《靈寶文檢》Vol. 19

This scripture is a formal memorial document used in important Daoist rituals (official petitions submitted to the celestial realm), primarily consisting of three sections:

The first section, titled "Memorial to the Nine Celestial Sovereigns," features a Daoist priest (referring to himself as "your servant") reverently addressing the Nine Sovereigns (the nine celestial emperors venerated in Daoism). The text states: The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanhuang) established the teachings, while the Most High Lord Lao (Taishang) transmitted the scriptures. Now preparing to conduct a Zhaijiao purification ritual (Daoist sacrificial ceremony for blessings), the priest first reports to the celestial court. He implores the Celestial Worthy Who Expounds Teachings of the Void Emperor (a high-ranking Daoist deity) for compassionate protection to help eliminate calamities, save suffering beings trapped in misery, and bestow blessings upon all living beings in both the yang (living) and yin (spirit) realms.

The second section, "Memorial of Gratitude to the Three Pure Ones," expresses thanksgiving to the supreme Daoist triad of Sanqing (the Jade Pure, Upper Pure, and Great Pure Celestial Worthies). The text describes: Before the solemn Yaotan altar, the priest sincerely prepares a thanksgiving Zhaijiao ceremony, praying for the enlightened attention of the supreme sages. He hopes the Three Pure Ones will widely disseminate their teachings to universally deliver all beings, commanding the Three Realms and Four Offices (the administrative systems of heaven, earth, water, and the mortal world) to erase devotees' transgressions, record their virtuous deeds, fulfill previously made vows, and grant future blessings.

The third section, "Vermilion Memorial Reporting Merit and Confessing Faults," uses red paper to report merits and confess shortcomings to the Jade Emperor (Yudi). The text declares: The grace that can revive the dead is most profound, requiring three days of utmost sincerity to express gratitude and repentance. The priest hopes the Jade Emperor will pardon offenses and record merits.

These memorials follow strict formats, employing numerous specialized Daoist terms and honorifics that reflect the solemn protocol for human-divine communication in Daoist rituals. The recurring phrase "yunyun" (literally "cloud-cloud") represents standard textual ellipsis in memorial documents—in actual practice, this would be replaced with specific content according to the ritual context.

The way of compassionate benevolence should be made manifest. Your servant humbly submits, considering the circumstances set forth above, and deeply reflects: Though ignorant and unlearned, I have presumed to take up the duties of conducting rites, presenting petitions, transmitting communications, and performing the rites of Ningbao Chongke. Amid their rising and descending motions, I am ever afraid that my utmost sincerity has failed to reach the spirits. The sponsor of the retreat, a certain person, came to repay a parent’s kindness, yet has never heard the Dao. Words of prayer for blessing and a plea for long life may instead have become irreverent; or, while disciplining the body and exhorting the assembly, the sponsor may have shown displeasure without realizing it. If I were to enumerate the rites and offerings, there would be scarcely any ground on which to stand. I can only rely on the vast shelter that embraces even the unworthy, and hope for Heaven’s forbearance.

Your servant, deeply fearful and trembling, prostrates himself and bows a hundred times. With reverence, I give thanks to the Most High, who opened Heaven and holds the tally, governs the calendar, embraces the Real, and embodies the Dao; the Supreme Jade Emperor, Great Celestial Worthy, Highest Lord of the Mysterious Firmament, beneath whose jade steps I humbly stand. He grants the Dao as the foundation and establishes life for all beings. He pardons faults and forgives transgressions, his awe-inspiring might stern as snow and frost; he commends the good and pities the foolish, his benevolence broad as rain and dew. I humbly pray that he suppress the hosts of demons and keep them hidden, enabling the myriad methods to attain perfect realization; that he grant us further protection and ultimately bring our work to completion. May the code for deliberating on offenses be set aside, and the office that records good deeds be made calm and clear. May he take into account the circumstances of Daoist practitioners and retreat officials and pardon their punishments; may he commend the celestial officials, down to the commanders and marshals, and reward meritorious service with advancement. Your servant, a certain person, presumes to trespass upon Heaven’s authority. My feelings below are beyond measure, charged with anxious urgency and trembling. Deeply fearful and trembling, I bow my head to the ground, prostrate myself twice, and respectfully submit this petition.

Petition to the Jade Emperor for Communion with the Real

I declare: Your servant has heard that the highest transcends all heights, the exalted lord of the Golden Palace; mysterious beyond mystery, the sacred one of the vast Jade Capital. Seated in lofty repose above the layered skies, none but a spirit can reach him; his station is exalted at the celestial pole, beyond the ascent of ordinary beings. Only through subtle inner resonance can one communicate with him; without reverent purity, none can approach. Whenever anyone has a prayer to make, how could it fail to be reported above?

Your servant respectfully relies on the petition brought before him by a certain petitioner; reason makes it impossible to suppress. Now, in accordance with the rites and forms of the present tradition, we have established a sacred altar. Prostrate before the jade steps, we still fear that a wisp of cloud may stand between us. We offer our sincerity within the vermilion palace and look up, hoping for a moment of your favor. Your servant, deeply fearful and trembling, reverently addresses the Most High, Lord of the Mysterious Firmament, Venerable One who began with the clouds of the vast kalpa: He holds in his grasp the authority of the myriad Heavens and secretly directs the transformations of Yin and Yang, encompassing all without omission.

Vast and profound, beyond the power of words to describe. I, your humble subject, respectfully look up: as the feathered ceremonial fans part slightly, I may behold the Heavenly Countenance from just a few feet away; as the pearl curtain is half drawn, I may glimpse the sacred face in an instant. I, your subject, presume to make this request…

Memorial for Communion with the Real (excerpt)

I have heard that when the precious throne is first set in place, the stars gather around the Purple-Gold Palace; when the pearl curtain is half drawn, auspicious clouds stretch across the white-jade hooks. Reflecting that before the Lord on High one should offer reverent homage at the hour of Yin, and that before the Perfected One of the court one should hold sincere devotion, I, your subject, respectfully undertake this rite for [a certain matter], on account of [a certain reason]. My petition is heartfelt, and I follow the teachings in carrying it out. Now I have solemnly prepared the jade altar, and presume to present my humble sincerity. I, your subject, bow my head and offer thanks.

“Vast beyond naming, abundant as though present”: immeasurable in greatness, yet the august presence seems before our eyes. The sacred and wondrous form fills the highest heaven; boundless spiritual powers shine forth in the palace of sevenfold treasure. Grace extends throughout the Three Realms, and benevolence shelters the Ten Directions. I, your subject, humbly hope that the lush auspicious clouds may be parted, so that I may look up and behold the radiance of the sun—that is, the Emperor’s countenance—and that the clear, bright Yellow Way may be opened, so that I may see the Heavenly Countenance. If, in the course of presenting this petition, my sincere wish to cultivate and uphold the rite can be made known, it would be a great honor; I am overwhelmed with awe. I, your subject, presume to intrude upon…

Memorial to the Jade Emperor for Protection from Fire (excerpt)

I have heard that the Chanli Dharma Assembly opens the gate of repentance for all beings, and that the Palace of the Qingwei Heaven sets forth the rites by which those below may cultivate and uphold the Dao. Daring to act in accordance with this purpose, I presume to address the lofty heavens. I, your subject, respectfully offer thanks in accordance with the eight intentions. With reverence I reflect upon Your Majesty, [name]: sovereign over the myriad heavens, ordering the two forms of Heaven and Earth; boundless in spiritual power, extending great compassion and protection to the Ten Directions; the Brahma Qi filling the cosmos, spreading a love of life throughout all things. Your station is exalted above all, and your Dao is confirmed in the Real and Eternal. You greatly extend the benevolence that rescues all beings, and silently grant what people desire. I humbly hope that your vast compassion may be boundless and your imperial discernment all-encompassing: pardon past faults and grant future blessings. May this region be clear and peaceful, all relying on the enduring light of your transformative power; may the four borders be settled and secure, forever free from the scorching winds of fire. May all receive your sacred grace and rejoice continually in the warmth of spring. I, your subject, presume to intrude…

Memorial to the Jade Emperor for Prolonging Life (excerpt)

I have heard that Heaven does not speak, yet responds well; all depends on utmost sincerity and reverence. When people recognize their faults and can renew themselves, they should first think to offer thanks. I humbly reflect that I, your subject, have not yet dispelled my impure Qi, yet have presumed to take my place among the ranks of the Real. Ashamed that I have done no good for others, I have accumulated deep faults upon myself, yet have not incurred punishment. I, your subject…

Note: The original is a form of memorial used in Lingbao Zhaijiao rites. It often employs humble expressions from a subject addressing the Heavenly Emperor or Jade Emperor, such as “your subject,” “presume to intrude,” “humbly hope,” and “bow my head.” Descriptions of heavenly court ceremony—including palaces, pearl curtains, and jade altars—express prayers for ritual cultivation, repentance, protection from fire, and prolonging life. Brief explanations of specialized terms appear in parentheses.

