《上清靈寶大法(二)》Vol. 30

Great Method of Highest Clarity and Numinous Treasure, Scroll Thirty-One, “Immortals, Part Four”

(Compiled by Jin Yunzhong, Daoist master of the Numinous Treasure tradition of the Dongxuan Cavern, ritual officer of the Southern Bureau, and assistant administrator of the Right Wing of the Tongchu Bureau.)

Petitionary and Dispatch Documents

Writ to the Divine Kings

(The wording of this writ may seem rather abrupt and urgent. It may also be used to submit a report, following the practice of the Three Origins.)

The Office of the Great Method of the Numinous Treasure issues this writ to the Eastern Limitless Flying Celestial Divine King:

The matter under this office’s charge requires it, and we therefore send this document.

Please investigate the matter and immediately inform the Numinous Treasure officials, messengers, and great deities: the Three-Five Meritorious Officers; the Left and Right Official Messengers; the Left and Right Dragon and Tiger Lords; the Incense-Attending Golden Youth; the Word-Transmitting Jade Maiden; the Five Emperors’ Directives; the Flying-Edict Attendants; the Qi-Urging Meritorious Officers; and all the officers, generals, officials, and troops belonging to the rites of the Numinous Treasure. Ask them to descend together and hasten in full to the ritual platform, where they shall issue and transmit talismanic documents, convey petitions to the throne, proclaim commands, and protect the practice of the purification ritual.

May blessings extend throughout the visible world and the underworld, and grace nourish both the state and the family. May all living beings receive protection, and may plants, trees, and all other things be at peace. When the work is complete, please report it to the Heavenly Court, record the merits, and grant promotion and rewards in accordance with those merits, all following the ritual procedures of the Great Perfected. Upon receipt of this document, please carry out these instructions as soon as possible.

Respectfully issued by writ.

For the above writ to the Divine King, if a separate writ is sent to each Divine King, issue one to each of the ten directions. If a single writ is used for all, then, according to the date assigned in the ritual, ask one Divine King to convey the notice on behalf of the others.

General Writ to Generals and Officials

The Office of the Great Method of the Numinous Treasure issues this writ:

The matter under this office’s charge requires it, and we therefore send this document.

Please inform the celestial officials, generals, and officials of the Numinous Treasure scriptures and registers; the myriad deities assigned to their respective offices; the Great General, Commander of the Single Qi, of the Tongchu Bureau; the Five Generals assigned to the month; the twelve officials who preside over the hours; the celestial soldiers, generals, and officials of the Five Bureaus; the great deities of Thunder and Lightning, Sudden Fire, and the statutes and commands; the Five Thunder Messengers; the Thunder Lord, the Lightning Mother, the Wind Earl, the Rain Master, the Earth Altar Officer, the Thunder Deities, and the deities who pursue souls and seize spirits; as well as all other relevant generals and officials. Ask them to transmit the petitions and protect the ritual sections, talismanic diagrams, seals, and hand gestures, together with all the officers, generals, officials, and troops assigned to them.

Please investigate the matter and gather with the principal deities of sacrifice under each of your jurisdictions. Supervise and regulate the local Earth Gods and the relevant spirits within and beyond the ritual precinct, and work together in unity. Beginning on the appointed day, establish the purification ritual, clear away evil influences and ill omens, and drive off filth, wickedness, and strange manifestations. Put the area within and beyond the ritual precinct in order, guard the ritual platform, convey the sincerity of the purification ritual, and present the petitions and memorials.

As for all the departed souls who come to the ritual platform to receive offerings, and the newly deceased among the Five Paths, the Three Destinies, and the myriad beings of the Four Births...

May light be opened for those who have died, whether through natural causes, sudden misfortune, or other unnatural deaths. Whether they have relatives or whatever feelings and attachments they hold in their hearts, all spirits who remain lingering and unsettled are asked to awaken in awareness, cease their delusion, and no longer cling to a body or corpse. May they resolve their grievances and let go of resentment, understanding that their physical remains have returned to the earth and their souls have passed into emptiness.

The illnesses and injuries of the past are no longer cause for concern, for they have no body; looking back, the affections and love of former days have also come to nothing. May they return to their original nature, cast off all external troubles, and escape the suffering of the cycle of rebirth, attaining transformation into immortals or rebirth as human beings. Thereafter, may the blessings of the Zhaijiao purification ritual (a Daoist rite of altar offerings, scripture recitation, prayer, and deliverance for the dead) grow ever greater, and its good works become manifest. May its grace extend to animals and plants, and its blessings reach both the human world and the realm of the dead. May the state be secure and the people prosperous, sharing in peace and well-being. When the ritual is complete, may the mats be cleared and the altar dismantled; then, in accordance with the Taizhen rite, may the merits be reported and rewards bestowed. We respectfully request that these measures be carried out promptly in accordance with the regulations.

The memorials and dispatches above—the latter being documents used to convey orders—should all be sent to the Upper Realm’s Direct Talisman and the officials in charge of the hours, for timely transmission. The number of reports and petitions may be increased or reduced according to the specific circumstances.

Fengdu, the northern capital of the underworld, respectfully submits this report to the Northern Yin Palace of Fengdu.

The Office of the Great Lingbao Rites, which oversees Lingbao purification rituals, has recorded the circumstances of this matter in writing and submits them for acknowledgment.

We respectfully submit this petition to the Great Emperor of Northern Yin and Fengdu, humbly requesting that, in his compassion, he consent to make a temporary visit to the ritual altar, examine and record this sincere intent, and inspect the observances performed there. May the merits of the Zhaijiao be brought to completion and extend universally to the dead and all beings. May blessings protect the human world and the realm of the dead, nourish all beneath Heaven, and grant protection to living beings, good fortune to households and the state.

We further respectfully request that the Great Emperor issue a special order and have it conveyed to Beidu Luofeng, the remote and secluded realm of Dongyin, the Six Heavens, the Ten Caverns, the nether prisons, and the offices of the underworld concerned. May each place act in accordance with the law and obey the talismanic command, delivering the deceased person named so-and-so and others, so that their souls may leave behind the realms of transmigration known as the Five Paths, Four Births, Three Destinies, and myriad forms of existence.

Whether they are spirits who drive the winds and sweep the mountains, ghost laborers who carry sand and bear stones, dragon beings who tunnel through the earth and guide water, or officials who suffer retribution and discharge their karmic debts, all spirits who remain lingering and unsettled are asked to have their records of guilt erased and their roots of evil cut off without delay. May their offenses be pardoned and their attachments and grievances released. May they come when summoned, leave the depths of darkness, be wholly freed from delusion, and receive the blessings brought by the Zhaijiao.

If the summoned souls have not yet completed their examination, they should not be pardoned at once. We also respectfully request that an official be dispatched to guide and escort them temporarily to the ritual altar, where the workings of cause and effect may be made clear. We respectfully request that this be carried out as soon as possible.

A formal petition: an ancient document presented to the gods.

With reverence, this petition is submitted to the Palace of the Eastern Peak’s Director of Destiny and the Office of the Great Lingbao Rite:

In the course of handling the relevant affairs, our office submits this document for your review.

