《元始說度酆都經》

Plain English Interpretation of Yuanshi's Discourse on Salvation in Fengdu:

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (the supreme deity in Daoism) addressed the Five Ancient Sovereigns, mountain deities of all regions, eighty trillion earth god-kings, the True Lord of Great Unity (Taiyi Zhenjun), underworld officials from the Twenty-Four Dioceses (Daoist administrative divisions), and officers from the Three Offices (Heavenly, Earthly, and Water Officials) along with the Nine Palaces of the Three Northern Prefectures: "You oversee the registers recording human life, death, and karma. The retribution for beings' good and evil deeds echoes as precisely as sound follows vibration. Now, to deliver all beings, I proclaim this Perfect Scripture of Seven Primes, establishing a sacred law. This method operates like the revolution of the Northern Dipper's seven stars, permeating the Three Realms (heaven, earth, and humanity), corresponding to earth's five colors (azure, yellow, red, white, and purple). It aligns with the twenty-eight lunar mansions and the sun-moon's yin-yang polarity, while twenty-four underworld bureaus judge human merits and transgressions."

The Celestial Worthy further instructed the Great Emperor of Northern Yin and Seven Perfected Ones: "Mortals in Jambudvīpa (the human world) sustain life through yin-yang energies of sun and moon. Human destiny is governed by the Northern Dipper, their qi channels belong to thirty-six bureaus, their five viscera correspond to the Five Thearchs of the cardinal directions, and their six bowels are overseen by the Six Officials (viscera deities). Yet contaminated by defilements, they're often harassed by malevolent ghosts. This prevents primordial Jing (essence) and pure qi from descending, making people violent, rebellious, and unfilial. After death, such souls fall into Fengdu's hells as condemned ghosts, their grievances congealing until they even assail celestial palaces."

"The Most High Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun), compassionate toward beings, commanded me to transmit this Perfect Scripture of Seven Primes and establish talismanic methods for deliverance. When degenerate ages approach (as heaven-earth near destruction amid calamities), if Daoist practitioners can chant this scripture while journeying through the central lands, convening rituals for beings, establishing Seven Primes' altars, maintaining eternal lamps in practice, submitting memorials, wearing fulu (talismans), and making offerings to the Supreme August Perfected Sovereigns and Ninefold Pure Dao-Lords—they shall gain testimony from Three Realms' deities, transcend eight great kalpic catastrophes, have names inscribed in immortal registers, and ultimately attain Dao-realization."

The Seven Perfected Ones added: "In future times, should any Daoist aspire to the immortal path—whether dwelling in mountain forests or mundane society..." (the scripture continues)

This scripture explains Daoist ritual methods for dispelling calamities and delivering deceased souls. The main teachings are:

When wars, plagues, floods or fires afflict the world, laypeople may resolve to hold Daoist ceremonies. They should light incense and lamps, conducting continuous rituals for seven, fourteen, twenty-one, or forty-nine days. During this period, lamps must burn day and night while summoning the Seven Perfected Beings and guardian deities to establish the "Northern Emperor's Seven Primordials Calamity-Dispelling Treasure Fast." Through repentance to northern underworld deities, practitioners petition to erase death records (underworld registers of mortality), deliver souls from Fengdu (the Daoist hell realm), and permanently liberate them from ghost-officials' jurisdiction.

The specific method involves writing divine talismans (fulu) on seven feet of white silk. After completion, these are placed in blue cloth pouches within dragon-shaped caskets and cast into famous northern mountains. This allows passage through Fengdu's twenty-four hell layers without underworld officials' pursuit. The scripture emphasizes that without accepting these sacred talismans, Daoist priests won't command ghostly beings' respect nor receive divine manifestations—instead offending the gods, having their names recorded in Fengdu's registers and harassed by minor demons.

The Seven Perfected declare: Any priest sincerely practicing this method may attain immortality with their name enrolled in celestial registers, becoming exemplary teachers who can deliver multitudes during chaotic eras. The scripture further reveals this method's transmission by the Northern Great Emperor of Grand Tenuity (a supreme Daoist deity), requiring establishment of sacred altars during disasters with seven primordial lamps, thrice-daily scripture recitations with incantations, and drumming to summon celestial troops.