A Plain-Language Interpretation

(First Section: Permission to Carry Out the Rite)

With permission granted to proceed, I humbly ask that Your Sacred Majesty look upon this matter. I, your servant, respectfully submit this memorial, setting out the reasons for these matters, including the eight petitions. Having received these instructions, I cannot decline; I shall follow them as directed.

I respectfully consider the sponsor of the purification ritual, (a certain person). Born through the Qi of Yin-Yang and dwelling in the mortal world, this person has not cast off thoughts of fame and profit, and so cannot avoid faults and offenses. Without submitting a memorial, how could these be dispelled? I, your servant, am sincerely apprehensive and humbled (and so forth).

I respectfully contemplate Your Majesty, who sits upon the Jade Steps of the Central Palace: holding the talisman with profound sincerity, embodying the Dao in serene equanimity; majestically occupying the honored throne of the Golden Palace, keeping the myriad things within the hidden scriptures; vast and boundless, joining in the wondrousness of Jade Purity and serving as sovereign of the Three Realms. Your grace extends to all living beings; You honor the sages of every age. All beneath Your light cherish gratitude and devotion.

I humbly hope that Your heavenly compassion will grant my sincere, though foolish, plea: pardon all offenses accumulated through many lifetimes and wholly cleanse them; forgive transgressions accrued over kalpas, so they bring no calamity or burden.

I respectfully petition the Lords of Great Harmony and Benevolent Life, of Prolonging Life and Increasing Years, of Settling Destiny and Preserving Life, and of the Great Emperor’s Myriad Blessings; the Venerable Elder, the Central Palace, the Palace of Wenchang, and the Yellow-Robed Mighty Ones: together, for (a certain person), across former lives and this present life, within the three karmic actions and six sense faculties, the three destinies and Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), and among the Nine Luminaries and constellations, release offenses and resolve conflicts; gather blessings and dispel calamities.

For (a certain person), I further petition the Lords of the Left Assistant and Right Support stars in the Dipper, the two celestial envoys Xingyang and Tuoluo, and the star officers of this person’s natal destiny. May they descend and infuse the body’s fields with True Qi, so that all conduct and repose accord with peace and tranquility, and every movement and stillness be attended by calm. May this fulfill the prayer offered, and may my devotion in reverent service remain steadfast. I, your servant, have presumptuously intruded (and so forth).

Memorial to the Jade Emperor for Purifying Impurities

I have heard that when the Taiji established form, the human world became divided into the dense and turbid below. When the people below serve the Emperor, the ritual altar must still be kept pure and solemn. Only after evil influences have first been swept away can the true divine presence be ushered in.

I, your servant, respectfully submit this petition according to (the stated purpose), and ask that it be received and processed. Having received the teaching of the Mysterious Dao, I dare not resist or disobey; I shall carefully observe the Golden Regulations and solemnly uphold the sacred rites. Moreover, at this moment of facing and worshiping the divine, my efforts at purification have not yet been complete. I am sincerely apprehensive (and so forth).

I respectfully contemplate the Most High, who opened Heaven, holds the talisman and governs the calendar, embraces the Real and embodies the Dao: the Supreme Jade Emperor of Vast Heaven, seated upon the Jade Steps (of the Palace): encompassing the Three as the ultimate…

Notes for Reading the Original

By attaining the One, the mind becomes clear, and the radiance of the grotto shines through the Great Void. The four winds are gathered in stillness; the realm of forms is governed, and foul Qi is held at bay. With a profusion of floral vows, we beseech you to behold our foolish sincerity and specially bestow your imperial decree.

By imperial decree: command the Rain Master, Pingyi, to summon the rain, and order the Wind Earl to clear away the dusty haze. May their subtle response silently reach its mark, bringing the perfected immortals down; may baleful impurity be swept away and the Dao’s Qi endure forever. Your servant has presumed upon the awe of Heaven. My humble feelings are so impassioned that I cannot express them fully; I can only stand in fearful reverence.

Memorial Congratulating the Jade Emperor on His Birthday

Your servant has heard that the phoenix calendar opens a new era, and we respectfully welcome the auspicious ninth day; the Dragon Countenance is accompanied by felicitous signs, and we celebrate the day of the Ten Thousand Years. I respectfully compose this congratulatory memorial and, at the risk of offending, submit it for your hearing. Your servant respectfully submits this memorial on behalf of [place of origin and wording of the petition; formal expression of gratitude].

The Celestial Worthy of Wondrous Joy, manifest in transformation, holds the highest rank. His wondrous form surpasses all the heavens, and his compassionate light illumines the Three Realms. The titles of the Jade Capital are too many to recount; its treasured registers unfold writings of jade splendor. Your servant has devoted his heart to the Mysterious Teachings and, on this birthday, bows from afar, beholding in thought the auspicious light of countless treasures and recalling the flowing radiance of the nine rosy clouds. We humbly pray that you expound the Way of clarity, stillness, and liberation; deliver those sunk in delusion from the paths of hidden suffering; preserve and restrain the cycles of calamity; and deliver both the visible and invisible realms. Above, we pray for Heaven’s witness; below, may our humble wish be fulfilled. Your servant has presumed upon Heaven’s awe.

Memorial to the Jade Emperor for the Removal of Calamities

Your servant reports: I have heard that the distant Purple-Gold Gate is guarded by formidable tiger and leopard sentries; far away stands the Heavenly Treasure Terrace, where I imagine the Dragon and Phoenix at the imperial seat. A single memorial is submitted at dawn, and the myriad holy ones attend the court. Your servant respectfully submits this memorial on behalf of [petition details].

Your servant is of ordinary birth and mortal substance. Rising before dawn and keeping vigil through the night, I venture to present this humble petition, hoping that the punishment of axe and hatchet may be stayed. At the risk of countless offenses, I set forth my plea, exhausting my sincerity in prayer, so that my mortal wish may be granted and I may reach the heights of illumination.

[Formal expression of gratitude before the Jade Steps.] Your sacred virtue is exalted, and your spiritual power vast and boundless. Through the wondrous Way cultivated over countless ages, you release living beings from the sink of suffering endured through kalpas. You shelter the multitudes with blessings and extend grace to all things. We respectfully hope that Heaven’s grace will protect the good and the Emperor’s virtue show compassion. May you issue commands to the star officials of the Northern and Southern Dippers, the perfected officers who assess the Three Origins, the Heavenly Talismans for the purification rite, the Plague Department, the Fire Court, the stellar offices, local shrines, City Gods, and all perfected officers throughout the Ten Directions and Three Realms, so that they may carry out the requisite assessments.

A Plain-Language Interpretation of the Lingbao Textual Forms

(Common closing formula for petitions seeking blessings and averting calamities)

May the outcomes of sin and fortune both be clearly taken into account. In particular, grant (someone) peace and harmony; restrain inauspicious stellar influences; pardon epidemic illness; forgive offenses and acts of disrespect; and graciously accept the prayer to avert calamity. Or, as appropriate, add or omit the word “your servant” and respectfully pray for the following…

Petition to the Jade Emperor to Dispel Calamity

Your servant has heard that when good is done, auspicious signs descend, and that the Great Dao bestows blessings impartially. Whether prayers for grace and the establishment of an offering altar can reach those above depends entirely on the clarity of Heaven. Your servant humbly submits this lowly sincerity, and respectfully presumes to trouble the hearing of the heavens. Your servant now respectfully submits this petition on behalf of (reason for the request). Today, as we perform the rite of paying homage to the Origin and following the Dao, we present this petition and await, in hope, the witness of Your grace upon our observance and offerings (your servant, [name], with thanks, before the Jade Steps).

You dwell in stillness in the Golden Palace, presiding with folded hands over the Jade Capital. You hold authority over the myriad heavens and silently set in motion the transformations of Heaven and Earth. Your presence above is boundless, your greatness beyond description. Your servant respectfully hopes that Heaven’s grace will spread abundantly and sacred virtue flow everywhere; that the gods of the Three Realms will be commanded to witness our observance and offerings, and the assembled sages of the Ten Directions summoned to attest to the merits of this purification rite. May its completion bring blessings and auspicious signs, with the Emperor’s compassion descending upon us above and answering the hopes of ordinary people below. Your servant ventures to trouble Heaven with this petition…

Petition to the Jade Emperor in Fulfillment of a Vow

Your servant has heard that all the myriad forms look up to the transformations of the Mysterious Origin, and that the Three Powers stand firm like a tripod, all relying on the influence of purity and stillness. Whenever anyone offers sincere devotion, how could it fail to be reported above? Your servant now respectfully submits this petition on behalf of (hometown and reason for the request; with thanks, before the Jade Steps).