We respectfully report to the Perfected Lord, High Minister and Director of Destiny of the Eastern Peak, and earnestly ask for his compassionate consent to descend temporarily to the ritual altar, where the purification rite is performed, to observe and bear witness to the rite’s observances. We also ask him to issue instructions and convey them to the divine offices of the palaces of the Five Sacred Peaks, the grottoes of famous mountains throughout the realm, blessed lands and numinous retreats, administrative precincts and quiet lodges, as well as Maoshan, the Huayang Grotto-Heaven, the Liangchang Grotto-Heaven, the Difei Blessed Land, the Divine Court and the Immortals’ Lodge. May he also convey them to the subordinate divine offices of the City Gods, local community gods, and other such officials throughout the Nine Provinces, directing them to act in accordance with the prescribed regulations and talismanic commands.

We ask that they rescue and deliver the souls of the deceased person named above and others, along with the dead in the Five Paths and Three Routes, and beings among the myriad kinds of the Four Births. This includes the souls of the dead who, burdened by karmic retribution and held in confinement, have been unable to find release, as well as all the dark spirits sunk in suffering and unable to move on. We earnestly ask that all their fixations and grievances be dispelled, their transgressions pardoned, and their souls freed from the paths of the underworld, so that they may receive the rite’s offerings and salvation and, summoned here, come to be delivered. If the souls gathered cannot yet be released at once, we ask that the responsible divine officials in each place be instructed to send officers and generals to escort them temporarily before the altar, thereby making the workings of retribution clear. We respectfully await the Heavenly Decree and its execution.

Thus may wholesome fruits be brought to completion, Heaven’s grace spread far and wide, and all beings receive protection; may even plants, trees, birds, and beasts share in this beneficence. Respectfully submitted.

With reverence, this petition is submitted to the Imperial Palace of the Eastern Peak:

In the course of handling the relevant affairs, the Office of the Great Lingbao Rite submits this report. The specific circumstances are as stated above.

We respectfully report to the Benevolent and Sagely Emperor of Great Birth, Equal with Heaven, of the Eastern Peak, and earnestly ask for his compassionate consent to descend temporarily to the ritual altar to observe and bear witness to the prayers and observances. May the merit of the purification rite be brought to completion, Heaven’s grace descend everywhere, and our families and state receive its favor, so that all beings may share its blessings. We also ask that he issue specific instructions and convey them to the subordinate offices and bureaus, the prisons of the underworld and hidden jails, and the divine offices associated with the Grotto-Heavens and blessed lands, famous mountains and great rivers, numinous altars of the sacrificial rites, City Gods, and local community shrines throughout the Nine Provinces, directing them to proceed according to the format of the petition above.

The Sagely Emperor of Manifested Transformation, Director of Heaven, of the Southern Peak;

The Sagely Emperor of Great Benefit and Auspicious Compliance, of Golden Heaven, of the Western Peak;

The Sagely Emperor of Great Constancy and Primordial Excellence, Peaceful Heaven, of the Northern Peak.

The Central Peak’s Celestial Great Peace and Revered Sage Emperor

The four documents above are all written according to the format used for documents addressed to the Eastern Peak. Documents for the other four peaks are sent to the palace of the emperor of each peak.

Documents addressed to the Eastern Peak must not use the title “Lord of Mount Tai.” They should say only, “Submitted to the Eastern Peak Emperor’s Palace.” Only when making a formal report specifically to the Lord of Mount Tai should they say, “Submitted to the Eastern Peak, Mount Tai Palace.”

Document to the Lord of Mount Tai

(The document begins: “Respectfully submitted to the Lord of Mount Tai, Eastern Peak.”)

Office of the Great Lingbao Rite

(the institution that conducts Lingbao Zhaijiao rites)

This office, on the basis of …

(fill in according to the matter at hand; use the same format as above)

Respectfully submits:

Lord of Mount Tai, Eastern Peak, we earnestly ask you to extend your compassion, look upon this matter and record it, and personally come to the ritual altar (the site where the Zhaijiao ceremony is held) to complete this meritorious rite and bear witness to its performance. May this undertaking bring protection to both the living world and the realm of the dead, and blessings to the state and its people.

We also ask you to issue orders to the underworld prisons and courts under the jurisdiction of the Peak’s palace, as well as to the relevant divine offices of the famous mountains, grotto-palaces, blessed lands, numinous altars, administrative seats, quiet lodges, divine courts, immortal halls, and City Gods and local earth deities throughout the nine regions. May they investigate and carry out this matter in accordance with the law, and together obey the talismanic command (the divine seal and order), so that the souls of the deceased, including so-and-so, may be delivered.

Please also save and deliver all beings of the Five Paths, the Three Ways, and the Four Births, along with the spirits of the dead such as the ghosts who drive the wind and sweep the mountains, and those who carry sand and bear stones. Bound and held fast as they undergo retribution for their sins, these spirits have not yet been released. Some await examination because of particular circumstances; others are trapped by their own transgressions. Please relieve all the sunken and lingering spirits of their offenses, pardon their failings, free them from the roads of the underworld, and let them receive the merit of this Zhaijiao rite of deliverance. Send them all together to answer the summons and come before the altar.

If the summoned souls are not yet fit to be released, please dispatch officials to escort them temporarily to the ritual site and let them understand the retribution they have undergone. In this way, the meritorious rite may be brought to completion, heavenly grace widely bestowed, all beings protected, and all things blessed. Respectfully submitted.

Document to a Grotto-Heaven or Blessed Land

(The document begins: “Respectfully submitted to the Grotto-Heaven of …”), addressed to the leading immortal register-keeper of the Jingzhi, who oversees its affairs and keeps its registers.

The document follows the same format.

Between Heaven and Earth are the Ten Great Grotto-Heavens, the Thirty-Six Lesser Grotto-Heavens, and the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands. In the Han dynasty, the Celestial Master restored the Twenty-Four Administrations in accordance with ancient sites. Later, succeeding masters established four more administrations. In the Jin dynasty, Xu Zhenjun subdued demons and established the Thirty-Six Jing. Together, these make one hundred and seventy-eight places.

If a report were submitted to each place one by one, not only would the exchange of documents become cumbersome, but the number of ritual seats required for the Zhaijiao ceremonies would be difficult to arrange. At times, the Ten Grotto-Heavens …

When every matter is written up in the same form of document, it can be obstructed because no corresponding administrative bureau is responsible for receiving it. Therefore, one need only determine whether the grotto-heaven, blessed land, and site of the purification ritual are in the same county: if they are, submit the petition to the nearest responsible bureau; if they are not, there is no need to submit a separate petition. Since the matter has already been explained in the document, requesting the issuance of a talismanic mandate, please proceed as you deem appropriate.

Office of the Great Lingbao Rite

With regard to the matter stated above (in the same format as before), this office respectfully submits the following petition:

We respectfully ask the Immortal Perfected One who keeps the register of this grotto-heaven to review and approve the petition, and especially to descend upon the ritual altar, complete this meritorious work, and bear witness to the observance. We also ask that notice be sent to the immortal bureaus and numinous domains under your jurisdiction, and to all offices that oversee registers of names, departed souls, and the assessment of merits and offenses. Let every office with relevant responsibilities obey the talismanic mandate, rescue and recommend the souls of the deceased named above, and all those sunk in suffering among the five paths, the four kinds of birth, the three realms of punishment, and the myriad classes of beings. May their registers of offenses be erased, the roots of their evils destroyed, and the bonds and entanglements that restrain them loosened. May they answer the summons and set out for the ritual altar, where the consequences of their deeds will be made clear. May the demotions and forced labor they endure in the underworld cease, and may the examinations and confrontations at the checkpoints of the netherworld come to an end. May joy and grace extend through the worlds of the living and the dead, and blessings reach across all beneath Heaven. We ask that this petition be approved and carried out without delay. Respectfully submitted.

