《九天上聖祕傳金符經》

The Secret Golden Talisman Scripture of the Nine Heavenly Saints describes how to select auspicious dates by observing celestial phenomena to avoid misfortune and attract blessings. The core teachings can be understood as follows:

Nine principal constellations in the heavens govern fortune and misfortune, influencing human affairs. Ordinary people seeking to choose favorable dates must first consult the almanac, selecting days according to the cycles of the four seasons and the sixty Jiazi (sexagenary) combinations. Each day is governed by either an auspicious or inauspicious star, directly determining the success or failure of endeavors.

Many casually flip through the almanac to pick dates, often choosing wrongly and suffering dire consequences—family ruin, legal disputes, lost livestock, child mortality, theft, fire disasters, or barren fields—all due to offending malignant stars. Conversely, selecting days ruled by auspicious stars ensures smooth progress in all matters, with proven efficacy.

A critical warning: Constructing homes or burying the deceased without adhering to the auspicious dates of the Three Origins (Sanyuan) and Nine Stars invites immediate calamities—family separation, robbery, lawsuits, financial loss, and eerie occurrences like inexplicable stove noises, birds entering homes, abnormal animal behavior, sudden quarrels, marital discord, or even injuries, disfigurement, miscarriages, and rebellious children. Choosing the right dates, however, brings promotions, wealth, household prosperity, health for all ages, and thriving livestock.

Specific date-selection methods: Establishing prefectures, markets, temples, residences, granaries, or shops requires careful examination of stellar configurations for the year, month, day, and hour. The scripture details the constellations governing each of the sixty Jiazi days. For example, the "first months" of each season (first, fourth, seventh, and tenth lunar months) correspond to:

• Jiazi day: Demon Star (inauspicious)
• Yichou day: Doubt Star (inauspicious)
• Bingyin day: Harvest Blade (inauspicious)
• Dingmao day: Slaying Tribute (inauspicious)
• Wuchen day: Direct Star (auspicious)
• Jisi day: Divining Water (inauspicious)

(Subsequent dates follow similarly, each assigned specific stars of fortune or misfortune.)

At its essence, this scripture serves as a practical guide to Daoist date-selection arts (Zeri), emphasizing the correspondence between celestial patterns and human affairs. It asserts that aligning with stellar rhythms is essential for attracting blessings and averting disaster.

This scripture documents the ancient Daoist "Liuren Shensa" system for selecting auspicious times and avoiding inauspicious events. It correlates the celestial stems and earthly branches (traditional calendrical markers) with specific shensa (Daoist deities governing fortune and misfortune) to form a complete divination framework.

For example, "Jiashen (Hedao)" indicates that on a Jiashen day, the corresponding shensa is "Hedao" (Grain Blade); "Yiyou (Shagong)" means the Yiyou day corresponds to the "Shagong" (Sacrificial Offering) shensa. Each of these shensa names carries specific meanings: "Hedao" governs agricultural hazards, "Shagong" relates to sacrificial rites, "Zhixing" (Direct Star) governs legal disputes, and "Boxing" (Divination Star) determines the auspiciousness of divination, among others.

The later mention of "the second, fifth, eighth, and eleventh months" refers to the four lunar months of February, May, August, and November, known in Daoism as the "Four Zhong Months," which hold special seasonal significance.

This system is primarily used for:

1. Selecting auspicious dates for Daoist rituals

2. Predicting daily favorable and unfavorable directions

3. Avoiding inauspicious hours

4. Complementing other divination techniques

Note that interpretations of these shensa names may vary slightly among different Daoist lineages, so their application should align with specific sect traditions.

This passage contains excerpts from the "Golden Talisman Scripture" (Jinfu Jing), a classical Daoist text on date selection. It records special astrological terms corresponding to each of the sixty Jiazi (heavenly stem and earthly branch) days. For instance, "Gengzi (Hedao)" indicates that the Gengzi day is associated with the "Hedao" astrological influence.

Terms like "Hedao" (Grain Blade), "Shagong" (Malevolent Tribute), and "Zhixing" (Direct Star) represent specific energetic qualities used by ancient Daoists to determine auspicious or inauspicious timings. Daoist priests would consult these influences when choosing the right moments for rituals, cultivation practices, or daily activities. For example, "Shagong" might signify an unfavorable day to avoid, while "Zhixing" could mark an opportune time for important undertakings.