You are the foremost of the immortals, the ancestral master of the perfected sages. You hold the primordial power of sovereignty and govern the highest order of Heaven and Earth. You manifest in diverse forms to bring about transformation; your compassion is wondrously attested among the Golden Immortals. Embodying the Dao, you shape and nurture all things; your benevolence extends throughout the Jade Firmament. Every request is answered, and no wish goes unheeded. Your servant humbly hopes that Heaven’s scrutiny will shine forth clearly and the heart of the Dao grow ever more benevolent; that the vow made in the past will be fulfilled (and the offering of this observance) accepted, so that (someone’s) household may attain distinction, descendants prosper, heavenly favor be received in abundance, and a career in public service proceed successfully. Your servant ventures to trouble Heaven with this petition…

Preliminary Petition to the Jade Emperor (write the opening first)

Your servant has received the request brought here, so how could it be suppressed or withheld? Your servant reflects that, like a blade of grass, I am lowly and insignificant. I have received the teachings and methods without deserving them, have often violated their prohibitions, and have deeply incurred Heaven’s censure. By the law, I deserve punishment a thousand deaths over. Yet I have relied greatly on the virtue of cherishing life and on grace received from…

Notes for reading the petition

A biao is a formal document presented to the Jade Emperor. An jiao is a Daoist ritual in which an altar is established for offerings and prayers for blessings. “Paying homage to the Origin and following the Dao” means paying reverence to primordial deities such as the Primordial Lord of Heaven and performing the rites prescribed by liturgical regulations. “The Two Forms” refers to Heaven and Earth, or to Yin-Yang. “Venture to trouble Heaven” is a humble expression meaning to presume to disturb or burden Heaven. A preliminary petition is presented before the formal ritual. Placeholders such as “(someone),” “(your servant),” and “(hometown and reason for the request)” mark spaces where names, reasons, and other details are to be entered.

The following are modern plain-language interpretations of several memorials from the Lingbao Wenjian, aiming to stay close to the original meaning while retaining liturgical terminology.

(Your servant) prostrates and bows, submitting a memorial written in vermilion on yellow silk, to be presented before Heaven. (Your servant is sincerely fearful and trembling… before Your Jade Steps.)

The Most High Spirit, who embodies the Real and follows the Dao, supremely sacred, governs the offices and maintains their order, serving as sovereign over all living beings. Whoever takes refuge and turns toward the Dao is sure to receive compassion.

Issue edicts to the offices of the Three Realms, erasing grave offenses committed in the yin and yang domains. For the person below who is undertaking a purification rite, (name), remove and release the offenses and faults, increase blessings, and extend the years of life; provide funds to the Underworld Bureau to repay the original treasury; summon deceased relatives to the altar to receive the fruits of the rite; in the realm of the living, avert misfortune and bring harmony to the stars; petition the Northern Dipper to dispel calamity; provide for orphans and the bereaved; rescue suffering souls in the cold forests and free them through transformation. May the living and the dead both benefit, and may those in the unseen and visible realms alike receive this grace. (Your servant, presumptuously submitting this memorial…)

Memorial to the Supreme Ruler Praying for Rain

Your servant reports: I have heard that the Celestial Worthy established the teachings and widely bestowed ritual methods to save humanity; the Supreme Ruler, in boundless benevolence, expounds scriptural texts to benefit all things. Since I have received the petition, it is fitting that I copy and submit it. (Here follows the petition, your servant… before Your Jade Steps.)

May compassionate grace spread widely, quenching the burning sun in the vast sky; may the ritual rain flow in abundance, bestowing golden waves upon the earth. We beg that your grace be enacted and your commands issued and made known everywhere: may blessings return to the grotto-abodes in famous mountains and open the azure heavens above blessed lands. Let the seasonal spirits of the spring and autumn rites, and the spirits of wind, rain, and thunder, follow the words of the scriptures of the Great Dao, receive this petition without hindrance, and obey the Celestial Worthy’s power of vow, for those endowed with numinous power have received their commands. We humbly beg that perfected immortals of the transformative powers gather from all around, and that sages and worthies of the mountains and rivers all arrive; raise clouds and spread mist, swiftly filling the vast emptiness of space; bring rain and drive thunder, answering the hopes of living beings and all creatures. May Yin and Yang proceed in harmony, crops flourish, and harvests be abundant, so that the state’s taxes are fully paid and the people of (the village) enjoy good fortune. All depend on these blessings for daily life and look toward the autumn harvest. But (your servant…)

Memorial to the Star Ruler for Prolonging Life

Your servant reports: I have heard that the Emperor extends his kindness to the people below, who all receive the lasting goodness of his care; Heaven speaks no words to the myriad things, yet bestows its benevolence on all alike. I reflect humbly on how little I have done to repay this source of life, and am deeply afraid of the weight of accumulated offenses. Without relying on compassionate creation, how could ordinary human feelings be conveyed? Your servant respectfully submits this memorial on behalf of (here follows the petition). I have examined myself and found little ability or worth; looking outward, I see only my own shortcomings. Though I have long resolved to purify myself and build merit, how could I dare delay in expressing my sincerity? I will not shrink from…

Brief explanations of terms used above

The following are modern plain-language interpretations of several petition texts from the Lingbao Document Register, aiming to stay close to the original tone and structure.

1. Petition for Prolonging Life (excerpt)

I, your servant, respectfully submit this memorial, feeling apprehensive and uneasy, and so on.

Dwelling above in the Mysterious Heights (residing in the wondrous, lofty heavens), subtly guiding the workings of transformation (skillfully directing the mechanisms of creation), shaping the myriad beings without partiality (forming all things without selfish intent), taking pity on those lost in delusion and granting universal pardon (showing compassion to those who have strayed and pardoning them all). I respectfully hope that Heaven’s compassion will specially issue a decree, proclaiming it throughout the offices of the Perfected Officials in the heavens: let the grave offenses accumulated over many lives be erased, so that renewal may begin in this life.

I respectfully petition on behalf of the following: the Lord Who Prolongs Life and Increases the Years from within the Dipper, the Lord Who Fixes Destiny and Protects Blessings, the Lord Who Dispels Calamities and Scatters Misfortune, and the Lord Who Supports the Frail and Delivers from Adversity.

For (a certain person), in past lives and this present life, among the three karmic actions and six faculties (body, speech, and mind, together with the faculties of sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and thought), the three destinies and Five Phases (destiny, fortune, and bodily life, together with the Five Phases), and beneath the Nine Luminaries and their asterisms (the sun, moon, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and the stars Rahu and Ketu), may faults and offenses be released, adversity overcome, calamities dispelled, life protected, and life prolonged; may the movements of the stars be brought into harmony. Humbly grant an entry in the Azure Register (the record of good deeds), recording goodness, sending blessings, and preserving grace. Specially place the name in the Cinnabar Register (the book of immortals), prolonging life and increasing the years. May your protection in the cloud-heavens always be relied upon, and may the light of the transforming sun be our eternal refuge. In all daily affairs, may good fortune and celebration ever arrive. I, your servant, have dared to trouble you…

2. Petition to the Star Lords for Averting Calamity

I have heard that the Nine Sovereigns established the teachings, making clear the rites for prolonging life, and that the Most High bestowed ritual ordinances, widely opening the gate to blessings. Whenever a petition is submitted, it should properly be reported above. I respectfully submit this petition on behalf of (the meaning of the petition)… With respect.

Dwelling at the North Pole (residing at the North Pole), displaying celestial signs in the midst of heaven (revealing the stars in the central sky), you are the pivot of creation and the sovereign of humans and spirits. You proclaim your might through the Three Realms and command the myriad numinous beings. All who make requests receive a response; no wish goes unanswered.

I humbly hope that you will turn your vast compassion toward all, specially grant pardon, and issue notice to the Star Palaces and Dipper Courts, the Nine Luminaries and Three Terraces, the Southern and Northern Dipper Courts, the constellations throughout the heavens, the Twelve Zodiacal Houses, and the cycles of each person’s birth year, so that all may be informed. I specially ask that the offenses, whether deliberate or inadvertent, of me and those gathered here be pardoned and erased completely; may the inauspicious stars be shifted away and good fortune gather. Above, may this petition reach the judgment of Heaven; below, may it fulfill the hopes of ordinary people. I, your servant, have dared to trouble you, and so on.

3. Petition of Thanks to the Star Lord for Pardon of Offenses

I submit that I have heard: “Does Heaven speak?” (Heaven transforms all things without speaking)—this is the wondrous way in which the seasons and the myriad things move and flourish. Its grace is indeed profound: the people receive the blessings of its rain and dew. I reflect that the field of goodness has yet to be tilled, and fear sinking into the sea of suffering. Without receiving the compassion of the sages, how could past offenses be dispelled?