The Nine Earthly Levels (Office of the Earthly Sovereigns)

(This document is respectfully presented to the Office of the Earthly Sovereign of the First Level.) The sacred ranks of the Nine Earthly Levels are listed separately below. The First Level has four Earthly Sovereign Lords, and the Nine Levels together have thirty-six. Each level has four, and their jurisdictions are identical. Therefore, a separate petition must be submitted for each level.

Office of the Great Lingbao Rite

With regard to the matter stated above, this office respectfully submits the following petition:

We respectfully ask the Earthly Sovereign Lord of the First Level to review the petition and especially to notify the sacred officials responsible for affairs among the Earthly Bureaus of the Nine Levels. We ask them to graciously descend upon the ritual altar, complete this meritorious work, and bear witness to the observance. We also ask that orders be issued to the various Earthly Courts and netherworld bureaus, and to the relevant offices that oversee offenses and blessings and detain the souls of the dead, directing them to obey the talismanic mandate in accordance with the regulations and to rescue the soul of the deceased person named above. (The remainder is the same as in the petition to the High Minister of the Eastern Peak.)

Officials of Fengdu (the netherworld bureaucracy)

(This document is respectfully presented to the Palace of the Dark Heaven of Boundless Severance.) Twenty-eight copies of the document are required.

Office of the Great Lingbao Rite

With regard to the matter stated above, this office respectfully submits the following petition:

We respectfully ask the numinous sovereign of the Palace of the Dark Heaven of Boundless Severance to examine this matter with compassion and especially to descend upon the ritual altar, complete this meritorious work…

This document petitions the officials and divine beings who govern the underworld to examine the deceased’s record of offenses, blessings, and deeds, and to carry out their salvation and deliverance according to the talismanic mandate.

Please deliver and recommend the deceased’s soul, together with all the spirits who have sunk into or remain trapped in the Five Destinations and Three Paths of Suffering, and among the Four Kinds of Birth and myriad forms of life. Quickly erase their records of offenses, uproot the roots of evil, resolve enmities, end interrogations and examinations, and properly settle all related matters. Let every departed soul summoned to the ritual altar be called in accordance with this document. If any souls are not yet ready for immediate handling and should instead be released with leniency, please make suitable arrangements for officials, generals, clerks, and attendants to guide and protect them temporarily as they come here, so that they may appear clearly and await disposition. In this way, the mysterious grace may be bestowed far and wide, and the blessings of the Zhaijiao purification ritual may spread everywhere, bringing peace to the underworld and the human world alike, so that all beings may receive good fortune and auspicious blessings. We respectfully petition that this be approved and carried out. This document is hereby submitted.

Here, “purification” refers to the Daoist Zhaijiao ritual; the “altar” is the ritual platform where the rite is performed. “Five Destinations and Three Paths of Suffering” refers to the different realms into which beings are reborn or where they suffer. “Four Kinds of Birth and myriad forms of life” broadly refers to all kinds of living beings. A “talismanic mandate” is a talisman and command used in Daoist ritual to convey divine orders and conduct rites.

Sacred Offices and Divine Beings of Fengdu

The following officials and divine beings of Fengdu, the Daoist underworld, are petitioned to take part in carrying out this matter:

• The numinous ruler of the Celestial Palace of Severed Yin
• The numinous ruler of the Celestial Palace of Great Calamity and Heavenly Governance
• The numinous ruler of the Celestial Palace of Bright Sovereignty, Endurance of Offenses, and Martial Accomplishment
• The numinous ruler of the Celestial Palace of Tranquil Illumination and Sinful Qi
• The numinous ruler of the Celestial Palace of Ancestral Numen and Seven Transgressions
• The numinous ruler of the Celestial Palace of Daring Governance, Linked Enclosures, and Repeated Trials
• Perfected Lord of Great Simplicity and Wondrous Vastness
• Perfected Lord of Yin Virtue and Settled Rest
• Perfected Lord of Illuminating Insight and Universal Stillness
• Perfected Lord of Mysterious Virtue and Five Numen
• Perfected Lord of Supreme Radiance and Brightness
• Perfected Lord of Treasured Lodging and Manifested Accomplishment
• Perfected Lord of Spirit Transformation and the Myriad Numen
• Perfected Lord of Supreme Righteous Deliverance
• Perfected Lord of Flying Demons and Evolving Auspiciousness
• Perfected Lord of Five Transformations and Majestic Numen
• High and Bright Director of Fengdu
• True Lord of Eastern Brightness of Fengdu
• True Lord of Southern Brightness of Fengdu
• True Lord of Western Brightness of Fengdu
• True Lord of Northern Brightness of Fengdu
• Lord of the Northern Dipper, Ghost Official of Fengdu
• Great Watcher of Dawn of Fengdu
• Central Watcher of Dawn of Fengdu
• Imperial Attendant of Dawn of Fengdu
• Palace of the Director of Destiny, Ghost Official of Fengdu
• The numinous ruler of the Palace of the Elder of Fengdu
• The numinous ruler of the Northern Capital Palace of Fengdu

The twenty-eight documents above are to be placed individually in square cases and delivered to the respective offices under whose authority they fall.

Eight Petitions to the Offices of the Palaces of Fengdu (in the same format)

• The presiding official of the Office of Transforming Life of Fengdu
• The presiding official of the Office of the Five Destinations of Fengdu
• The presiding official of the Office of the Winding Springs of Fengdu
• The Northern Heavenly Gatekeeper of Fengdu
• The Marquis of Southern Censure of Fengdu

Fengdu Northern Defender, Marquis Fang; Great Spirit of Fengdu’s Dark and Still Realm; and Lord Lang of Fengdu’s Western Radiance

These are the names of deities listed in official documents addressed to divine offices associated with Fengdu, the underworld in Daoist belief.

Document Format

The Office of the Great Lingbao Rites (a Daoist institution that conducts Lingbao liturgies) sends this document to the officials in charge of a certain bureau:

As this office is handling this matter, it must issue a document to notify the relevant parties.

We ask your bureau to examine the circumstances and promptly instruct the underworld prisons, the offices of the underworld, and the divine officials under your authority. Wherever the recording and review of the deceased’s sins and blessings is concerned, all must act in accordance with the talismanic command. Please deliver the souls of the deceased, including those of certain persons, as well as beings in the Five Paths, Three Courses, and Four Births, and swiftly erase their registers of guilt, destroy the roots of their evil karma, and loosen and release their bonds and entanglements. Summon them in accordance with the order, then send them on their way at the appointed time.

If the summoned souls cannot yet depart, please also pardon their offenses and dispatch clerks and soldiers to guide and protect them temporarily, so that they may come forth and make clear the retribution they have received. We also ask the deities to descend and bear witness to the observance of this Zhaijiao purification ritual, allowing its wondrous grace to spread widely and its blessings to reach all under Heaven, so that both the world of the living and the underworld may be clear and at peace. Upon receipt of this document, please carry out these instructions with all speed.

Respectfully issued.

Document to the Earth Deities of the Nine Provinces

The Office of the Great Lingbao Rites sends this document to the Lord of the Earth Deities of the Yangzhou region, the deity responsible for the local earth and community affairs there:

As this office is handling this matter, it must issue a document to notify the relevant parties.

