《上清靈寶大法(一)》Vol. 40

Whenever a Xuantan is established for Daoist rites, a “Four Relay Courtyard” should be set up specifically to receive and convey talismans and dispatch documents used in the rites. It is like a relay station in the world of the living. The four relays are the Flood Dragon Relay, the Golden Dragon Relay, the Wind-and-Fire Relay, and the Golden Horse Relay, each overseen by divine officials. These officials look like strongmen and hold yellow command flags as they await orders. They can be summoned to appear only by writing talismans and invoking them according to the ritual texts.

The officials of the Flood Dragon and Golden Dragon Relays should be fashioned from clean, fresh reeds to represent their true forms. The relay official holds a sword in the left hand and a banner in the right. On the banner is written “Heavenly Worthy of the Jade Emperor Who Pardons Sins.” On the official’s back is a true talisman of the Azure Mystery Who Saves from Suffering, shaped like a document tube. Talismans should be placed on the dragon’s body and mouth, and on the official, according to the rites, followed by visualization and prayer.

The official of the Flood Dragon Relay belongs to Yin. When sending this official on a mission, a terrestrial Daoist messenger official should lead the way. The official may go to the Five Sacred Peaks, the Nine Depths, the Water Offices, the Thunder Bureau, the Plague Bureau, the City Gods, the Earth Deities, and prisons to rescue departed souls. The official of the Golden Dragon Relay belongs to Yang. When sending this official on a mission, a messenger official from the Yellow Register Institute should lead the way. The official may go to the Three Officials’ Heavenly Prison, the Five Dippers and the Heavenly One, the Northern Prison, and the heavy prisons of Luofeng, the shadowed cells, the Iron Enclosure, and the Avici Hell to rescue departed souls. Matters of Yin and Yang should be handled by officials of the corresponding kind. Each of the four relays has its own duties. The origins of the officials of the Flood Dragon and Golden Dragon Relays are recorded after the “Talisman of Longevity and Rescue from Suffering”; the remaining details are listed below and should be consulted carefully when needed.

Wind-and-Fire Relay

The Wind-and-Fire Relay has an office called the Fire Office, overseen by a judge. The Fire Office administers two relays, left and right. The left relay conveys talismanic commands, amnesty edicts, and dispatches from the Southern Office; the right relay conveys talismanic decrees and dispatches from the Northern Office. The judge mentioned here is the official in charge of the documents of the Southern and Northern Offices.

The judge of the Wind-and-Fire Office is named Ma Sheng. He has a blue face and three eyes, wears a gauze cap adorned with gold clusters, a vermilion robe and golden armor, and green boots. Red-haired, he carries a sword. At times he also transforms into a form with three heads and nine eyes. He commands the left and right relays, each of which has ten judges and relay officials…

The three hundred postal clerks, following orders, write talismans and official documents. They must first submit them to the station supervisor, who checks and verifies each one. If errors or omissions are found, the documents remain at the station and cannot be forwarded; the people responsible must also bear the appropriate penalties according to their duties. Therefore, whenever a Zhaijiao (purification ritual) is performed, the official paperwork must first be prepared, submitted with an explanation, and corrected as needed. Then this talisman is used to dispatch postal clerks carrying the documents, so the orders can be delivered and a clear response obtained. In talismanic methods today, what people call “the Wind-and-Fire Postal Relay” refers to this kind of transmission.

Talisman for Summoning Wind-and-Fire Postal Clerks

Write the Jade Formula—the spell text used in a talisman—on yellow paper with cinnabar, using Qi from the northwest. Recite the command spell to summon a judge from the postal station and have him inspect the talisman dispatch and official documents. Then send one talismanic clerk from that station. If any errors or omissions are found, they are to be corrected immediately, and the documents dispatched without delay.

The Golden Horse Postal Station

The master said: The Golden Horse Postal Station has a supervisor and one hundred and twenty postal clerks under his command. They all wear cloud-shaped crowns, vermilion robes, and vermilion shoes, and ride flying horses at speed. Wherever urgent talismanic orders and official documents are sent—including the Three Officials, the Five Masters, the Nine Offices, the Four Bureaus, Luofeng, the Northern Office, and the camps of the gods of the Three Realms and of spirits subject to examination and registration—all are notified. Thus, nothing in the Three Realms can be concealed. Orders are issued at any time, and the power of divine abilities meets no obstruction. Wherever a talismanic order arrives, all the myriad gods obey.

Talisman for Summoning Golden Horse Postal Clerks

Write the Jade Formula on yellow paper with cinnabar, using Qi from the northwest. This enables the postal clerks to be commanded. Affix the talisman before a pass and send one clerk throughout the Three Realms and the ten directions to deliver talismanic orders and official documents. It can also help the souls of the dead in the underworld ascend and be delivered. This method is extraordinarily swift: the message can arrive in an instant.

General Command Spell for Employing the Two Kinds of Postal Clerks

(Recite this spell three times, and write it using the Jade Formula and Qi from the northwest.)

“Written in cinnabar, the Jade Characters receive the command and carry it out. Let all the holy ones be notified; inspect the documents and submit them swiftly. I respectfully address the immortal clerks: may the Wind and Fire never cease. Hasten, hasten, in accordance with the statutes and commands!”