These divine forces include: Marshal Tianpeng (a Daoist guardian deity), the Ten Celestial Demon Kings (subduers of evil spirits), and the Five Mighty Divine Agents (powerful deities) leading 300,000 spirit soldiers to descend upon ritual spaces—expelling demons while protecting priests who aid the people. Sincere cultivation of this method leads to supreme Dao-realization.

The text concludes by stressing priests must wear the "Supreme Divine Spells and Radiant Talismans Register" (a Daoist talismanic scripture), without which grasping this method's essence proves difficult.

The Yuanshi Shuodu Fengdu Jing (Scripture of the Primordial Beginning on Deliverance from Fengdu) primarily explains how practitioners can obtain divine protection through specific rituals, along with important guidelines for transmitting the sacred incantations. Here is a clear interpretation:

For Daoist priests who seek to cultivate the Dao but lack divine assistance, if they wish to study this scripture of divine incantations, they must prepare forty feet of white silk, a bolt of purple-patterned cloth, as well as fragrant oil, rice, flour, cinnabar, paper, ink, and other ritual items. Disciples must sincerely offer these items with utmost devotion, then reverently transcribe the scripture in a quiet chamber for transmission—ensuring no secrets are leaked. Additionally, they must arrange thirty-six trays of offerings to venerate the Supreme Perfected of the Highest Emperor, the Ninefold Perfected Lords, the Three Pure Dao-Sovereigns (the highest deities in Daoism), the Five Thearchs of the Directions, and the envoys of Fengdu (the underworld).

The scripture records an incantation for delivering souls from Fengdu, conveying that through the power of this mantra, those who carry it can avoid harassment by underworld officials, purify their souls, and ultimately attain the Dao, achieving immortality and being recorded in the celestial registers. The phrase "urgently, urgently, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances" at the end is a common Daoist incantation formula, signifying immediate efficacy.

The Seven Perfected Ones (highly realized adepts) specifically instruct: In later generations, only those whose destiny aligns with the celestial mysteries and who possess an innate connection to immortality may receive this scripture. It must never be transmitted to those who disrespect their teachers, act arrogantly, or are ignorant—this is a strict prohibition.

The Seven Perfected Ones also command the Five Thearchs of the Directions and all deities of the Three Realms: From this day forward, if a Daoist priest sincerely cultivates this divine incantation, recites the scripture for the salvation of beings, employs talismans (Daoist ritual texts for exorcism), and aids the people in times of calamity, then the Ten Heavenly Demon Kings and deities of all directions will assist such priests in healing and saving lives. Once the calamities subside, these deities will be promoted in rank.

Finally, it is emphasized: Daoist priests who study this path must wholeheartedly revere their teachers and the Dao, showing devotion as if honoring the sun and moon. This talismanic incantation is guarded by thirty thousand mighty warriors and two hundred thousand great deities—it can expel ghosts and save lives, and must never be casually transmitted to those of improper conduct. Otherwise, the transgressor will suffer calamities for seven lifetimes, forever losing the opportunity to cultivate the Dao. At this point, the Five Elder Lords (high-ranking Daoist deities) receive the command and reverently uphold these regulations.

The Yuanshi Shuodu Fengdu Jing (Scripture of Primordial Beginning on Salvation in Fengdu) is a pivotal Daoist scripture that records the teachings of Yuanshi Tianzun (the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, highest deity in Daoism) on delivering souls from Fengdu (the Daoist underworld). This scripture primarily contains the following content:

Yuanshi Tianzun expounds to the assembled immortals and perfected beings the methods for redeeming lost souls. Fengdu, regarded in Daoist belief as the capital city of the netherworld, houses all manner of departed spirits. The scripture elaborates how reciting its verses and performing zhaijiao (Daoist sacrificial rituals) can help these souls transcend suffering and attain deliverance.

The text particularly emphasizes three key aspects:

First, cultivating this scripture accumulates merit (De) that benefits not only the deceased but also brings blessings to the living. Second, it meticulously documents the salvation liturgy (religious ceremonial procedures), including specific steps like altar construction, scripture recitation, and food offerings. Third, it explains the karmic retribution (cause and effect) experienced by different types of souls in Fengdu, along with corresponding methods for their salvation.

This classic embodies the Daoist compassionate ideal of "delivering all sentient beings," serving as an essential text for studying Daoist mortuary culture. Practitioners often chant this scripture to redeem their ancestors, while lay followers frequently conduct rituals based on its teachings during festivals like Qingming (Tomb-Sweeping Day) and Zhongyuan (Ghost Festival).