I respectfully submit this petition on behalf of (place of origin and meaning of the petition), and so forth. I humbly reflect upon my own inward failings…

Note: These are petitions from Lingbao ritual practice, formal documents addressed to the celestial deities. Their language often uses parallel phrasing and paired clauses, and frequently invokes star deities such as the Dipper Court, the Nine Luminaries, the Three Terraces, and the Southern and Northern Dipper Courts. The plain-language interpretations retain these proper names and ritual structures while explaining their meaning in modern Chinese. For a line-by-line comparison of any passage or the source of a particular deity’s name, you may specify the passage for a more detailed translation.

Here is a modern plain-language reading of this memorial from the Lingbao Wenjian (Prescripts of the Numinous Treasure), retaining proper names such as the memorial, Doumu, the Three Karmas, and the Nine Luminaries, with brief explanations at first mention.

Continued from the previous passage: Giving Thanks and Petitioning the Lords

I know that my abilities and understanding are limited, and my merits and virtues slight. I have always sought only to keep myself pure. Now I present this memorial before the seat of the Heavenly Venerable (a Daoist title of respect for a high-ranking deity). The majesty of Heaven is solemn and clear; still, I presume to set forth my wholehearted sincerity. (I, your servant, together with the others, offer thanks here.)

The Heavenly Venerable dwells high in the mysterious heights and wondrously sets the workings of transformation and nurture in motion, shaping and casting the myriad things and extending nurture everywhere. Moved by compassion for living beings lost in confusion, he grants pardon to all. I bow low and look up to Heaven’s compassion, begging that this petition be granted: issue a special edict, and proclaim it to the offices of the perfected throughout the realms (celestial offices in charge of immortal registers and records of merit and fault), so that the grave sins accumulated over many lifetimes may be erased and (the named person) may reform in this life.

I respectfully petition the following: the Lord of Prolonged Life and Increased Years among the Dipper, the Lord Who Fixes Destiny and Preserves Blessings, the Lord Who Dispels Calamities and Scatters Misfortune, and the Lord Who Supports the Frail and Carries Them Through Peril (deities of the Dipper Bureau who govern longevity, destiny, the dispelling of calamity, and aid in times of decline). For (the named person’s) past lives and present life, within the Three Karmas, the Six Roots, and the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), and within the domains of the Nine Luminaries (the nine principal celestial bodies) and the constellations: release calamities and resolve enmities, carry them through adversity and dispel misfortune, preserve life and extend their years, and bring harmony to the movements of the stars. May the Azure Register (a record of good deeds) record their good conduct, and the Cinnabar Register (a register recording names among the immortals) inscribe their name. May they always rely on the protection of the cloudy heavens and forever rest in the radiance of the transforming sun. In all their daily comings and goings, may good fortune attend them.

I have presumptuously intruded upon the august presence.

Memorial for Doumu to Untie Knots

I have heard that living beings fall into Southern Yama (a realm associated with Yama and the underworld, here a metaphor for deep suffering), where entangling habits (the lingering force of past vows, oaths, and resentments) bind their families and are difficult to escape. The Most Exalted One dwells in Western India (the western lands of the Buddhist tradition; here, Doumu is also associated with Buddhist teachings) and answers the cries of those who suffer, making it easier to dissolve such entanglements. Now, moved by this plea, I beg for your compassion. Having received the petition, I dare not fail to present it above. (The intention is stated.)

Therefore, I have purified my body and mind and devoted all my sincerity and resolve to presenting this memorial, at the request of (the petitioner), concerning the untying of knots (the release of vows, resentments, spells, and other bonds). I am but an ordinary, foolish person, undeservedly entrusted with the teachings. My merits are slight and my faults many, and I am ashamed and fearful before Heaven. Yet I have presumed to accept this petition and recklessly present it. I kneel and offer it. May (the petitioner) receive the Way’s transformation. I, your servant, am filled with awe and dread. And so on.

Splendid and brilliant is your numinous radiance; your wondrous form is complete and harmonious. The sun and moon hang before Heaven, releasing spiritual light that shines through all things. Throughout the lands of Western India, countless as the sands of the Ganges, you extend the power of wisdom throughout every Dharma Realm. You wield bow and arrows to subdue demons of entanglement (demonic obstacles summoned by lingering habits and vows), and carry a lock and bell to remove karmic hindrances (obstacles arising from sin).

May we pray for the gift of your power, which sees deeply into the feelings of ordinary people. Send the Way’s decree to the star palaces and Dipper Bureau, and issue an edict to the divine king who defeats enemies. For the person named in this purification rite, we beg you: pardon their transgressions and enter them in the register for prolonged life; release the bonds that have clung to them since former times, and forgive the entangling habits of this life; harmonize the bonds of the six classes of beings and scatter the oath-spells of the five tones (bonds connected with spells chanted in five tones). May the net of karmic hindrances be removed at once, so that old debts may at last be repaid and settled.

I, your lowly servant, make this presumptuous request and humbly beg for your gracious favor. (Your servant speaks, and so on.)

Note: This passage belongs to the memorial genre used in Lingbao purification rites. A Daoist priest presents a petition on behalf of devotees to the Lords of the Dipper Bureau and Doumu (the Dipper Mother, whose image blends savior figures such as Guanyin and Dumu). It gives thanks and asks for longer life, while also specifically requesting the untying of knots: the release of vows from past lives, family spells, and astrological conflicts. This corresponds to the imagery of bows and arrows, locks and bells, and the divine king who defeats enemies, and is typical of the “Dipper rites and knot-untying” formulas found in the Daoist Canon.

A Plain-Language Reading of the Lingbao Wenjian

Petition to the Northern Dipper for a Longer Life

I have heard that the radiance of Heaven stirs the Three Enclosures—the three celestial regions—and that we may rejoice to see the Seven Origins, the stars of the Northern Dipper, send down auspicious signs. The Dipper’s handle turns with the movement of a single Qi, setting in motion the creative power that brings about the changing seasons. All who take refuge in and venerate the Dao are surely watched over and protected.

I respectfully present this petition, setting forth the courses of the stars. With reverence, I reflect: You are the sovereign of Yin-Yang and the arbiter of all beings. You order Heaven and Earth without partiality, bestow blessings on the good and misfortune on the wicked without confusion, and share one body with the Dao. Responding to each thought, You show compassion. May those who seek to follow be allowed to follow, and may every sincere request be answered.

If this petition is received above, I beg that an official decree be granted: may the Three Origins, Three Palaces, Nine Offices, one hundred and twenty departments, the full circuit of the heavens, the stars, and the assembled perfected beings specially record the good deeds of (name) and pardon their offenses. I respectfully petition the following Lords of the Dipper: the Lord Who Extends Life and Adds Years, the Lord Who Protects Life and Settles Fortune, the Lord Who Dispels Calamity and Scatters Misfortune, and the Lord Who Sustains the Failing and Carries One Through Peril. May they dispel calamities and resolve difficulties for (name).

May the star official governing (name)’s birth year descend with the true Qi and infuse the body’s fields—the Dantian and the whole body—so that their fortunes may prosper. May their name be entered in the register of immortals, auspiciousness stored in the cinnabar records, and their name inscribed in the book of good deeds. May the six senses be purified and all good deeds adorn them. I vow to devote myself fully to taking refuge, and to remain forever bathed in the grace that gives and sustains life.

Petition to the Northern Dipper for Protection from Affliction

I have heard that the Dipper’s stars reveal the gate for dispelling calamity and overcoming peril; the registers and scriptures set forth instructions for seeking blessings and extending life. All who live beneath their light know the means of asking pardon and making amends. I lay bare my sincere devotion below and appeal to the highest powers above.

I respectfully petition on the basis of … With reverence, I reflect: Your Dao is exalted in the utmost northern position, and Your power governs the origin of Heaven. The stars are arrayed as the Dipper’s pivot and balance, distinguishing Yin-Yang while sharing in the endowment of the Five Phases. Their celestial patterns are linked like pearls and woven lines; they take part in the workings of creation, while the Seven Governors follow the same order. Arrayed around the center of Heaven, they send grace flowing down to the earthly realm.

I respectfully pray that Your true compassion grant this petition and issue a true decree to the offices of the Dipper, specifically pardoning the offenses and removing the faults of (name), and dispelling calamity and overcoming peril. I respectfully petition the Heavenly Physician Messenger and the Spirit Official Who Resolves Peril to relieve (name) of difficulties from this life and past lives, and to treat the sources of illness in the body’s internal organs.

May the auspicious stars follow their proper courses, and may (name)’s fortunes shine and prosper. May the work of turning adversity into good fortune flow without cease. When hardship reaches its limit, may good fortune arrive, bringing unending joy and celebration. May the words in the scripture on overcoming peril be made manifest, in keeping with the Supreme One’s virtue of cherishing life.

Note: Both texts follow the petition format used in Daoist rites honoring the Northern Dipper and seeking longer life and relief from calamity. “(Name)” and “(I)” are set phrases used in ritual to refer to the person concerned or to the Daoist priest. The various Lords, Messengers, and Spirit Officials are deities of the Dipper’s celestial offices. The ritual petitions them to descend with true Qi and to revise the records of offenses and blessings.