Jiaolong Body Warrant

The talismanic command of the Primordial Beginning is proclaimed throughout the Three Officials. The relay dragon carries it from the left, joined to the talisman and receiving its Qi, flying through the vast heavens. The souls of the dead have received refinement and deliverance; their salvation is boundless. Let them rise at once and linger nowhere. Hasten, hasten, in obedience to the decree of the Primordial Beginning Emperor.

Golden Dragon Body Warrant

The talismanic command of the Primordial Beginning is proclaimed throughout Fengdu, the Daoist realm of the dead. The relay dragon carries it from the right, reaching every road in the underworld, so that suffering souls may be delivered and roam freely in the realm of emptiness. Today I dispatch you. Hasten, hasten, in obedience to the decree of the Primordial Beginning Emperor.

Jiaolong Holding a Talisman in Its Mouth

Talisman of the Earth Court’s Flood Dragon for Deliverance from Suffering: Used to summon the souls of the dead, so that they may leave Fengdu—the legendary underworld—without delay and come to pay homage to the Most High, thereby ascending to the heavenly palace. May the rite proceed with the speed of the Jade Clarity decree.

The Golden Dragon holds the talisman in its mouth.

Golden Dragon of the Fire Court’s Talisman for Long Life: Used to deliver suffering souls from the dead, so that they may leave the dark capital directly, behold the light, and be reborn in the Southern Palace. May the rite proceed with the speed of the Jade Clarity decree.

Left Child Talisman. Right Child Talisman.

Left Child Banner Talisman (used with the Jade Clarity hand seal and the Qi of the Gate of Heaven).

The methods of the Cavern Spirit’s Carefree Practice connect the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) above and transmit talismanic commands below, enabling ghostly souls to refine and nurture their Jing and Qi. They bring the souls carefree joy, give them new bodies in Nanchang, and summon the gods of the three realms to obey commands at all times, without pause. May the rite proceed with the speed of the Primordial Lord’s command.

Right Child Banner Talisman (used with the Jade Clarity hand seal and the Qi of the Gate of Heaven).

The Lord of the Dark Capital, by the authority of the jade registers and Jade Perfected Ones, commands the spirits of thunder, wind, lightning, and cloud dragons. Above, he reaches the Three Realms; below, he surveys the Wind Wheel, a level in the Daoist cosmos. He opens the Nine Depths of the underworld and delivers the souls of the dead, transforming them into human beings. May the rite proceed with the speed of the Primordial Lord’s command.

Chapter on Transforming the Ritual Space

The master said: Whenever one presides over a ritual at the Dark Altar, if the altar space is filled with dust and impure vapors, it is difficult to connect with the Lord and the Perfected Ones without the art of divine transformation. Therefore, first use talismanic writing to effect a transformation. Then raise the curtains, submit a memorial, pay homage to the divine Perfected Ones, open the altar, and perform the rite.

Talisman for the Primordial Lord’s Transformation of the Golden Gate and Jade Chamber (used with the Jade Clarity hand seal and the Qi of the East).

The lines in the talisman mean roughly: Heaven and Earth come together; the sun and moon shine with equal brilliance. Auspicious clouds gather thickly, and auspicious Qi swirls around. The Three Blossoms part, and the gateway appears clear and open, radiant with five-colored light. From the jade chamber comes wondrous music; from the jade pavilion, the sound of Brahma. Whoever practices this method is free of obstruction, and all the myriad forms are purified. The Golden City gleams; the jade steps wind around. Between the azure heavens and the Great Fuli Land, the sacred Pure Land, comes an ethereal song.

Memorial-Addressing Rite (write the talisman on yellow paper with cinnabar. Outside the talisman, draw a “leak-preventing” form, a format for memorials and official petitions, and write its text in ink).

Office of the Great Ritual of Numinous Treasure:

Today, for the ritual sponsor, [name], we establish the Dark Altar and perform the purification rites. We respectfully invite the Jade Emperors of the Three Heavens and the Perfected Ones of the Ten Extremities to descend. We ask all the divine Perfected Ones to transform the mundane world into the Great Fuli Land.

Write the talisman here.

In the Heaven within Heaven—in the Yuluo Xiaotai, the Jade Mountain’s Upper Capital, the Wondrous Court of Great Abundance, and the Golden Gate and Jade Chamber—there dwell the Lord and the divine Perfected Ones. Today they review the affairs of the heavens, attend the hall, wield talismans, and administer registers. May they all descend together.

The Xuantan (a ritual altar where rites are performed) changes according to those being saved, enabling them to ascend to Shangqing, the Daoist heaven of the highest realm.

In accordance with the talismanic mandate of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning and the edict of the Lord of the Void Emperor, the Xuantan is transformed and set up at the place where the purification rite is performed. In this way, the ritual work is brought to completion.

When the talismanic mandate from the Golden Palace arrives, it is carried out as commanded.

Tai Sui, year, month, day, and hour:

I, your servant So-and-so, holding the appropriate Daoist rank, have received the written command and shall carry it out as ordered.