The mention of "the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth months of the four seasons" refers to the final months of each season in the lunar calendar (March, June, September, December), which hold particular significance in Daoist tradition and require careful consideration in date selection.

This text essentially served as a Daoist "almanac handbook," allowing priests to quickly reference the auspicious or inauspicious nature of a given day by memorizing these stem-branch and astrological correspondences. However, modern readers should note that fully understanding and applying these terms requires systematic study of Daoist calendrical systems.

This scripture discusses the calamities brought by four malignant stars (Black Tortoise Talisman, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Azure Dragon Celestial Virtue Talisman) entering a household, as well as the consequences of undertaking various activities during their reign.

Black Tortoise Talisman entering the household:

If construction, marriage, relocation, sacrificial rites, or opening businesses are conducted during this star's reign, misfortunes will befall the household within a year, including lawsuits, theft, imprisonment, or family members drowning. After four hundred days, someone may die from abdominal pain, and family wealth will dissipate. This star primarily harms the elders and eldest sons of the household. On its day, wooden objects may fall into water, or disputes may arise from the east or south.

Vermilion Bird entering the household:

This star brings fires and thieves. Within a year, deception is likely. Marriage, relocation, assuming official posts, opening businesses, or construction will lead to family decline, livestock deaths, unfilial children, and promiscuity among women. Within sixty days, a female relative may die of dysentery. On this day, only burials are suitable—all other activities should be avoided.

White Tiger entering the household:

Within a year, it harms unidentified individuals. Assuming official posts, construction, marriage, relocation, burials, or opening businesses will cause family members to fall ill, suffer bereavements, or even be harmed by tigers or weapons within a year. Unless the household has accumulated virtue (De) through good deeds, servants will bear the brunt of misfortune.

Azure Dragon Celestial Virtue Talisman entering the household:

This star is unique—though classified as malignant, it carries the power of Celestial Virtue (a benevolent deity). Construction, marriage, opening businesses, relocation, assuming official posts, or bridge-building are auspicious during its reign and will bring good fortune.

Plain English Interpretation of The Nine Heavens Sage's Secret Transmission of Golden Talisman Scripture

Direct Star (Zhi Xing)

This celestial configuration is called "Golden Cabinet Talisman Entering the Home." Any activity undertaken during this time—whether building a house, assuming office, holding a wedding, opening a business, or constructing a tomb—will bring great fortune within three years. Officials will be promoted, commoners will find smooth success in all endeavors, livestock will flourish, and the household will prosper (potentially growing to seventy-two members). Unexpected wealth will also arrive that same year. However, if this period coincides with the inauspicious Seven Killings of the Metal God, disaster will strike within twenty-one days over six months, possibly manifesting as theft or lawsuits. Monks and Daoist priests using this configuration, however, will encounter only good fortune.

Divining Wood (Bu Mu)

This configuration is called "Black Path Talisman Entering the Home." Within a year, troublemakers will emerge, bringing frequent injuries and calamities. If weddings, funerals, relocations, shop openings, monastic ordinations, or construction take place during this time, major upheavals will occur within two years—including mourning, floods or fires, legal disputes, family discord, sibling conflict, theft, livestock decline, and general misfortune. The seventh year will be especially inauspicious. Only a virtuous household head may beseech divine intervention to mitigate these effects.

Horn and Self (Jiao Ji)

This "Lunar Yin Entering the Home" configuration is highly unfavorable. If weddings, relocations, official appointments, renovations, or burials occur during this time, family members will suffer abdominal illnesses within three years, possibly encountering imprisonment, snakebites, theft, floods, or fires, leading to financial ruin. Even with the help of virtuous individuals, disputes and slander will persist, as the malevolent star inevitably brings misfortune.

Human Specialist (Ren Zhuan)

This "Six Yin Golden Hall Talisman Entering the Home" configuration ensures the birth of an exceptional child within a year. Construction, weddings, funerals, business openings, relocations, official appointments, or renovations undertaken during this time will bring continuous promotions for officials and repeated joyous occasions for commoners within three years. Crops will flourish, and unexpected wealth will pour in.