What kind of text is this?

Lingbao Wenjian is not a “scripture” that expounds doctrine; it is a collection of official document and memorial templates for Lingbao liturgy: the Daoist, on behalf of devotees, memorializes the Nine Heavens, the Northern Dipper, the various offices within the Dipper, and the like—explaining why an altar is set up, which classics the rite follows, and petitioning item by item for healing, expelling evil, dispelling disaster, extending life, resolving calamity, and so on.

The opening “Duanjing shuwen” (memorial on reciting the scripture) means: first report to the highest divine ranks that this session will “duanjing” (recite and conduct the rite according to the scripture), open the altar, and practice the Way, and ask permission; the later “Juwei … shangyan” (the officiant … submits this memorial) is the formal petition.

Plain sense of the shuwen (opening the altar)

• Your servant (a certain Daoist), standing in reverence, reports to Jinque Xuandu Shanghuang, the Nine Heavens Zhendi, Taiwei Yudu, the Seventy-Two Heavenly Mothers, Dipper Spirit Officials and Heavenly Physicians, and the like.
• The spirits on whom cosmic order depends—within the four seas, the four extremes, the Eight Trigrams, the Nine Stars, and so on—are all witnessing.
• Now, in accord with the purport of Taishang Fumo Zhenchan and Taishang Dong Shen Jing and similar works, duanjing and practicing the Way are to be performed, along with persuasion and summoning, universal salvation of wandering souls, and related matters.
• The altar established and the liturgy used must not be decided arbitrarily; I humbly ask the honored spirits to observe, look down, and grant responsive communion, so that the rite may be effective.

(Fumo Zhenchan and Dong Shen Jing are names of Daoist classics; here they show that the liturgy has scriptural warrant and request lawful opening of the altar.)

Opening and tone of the memorial

• “Cheng huang cheng kong, qishou duntou, fufu baibai”: the posture of a subject in utmost reverence.
• “Yudou cheng hui” describes a clear, bright sky; “yaotan fuzou” means offering one’s sincere heart again and again upon the altar—the aim is to seek peace and safety, so one dare not fail to submit this memorial and report.
• One humbles oneself as “grass-and-chaff petty life, muddy impure substance,” yet fortunate to study the spirit texts; whenever there is a request, one must first inform Heaven.

First petition: expelling evil and capturing demons (Heavenly Gang line)

The memorial asks Zhongtian Dasheng Beidou Jiuhuang, Shangdao Xingjun, and others—because living beings cherish life, to look down with pity on sickness and distress:

• Above, invite Tiangang Dasheng in the Dipper, Tiangang Wanzhang Shenwang, leading black-robed soldiers, charged with seizing spirits, consuming demons, punishing sorcerers, and breaking illicit shrines, and the like.
• Ask this entire line of spirit officials and officers to descend together, search out on the patient/devotee (so-and-so) “improper ghosts and demonic harm” causing trouble, send them to the underworld for punishment, separate human and ghost, and cut off the root of calamity.

In plain terms: this is not vague blessing but an explicit request for the “Heavenly Gang system” to enforce the law, treating evil haunting the person or home as a case to be handled.

Second petition: healing (Heavenly Physician line)

Again invite Heavenly Physician envoys in the Dipper, merit officers for curing illness, spirit boys who supply medicine, acupuncturists and minor clerks, demon-slaying healing immortal officers, and the like:

• Ask them to descend and examine the source of illness, silently applying spirit elixirs and wondrous remedies, divine moxibustion and golden needles, directly entering the patient’s five viscera and six bowels, the hundred bones and nine spirit loci, warding off perverse qi and sweeping away deep disease, so the four limbs are free and the hundred vessels flow, (so-and-so) spirit clear and energy refreshed, and supported by the power of the Way.

In plain terms: healing is written as a “Heavenly Physician Hall” consultation with medicine and acupuncture—parallel to human medicine, but the chief officers sit in the Dipper palace.

Third petition: resolving calamity and extending life (Wenchang and related star lords)

Further concern that the patient may face fated disaster, inauspicious stars and punitive clashes, karmic opponents and paired grievances, lawsuits and entanglements, and the like—so again invite:

• Wenchang Jun in the Dipper, Dispelling Disaster and Scattering Calamity Jun, Ascending Life and Settling Death Jun, Extending Life and Adding Years and Transcending Calamity Jun, Releasing Curses Jun, and others to descend together, and for (so-and-so) release:
• Calamity of “exhausted reckoning” in year, month, day, and hour (in fate calculation, lifespan tally and tribulation numbers);
• Inauspicious signs at the level of Eight Trigrams and Nine Palaces, Five Ghosts and severed life, Liuren and the three fates, earth net and heaven snare, Five Phases mutual harm, and similar numerological images;
• Kin obstructing marriage, public litigation and imprisonment, robbery and violence;
• Lawsuits, involvement of the deceased, curses from three directions, grievances and slander;
• Unsettled dwelling, and the like.

In plain terms: one layer expels evil and heals; another changes fate and resolves disaster—Wenchang and related star lords in Lingbao Northern Dipper fasts often oversee “documents, reckoning, curses, extending life,” and such matters.

Closing of the memorial (your excerpt stops short, but the form is like this)

Usually follows with “Your servant so-and-so, having received the words with urgency, dare not withhold them, respectfully presents this memorial and disturbs the true audience”: the Daoist has read the devotee’s vow; dare not conceal it; formally submits the memorial, awaiting heavenly approval to put it into effect. Later sections often include another set of document templates for closing the altar, thanking the spirits, and dedication.

What to keep in mind when reading this work

The following is a modern vernacular interpretation of this passage from the Lingbao Wenjian scripture, preserving the original structure and proper names, with brief explanations at first mention:

(Continuation of the preceding passage)

I humbly plead for mercy and forgiveness, and pray that calamities be dispelled, that health and peace may soon be restored, and that this great De (Virtue/Power) never be forgotten.

I respectfully petition the Two Envoys Qingt tuo, the Envoy Zhisu, and the Court Attendant Tongshi—all divine functionaries who carry documents and travel between the human and heavenly realms—to bear the memorial I have composed up to the palace of the Nine Sovereign Lords of the Northern Dipper, present it, and await the gracious response of the Mysterious Favor, Heaven’s hidden grace. May it descend and bring the requested fulfillment. I am sincerely fearful and deeply humbled… (the standard formula continues)

Memorial to the Northern Dipper Praying for an Heir

I respectfully submit: I have heard that

the Dipper, the Northern Dipper, revolves in mid-heaven like the pivot of Heaven’s bellows, giving signs in advance whenever matters arise. People inherit the family estate and ancestral line from those who came before; to have no descendants is considered a grave failure of filial duty. Now, with the reverence of burning incense and the sincerity of my innermost heart, I present this to the Office of Voice and Speech, which conveys petitions and reports them to Heaven.

My intention is as follows: The sacred throne is compassionate and nurtures all beings; its great De cherishes life. It upholds creation impartially and sets Yin-Yang in motion without error. All kinds of beings in the world depend upon its nurturing and transformation. I humbly pray that the Emperor’s grace descend in a wise decree, instructing the Offices of the Three Origins, which oversee registers in the Upper, Middle, and Lower Origins, and the Office of the Nine Heavens that supervises births. May they summon the spirits, call forth the winds, and distribute numinous powers to transform Qi (vital energy). In particular, for the person of [name], born in the year [year], as recorded in the registers, may they add descendants, enter blessings in the household, extend life, and dispel calamities and misfortune. May descendants flourish and bring honor to the family, like gourds whose vines spread and bear many fruits. May husband and wife be reunited and grow old together in their later years. May the lonely fate of a widower or widow return to its proper course, and may stars of good fortune and auspicious influence shine upon them. May protection extend to the whole household; may harmony prevail through all four seasons, so they may live at ease in a flourishing age and rejoice in peace. Having received this response, I shall never forget to show my gratitude.

Memorial to the Jade Emperor for Protecting a Pregnancy

(For use together with the presiding star deity; it may be presented alongside petitions to related star deities.)

I respectfully submit: I have heard that

the Emperor presides over all realms and holds the power of creation, while the Dipper revolves in mid-heaven and has long been revered as the ruler of gods and humans. All who respectfully offer devotion receive a response.