Cover format

“Precious Proclamation on the Transformation of the Supreme Emperor of Primordial Beginning / the Golden Palace and Jade Chamber.” I, your servant So-and-so, holding the appropriate rank, carefully seal and store it.

Talisman for Paying Homage to the Golden Palace for Three Days, Parting the Curtains, and Ascending the Jade Steps

I, your servant So-and-so, pay homage and present myself.

Incantation:

The primordial blue Qi gives birth to all things; blessings and felicity gather throughout the ten directions of heaven. We behold the palace of the Celestial Emperor, unite with the Dao, and become numinous, wondrous immortals.

Jade script flies and transforms, enduring through boundless kalpas. At the beginning of Primordial Beginning, all things were born from it, formed naturally.

Hasten and obey the command of the Jade Clarity Supreme Emperor.

Homage Talisman (Jade Mudra / Qi of the East)

I, your servant So-and-so, pay homage and present myself.

I, your servant So-and-so, pay homage and present myself.

Incantation:

Vast Brahma Qi, the primordial energy of Daoist teaching, fills the ten directions. The Three Florescences, refined essences such as Jing, Qi, and Shen, converge and reach the wondrous court of Great Being.

The Golden Palace and Jade Chamber, the celestial palace halls, stand in solemn array, pure and far-reaching. Within them dwells a deity named the Great Lord of Longevity.

I now proceed along the path of transformation and salvation, and pay homage to the heaven of Jade Clarity. Hasten and obey the command of the Supreme Emperor of Primordial Beginning.

Write the talismans above on yellow paper in cinnabar.

Lingbao Altar-Opening Talisman

Proclamation format

The talisman above is used to proclaim to the officials of Lingbao and the guardian deities that today they joyfully celebrate the person receiving salvation as they pass through the various checkpoints.

We beseech the heavens to dispel the Three Evils and sever the roots of the earth, enabling the person receiving salvation to pass beyond the Five Gates of the underworld. Let their name be entered in the Great Mystery, and let the Demon King oversee their examination and recommendation, so they are no longer held in confinement.

The gates of heaven open, and the myriad deities pay homage. The spirits of the Three Realms attend the Celestial Emperor’s carriage. The hordes of demons bow their heads and submit; ghosts, monsters, and spirits disperse of their own accord. The sounds of jade chimes ring out, and the ten directions become solemn and pure. Rivers and seas fall silent; clouds and mist withdraw from the mountains. The myriad spirits are subdued, and the assembled immortals answer the summons. No impure Qi stains the heavens; no demonic dust remains on earth. In the netherworld, wisdom’s light shines through with utter clarity, vast and wondrous. This proclamation is issued with due reverence.

Tai Sui, year, month, day, and hour: let this proclamation be transmitted.

I, your servant So-and-so, holding the ritual rank, have received the written command and shall carry it out as ordered.

Cover

“Lingbao Talismanic Mandate for Opening Heaven.” I, your servant So-and-so, holding the ritual rank, carefully seal and store it.

Petition for Inviting Light

The master said: To deliver the dead from suffering, one must employ the method of wisdom-light. Only then can the light of wisdom from the Three Lights descend and join with the illumination of earthly lamps. In this way, it may be possible to pierce the darkness and guide back the souls sunk in the netherworld. Without this method, the light of earthly lamps alone cannot free the dead.

This passage describes a ritual method for cultivating lamp light during a Zhaijiao (purification ritual), drawing on the light of the sun. The procedure is as follows: at noon on the day of the principal purification, face south, burn incense toward the sun, silently recite the invocation, inhale the Qi (vital energy)—the subtle breath of Heaven and Earth—and then blow it onto a brush. On yellow paper nine inches long, write twelve “Wisdom Light Talismans” in cinnabar, and use the “Jade Clarity Method”—the oral formula and hand technique of the Jade Clarity lineage—to draw in the Qi of the east. Once the talismans are complete, seal them with wax and make them into torches, to be used when lamps need to be lit.

Next comes the text of the “Jade Clarity Wisdom Light Talisman.” Its general meaning is this: the Three Lights of the sun, moon, and stars can dispel the darkness beneath the Nine Springs. The primordial Qi of the Beginningless One, the original breath of the cosmos, unfolds into the Three Lights of sun, moon, and stars. The Heavenly Emperor issues a decree proclaiming it throughout the ten directions: the sun blazes with radiance, and the moon gleams with clear light. The Three Heavens—the three celestial realms of Qingwei, Yuyu, and Dachi—have received the command to greet the rising sun at dawn. Wisdom Light shines everywhere, bringing an end to suffering in the dark night. The Three Paths of Misfortune—hell, hungry ghosts, and animals—are no longer subject to judgment, and the souls of the dead may ascend to the immortal realm of Jade Clarity.

The accompanying “Jade Clarity Talisman Incantation” follows: The Great Dao, in its primordial Qi, opens the source of Yin-Yang and the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), sets the celestial pivot in motion, and establishes Heaven, Earth, and humanity as the Three Powers, while distributing and illuminating the light of the sun. The Heavenly Venerable’s wisdom and grace are boundless, and his compassion is great. On this auspicious day, at the rite of recording the Three Lights, I, the officiating Daoist, make this petition: open the workings of Heaven; let sunlight rise above and illuminate the road through the underworld below; let its radiance pierce layer upon layer of darkness, so that the wandering souls may be freed forever from suffering. The final phrase, “Hasten to obey the command of the Supreme Emperor,” is a customary closing to Daoist talismanic incantations, meaning that the command must be carried out swiftly, as though it were the Supreme Emperor’s own decree.