We ask you to examine the circumstances and promptly instruct the famous mountains and great rivers, city and neighborhood deities, sacred altars of the ritual canon, and divine offices throughout the Yangzhou region. All concerned must act in accordance with the talismanic command. Please deliver the souls of the deceased, including those of certain persons, as well as beings in the Five Paths, Three Courses, and Four Births. This includes spirits wandering in the open country or lingering among burial mounds, those without family or descendants, the recently deceased, and all lost souls sunk in the underworld and unable to move on. Please loosen and release their bonds, cease pursuing and detaining them, lift their penalties, and resolve their grievances. Summon them in accordance with the order, then send them on their way at the appointed time.

If the cases of the summoned souls have not yet been reviewed and it is not yet appropriate to release them, please dispatch your clerks and guards to the ritual altar to make clear the retribution they have received. We also ask the deities to descend and bear witness to the observance of the purification ritual, so that its good fruits may be complete and Heaven’s grace spread widely. May all beings in the world enjoy the blessings of life, and may the souls on the roads of the underworld no longer be left without anyone to make offerings to them. May the underworld and the human world be at peace together, and may all under Heaven receive blessings and good fortune. Upon receipt of this document, please carry out these instructions promptly.

Respectfully issued.

Yangzhou, Yanzhou, Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yongzhou, Yuzhou, Liangzhou, Jingzhou, and Jizhou.

The nine documents addressed to the earth deities of these provinces all follow the same format; at times, a single document may be used instead.

Therefore, the person presiding over a Zhaijiao (purification ritual)—a Daoist ceremony held for blessings, salvation of the dead, and other purposes—must issue a formal document specifically to the deities of the province and community where the altar is set up. The document should explain the reason in detail, then be forwarded to notify the community officials throughout the province and the spirits of the local famous mountains and great rivers.

Petition to the City God of This Commandery

This document may also be addressed to the City God of this county, using the same format.

The Office of the Great Lingbao Rite, which presides over Lingbao purification rituals, addresses the presiding City God of [place]:

Having received the report concerning this matter, this Office hereby issues this document.

Please investigate the circumstances and promptly notify the subordinate spirit altars, ritual officials, divine offices of the community altars and state altars, the spirits of the local districts, and the relevant spirits of the mountains and forests. In accordance with the laws, have them attend to this matter. Command them to obey the talismanic order, transfer the souls of the deceased named in the register, and send them here to receive rites of salvation.

Those to be saved include the newly departed souls among the Five Paths, Three Destinies, and myriad beings of the Four Births: whether they have already passed on, met a violent death, or died peacefully; whether they have a family or patron to rely on or no kin to return to; whether they have lost their original nature, been detained in a locality, or remain stranded because of disputes and entanglements, an uncompleted gathering, or an unfinished inquiry. Search for all of them and escort them here. All demons, yin spirits, mountain and stone essences, wandering spirits, flying souls, sunken souls, and detained spirits should likewise be led to the altar by the deities responsible for them. Even if some souls have not yet reached the period when their release is permitted under the regulations, please escort them here for the time being, so that they may respectfully hear Heaven’s decree.

May the divine chariot set out soon and guard the altar, bringing peace to the four quarters and ensuring that the purification ritual is completed successfully. In this way, meritorious virtue will be accomplished and Heaven’s grace widely bestowed, bringing blessings to both household and state. May the visible world and the hidden realms alike receive protection, may all living beings find peace, and may plants and all things revive. Once the work is complete, merit will be recorded in accordance with the mysterious laws. Carry this out promptly as commanded. Respectfully issued.

Petition to the Tai Sui

The Office of the Great Lingbao Rite addresses the revered deity Tai Sui of [year]:

Having received the report concerning this matter, this Office hereby issues this document.

Please investigate the circumstances and promptly notify the various offices of the Earth Bureau, which oversee matters of the land. Ask the Earth deity of the place where the altar currently stands to depart temporarily and stand aside. If there are old baleful influences, buried corpses, hidden demons, or impurities in the area, please gather them up and remove them as well, so they do not obstruct the ritual.

In all places under the authority of the hundred deities of the Earth Bureau, if any souls are being detained because of some circumstance, command them to obey the talismanic order and have the relevant divine offices send them here, so that they may be elevated and saved at the appointed time. May the divine chariot descend to the altar and join in protecting the purification ritual, bringing its meritorious results to completion.

May Heaven widely bestow its grace, protecting both the visible and unseen realms and bringing blessings upon the family and the state. Upon delivery of this document, carry out the instructions at once. Respectfully issued.

Petition to Haoli (a document sent to the Haoli region of the underworld)

The Great Ritual Office of the Lingbao tradition, which presides over Lingbao purification rites and liturgies, addresses the Elder of Haoli in the Yellow Springs, the deity who oversees the Haoli region of the underworld.

As required for the ritual, this office must issue a formal notice.

Please investigate the matters stated above and notify the divine officials in the hidden realm of the Yellow Springs and the shadowed lands of forests and wilds who oversee the souls of the dead and keep registers of ghosts, as well as the authorities in all relevant jurisdictions. Please seize and bring here the souls of the deceased named above, together with those of the Five Roads, the Three Paths, the Four Lords, and all kinds of newly dead and departed. Whether they died violently or at the end of a full life; whether they remain in their tombs, wander the open countryside, have no kin or offerings and no support, are entangled in enmity, or are detained for their offenses, all such lingering spirits are to obey the talismanic command. Quickly erase their records of guilt, extinguish the roots of evil, and send them here to receive, with reverence, deliverance through the purification rite.

If the souls taken into custody have not yet completed their examination, they must not be released rashly. The relevant authorities are also asked to deliberate as circumstances require and send officials to escort them to the altar, so that they may understand the consequences of cause and effect. May the spirits descend in their chariots and jointly witness the merit of the purification rite, bringing blessings upon the family and state and protection to both the visible and unseen realms. When the work is complete, report it and record the merit according to regulations. Upon delivery of this document, carry out the instructions at once. Respectfully issued.

Notice to the Local Territory (a document informing the deities and requesting them to order and protect the area where the ritual altar stands)

The Great Ritual Office of the Lingbao tradition notifies the relevant deities:

As required for the ritual, this office must issue a notice.

Please investigate this matter. Beginning on the day the ritual is held, put the area around the altar in order, repel baleful forces, drive away ill omens, cleanse all defilement, and protect the affairs of the purification rite. Ensure the documents are transmitted without obstruction, so that the good outcome may be fully achieved and benefit both the visible and unseen realms. When the work is complete, report it and record the merit according to regulations. Carry out the instructions as soon as possible. Respectfully issued.

Petition to the Nearby Patron Deity to Supervise the Altar (a document requesting that the nearby deity in charge of sacrifices oversee the altar)

The Great Ritual Office of the Lingbao tradition addresses a certain deity:

As required for the ritual, this office must issue a formal notice.

Please investigate this matter. Beginning on the day the altar is established, we respectfully ask you to personally lead your officials and troops to take up station at the altar, supervising and restraining the local land deities and related spirits, guarding the altar’s boundaries, and driving away demonic and baleful influences.