My intention is as follows: I keep incense offerings in my heart, and my duty is to compose and copy written petitions. I respectfully present this memorial and submit it for the Mysterious Gaze of Heaven to behold. I reverently reflect that the Jade Emperor is supreme in the Three Realms and delivers all beings from calamity. All bestowal and withdrawal depend upon the Great Creator; the generation and nurturing of life alike depend upon boundless grace. I humbly pray that the true compassion of the Emperor issue a special decree, to be conveyed to the Lords Siming and Silu, the Lords Who Support the Weak and Deliver from Calamity, the Lords Who Prolong Life and Preserve Vitality, and the Spirit Official Who Releases the Calamity of Childbirth. First, may they remove from the body of the faithful woman [name] the danger of childbirth, and reconcile and release grievances and offenses. I humbly petition…

Note: The terms “memorial,” “I respectfully submit,” “my intention,” and “I humbly pray” are standard formulas used in Daoist petitions to the heavenly court. “I” is the memorial’s conventional self-reference; it does not necessarily mean a human official, and often refers to a Daoist priest or devotee making a petition on someone’s behalf. The brief explanations in brackets clarify specialized terms for readers unfamiliar with classical Chinese.

A Plain-Language Reading of the Lingbao Petition Manual

1. Protecting Pregnancy and Safeguarding Life

We pray to the Great God Who Oversees Births, the Holy Mother Who Guards the Birth Chamber, the Officials Who Protect Pregnancy and Safeguard the Fetus, the Holy Mother Who Protects Pregnancy and Brings Life, the Heavenly Physicians and Birth Officials, the Official Who Oversees Childbirth, the Lord Who Brings Swift Birth, the Holy Mother Who Guides Birth, the Lord Who Assists Birth, and the Lord of Nursing Mothers—

We beseech all these venerable deities to descend at the time of the expected birth and enter (the person’s) body. May they harmonize Yin-Yang in the Three Dantian (the upper, middle, and lower energy centers), keep the pregnancy safe and steady, and ensure a smooth delivery. We look up to the Director of Life to grant this plea, and pray that all the gods join in praise. We depend entirely on the grace of those who bring forth and nurture life; how could we ever forget their virtue in sheltering and protecting us?

2. Petition to the Canopy and Northern Dipper (Part One)

(The petitioner begins:) I have heard that ordinary people are foolish and deluded, unaware of how to repent and atone for their wrongs; yet the Great Sage is spiritually attuned and responds to sincere prayers for protection and relief. Only by permitting people to present their pleas can they find peace. Therefore, I respectfully lay bare my innermost thoughts and look up in hope that my plea may be voiced. (A private expression of thanks follows.)

With reverence, we reflect—

The Great Dipper presides over the heavenly realm and, below, governs the human body. It serves as the pivot that commands the myriad spirits and as a boat that carries all beings to safety. Its merit is profound, its sacred wisdom complete and all-pervading. From emperors to commoners, all depend on the great power of creation; from the wealthy and noble to the poor and lowly, all are treated equally. Whoever cultivates and reveres it will surely receive a response.

We humbly pray—

Ever benevolent in saving beings, with great compassion and an attentive heart, pity the living creatures on earth and send down your wise decree from the central heavens. Issue commands to the Three Platforms (the stars governing good fortune, prosperity, and longevity), the Four Sages, the Eight Great Vajra Guardians, the Primordial Ladies of the Nine Heavens, the Dharma-protecting Divine Kings of the Ten Directions, the Twelve Great Deities, the Six Ding and Six Jia (Daoist guardian generals), the Heavenly Strongmen, the Five Thunder Messengers, the Dragon Lords of the Five Emperors, the Generals of Flowing Gold and Fire Bells, the Kui Deities, the Divine Officials, Marshal Ma, the Four Heavenly Strongmen Cui, Lu, Deng, and Dou (the four great Daoist guardian strongmen), the Divine Officials and Generals of the Dipper, and all the divine troops—

For the sake of (the person), conceal their form beneath the Canopy (the Canopy star, which provides shelter and protection) and hide their traces in the star palaces. May their mind and spirit remain within their dwelling and be at peace; may their hun and po souls return to their source and original state. If there are hidden corpses or demonic disturbances, curses or vengeful wrongs, lawsuits or summonses, or entanglements with deceased ancestors, may all be cleansed and every affliction dispelled. May the Heavenly Stems be unable to invade and the Earthly Branches unable to harm. May the petitioner dwell within the Seven Primordial Stars, with Heaven as their canopy and Earth as their support, residing high in the region of flowing fire.

We further ask that the Heavenly Immortal Physicians and the Immortal Officials Who Treat Illnesses from within the Dipper be dispatched to descend together, rescue the source of the illness, regulate the nutritive and defensive Qi (the body’s nourishing and protective energies), and treat the condition according to its signs, so that peace may soon be restored. Having received your responsive aid, we will not forget your deliverance.

3. Petition to the Dipper for Rain (title)

(The petitioner) has heard…

Note: This text is a formal petition presented by Daoist priests to the celestial court as part of Lingbao school Zhaijiao purification rituals and Keyi liturgies. The first section concerns a rite for protecting pregnancy and safeguarding life; the middle section concerns seeking relief from adversity and giving thanks through the Canopy and Northern Dipper; the final title, “Petition to the Dipper for Rain,” begins another piece whose main text is not included here. The text’s ordered lists of divine names and its gradually unfolding appeals are characteristic of Daoist ritual literature.

Relevant Passages from Lingbao Wenjian: A Plain-Language Reading

1. Memorials for Praying for Rain and Appealing to the Thunder Powers (excerpts)

Heaven has established a central authority to govern the Thunder Powers’ forces of life and death. The Dipper Court oversees creation and transformation, sets the seasons of cold and heat in motion, brings droughts and floods into balance, and commands the subtle workings of Yin-Yang.

Now that I have received the petition, I dare not decline. Without the power of creation and transformation, it would be difficult to make my appeal heard. With reverence, I reflect:

The exalted Lord of the North Pole governs the central heavens. He summons Yin and calls forth Yang, nurtures all things, and never abandons a single creature. He turns the clouds and sends down abundant rain, cherishing life and fearing only that life might be harmed.

Whenever drought and heat prevail, nourishing moisture should descend. I humbly pray:

Please heed my sincere but foolish appeal and grant your imperial grace. Command the spirits of wind, clouds, thunder, and lightning; issue your decree to the sacred beings of pools, caverns, rivers, and springs. Open Qian and break Xun; aid the Thunder Powers in accomplishing their work in an instant. Invert Kan and overturn Li, so that abundant rain may fall everywhere for three days. Extend the lives of the people and creatures of the lower realm. May the heavenly office that conveys Heaven’s words fulfill this earnest prayer and provide proof of its efficacy.

2. Memorial to the Southern Dipper for Prolonging Life

I, your subject, submit the following:

The Six Offices and Six Lodgings are indeed the administrative departments of the Supreme Subtlety and the Southern Pole. The most holy and supremely exalted show compassion for the ordinary people of the lower realm. They can reward sincerity and offerings, and grant pardon for past offenses in response to prayers for grace. I, your subject, respectfully state the particulars below. With reverence, I reflect:

The Star Lords of the Six Offices of the Supreme Subtlety and Southern Dipper, who prolong life and shine before us,

hold rank in the Palace of Li,

and bear names likened to the radiance of the sun.

The Celestial Treasury and Celestial Minister hold authority over the protection of the state and its sacred mountains. Celestial Beam and Celestial Companion bear responsibility for preserving lives and protecting the living. Celestial Pivot holds the office of Literary Brilliance, while Celestial Mechanism oversees the registers.

When the spirits move, their shadows follow; though subtle and mysterious, they respond as soon as a sound is made. I respectfully pray:

May your true compassion look deeply upon this appeal,

and may your wise decree shine down. Inform the offices in charge and issue orders to all those concerned. In particular, pardon [name] for sins and offenses, disperse calamity and misfortune, gather blessings and prolong life. May the person’s life palace be peaceful and sound, years and longevity increase, and fortune and destiny flourish.

3. Memorial for Longevity to the Three Officials

Upper Origin: Snow-like petals dot the fragrant plum blossoms; white cranes call at the break of dawn.

Middle Origin: Yang returns amid auspicious mists, and the fiery trees bloom for the Lantern Festival. Cicadas sing in the green trees, as the season brings the fulfillment of the myriad treasures. Peaches ripen in the Jade Pool, and the gathering in the central heavens is admired with reverence.

Lower Origin: The season arrives at the Minor Yang; dragons are roused to go and pay their respects to the Sage.

Note: “Invert Kan and overturn Li” is a phrase commonly used in Daoist rain-praying rites. It refers to reversing the Kan and Li trigrams to set thunder and rain in motion. “The Six Offices of the Supreme Subtlety and Southern Dipper” refers to the six stars of the Southern Dipper—Celestial Treasury, Celestial Minister, Celestial Beam, Celestial Companion, Celestial Pivot, and Celestial Mechanism—which oversee the prolonging of life. The “Three Officials” are the Celestial Official of the Upper Origin, the Earth Official of the Middle Origin, and the Water Official of the Lower Origin. The memorial follows the sequence of the Three Origins festivals. Proper names are briefly identified in parentheses at first mention, and the translation preserves the memorial’s reverent language of petition, praise, and humble supplication without adding or removing doctrinal meaning.