Next is the “Shangqing Wisdom Light Talisman”: At noon, the light of the Nine Suns shines bright; the essence of the Six Directions—Heaven, Earth, and the four quarters—is made whole, and Yin is transformed back into Yang. The Wisdom Light of the Beginningless One and the Wisdom Light of Lingbao shine together with the true Qi of the Five Planets and the radiance of the constellations. The sun is Yang light, and its Qi runs through the pivot star of the Northern Dipper; the moon is the Imperial Radiance, and its Qi pours into the Seven Origins, the seven stars of the Dipper. These correspond respectively to the Qi of the Jade Emperor, Jade Void, and Jade Dawn. The Three Terrace Stars blaze with brilliance and are revered in the center of Heaven. In the shadowy underworld, the souls sunk in Fengdu, the Daoist capital of the dead, suffer torment and punishment. Through the Heavenly Venerable’s compassion and wisdom, light breaks through layer upon layer of darkness. Those clouded by ignorance receive illumination like that of the sun and moon; bathed in the grace of wisdom, they can ascend directly to Heaven.

Finally, the “Shangqing Talisman Incantation”: The most refined Qi of the Nine Suns makes the Three Lights shine clearly; the morning radiance of the sun and moon mingles with the light of the stars. The three precious radiances merge with the essence of the constellations; the Three Treasures—Dao, scripture, and master—shine forth, and Wisdom Light stirs the spirits into action. May Wisdom Light descend without end, travel through the sky, and illuminate the underworld, its radiance reaching all ten directions at once. The Three Paths of Misfortune are no longer subject to judgment; the Five Sufferings—the pains of birth, aging, illness, death, and other afflictions—cease to turn in their cycle. The mountains of fire are extinguished, the ice melts, and the accumulated snow dissolves.

Knives are transformed into jade trees, and swords into towering forests. Iron fortresses are demolished, and the souls of the dead ascend to Yuqing, the pure celestial realm in Daoism.

I now pray to Heaven above, asking that the light of illumination be bestowed. The Spirit Princesses of the Sun and Moon, the Perfected Ones of the stars, and the twelve deities all bow their heads and obey the command. They scatter the radiance of their lamps, illuminating the dark, frigid halls of the underworld.

Urgently, in accordance with the statutes!

Ta Qing Talisman of Wisdom Light (Ta Qing is one of the celestial realms in Daoism; wisdom light symbolizes illumination and salvation)

The deities and words listed in the talisman convey the following: The Sunlight Youth, the Moonlight Youth, and the messengers of sunlight and other deities release the radiance of the sun, moon, and stars. The exalted deities of Yuqing, Shangqing, Taiqing, Qingwei Heaven, Yuyu Heaven, Dachi Heaven, and other celestial realms shine wisdom light throughout the underworld. The power of the Three Treasures of Heaven, Earth, and Water, together with the Three Treasures of the Dao, the scriptures, and the teachers, also illuminates the cold pool. The radiance of the exalted deities of the heavens allows the souls of the dead to see the light and escape their suffering. The lamps of the sun and moon shine; the demon kings bow their heads, the fiery poisons dissipate, the hells are demolished, and the wandering souls are delivered. Taiyi, the Central Dipper, and other deities govern the light, which reaches all eight directions. Urgently, in accordance with the statutes!

Incantation for Enacting the Taiqing Talisman

Red radiance opened Heaven and Earth and set all things in motion and transformation; all came into being naturally. The three lights of the sun, moon, and stars appeared countless eons ago. Now, on this day of great celebration, the sunken souls of the dead receive refinement and deliverance. Souls long trapped in darkness and the netherworld are freed forever from the suffering of the Cold Springs.

I pray that gracious light shine throughout the gates of the underworld, turning icy places warm and extinguishing the flames and smoke of the furnace and coals. May the mountains of knives and forests of swords be severed forever, so that none must climb them and suffer again. May the light turn back and shine upon the heavens in all ten directions. May the souls of the dead be freed from the Five Burdens that confine them; may their sins be erased and their bonds severed. May the three celestial lights of the sun, moon, and stars shine together, so that they may return forever to their origin. The Youth of Illumination receives the gracious command and presents the souls’ prayers above. The Jade Maidens of the Three Lights, too, are asked to carry out these instructions. Urgently, in accordance with the statutes!

Method for Drawing on the Great Sun

This method says: At noon, first use a yangsui, an ancient fire-making tool, to catch the sun’s fire, then direct its light toward the south.

Huayang recites the “Spirit Incantation of the Sun”:

Radiance, O Sun! Your divine light shines through the Three Pure Ones, and your true Qi spreads through the mysterious depths…

Purple incense smoke rises into the Purple Court, the palaces of the heavens in Daoist belief. It rides the wind and rosy clouds, drifting through the air and surpassing the realm of the formless.

Urgent, as the law commands!