Before the ritual begins, any lingering baleful influences or buried corpses left from former times in the area must be properly sealed away and kept from appearing. Any baleful influences remaining in the area must also be made to depart at once, without delay. Within 120 paces outward from the place where the altar is established, if there are Tai Sui officials, lords, or taboo spirits, we also ask that you…

Temporarily withdraw, and do not trespass upon or obstruct the ritual precinct. Once the rites are complete, dismantle the ritual precinct and return each person to their former place. In this way, the merit of the Zhaijiao (purification ritual) will be brought to completion, and demonic obstacles will not arise. Blessings will then extend throughout the world, and grace will reach both the netherworld and the human realm. Set forth the merit and present the memorial, thereby repaying the kindness of the gods. The matters requested must be carried out promptly in accordance with the written instructions. This dispatch is hereby submitted.

The dispatch reporting the matters above must be delivered to the Direct Talisman Spirit of the Central Pass region, and jointly relayed by the Earth Gods of the local districts along the route.

Petition to the Water Prefecture (a document reporting to the Fusang officials of the Water Prefecture)

Directorate of the Great Lingbao Rites:

In view of the matter reported to this office, the document should duly be registered and submitted for review. Please take note.

We respectfully submit:

We humbly beseech the Great Emperor of Eastern Dawn and Fusang of the Water Prefecture (the deity who governs the Water Prefecture) to show compassion and grant approval, and to descend temporarily to the ritual altar to witness, record, and examine the sincerity of those performing the Zhaijiao rites, so that their merit may be brought to completion. May numinous protection be bestowed everywhere, blessings cover both the netherworld and the human realm, and grace extend throughout the world, so that all beings may receive protection and the family and state enjoy good fortune.

We specifically request that directives be issued to all offices under the Water Prefecture, as well as the authorities governing rivers and seas, river sources, maritime regions, and springs, commanding them to proceed according to regulations and obey the talismanic orders. They are to deliver beyond the cycle of rebirth the deceased souls of certain persons, together with all wandering and stranded dead among the Five Paths, Three Destinies, Four Births, and myriad kinds of beings; dispel their fixations and enmities, pardon their offenses, enable them to transcend, and let them receive the merit of the Zhaijiao rites of offering and deliverance. Send them all together, and summon them to come.

If the souls taken into custody are unable to come immediately, we also ask that they be released from restraint and that officials and generals be dispatched to escort them temporarily to the altar, so they may manifest the response they have received. We respectfully await the execution of Heaven’s command. This petition is hereby submitted.

Petition to the Divine King of Yanggu (a document reporting to the court of the Divine King of Yanggu)

Directorate of the Great Lingbao Rites:

In view of the matter reported to this office, the document should duly be registered and submitted for review. Please take note.

We respectfully submit:

We humbly beseech the Divine King of Yanggu of the Water Prefecture (the deity who governs Yanggu) to show compassion and accept this petition, and to descend temporarily to the ritual altar, so that meritorious deeds may be accomplished and the rites of cultivation and offering may be witnessed. May both the visible and hidden realms receive protection, and may the family and state be touched by grace. We further request that orders be conveyed to all authorities under the Dragon Court of the Water Prefecture, including the river sources, springs, Nine Rivers and Eight Seas, Four Great Rivers and Three Rivers, maritime regions, cavern pools, and the Water Offices of the Lower Origin. They are to proceed according to the law and obey the talismanic orders, delivering beyond the cycle of rebirth the deceased souls of certain persons, along with the Five Paths, Three Destinies, Four Births, and myriad kinds of beings, and even …

All departed souls who were drawn away by a water dragon—the dragon deity who governs the waters—or who drowned themselves, perished when a boat capsized, broke an oath, were punished and exiled, or must atone for accumulated wrongdoing, together with all spirits still lingering and unrested, are hereby pardoned.

Please remove their sins and faults, clear and resolve all matters of examination and verification, and release them from restraint and entanglement. Summon them to the ritual altar at the appointed time, then dispatch them away in order. If the summoned spirits have not yet completed verification, do not proceed hastily. Even if pardon and release are requested, please provisionally assign officials to lead and escort them here, so that the matter of retribution may be made clear. We earnestly request immediate authorization to carry this out. Respectfully submitted.

Offices under the jurisdiction of the Water Bureau:

The Water Emperor of the Han River, the Water Emperor of the Chu River, the Water Emperor of the Xiang River, the Water Emperor of the Wu River, the Water Emperor of the Five Rivers, the Water Emperor of the Yangzi River, the Water Emperor of the Zhejiang River, the Water Emperor of the Song River, and the Water Emperor of the Jing River.

Separate petitions must be submitted to each of these nine River Water Emperors.

Official notices:

The Abyssal Sagely King of Broad Virtue of the Eastern Sea; the Vast Sagely King of Broad Benefit of the Southern Sea; the All-Pervading Sagely King of Broad Benevolence of the Western Sea; and the Surging Sagely King of Broad Beneficence of the Northern Sea;

The Dragon King of Favorable Succor; the King of the River Deity, Vast Source and Favorable Succor; the King of the River Deity, Numinous Source and Magnificent Succor; the King of the Huai River Deity, Long Source and Universal Succor; and the King of the Ji River Deity, Pure Source and Benevolent Succor;

The King of the Upper Water Bureau at Mount Madang, Blessed Goodness and Peaceful River; the King of the Middle Water Bureau at Mount Caishi, Sagely Favor and Tranquil River; and the King of the Lower Water Bureau at Mount Jin, Manifest Trust and Peaceful River;

The Great Deity of Lake Qingcao, the Great Deity of Lake Pengli, the Great Deity of Lake Danyang, the Great Deity of Lake Xieyang, and the Great Deity of Lake Tai.

Seventeen official notices are to be submitted in all.

Petition to the Water Emperor (a petition is a document submitted to a divine bureau; this petition is respectfully addressed to the palace of the Water Emperor of a particular river):

The Great Law Office of the Numinous Treasure (the agency responsible for conducting Numinous Treasure liturgies and handling related ritual documents):

In accordance with the needs of the ritual, this office is now to record and submit a petition.

Respectfully submitted:

We earnestly request that the Water Emperor of a particular river extend his compassion, look favorably upon this matter, and temporarily descend to the altar to bring this charitable undertaking to completion and bear witness to the ritual being performed. May both the visible and hidden realms receive divine protection, and may the family and state be blessed. We also ask that he issue orders to the water officials under his jurisdiction and the relevant local territories, so that they may carry out these instructions in accordance with the laws. [The following content is the same as in the “Petition to the Divine King of Yanggu.”]

Official Notice to the Dragon Kings:

The Great Law Office of the Numinous Treasure hereby submits this notice to the Abyssal Sagely King of Broad Virtue of the Eastern Sea:

In accordance with the needs of the ritual, this office is now to issue an official notice.

Please investigate the matter and immediately issue orders to the water officials under your jurisdiction and the relevant …

All jurisdictions concerned must act in accordance with the law, so that every party obeys the talismanic command and the dead may be delivered beyond suffering.

Accordingly, the souls of the dead named above, along with all beings among the Five Paths, the Three Destinies, the Four Births, and the myriad kinds of life, are included here. This also includes those who worked in the water or made their living drawing water, those who drowned themselves, and those who died when their boats capsized. All who were punished for breaking covenants or who must repay their offenses for accumulated evil, and all lingering souls who have yet to disperse, are asked to receive forgiveness for their transgressions and release from guilt, liability, and investigation. Let their cases be properly resolved, freeing them from confinement and entanglement. In response to this summons, let them come to the ritual altar and be sent onward at the appointed time.

