtlety (supreme ruler of constellations) and the Jade Emperor himself.

(Closing mantra) Om hong hong ling kui jian she—During ritual performance, visualize Marshal Yin descending from the Northern Heavenly Gate upon golden light and auspicious clouds.

This scripture primarily records Daoist incantations and talismanic commands for exorcism and warding off malevolent forces, belonging to the Northern Emperor tradition (a Daoist sect venerating the Great Emperor of the North Star as its principal deity).

The opening phrase "Om ha wo la zha she" constitutes an esoteric mantra possessing the power to summon divine troops. Subsequent incantations mention yin soldiers and yang soldiers (celestial troops of both yin and yang natures) moving in accordance with the sun and moon, capable of suppressing all demonic entities. Sacred sites referenced in the spells—Fusang, Xianchi, and Kunlun—are important Daoist holy lands, while "Dougang" refers to the Big Dipper constellation, representing cosmic forces invoked during ritual practice.

The text emphasizes acting upon the decrees of both the Great Emperor of the North Star and the Jade Emperor, commanding various deities to subdue malignant spirits. "Yin Jiao" mentioned here refers to the Grand Duke of Jupiter (Taisui), responsible for devouring evil ghosts. The "Triple Command Talisman" serves as crucial exorcistic writ, issuing three successive commands to spirit entities.

Characters like "kui, li, lu, wen, lian, wu, po" represent special demonic scripts denoting various classes of malevolent forces, while "greed, giant, prosperity, scholar, purity, warrior, destroyer" name the seven stars of the Big Dipper. The text concludes by specifying ritual directions: earth-moving rituals should face the kun position (southwest), earth-pacifying rituals the gen position (northeast), with healing and exorcism also performed toward the northeast.

These spells and talismans primarily serve to suppress evil spirits and dispel malign influences, requiring accompanying practices like visualization of golden light and recitation of jade decrees. The scripture exemplifies Daoist cultivation methods that employ ritual incantations to mobilize celestial forces and subdue demonic entities.