Smear incense powder on your face. Hold a mirror in your left hand and a talisman torch, used to light talisman paper, in your right. Face the mirror and silently recite:

Incantation:

The sun’s soul transforms into crimson radiance, shining upon and gathering in the blue-green light. Rosy clouds turn and flow back; crimson numinous flames blaze like the wind, revealing manifold transformations.

When you have finished reciting the incantation, use a solar fire striker, an implement for obtaining the sun’s fire, to draw in the Qi of the sun. Then dip the talisman torch in oil, blow fire onto the incense to light a lamp, and offer it before the Celestial Worthy of Original Beginning. From this point, keep the lamp burning first for three consecutive days and nights, then for five, then seven, and finally for forty-nine. The flame must not go out, even for a moment. When the wick is spent, join it to a new wick so the flame continues. If the sky is overcast, drill wood to make fire and light the lamp. The true fire obtained at noon can reach downward through the Nine Depths, the deepest regions of the underworld, and shine upward upon the Three Luminaries, the three tiers of the heavens in Daoist belief, illuminating the Hall of Blessings throughout.

Talisman of Numinous Light, Generated and Distributed from the Jade Clarity Heaven (Three Luminaries Method)

The compassionate, precious seal rises like smoke; the bright lamp spreads its light everywhere, illuminating the deep springs of the underworld. The Three Realms shine with clear light, whose radiance extends to the heavens in all ten directions. Layer upon layer of darkness is bathed in light, and wisdom’s radiance reaches boundless places. May today’s grand ritual assembly free living beings from suffering, raise them to immortality, and lead them to the Dao. The Dao gives rise to the One Qi; the One Qi brings all things to their full generation. The august and authoritative ordinances of the Celestial Worthy of Original Beginning allow all things to transform and arise of themselves. Urgent, as commanded by the Supreme Emperor of Jade Clarity!

Chapter on Opening Yin and Summoning Yang

The master said: The purpose of the Golden Bell and Jade Chime rite is to summon the Yin and Yang spirits within oneself and bring them together. It is also used to harmonize Heaven and Earth, dispel impurity, summon true spirits, and communicate with the ten directions, joining the underworld with the human realm. It can also summon and gather wandering souls, steadying them so they return together and do not suffer needless dissipation. The Yin spirit and Yang spirit each have their own duties, so at the beginning of an altar rite one must sound the bell and strike the chime, burn a talisman, and summon them. The bell and chime sound in alternation, symbolizing Yin and Yang joining and becoming one. In cultivation, one must be focused and sincere, free of deluded thoughts and distraction; only then may one summon the true spirits. The use of golden bells and jade chimes in people’s rites of sacrifice today is also related in meaning to this practice.

The Yang spirit Lu Huizhi, courtesy name Yanling, is eight feet tall. He wears a three-beam crown and a robe patterned with flames, and holds a sword in his right hand. He governs the shrines of the Yang realm, can cleanse impurity between Heaven and Earth, and drives away the spirits of trees.

The Yin spirit Lu Tong, courtesy name Yongfu, is eight feet tall. He wears a three-beam crown and a plain robe with wide sleeves, and stands with a sword amid black clouds. He governs the prisons throughout the underworld’s offices and can also cleanse impurity in the human world and put an end to torture in the netherworld.

Talisman of the Great General Who Wards Off Evil

General Ban Altar Marshal Talisman (a marshal talisman used in the altar-banishing ritual; this talisman appears in The Method of Two Talismans Emerging from the Divine Firmament)

The Twelve Hall Chambers

The master said: When performing a large-scale Zhaijiao (purification ritual), such as one seeking blessings or warding off calamity, one should first establish the Twelve Hall Chambers and summon high-ranking immortals and spirit officials. The twelve chambers used for setting up the altar and conducting the rites are as follows:

One, the Hall of Qinghua: During the nine-day rite, recite the Hymn for Delivering the Suffering each day and burn the Talisman of the Empty Song of the Azure Firmament and the Register for Wearing the Demon King.

Two, the Hall of the Divine Tiger: Burn the talismans of the Chief Bo and the Chief Clerk each day.

Three, the Office of Inspection: Conduct impeachment and inspection throughout the nine-day rite, and burn talismans for summoning the perfected and calling the spirits each day.

Four, the Hall of Focused Contemplation: During the nine-day rite, recite the Scripture of the Heavenly Child and burn talismans summoning the Flying Heavenly Divine Kings.

Five, the Hall of Underworld Officials: During the nine-day rite, recite the Scripture for Delivering the Suffering and burn talismans of the Heavenly Worthy Who Delivers the Suffering in the Ten Directions.

Six, the Office for Monitoring Births: During the nine-day rite, burn talismans for those already born and not yet born, along with the talisman of the Tenfold Celestial Transformation. Place the perfected text for securing and pacifying the birth monitors on the altar table.

Seven, the Office of the Heavenly Physicians for Dispelling Impurity: During the nine-day rite, burn talismans summoning the Heavenly Physicians, purifying Heaven and Earth, and cleansing the spirits.

Eight, the Office for Receiving Refinement: During the nine-day rite, burn the True Register of Lord Han, used to deliver souls.