Interpretation of the Secret Golden Talisman Scripture of the Nine Heavens' Supreme Sage

On the Use of Talismans (Fulu):

When ordinary people perform good deeds in cooperation with Buddhist or Daoist practitioners, the use of this talisman brings great auspiciousness.

Warning of the Chen Star (an inauspicious celestial body):

When this star appears, activities such as building houses, marriages, funerals, opening businesses, assuming official posts, or construction work will be inauspicious. Within a year, family members may scatter, affairs will be troubled, and the household will decline. If logging, raising beams, or shipbuilding are undertaken, craftsmen may suffer bloody misfortunes. If women become involved, disputes and conflicts will arise, leading to further misfortune in all matters.

The Uniqueness of the Golden Talisman Scripture (Jinfu Jing):

This scripture contains the secret teachings of sages and differs from other texts. Also known as the Scripture of Salvation from Suffering or the Scripture of Household Treasures, it is a miraculous and efficacious book that must not be transmitted to the ignorant.

Zhuge Liang’s Perpetual Travel Chart:

This was a perpetual calendar for travel and auspicious timing compiled by Zhuge Liang (styled "Crouching Dragon"), used to select favorable dates for major activities such as digging canals, building houses, marriages, and burials. When encountering inauspicious times, one must avoid them; choosing the right moment can ward off malevolent forces within 120 paces. The dates are divided into three rotating cycles (upper, middle, and lower), making good and bad fortune immediately apparent.

Chart of Auspicious and Inauspicious Days Governed by the Supreme General of the Upper Prime:

Based on specific dates in the four "initial months" of each season (the first months of spring, summer, autumn, and winter—namely, the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th lunar months):

• Shunyang Day for Travel:

All affairs proceed smoothly, legal disputes are just, no encounters with thieves, wealth is obtained as desired, one meets noble patrons, enjoys good food—extremely auspicious.

• Tangfang Day for Travel:

The deities are absent, wealth is easily gained, noble patrons are encountered—very auspicious.

• Jinku Day for Travel:

Vehicles and horses break down, major mistakes occur, thieves are met on the road, wealth is lost—extremely inauspicious.

• Jintang Day for Travel:

Everything goes smoothly, legal disputes are favorable, wealth is obtained as desired—auspicious.

• Zeidao Day for Travel:

Desires remain unfulfilled, the head of the household may die, imprisonment is feared—must be avoided, all affairs are unfavorable.

This scripture discusses Daoist methods for selecting auspicious travel dates, divided into two systems governed by the Upper Primordial General (overseeing the 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th lunar months) and Lower Primordial General (overseeing the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th months). Each date corresponds to specific travel outcomes:

Under the Upper Primordial General's jurisdiction:

• Treasure Granary Day: Meeting benefactors, smooth endeavors, successful wealth-seeking, glorious homecoming (ideal for all activities)
• Celestial Thief Day: Failed financial pursuits, verbal disputes (extremely inauspicious)
• Celestial Gate Day: All wishes fulfilled, unobstructed journeys (highly auspicious)
• Celestial Hall Day: All desires achieved, prosperous trade, encounters with benefactors (highly auspicious)
• Celestial Wealth Day: Financial gains, meeting virtuous people (favorable for all matters)
• Celestial Bandit Day: Financial loss, legal defeats, general misfortune (extremely inauspicious)
• Celestial Sun Day: Wealth acquisition, marital bliss (auspicious)
• Celestial Monkey Day: Frequent disputes, potential bloodshed (inauspicious for use)
• Heavenly Granary Day: Financial gain, favorable official encounters (highly auspicious)

Under the Lower Primordial General's jurisdiction:

• Vermilion Bird Day: Financial loss, unfavorable litigation (extremely inauspicious)
• White Tiger's Head Day: Suitable for long journeys, prosperous wealth-seeking (highly auspicious)
• White Tiger's Flank Day: Smooth financial pursuits, safety in all directions (auspicious)
• White Tiger's Foot Day: Unfavorable wealth-seeking, inadvisable for long trips (inauspicious)
• Dark Warrior Day: Frequent disputes, general misfortune (inauspicious for use)
• Azure Dragon's Head Day: Favorable for wealth-seeking, optimal travel between cockcrow and mao hour (5-7 AM)
• Azure Dragon's Flank Day: Smooth financial pursuits, all endeavors successful (auspicious)

(Note: The White Tiger, Azure Dragon, etc. represent the Four Directional Animals in Daoism, with their body parts symbolizing different time periods. Ancient practitioners believed travel timing significantly influenced outcomes, as commonly recorded in Daoist liturgical texts.)