Plain-Language Interpretation of the Lingbao Wenjian

Opening (Seasonal Order and Response)

The seasons return to the Great Dao, and rivers, lakes, and seas converge and flow toward their source. Harmonious Qi fills the air, and auspicious breezes drift faintly. When the feelings of ordinary people are stirred, they can surely reach the divine…

Submitting a Memorial (Formal Presentation)

I, your servant [name], do not shrink from the crime of execution by axe, and dare to offend the laws of Heaven. I respectfully submit this memorial concerning [an actual matter, such as the petitioner’s native place and surname]. Having received the petition, I dare not suppress it or refuse to comply. I humbly prostrate myself and present this memorial, raising it to the hearing of Heaven.

I, your servant [name], am sincerely fearful and apprehensive. I bow my head repeatedly, prostrate myself, and kneel in reverence. I respectfully submit this to [Your Excellency, with humble thanks].

Intent of a Congratulatory Memorial (Celebration on the Full Moon)

You turn the myriad transformations and govern the Three Powers—Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. All living beings rely on your rule, and all good deeds are gathered into your records. Your honored station is established over [the Upper, Middle, or Lower Origin], and your eminent name is listed among the Four Offices. In Daoist usage, these may refer to offices such as those of the Eastern and Southern Peaks or the Four Sacred Courts; here the phrase broadly denotes offices that record merit and wrongdoing.

Now, on the full moon of [the first, seventh, or tenth month], I present this congratulatory memorial, bowing like a tiger and calling out in praise of lofty mountains. May the dragon soar and the sacred peaks descend. I respectfully hope for your great compassion and generous blessing, and pray that this petition may be granted.

I humbly ask that radiance spread through the Golden Court and that light shine from the Jade Palace. Bestow a banquet for [name], and let the Star of Blessings shine upon them. Look kindly upon their devout observances and grant them boundless longevity. May Heaven and humanity rejoice together, and may all beings enjoy peace. May we remain grateful through countless kalpas, and may all the blessings of the Ninefold Auspiciousness be fulfilled.

I, your servant [name], have dared to approach [your heavenly authority]. Overcome with heartfelt urgency and profound trepidation, I respectfully submit this memorial.

Memorial to the Three Officials, Giving Thanks for Forgiveness

I have heard that Heaven covers and Earth supports all things, while the wondrous Dao divided them into the Two Forms of Yin and Yang. Spring nurtures, and the sea receives all waters; the sovereign source of numinous power nourishes the myriad things. Because the lives of the people must be governed and regulated, the offices of the Grand Ministers were divided among the Three Officials, who oversee longevity, misfortune, and blessing.

Whenever people pray for deliverance, they surely receive the holy pardon. I respectfully submit this memorial concerning [the petitioner’s native place and the matter being presented; humble thanks].

Making primordial virtue the foremost principle: With benevolence held in the heart, one receives the Three Gifts from the imperial palace, while the offices of the governing ministers record appointments across nine ranks. They determine guilt and blessing, and hold the scales of judgment.

I respectfully hope that your great compassion will grant my humble petition. Beneath the heavens that cover and the earth that supports, may we be bathed in boundless virtue. May your nourishing grace flow downward and enrich the body, like a river that never ceases. May the source of wrongdoing melt away like snow, and may the realm of longevity thaw into spring.

I, your servant [name], have dared to approach your august authority. My humble feelings are beyond words in their urgency and trepidation. I respectfully submit this memorial.

Memorial to the Dark Emperor

The people have heard of the exalted North Pole and look toward the vastness of the Dark Heavens. The people below raise their gaze in reverence, moved by the warmth of your all-encompassing creation. The four seasons all receive the blessing of life and growth, and the eight seasonal divisions are constantly protected and upheld. This refers to the deities of the Northern Pole, such as the True Warrior, the Dark Heaven Supreme Emperor, who protect the eight seasonal divisions and the four seasons.

Whenever people seek deliverance from calamity or bring a petition, how could they fail to offer their sincere devotion? [The petition begins: I, your servant [name], have sustained this mortal body and committed many…]

[The original text continues with words seeking relief from misfortune and expressing devotion; this excerpt ends at “committed many.”]

Notes

A memorial is a formal document presented to deities in Daoist ritual. It is commonly used in Zhaijiao (purification rituals), ceremonies of homage to the Dao, prayers of thanks for forgiveness, and celebrations.

The Three Officials are the Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water, collectively known as the Three Great Officials. They examine merit and wrongdoing, pardon sins, and bestow blessings.

The Dark Emperor usually refers to the True Warrior, the Dark Heaven Supreme Emperor. Dwelling in the north, he is responsible for dispelling calamity, protecting the state, and safeguarding the people.

“Rivers converging toward their source” describes streams flowing into the sea and spirits paying homage to the Celestial Worthy. It is a metaphor for all things returning to the Great Dao.

Repeated bows and prostrations are the highest traditional forms of reverence, expressing profound respect and repentance.

Phrases such as “[native place, and so forth]” and “[first, seventh, or tenth month]” are template fields to be filled in during the ritual with the petitioner’s native place, date, and other details.

A Vernacular Interpretation of the Lingbao Wenjian

1. Prayer for the Worship of the Great Emperor Xuanwu

Divination verse: “May offenses and transgressions be reported and presented, so that they may at last be dispelled and removed.” (A very auspicious lot)

Prayer:

You eternally guard the north. Your radiant might shakes Heaven and Earth and protects the state. Through divine power, you bring order to the world and nurture the people. Your eighty-two transformations are boundless; for sixteen thousand years, your merit and blessings have benefited the people and aided all living beings.

May the sacred Way spread far and flourish, shining together with the sun and moon, and may auspicious signs appear at Wudang. May Heaven and Earth endure, and may the honor of the state be upheld. We pray that you issue a decree to dispel epidemics and pardon the people’s offenses, bringing peace and good fortune to this village and tranquility throughout the four regions. Wherever people dwell, may they all receive your grace and protection.

I, (name), respectfully submit this prayer.

2. Petition to the Emperor Xuan for Deliverance from the Blood Lake

Your servant has heard that love and reverence are the foundation of serving one’s parents, and that filial piety is the greatest virtue. When fasting, bathing, and making offerings to the Emperor, one must be sincere. I humbly present these earnest words, daring to trouble Your Exalted Hearing.

Your Majesty guards the north, revered throughout the world, renowned for all ages, and followed in devotion throughout the land. Your deeds and merit were perfected over forty-two years; through countless eons, your body and mind have remained imperishable. Your divine power is widely proclaimed and your sacred influence shines forth. You can save the living and deliver the dead, guiding them to return to the Real and yearn for the Dao.

I respectfully hope for your compassionate grace: pardon your servant’s many sins and accept this petition. I further pray that you issue a decree throughout the offices of the underworld, to deliver the deceased (name), remove the roots of the sins incurred in childbirth, and free them from the karmic retribution of impure attachments.

May the true breeze sweep far and wide, illuminating the ten directions; may the Dharma rain fall in abundance, nourishing the whole household alike. Pardon past offenses and grant blessings to the community in the days ahead. We truly bow in gratitude for your vast grace and pray that all may share in its lasting blessings.

I have dared to trespass upon your attention.

3. Petition to the Heavens

Opening statement: Your servant has heard that Heaven’s virtue flows forth, and all beings depend upon its transforming nurture; that sacred grace is generously bestowed, and all things rely upon it to come into being. Every prayer receives a response, and no wish goes unheard. I respectfully set down my sincere devotion and humbly trouble the hearing of Heaven.

I respectfully submit this petition on behalf of (native place and lineage, purpose of the petition, with reverence).

You govern the vast primordial expanse: the Qi of emptiness and nothingness. When Yin and Yang were divided, the names of the various heavens were established. You are supremely great and benevolent, bringing forth the people and all living things.

Your servant humbly hopes that Heaven, in its compassion, will grant the request made in this petition and issue a sacred decree, to be carried out throughout the heavens, lands, waters, and mountains, and in all relevant places across the Three Realms and ten directions. We ask that this be done on behalf of (name or names) for (purpose of the petition).

Notes:

• Blood Lake: A Daoist concept of the underworld, referring to a place where beings burdened with grave karmic offenses must be delivered, as if immersed in a sea of blood.
• Three Realms and ten directions: The Three Realms are the Desire Realm, Form Realm, and Formless Realm. The ten directions are east, south, west, north, southeast, southwest, northeast, northwest, above, and below.
• Petition: A formal document presented to the deities.
• Fasting and bathing: Ritual preparation before worship, cleansing body and mind and abstaining from meat and other impure foods.

May sins be removed and transgressions absolved. We further pray that official plagues be eradicated, and that fires and thefts quietly cease, so that life may be protected and years prolonged.

Your servant has received your grace.