Nine, the Yellow Register Institute: During the nine-day rite, burn the Golden Register for pardoning sins in the Nine Springs and delivering the souls of the dead.

Ten, the Birth-Receiving Altar: During the nine-day rite, recite the Scripture of Attaining the Dao and burn talismans for returning corpses to life and for breaking through the dark realms of the Five Peaks to summon souls.

Eleven, the Metropolitan Office of the Five Paths: During the nine-day rite, recite the Middle Section and burn the Register of the Great Unity Jade Emperor for rebirth.

Twelve, the Office for Transmitting Memorials: During the nine-day rite, recite the Scripture of the Heavenly Child and burn the Great-Opening Talisman.

Conducting the rites according to these procedures means that each office is entrusted with its own responsibilities.

Three Hymns of Qinghua for Delivering the Suffering

First hymn

The Heavenly Worthy issued a great compassionate vow to deliver suffering beings in every direction and help them plant wholesome causes. The Five Peaks and the Four Offices all carry out the command, while Fengdu and the Northern Court alike suspend their punishments. The true talisman is issued, and all may receive pardon; a celestial child carries the command and proclaims it, aiding those who have sinned. The Primordial Heavenly Worthy manifests in an emanation, with wondrous powers without limit. Thus the Daoist method of delivering beings is brought to fulfillment.

Second hymn

The Heavenly Worthy vowed to deliver all beings and sat in solemn dignity within the jeweled grove, expounding the Dao. The nine-headed lion appeared in an auspicious form, and the light of wisdom illuminated layer upon layer of darkness. Mountains of knives and trees of swords were destroyed; flames, shadowy gloom, wind, and thunder all ceased at once. Through great wisdom, great compassion, and boundless power, the Heavenly Worthy enabled all the spirits in the underworld of Fengdu to hear the teaching of deliverance.

Third hymn

With the power of wisdom, the Heavenly Worthy rescues the dead in the netherworld. Hearing cries for help, the Heavenly Worthy goes to relieve suffering and breaks open the iron city. The Heavenly Worthy bestows aid widely, delivering beings in accordance with their wishes; the light shines everywhere, reaching deep into the hidden passes. Wherever the wind of wisdom blows, the blazing smoke and fire...

The Dharma Rain, a symbol of the blessings of the Dao’s teachings, descends to nourish what is withered and make it flourish again. Through boundless compassion, it saves the spirits of the dead, enabling them all to meet the Compassionate Venerable One, a revered and merciful deity, and receive inconceivable merit.

Talismans of the Empty Song of the Azure Heavens

To draw this talisman, form the Chenwen hand seal with both hands, one hand pointing upward and the other downward. Move them from the center of your chest to your hairline. Close your eyes and visualize yourself becoming the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning: a round halo resting above your head, a ruyi scepter in your hand, and nine-colored light streaming from your forehead. The light then transforms into a five-colored lion throne. Purple clouds envelop your body, and your mind and body become pure, clear, and transparent. Visualize the gods of the ten directions coming to pay homage. Then focus on the Dao Qi and channel the Three Qi into your brush. Form the Shangdi hand seal, face east, and stand to write the talisman. As you write, click your teeth nine times and swallow saliva nine times. Then visualize the five-colored Qi of your five viscera flowing into the talisman.

Placed on the ritual altar, this talisman can summon the perfected beings of the ten directions and cleanse defilement. It may also be burned together with a petition of homage, or swallowed during a liturgy.

The Petition for Pacification

The master said: In ancient times, after Primordial Beginning divided the state of Hundun—the undifferentiated oneness before Heaven and Earth were separated—he opened the Three Qi, the primordial energies that form Heaven and Earth. From the true, original Qi of the Great Dao, he transformed the Lingbao Red Script, which coalesced into writing and descended to the five directions. It is used to pacify Heaven and Earth and summon the true numinous beings: above, it dispels celestial calamities and protects the sovereign; below, it eliminates poison and harm and saves the people. It can also subdue spirits and ghosts and rescue those sunk in distress. There is nothing it cannot do.

Therefore, when performing a Zhaijiao purification ritual, build the altar according to the celestial patterns and features of the land, and lay out the ritual space so that a place of the Nine Yang becomes a golden palace gate and jade steps. The perfected and the holy, countless in number, take their places in ordered attendance. At this time, the directions of east and west are not yet fixed, and form and Qi are not yet settled; with a turn of the gaze up or down, one can make them revolve as though in the palm of one’s hand. Practitioners should arrange the divine perfected beings according to the jade characters of the five directions, pacify those directions, and drive out baleful Qi so that the ritual space is purified. Only by combining this with the prescribed methods of orientation, circular form, movement, and stillness can they invite the imperial perfected beings to descend and thereby commune with the mysterious realm.

The ritual instructions say: When establishing the altar, use the Red Script of the Five Elders at dawn on the first day; the Red Text of the Vast Cavern at dawn on the second day; and the Jade Writing for Subduing Evil, or the Chapter of the Primordial Cavern’s Jade Register, at dawn on the third day. For the offering ritual, use the Hidden Words of the Great Brahma. At the end of the ceremony, gather up the talismanic writings and burn them, following the method set out in the Jade Instructions.