If any summoned soul has not yet completed interrogation and verification, it must be pardoned and released at once. Officials are also asked to guide and escort such souls here temporarily, so they may understand the workings of cause and effect. May the divine chariots descend as well to witness this Zhaijiao (purification ritual), so that the good results may be brought to completion, Heaven’s grace may extend far and wide, and all under Heaven may rejoice together. May both the netherworld and the human realm be at peace.

Upon receipt of this document, carry out its commands swiftly. Respectfully submitted.

The documents above, in accordance with the foregoing, are to be sent separately to the Dragon Kings, the sacred offices of the Water Palaces, and other holy seats, in seventeen identical copies.

All the reports above must be issued to the lower realms and conveyed by the Direct Talisman Messenger.

Writ for the Divine Tiger’s Seizure and Summons

Office of the Great Lingbao Rites:

On the basis of the matters reported, this office has recorded the relevant details and submitted them to the Heavenly Court. We now request that the Court issue a jade warrant—a command document from the Celestial Emperor—and send it to every jurisdiction concerned, to summon the souls of the dead and have the matter handled as ordered. The native places and names of the souls to be delivered in this rite are listed above; this notice is therefore issued accordingly.

This document is addressed to He Qiao, chief officer of the Divine Tiger; the soul-pursuing envoys of the Three Departments; General Hou Wei Zhang, who pursues souls; the officials and generals who draw forth souls and seize spirits; and the deities and officers of this office who pursue souls and seize spirits. Please investigate the matter and go throughout the Ten Directions and the Three Realms, to the Northern Capital of Luofeng—the Daoist underworld—as well as to the seas and mountains, Grotto-Heavens, City Gods and local altars, hidden prisons in netherworld settlements, underworld offices throughout the various regions, and the bureaus that record merits and faults and determine guilt and blessing. Find and seize the souls of the deceased named above, including so-and-so.

These souls include every sunken and suffering spirit among the Five Paths, the Three Destinies, the Four Births, and the myriad kinds of life. Some are held in confinement, some imprisoned in netherworld courts, some have lost their way and remain ensnared, and some have long fallen into decline. Others wander in the open country or are scattered through the mountains and forests; their awareness grows dim, and their Shen (spirit) has yet to recover. They have not yet undergone deliverance and remain trapped in the netherworld. Let all matters be handled in strict accordance with the Supreme Emperor’s talismanic command and the provisions recorded in the jade warrant of Primordial Unity.

Swiftly seize and summon the souls of the dead, and bring them to the ritual altar at the appointed time so that they may appear and bear witness in accordance with the register of the souls summoned. If a soul has not yet completed the process of deliverance, it should not, as a matter of principle, be released at once. Please also place it temporarily in the care of the responsible officials and bring it before the altar, where it may respectfully receive the document of intercession and deliverance—a text used to guide the souls of the dead toward salvation. May this be carried out as soon as possible. This document is issued accordingly.

Petition to the Seven Jade Maidens (a document issued to the Jade Maidens of the Seven Offices)

The Office of the Great Lingbao Rites, which oversees Lingbao purification rituals, issues this document to the Jade Maidens of the Seven Offices, who are charged with pursuing and seizing souls under the authority of the Divine Tiger:

This Office, on the basis of … (the original reads “again intended” or “same as above,” perhaps a formula used in documents or a variant reading), now issues this document for you to investigate the circumstances and travel throughout the Ten Directions and the Three Realms, to the prisons of the netherworld and the gates of the underworld. At every place under your jurisdiction that concerns this matter, pursue and seize the souls of the deceased such-and-such persons, together with all the dead who remain sunk and detained among the Five Paths, Three Ways, Four Kinds of Birth, and myriads of beings. Whether detained in the underworld or facing trial and dispute in the nether courts; whether lingering among tombs or wandering in the wilderness; whether trapped in the Five Sufferings or sentenced to labor in the Three Ways; whether clinging to their corpses or lost in consciousness—all are to be seized in accordance with the imperial talismanic command and jade writ now issued, as specified in this document.

Bring them all to the Office conducting this rite on a certain night this month, so that the souls may appear and receive deliverance. Check the register for every soul seized. If the matter is not yet complete, do not release the soul hastily. Also notify the responsible officials in each place to dispatch officers and generals to escort the souls here temporarily, thereby making the power of the Daoist rites manifest. Be sure to await the required proof of efficacy; do not delay. Once the matter is complete, report it for imperial review and have the merits recorded in accordance with the regulations. This document is issued accordingly.

Urgent Summons (a document urging the summoning of the souls of the dead)

The Office of the Great Lingbao Rites issues this document to the Divine Tiger’s soul-seizing officers, generals, and assembled gods:

This Office has already issued the talismanic command, jade writ, and related documents for this matter, ordering the seizure and deliverance of the souls recommended for salvation, together with all the dead who remain sunk and detained among the Five Paths, Four Kinds of Birth, Three Ways, and myriads of beings, so that they may arrive at the purification altar at the appointed time to receive deliverance. The time for summoning and seizure has now arrived. The souls sought must appear by attaching themselves to the ritual banners, thereby demonstrating the rite’s efficacy. This document is therefore issued again as an urgent reminder.

This document is now issued to the two chief clerks, He and Qiao, of the Divine Tiger; the Jade Maidens of the Seven Offices; the soul-pursuing emissaries of the Three Departments; and all officers, generals, and gods under this Office who are responsible for pursuing and seizing souls: investigate the circumstances and swiftly summon the aforementioned souls of such-and-such persons who have been recommended for salvation, together with all the dead who remain sunk and detained among the Five Paths, Three Ways, Four Kinds of Birth, and myriads of beings. Whether they linger in mountains and marshes, hide among tombs, or have nowhere to turn and wander through the wilderness; whether they belong to no village, have no register, or are confused in consciousness with their souls still scattered; whether they have died without knowing it, or remain attached to …

The souls of the dead still bound by attachment may linger in the offices of the Three Origins, the divine authorities under the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water; fall beneath the Ninefold Ramparts of deep darkness, the layered gloom of the underworld; remain under review in the registers, not yet released; or be entangled in grievances and unable to escape. For all souls of the dead across the Three Realms and the Ten Directions who should proceed to their appointed destinations, summon them in accordance with procedure so that they arrive at the ritual altar at the proper time, attach themselves to the banners, and clearly report their circumstances.

Then guide and instruct them, so that they awaken to their original nature and hear the teachings of the scriptures; understand their respective origins and allotted destinies; gratefully receive the Dao’s beneficence; and reverently accept the merit of the Zhaijiao purification ritual. If these blessings are widely bestowed throughout the netherworld, the merit rightfully belongs to the officials and divine generals who preside over this work. When the rites are complete, submit a memorial in accordance with ritual and grant promotions and rewards according to procedure. Upon receipt of this document, attend to the matter at once and carry it out according to regulations. Respectfully issued.

Warrant for Gathering and Universally Summoning the Solitary Souls

The Office of the Great Lingbao Rites issues this warrant to the officials and divine generals under the jurisdiction of the Divine Tiger Summoning Command:

On a certain day of this month, this Office will solemnly establish the Supreme Lingbao Yellow Register Great Retreat, a Daoist Zhaijiao purification ritual for delivering the souls of the dead, at a certain place, on behalf of a certain person whose native place is a certain location. On a certain night, it will devoutly set out a banquet for the dead, a ritual feast at which souls may receive food, and universally carry out rites of deliverance. The relevant matters have been recorded and reported to the Celestial Court, and notices have also been sent to the divine offices belonging to the Three Realms. Now all souls of the dead are to be universally summoned from the Three Realms and Ten Directions, the Six Extremities and Four Quarters, among the myriad kingdoms, and from within and beyond the Nine Provinces. This includes all hidden souls in the realms of Heaven, the gods, humanity, hell, hungry ghosts, and animals.