This passage primarily explains the Daoist principles of auspicious timing and taboos, along with fundamental knowledge of the Five Phases (Wuxing) and Eight Trigrams (Bagua). It first introduces the "Nine Maleficent Stars" (Jiuliang), which occupy different positions each year. Construction work in these inauspicious directions may invite misfortune—for instance, building temples during Dragon/Dog/Ox/Goat years (Chen-Xu-Chou-Wei) brings calamity; constructing gates, wells, or bridges during Tiger/Monkey years (Yin-Shen) invites disaster; establishing Daoist monasteries during Rabbit/Rooster years (Mao-You) immediately summons misfortune; while boat-building or long journeys during Snake/Pig years (Si-Hai) are strictly prohibited.

The text then outlines the generative sequence of the Five Phases: Water → Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal. The Eight Trigrams follow this order: Qian (Heaven), Kan (Water), Gen (Mountain), Zhen (Thunder), Xun (Wind), Li (Fire), Kun (Earth), and Dui (Marsh).

Regarding the Heavenly Stems (Tiangan) and Earthly Branches (Dizhi): Among the ten Heavenly Stems, Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, and Ren are Yang stems, while Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, and Gui are Yin stems. The twelve Earthly Branches divide into Yang branches (Zi, Yin, Chen, Wu, Shen, Xu) and Yin branches (Chou, Mao, Si, Wei, You, Hai).

The passage details various auspicious timeframes:

• Celestial Official's Auspicious Hours: For instance, the Chou period (1-3 AM) and Wei period (1-3 PM) on Jia/Wu days are favorable.
• Literary Star's Auspicious Hours: The You period (5-7 PM) on Jia days or Shen period (3-5 PM) on Yi days benefit scholarly pursuits.
• Fortune-Bearing Hours: Each month has specific lucky periods, like You hour in the first lunar month or Mao hour in the second month.
• Celestial Virtue Hours: Monthly auspicious directions correspond to different stems, such as the southern Ding direction in the first month or the Kun (southwest) palace in the second month.
• Monthly Virtue Hours: The stems Bing, Jia, Ren, and Geng rotate as favorable markers through the months.

Finally, it mentions the "Earthly Official's Taboo Directions"—specific inauspicious annual orientations to avoid. These principles primarily guide Daoist ritual timing (Zhaijiao), feng shui arrangements, and ceremonial practices (Keyi).

This scripture explains the Daoist method of "Yellow Path Calculation" (Huangdao qili) for determining auspicious directions and timings. Essentially, it involves correlating the twelve Earthly Branches (Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai) with specific years and directions.

The first section describes the correspondence between Earthly Branches and years:

• The Zi year corresponds to the Chen direction
• The Chou year corresponds to the Si direction
• The Yin year corresponds to the Wu direction
• And so forth, with each year having its designated directional branch

"Commencing the Yellow Path calculation" refers to initiating the method for determining auspicious days. The subsequent phrase, "When will the distant path open? On what day shall the long journey home be completed?" appears to inquire about travel times, but actually implies the importance of calculating favorable dates.

The text then details the specific calculation method:

• For the first and seventh lunar months (Zheng-Qi), focus on the Zi position
• For the second and eighth months (Er-Ba), observe the Yin position
• For the third and ninth months (San-Jiu), examine the Chen position
• For the fourth and tenth months (Si-Shi), check the Wu position (associated with the Horse)
• For the fifth and eleventh months (Wu-Shiyi), analyze the Shen position
• For the sixth and twelfth months (Liu-Shier), consider both the Xu and Shen positions

The scripture title Secret Golden Talisman Classic Transmitted by the Nine Heavens' Supreme Sages (Jiutian shangsheng michuan jinfu jing) indicates this is a sacred transmission from the highest celestial realms, containing essential talismanic calculation methods. These computations are primarily used for selecting auspicious moments and dates, forming crucial elements in Daoist purification rituals (Zhaijiao), liturgical practices (Keyi), and cultivation.