The Eastern Azure Emperor’s Jade Talisman

(Use in accordance with the Qi and hand seals of the east.)

The incantation says:

The nine Qi transform and bring forth life; the Azure Emperor proclaims and puts the command into effect. Ascend the altar and deliver the dead; protect and surround the myriad spirits. Raise them through the mysterious gateway and pacify the myriad spirits. Swiftly proclaim and enact the sacred teaching, so that all beings may ascend to the imperial court. Hasten, hasten, in accordance with the statutes and commands!

Jade Talisman of the Red Emperor of the South

Incantation:

The Red Emperor, the Divine Sovereign of the South, governs the three Qi of the Vermilion Heaven. The twin stars of the southern sky follow their appointed courses and ascend to the Mysterious Altar. Still the mind and spirit, proclaim the command, and grant lasting protection, peace, and steadfastness in the Way. The Vermilion Moon of the Upper Origin rises into the Jade Hall.

Hasten and obey this command, as you would a statute!

Jade Talisman of the White Emperor of the West

Incantation:

The seven Qi of Pure Radiance and the light of the Great White Star flow and turn. The True Writs encircle and protect what lies above, ascending into the Imperial Court. Should anyone dare to offend, let them be punished. The Bright Earl of the Golden Gate commands wind and fire, allowing not a moment’s pause.

By the proclamation of the Jade Talisman, all evil collapses and is swept away. Hasten and obey this command, as you would a statute!

Jade Talisman of the Black Emperor of the North

Incantation:

The five Qi of Mysterious Essence, the Black Spirits and all the gods, together with the gods of the dragons and heavens, are commanded to stand guard and serve, flying upward in their appointed courses. The Sovereign Lord sees all clearly; the Earl and Scribe record everything distinctly. The decrees of Jade Clarity guard the palace throughout.

Hasten and obey this command, as you would a statute!

Jade Talisman of the Yellow Emperor of the Center

Incantation:

Jade Clarity sends down primordial Qi, and the gods gather in the Imperial Court. The Five Elders, revered deities of the five directions, inspect and verify, guarding and protecting the numinous and the perfected. All evil is dispelled, and the Qi of the Three and Five converge. The sun and moon rise; wind and fire rush forth.

Once the True Writ is complete, all is set in order according to the command. Hasten and obey this command, as you would a statute!

The five talismans above should be written in the colors corresponding to their respective directions. First present a memorial to Jade Clarity, requesting the descent of clouds in gold, green, and yellow. The Great Gods of the Five Dragons, together with the sun, moon, and stars, descend and transform the talismans, filling the five inner organs. Qi of five colors combine to form a Jade Tower and Phoenix Pavilion, lofty and imposing, arranged in solemn tiers.

Memorial Audience

The master says: When performing the memorial audience ritual, from entering the Quiet Chamber, where one stills the mind and establishes the altar before performing rites, until ascending the altar, first offer incense and bow in worship to the Ten Directions. The master recites the incantation, activates the incense burner to invite the gods, dispatches the attendant divine officials, and commands them to drive away evil spirits. The incense burner is then closed. Through the use of talismans and registers, one can convey one’s sincerity above and will surely receive revelations and responses from the gods.

Eastern Talisman

Southern Talisman

Western Talisman

Northern Talisman

Northeastern Talisman

Southeastern Talisman

Southwestern Talisman

Northwestern Talisman

Upper Talisman

Lower Talisman

Talisman for Entering the Altar and Burning Incense (Zi Hour / Zi Script)

Incantation Talisman of the Five Directions (Center / Central Script)

Talisman for Establishing the Altar

Talisman for the Morning Audience, Kneeling at the Incense Burner (Zi Hour / Zi Script)

Talisman for the Midday Audience (Wu Hour / Wu Script)

Talisman for the Evening Audience (Xu Hour / Xu Script)

Talisman for Pinching Incense Once (Jade Clarity Mudra)

Talisman for Pinching Incense Twice (Supreme Clarity Mudra)

Talisman for Pinching Incense Thrice (Great Clarity Mudra)

Talisman of the Three Highest Heavens (Hai Hour / Hai Script)

The Talisman of the Three Qi of the Mysterious Origin (a talisman associated with the Chen inscription)

The Talisman of the Three-and-Five Merit Officers

The Talisman of the Left and Right Official Messengers

The Talisman of the Incense-Attending Golden Youth (a talisman associated with the Si inscription)

The Talisman of the Message-Bearing, Flower-Scattering Jade Maiden (a talisman associated with the Zi inscription and the Doushi hand gesture)

The Talisman of the True Talisman of the Five Emperors

The Talisman of the Incense Officer on Duty (a talisman associated with the Zi inscription and the Wu finger-flicking gesture)

The Talisman for Informing and Inviting the Local Earth Deity (used to notify and petition the earth deity; associated with the Wu inscription)

The Talisman for Entering the House

The Talisman for Leaving the House

The Talismans for Opening the Incense Burner and Laying Out the Divine Perfected Ones (used to open the burner, summon the divine perfected ones, and arrange them in attendance)

The Talismans for Closing the Incense Burner and Returning the Radiant Procession (used to conclude the ritual and withdraw the divine perfected ones who have arrived)

The Talisman for Establishing a Jiao Ritual (a talisman used in a jiao ritual, associated with the Shen inscription)

The incantation recited while writing talismans:

Om ga yi ye yi ji di hong di hong.