Some died in wealthy and honored households; others in hardship and isolation. Some died peacefully; others met violent deaths. Some threw themselves into rivers or hanged themselves; others were abandoned in mountain valleys or died falling from cliffs. Some have no one to depend on and nowhere to return; others are bound by their own fixations. Some dwell among plants and trees; others have hidden their traces and changed their forms. Some died in terrible circumstances, consumed by resentment; others endured suffering and died unjustly, bearing grief. Some were maimed on the battlefield; others were executed under the laws of the state. Some were beaten or stabbed to death; others were harmed in confinement. Some left their native homes; others wandered along the roads. Some were stationed on the frontiers; others traveled in pursuit of trade. Some punished or beheaded themselves; others took poison or harmed themselves. Some owe debts of life or money; others broke their pledges and betrayed the trust of others. Some were struck by lightning; others drowned or burned. Some died in childbirth when delivery did not go well. Some suffered calamity from curses; others were afflicted by harmful spells or poisoned. Some fell from horses or overturned in boats; others were struck down by falling trees or injured beneath rocks. Some have lost their mental faculties; others have spirits that wander and scatter. Some have had their feet severed or their limbs cramped and bound; others have lost their sight or hearing. There are also monks and nuns, beings of every mixed kind, and people from every occupation. Some have already been buried after death; others have not yet…

Whether a person’s body was left exposed after burial, or the corpse was burned and the bones abandoned; whether they were deprived of ancestral rites and left without anyone to rely on, or stranded in a foreign land and taken captive by another people; whether they were mute or had lost the power of speech, wise or foolish, long-lived or dead young; whether orphans and widows, elders living alone and widowers, recluses, scholars, prostitutes and performers, or butchers; whether naturally unruly and dull-witted, or fallen into banditry; whether heroes of antiquity or of recent times, clerks in government offices or soldiers in military camps…

All souls of the dead imprisoned in the secluded gates of hell for their crimes, and all ghosts detained by the City God or local community shrines; whether in Haoli and the Yellow Springs, the underworld’s waters, the nine layered depths of darkness, or the offices on the Five Sacred Peaks where the dead are examined and interrogated; whether their cases remain unresolved, their review unfinished, they have already undergone penal examination, or they have yet to submit to the penal statutes; whether their souls are serving sentences in the Three Paths or repaying their crimes amid the Five Sufferings; whether they are the spirits of objects, wild monsters, demons, or evil gods, shadowy spirits of darkness, or uncanny ghosts; whether birds, beasts, insects, or fish, or creatures that run upon the earth, fly through the air, swim in the deep, or dwell upon the water; whether they live in the countryside or in mountain forests, or are born from the womb, the egg, moisture, or transformation; whether sentient or insentient, conscious or unaware; whether lingering from one place to another or passing repeatedly through the cycles of rebirth—

Throughout heaven and earth, from ancient times to the present, among beings of every rank, near and far, few and many, the kinds of living beings are beyond counting, and the souls of the underworld cannot all be named. Now they are all to be summoned and brought before the altar to receive deliverance. Therefore, documents must be issued and the relevant divine offices ordered to carry this out.

To the Divine Tiger Generals who transmit dispatches in Daoist rites, the male and female generals on the left and right, Chief Clerk He Qiao, the two Generals in Charge of Souls, the Jade Maidens of the Seven Offices, the soul-pursuing messengers of the Three Departments, and the associated palace generals, clerks, and soldiers: investigate this matter and proceed swiftly to the gates of the underworld, the roads of the netherworld, the winding regions of the Yellow Springs, the various offices in the Nine Lands of the underworld, the seats of the Three Primal Ones, the divine jurisdictions of mountains, rivers, the Five Sacred Peaks, and lakes and seas, the local community gods and City Gods, temples responsible for ancestral rites, Haoli in the Yellow Springs, and the underworld offices in every region. Convey this order to every divine office and local earth spirit that governs or registers the souls of the dead.

In heaven and on earth, across the Four Seas and the Nine Provinces, every place connected with this matter must act in accordance with the talismanic command and Jade Writ, the Daoist instruments of decree and dispatch. Let all the lingering souls and spirits described above, from the Three Realms and Ten Directions and among the myriad beings of the Four Births, be released…

This passage primarily discusses the ritual documents and operational guidelines for Daoist salvation rites to liberate wandering souls.

The text first explains the origin of the "General Summons Document" (zongzhao die), a traditional writ used since ancient times to summon spirits, which was also adopted in the liturgical compilations of Master Jiang (Jiang Shuyu). The core function of this document is simply to broadly summon orphaned souls to receive liberation, without deeper esoteric implications. It notes that certain phrases (such as "neither with form nor without form") resemble Buddhist terminology, suggesting such foreign borrowings need not be deliberately incorporated.

Next, it critiques an illogical practice in Jiang's liturgy: after issuing the summons to wandering souls, additional documents are sent to local deities like City Gods (Chenghuang) and Earth Gods (Tudi) requesting permission for the souls' passage. This creates a contradiction—if the souls have already been summoned, why seek permission for their release? Such cumbersome procedures ironically contradict the original intent of "universal summons."

The passage then outlines current principles for organizing these ritual documents: maintaining traditional formats while adjusting wording for smoother readability, with summons documents addressed directly to the "Divine Tiger Officers" (Shenhu guanjiang)—Daoist spirit generals responsible for soul retrieval. It emphasizes keeping distinct liturgical traditions from different schools clearly separated.

The second part demonstrates the format for issuing "Orphan Soul Money Registers" (guhun qianlu), documents used in Lingbao rituals for salvation rites. Key components include: stating the ritual's date and purpose (conducting purification rites for specific individuals to liberate various wandering souls), listing ritual implements (including the Supreme Ascension Treasure Register, Fengdu Mountain True Form Chart, Middle Chapters of the Numinous Texts, and unlimited amounts of spirit money), and instructing the Six Paths Functionaries (liudao gongcao, underworld officials) and local Earth Gods to distribute these offerings to souls attending the altar.

Parenthetical notes explain that priests may supplement the text with their customary lists of spirit generals to oversee distribution, reflecting the flexibility in practical application of Daoist documents.

These talismans, scriptures, and other items rely on the limitless transformations of the divine power of the Daoist arts. They should all be distributed in the ritual precinct, one by one, with nothing omitted. After receiving them, the participants should send them all off together when the rites are complete, dispatching them to the appropriate Bureau of the Perfected, the agency overseeing the affairs of the Perfected, so that their identities and ranks can be verified and registered and they can be delivered through salvation. The formats for dispatches, memorials, petitions, and official notices are provided separately.

Documents used at a Zhai altar are mostly official communications sent to the Three Realms. In addition, notices for deploying talismans and performing rites, prayers and petitions to the Perfected Spirits, and official communications to places such as the Palace of the Dipper and the Five Offices should be prepared in advance to meet unexpected needs. These documents are copied out together below.

