《道法會元》Vol. 248

This records General Pan Gengzhong, a Golden Official Overseer in the Daoist terrestrial pantheon (the underworld deity system), who governs all temples under heaven and bears the title "Wish-Fulfilling Spirit Messenger." This deity has a fearsome appearance: a blue face with fiery red hair flowing wildly backward, clad in a crimson robe with red flowing sashes, sometimes barefoot atop five-colored auspicious clouds, other times wearing straw sandals. His left hand forms a mudra (hand seal), while his right grips an iron spear entwined with a green serpent, its head perpetually turned toward the general. His birthday falls on the fifth day of the ninth lunar month.

General Pan's duties include rescuing those in peril, aiding cultivators in spirit communication, enlightening the deluded to return to the Dao, assisting encounters with benefactors, and summoning auspicious signs. Offerings made to him on the 2nd and 16th days of each lunar month receive immediate response.

He commands two lieutenants: The first is Xu Maizhen, titled "Swift Messenger of the Five Directions for Talisman Transmission," with a purple-complexioned face, wearing a curved-foot turban (a type of headcloth), a green immortal sash, yellow broad robes over red garments and green boots. He holds a talisman (fulu) in his left hand and an axe in his right. The second is Zhong Siwen, titled "Swift Inspector and Captor of Malevolence," possessing a fair complexion with red undertones and a handsome beard, similarly attired in the turban and green sash, clad in red broad robes with green garments and boots. He grasps a talisman slip in his left hand and a sword in his right. Both lieutenants possess the ability of rapid aerial travel.

Following this are the incantations for summoning these deities. The first incantation initially calls upon the duty-bound spirit runners and local earth deities (Tudi), then sequentially summons General Pan, Envoy Xu, and Envoy Zhong, employing esoteric phrases like "Om Hong Hong Chi Sha She" to hasten their arrival. The second incantation manifests authority through thunderous resonance, emphasizing the three envoys must immediately attend the ritual altar without delay.

Concluding the text is a "Golden Truth Incantation" for cultivation practice, describing the internal Qi circulation during meditation: golden Qi (vital energy) shines brilliantly and thickly, swirling and resonating among clouds; jade-toned internal sounds coalesce primordial energy while spiritual winds gather like mist; violet emptiness (the upper Dantian) brims with luxuriant and exquisite Qi capable of assisting myriad perfected immortals. When a thousand harmonies blend with ten thousand integrations, the true Dao is naturally accomplished. This incantation may also be used for crafting healing talismans.

This scripture documents the ritual procedures of the "Celestial Physician Five Thunder" lineage in Daoism, detailing how to summon Marshal Xu Xianding—the Celestial Physician—and his divine retinue to heal the sick.

The text first describes Marshal Xu's appearance: wearing a celestial warrior's crown, his face adorned with alternating red and white hues, strikingly handsome, clad in black robes and golden armor while wielding a sacred sword. He commands five celestial generals (Tian, Cui, Liu, Tao, and Gao), three holy physicians (Celestial Physician, Talismanic Physician, and Qi Physician), six healing officials, and twelve童子 (attendant youths) specializing in disease treatment.

The healing method involves chanting incantations to summon Marshal Xu and his divine troops, urging them to swiftly follow the talismanic commands to the patient's location. Practically, the talisman may be burned and dissolved in water for the patient to drink, or its symbols may be traced invisibly over water. For difficult cases like obstructed labor, well water, flowing river water, jujube decoction, or降真汤 (a medicinal infusion) can be used as carriers.

The healing incantation invokes the Northern Dipper Five Thunders (the Dipper Deities and five directional thunder gods) to dispel darkness, the Wind Earl to sweep away plagues, the Lightning Mother to eradicate ailments, the Thunder God's霹雳 (crackling bolts) to slay specters, and the Rain Master's enchanted showers to nourish the triple burners (an中医 concept of upper/middle/lower body regions), cooling the viscera. The chant claims efficacy in alleviating severe illnesses, repairing injuries, reducing fevers, dissolving stagnations, stabilizing critical conditions, and ceasing pain.

The concluding section reveals secret mantras and precautions: the practitioner must silently recite esoteric spells, requesting Marshal Xu to lead the five thunder generals and three physicians, riding clouds to the patient's home. The text emphasizes that this talismanic method—the "Golden Official's Wish-Fulfilling True Method"—is vast in scope, requiring daily cultivation and devout practice by its inheritors. It supports orthodox Dao, facilitates divine communion, attracts auspicious signs, fulfills wishes, and even aids ascension to high office (黄阁 symbolizes the prime minister's seat;青云 denotes lofty status), guiding the lost. Ordinary people facing calamities may inscribe these talismans to summon celestial healers.

This passage describes the method of using talismans (fulu) to cure illnesses. After a Daoist priest draws the healing talisman, they can summon the celestial physicians (tianyi) – the two envoys Pan and Xu from the heavenly realm – to bring the talisman forth. Those who receive the talisman may use it to treat diseases, expel malign qi, or drive away evil spirits that cause disturbances before the Director of Fate (Siming, the deity governing lifespan).

Practitioners must maintain constant mental focus, cultivating a pure Daoist heart while nurturing benevolent intentions to benefit others. By persistently accumulating such merit (gongde), one can gradually ascend the celestial ranks, ultimately attaining immortality through the Dao.

This content originates from Volume 248 of the Compendium of Daoist Rituals (Daofa Huiyuan), illustrating the principles of Daoist talismanic healing and spiritual cultivation. The practice of healing through talismans requires corresponding inner cultivation – only through this dual cultivation of internal and external practice can the method prove effective.