The Talisman for Transforming the Petition (used when burning a written prayer)

The incantation says:

“Lingbao issues a command: may the petition ascend to the heavenly court. The spirit officials obey the command, and the Perfected Ones rise aloft. Let the petition and its written document be delivered without delay. Request the courier generals, clerks, and soldiers to escort and present them. Hasten to obey the ordinances of the Elder.”

This method is used to transmit written documents. Before burning the petition, first place it in the incense burner and burn it.

The Talisman of the Jade Clarity Command to the Demon-Slaying Vanguard (Jade Clarity is the celestial realm inhabited by a revered Daoist deity; this talisman commands divine generals to drive away demons and clear the way)

(Precious radiance of Highest Clarity, wisdom-light of Jade Clarity, mysterious light of Great Clarity) (The starlight of the Seven Origins illuminates and opens the way) (The honored deity Baiyuan)

(The turning wheel becomes colorless) (The emissary of Taiyi, in charge of fate, enables the Constant Way to turn again) (Drifting through the rosy mists, chanting the Cavern Scriptures)

(Traveling above to Highest Clarity, entering and leaving the splendid chambers) (Ten turns restore the spirit; the myriad Qi become immortals together) (Crimson Radiance opens the chart and sets it in motion)

(Naturally transcending and delivering beyond the Three Realms, ascending to the rank of immortals and becoming an Immortal Elder)

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning issues a command.

The true talisman obeys the command and drives away demons.

Swiftly it rushes forth, opening the way ahead.

It passes through the barriers and moves in harmony with the void.

The Three Sovereigns lead the procession.

All demons are subdued.

Incantation for consecrating the talisman (form the middle-finger gesture and face south):

“Heaven is clear and earth is bright; may the transformations of all things proceed as they should. Let baleful demons, stale Qi, evil influences, and calamities all vanish. Jade Clarity issues its command, secretly transforming them into the realm of the Empty Sovereign. Cut down the demonic hosts of the Six Heavens, forcing them to flee and hide. The talismanic command of the Most High acts with the speed of lightning. Should any evil demon resist, obey the command and destroy it utterly. Hasten in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.”

“By mysterious invocation, the Cavern of Yang is opened; flight and transformation clear the Yellow Way. The Three Realms issue their commands and proclaim them to the Demon Kings. The precious Qi of the Jade Register cuts down the evil demons and their followers. The Five Emperors obey the command and proclaim it to the Supreme Sovereign of the demon realm. Auspicious, radiant spiritual Qi shines and spreads; the deities of the heavens receive its light, and the Northern Emperor ascends the hall.”

Note: The parenthetical phrases in the original, such as “Chen inscription,” “Si inscription,” and “Zi inscription/Dou gesture,” as well as short phrases such as “the turning wheel becomes colorless,” appear to be talisman names, writing instructions, or ritual formulas. Some meanings are unclear; they have been translated closely and briefly explained according to their stated ritual uses.

Yu Guan, Yi Huashen, and the other gods, listen reverently to this command. It is issued as though the Primordial Supreme Deity (Yuanshi Shangdi), a revered Daoist deity, had personally proclaimed it:

The Divine Marshal receives the order to sweep away all inauspicious influences. The Eight Mighty Spirits exhale poisonous Qi; fierce horses take their places in the four directions. Heavenly troops clear the way ahead. The Great Marshal bears a banner and casts flames; the sound of the flowing bells carries ten thousand miles, shaking the eight directions.

Whoever dares to offend or obstruct the Highest Perfected Ones—immortals who have attained the Dao—is first struck down with a golden battle-axe, then subjected to punishment. Ghosts and demons are annihilated; wind and fire rage without pause. Thousands upon thousands of ghost chiefs are beheaded, and every monstrous form is cut away.

Evil spirits may not trespass; ghosts and demons may not wreak havoc. The Three Officials, deities who govern Heaven, Earth, and Water, and the Northern Feng, the underworld of Daoist tradition, keep watch over the hosts of ghosts and allow none to hide. The Golden Horse carries the command, proclaiming it throughout the boundless realms. All gods must obey. The command is also presented to the Five Emperors of the Three Realms, who govern the three realms, and conveyed upward to Shangqing, the highest Daoist heaven.

Join the hands to form the Twenty-Four Qi Numinous Mudra, invoking the Qi of the twenty-four solar terms, and perform the “Great Demon-Subduing and Baleful-Force-Clearing Rite.” As the ritual registers are burned, visualize the Venerable Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning descending into the empty mystery. Silently recite the “Spell for Directing Qi from the Yellow Center,” and visualize the Venerable Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning sending down golden light. The golden light enters the body through the crown of the head and reaches the Crimson Palace, the inner landscape corresponding to the heart, where it congeals into golden liquid and forms the Elixir. The elixir’s radiance surges upward, filling the body. Inside and out, all becomes clear and luminous; the myriad gods come to pay homage, and the Three Realms, too, become pure and open.

Then form the mudra with the middle joint of the middle finger.