General Notice to the Merit Officers

(A standard document sent to the Merit Officers and other divine officials)

Office of the Great Lingbao Rites

On the basis of the matters reported to this Office, and in addition to the contents already recorded and memorialized to the Heavenly Court and announced throughout the Three Realms, this document is hereby issued as a formal notice:

To the Envoys of Direct Talismans in the Three Realms, the Merit Officers on duty for the Four Watches, the presiding officials on duty through the twelve double-hours, the Merit Officers of the Six Paths, the officials supervising and serving the Zhai rites, and the local Earth Gods and other deities within and around the ritual precinct: investigate each matter in turn. A Zhai is now being established here. Report this affair to the palaces of the heavens, and communicate it throughout the numinous bureaus of the Three Realms, so that the myriad sages may observe it and the hundred gods may each perform their duties; so that memorials and petitions may be transmitted, talismanic documents announced in every place, official notices conveyed without obstruction, and commands carried out.

From the furthest reaches of the Great Void down to the bottomless depths, wherever this document must go, it will arrive; no distance is too great for it to reach. May the gods hear the call and immediately receive their orders, responding to summons and arriving as directed. May they help bring the Zhai rites to completion, benefiting and rescuing the spirits of the netherworld. May blessings spread without limit and grace extend to all sentient beings. When the assembly disperses and the altar is dismantled, let merits be assessed, ranks advanced, and rewards granted according to each one’s service; record these achievements and report them to the Heavenly Gate, in every case following the rites of the Great Perfected. This notice is hereby issued.

Official Communication for Submissions to the Upper Realm

Office of the Great Lingbao Rites

This Office respectfully receives the ritual registers and bears the talismanic seals. It is subordinate to the Southern Bureau of Lingbao, an administrative office of the Lingbao divine bureaucracy, and performs its assigned duties in the service of Tongchu, a name of a Daoist deity or divine office, assisting in governance and observing the prescribed rites and regulations. Since the regulations permit reports and memorials to be transmitted, matters of urgent supplication should all the more be handled through the official offices responsible for forwarding them.

A document is now to be submitted to the Heavenly Court, and a formal communication must therefore be issued:

The submitted documents number [number]. They have been placed in separate cases, properly sealed, and are to be delivered to [palace]. The contents are listed individually and clearly.

This official communication is sent to the Merit Officers and the two Envoys on duty at [date and time]. May they guide the divine carriage and ride upon the clouds, its wheels moving like lightning, crossing ten thousand miles in an instant and rising to the Nine Heavens in a breath. May they convey the documents to the Upper Realm so that this sincere prayer may reach it directly. Should evil spirits attempt to intercept them…

If the duty-day Qi officer causes any disturbance, immediately submit a petition for their arrest and escort them to the Bureau of the True Officials, which oversees divine correspondence and hearings, for investigation and handling under the laws of the Heavenly Prison. This accords with the original intent of the ritual procedures revealed by the Great Dao, and also serves to extend the benevolent, life-preserving grace of the Supreme Emperor, the heavenly sovereign revered in Daoism. Observe the purification fast and carry out the rites as soon as possible; do not delay even for a moment, so that the response may come soon. Accordingly, the following official documents are issued.

Official Document to the Middle Realm

Bureau of the Great Lingbao Rites:

This bureau received its appointment from the Southern Office of the Three Heavens and is listed among the offices of the Five Elements. By virtue of our duties, we are to investigate and correct demonic falsehoods. In accordance with the law, we must both rescue and deliver beings, and ensure that affairs in the manifest realm and the hidden realm are properly handled. Whenever a matter requires a report or petition, it must be delivered to the relevant office as prescribed. The accompanying document is hereby sent to the Bureau of the True Officials in the Middle Realm.

One report, sealed in an envelope and stamped with the official seal, is to be delivered intact to the designated place for submission.

Issued accordingly.

May the Merit Officers and messengers of the Middle Realm travel swiftly on the wind, flying at speed to every location and conveying notice in secret, so that all the bureaus of the True Officials in the Middle Realm receive the documents and they are delivered without delay, bringing the response soon. If lawless mountain spirits and demons cause disturbance, or unrighteous ghosts and deities obstruct the way, arrest and escort them to the nearest mountain or water office, then forward them to the City God responsible for that jurisdiction, the local official of the underworld, to determine the source of their crimes. May the law of Heaven shine clearly and the matter be settled swiftly, without delay. Issued accordingly.

Official Document to the Lower Realm

This bureau reverently receives the sacred writings and is thereby able to put the Great Rites into practice for the universal benefit of living beings. We administer the affairs of the netherworld; since we are listed among the offices charged with these duties, we must observe the prescribed forms. There is now an urgent matter to report, and this office is transmitting it. The accompanying official document is hereby sent to the Bureau of the True Officials in the Lower Realm.

One report, fully sealed in an envelope, is to be delivered to the designated place for submission.

Issued accordingly.

May the Merit Officers and messengers of the Lower Realm secretly reach the deep and inaccessible places, descend to the Deep Springs of the netherworld, hurry to the underworld palaces within the earthly realm, and enter the passes and offices of the dead. At each place they reach, they must deliver notice accordingly and ensure that the documents are conveyed swiftly, displaying the might of the spirits and bringing the response clearly to light as soon as possible. Do not delay or let the matter stand; upon receipt, carry out the instructions immediately. Issued accordingly.

Official Document to the Direct Talismans of the Three Realms

Bureau of the Great Lingbao Rites:

This bureau is responsible for enforcing the law of the Three Heavens and is affiliated with the record-keeping offices of the Five Departments. Since there are established legal codes and regulations, official notices and reports must reach all Three Realms; since the ritual procedures are clear, memorials must ascend to the highest heavens. There is now an urgent matter to present in a memorial, and it is hereby issued in a single dispatch.

The details are listed below.

Issued accordingly.

May the Merit Officers who transmit memorials through the Three Realms, acting under orders, mobilize the officials and military commanders and troops. Let them ride divine mounts at speed, each proceeding to the appropriate Bureau of the True Officials to deliver the documents.

From the realms of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) and the heights above the nine heavens, down to the heavenly realms in the ten directions and the six grotto-heavens, documents must be conveyed throughout the world beyond its four quarters and within its four dimensions, reaching the divine offices and spirit palaces and temples in grotto-dwellings, famous mountains, and great rivers everywhere. They must be carried swiftly: earnest petitions must be presented above without delay and sent on as quickly as possible, so that the spirits’ awe-inspiring power may manifest in the human world, making clear the consequences of good and evil, and so that merits and rewards may be recorded and reported to the Heavenly Court. Then one should immediately set out along the cloud-road, without lingering. This is the conclusion of the related official document.

Sacred Ranks of the Nine Earth Mounds refers to the titles of the Earth Sovereigns corresponding to the nine layers of earth mounds:

First mound: Earth Sovereign of the Lustrous, Moist Earth;

Second mound: Earth Sovereign of the Firm-Colored Earth;

Third mound: Earth Sovereign of the Stone-Grease-Hued Earth;

Fourth mound: Earth Sovereign of the Moist, Lustrous Earth;

Fifth mound: Earth Sovereign of the Golden-Lustrous Earth;

Sixth mound: Earth Sovereign of the Diamond-Iron-Hued Earth;

Seventh mound: Earth Sovereign of the Water-Governed, Lustrous Earth;

Eighth mound: Earth Sovereign of the Great-Wind-Lustrous Earth;

Ninth mound: Earth Sovereign of the Colorless Framework of the Grotto Abyss.

The “Earth Sovereigns” listed here are specific names in the Daoist divine genealogy; “mound” refers to a layer or tier. The original mainly lists the titles of nine deities and does not further explain the meaning of each layer.