Memorial to the Various Heavens

Your servant submits: I have heard that—

The Great Dao is the ancestor of all things and brings the heavens into being. The Cavern Mystery tradition is king among the scriptures and a bridge for all generations.

Your grace falls like nourishing rain, and your De is too vast to measure. I lay bare my sincere feelings and presume to address the Most High.

[Statement of intent] I have received the petition brought before me; how could I fail to present it in full? I respectfully prostrate myself and offer this memorial, presuming to approach the heavenly court.

Your servant declares: Lofty and august above, boundless and beyond description. You reveal teachings that deliver all without exception and are the compassionate lord to whom the people below are connected by destiny. I respectfully look to Heaven’s kindness to grant what I have submitted. I also pray that an edict be issued to the sacred offices, the office overseeing the purification ritual, and the office of merit and virtue: for the person named [name], please strike off what was promised in the past and record what is to be repaid now. Though the appointed time has not yet arrived, may they continue to enjoy health and good fortune.

Memorial to the Earth Sovereign

When the primal unity first divided, the two Qi separated. You set the myriad transformations in motion and brought them to completion, establishing the eight directions and fixing their positions. Above, you follow the proper order of the celestial degrees; below, you distribute the regions and their appointed forms. All living beings depend on the great pivot of Heaven and Earth’s creative power, and nothing fails to draw upon the Great Dao. Having received the petition, how could I neglect to copy it out and present it?

Your servant respectfully submits the following [details]. I reverently address the Sacred Earth Sovereign, empress who receives Heaven’s mandate and embodies its ways, whose virtue is as vast as the sky, dwelling beneath the jade palace. You hold authority over fortune and misfortune and govern the regions in all directions. You move with the Six Jia cycles and direct the workings of the Nine Stars. All beings, whether plant or animal, rely on you for life and growth.

I respectfully look to your great compassion to issue a gracious decree: inform the offices and bureaus of the local earth deities, the Sovereign Lords of the Nine Earths, and the prohibitions and taboos governing the directions of the Eight Trigrams and Nine Palaces. Let each remain in its proper position, and let all transgressions be pardoned. Take pity on living things and cherish life; may disasters and misfortunes be dispelled. Extend your grace and bestow blessings; may auspicious signs multiply and flourish. We pledge firm devotion and look up in gratitude for the gift of life and growth.

Memorial for Borrowing Land

Your servant has heard that no land is not soil, and no one is not your subject; by principle, nothing falls outside the sovereign’s care. Nothing is beyond your embrace, nothing beyond your acceptance; we look to your all-encompassing virtue for support. As we prepare to pay homage to the heavens of the Three Realms, we ask to borrow a small plot of land. We respectfully pray that your great creative power look down upon our sincere hearts. Your servant respectfully submits the following [statement of intent] and offers this memorial, presuming to address you in your exalted presence.

A Plain-Language Interpretation of the Lingbao Writ of Petition

The Reverent and Apprehensive Petition of Your Servant (and so forth)

With reverence, we contemplate

the Great Empress Earth Sovereign, the Earth Deity, who receives Heaven’s mandate and follows its patterns, whose abundant virtue shines like Heaven (the spirit of the Earth, dwelling beneath the Jade Gate).

She dwells at the center of the Four Regions,

is the mother of all things, and, paired with August Heaven, establishes the supreme foundation.

She widely extends her great virtue and cherishes life. We humbly hope that she will specially attend to us with vast benevolence and graciously proclaim her bright decree—

May dragons coil and tigers crouch, and may those lying hidden submit in the east and west;

may tortoises hibernate and birds conceal themselves, each guarding its station in front and behind.

May the four boundaries be set within a hundred paces, and all forms arrayed among the Eight Trigrams (Bagua).

May we thereby comprehend the principle at the center of the Yellow, and receive the radiant embodiment of the Most High.

From the registers of yellow writs and white slips, may the dead be struck off and the living raised up;

from the finest essences of golden liquid and cinnabar, may auspiciousness be welcomed and blessings gathered.

Under all Heaven, may everything be renewed in spring.

Your servant ventures to submit this petition (and so forth).

A Birthday Petition to the Eastern Peak

Your servant has heard: Auspicious clouds gather over Mount Tai, and the festive season comes just as spring draws to a close; light floats over the seas and lands, and the revered birthday falls at dawn tomorrow.

The four Qi are bright and clear, and five-colored clouds drift in circles. We respectfully set down this congratulatory petition and venture to present it above.

Your servant respectfully petitions on behalf of (native place, purpose of the petition, words of thanks):

May your virtue accord with the primal force of Heaven, and may you greatly extend the virtue that creates and brings life into being;

may your exalted station in the palace of the East open the benevolent compassion of the Azure Sovereign, who nurtures and develops all things.

Your love is equal to Heaven; your wisdom and clarity are perfectly complete.

We, your servants, rejoice to encounter your sacred birthday, and so offer our humble sincerity—

May eight thousand years be counted as one spring; may we wish you tens of millions of years of life.

May the measure of the Emperor’s boundless virtue continue without end, in accord with the heartfelt wishes of the people.

Your servant ventures to submit this petition (and so forth).

Another Petition to the Eastern Peak

Your servant has heard: All things enter spring, flourishing and bringing forth the virtue of life;

the people cry out three times in praise of longevity, celebrating the day of your revered birthday.

We gaze up at your towering presence with careful reverence.

Morning incense and evening flames express our sincere devotion, offered without fail;

morning services and evening lessons help us expound the teachings of the Mysterious Origin.

Whenever people offer their sincere devotion, it is fitting that their petitions be presented above.

Your servant respectfully petitions on behalf of (native place, purpose of the petition, words of thanks):

May your great virtue bless the world, and may your sacred longevity be equal to Heaven.

You govern the offices and bureaus of the seventy-two departments, and protect the many billions of people among the living;

you make good and evil plain, and all people, wise or foolish, feel your influence.

We humbly hope that your sacred compassion will grant this celebration,

forgive your servant’s past transgressions, and bestow blessings for the future.

Your servant ventures to submit this petition (and so forth).

Note: This text is a petition used in the Zhaijiao (purification ritual) liturgy of the Daoist Lingbao tradition. The petitions offer birthday greetings to the Earth Deity and the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak, the deity of Mount Tai. The format is fixed and includes blanks for the petitioner’s native place, the purpose of the petition, and words of thanks, which Daoist priests fill in as appropriate during the ritual.

A Plain-Language Reading of the Lingbao Petition Forms

1. Petition to the Eastern Peak to Untie Bonds

I have heard that the august power who awes the Northern Capital and holds authority over the rewards and punishments of good and evil, life and death, resides in honor at the Eastern Peak and governs the judgments of reward and punishment in the netherworld. Whenever anyone comes forward in sincere appeal, the matter must be reported above.

I respectfully submit this petition on behalf of (place of origin, wording of the petition, closing statement) …

You who occupy the position of Heaven and guard the bounds of Earth: I humbly lay out this plea for aid, and look up to you in hope of your compassion. I beg you to issue your gracious decree and send it to your department and its subordinate officials, including those in charge of cases of curses and spells. I ask that they act on behalf of (the deceased believer, [name]): disperse curses and remove the effects of poison and sorcery; pardon errors that have caused harm, and forever put an end to undeserved offenses, so that (the household may enjoy peace, its members and dependents may be safe, the departed soul may rise to a higher state, and the bereaved family may receive blessings). Forgive my rashness, and graciously grant me pardon.

I have dared to trouble you with this petition (and so on).

2. Petition to the Eastern Peak to Deposit Funds in Its Treasury

I have heard that the Eastern Peak is the abode of the ancestral spirits and oversees the examination of human conduct, while the Southern Palace keeps the registers and administers the merits earned in the world. We who have received life and been guided seek grace; we purify ourselves and clarify our minds to reveal our sincerity. Daring to record these ordinary feelings, we respectfully trouble the hearing of the holy authorities.

I respectfully submit this petition on account of (place of origin, wording of the petition), and so forth. Having received the petition with deep concern, I have followed the prescribed rites and made the offerings. Now (name) respectfully presents this written petition, together with the funds deposited in the treasury (amount), and submits the request to the Office of the Peak in repayment for its great kindness. (I, [name], offer my thanks.)

Your benevolence equals Heaven, your De (Virtue/Power) is as vast as the sea. You send forth wind and rain to bring all things to life, and bestow blessings to govern all living beings. All who dwell beneath Heaven and upon Earth belong within your jurisdiction.

Therefore I respectfully pray that you issue a special gracious decree and send it to the Six Caverns and Ten Palaces, Luofeng and Yujue, the Seventy-Four Offices, the offices of the dark and cold springs, the City Gods and local shrines, and all the courts and departments of the underworld. I ask that they prepare in advance a jade register inscribed with the name of the believer (name), and remove their offenses from the Golden Register of laws, so that all sins may be extinguished forever; that goodness may grow in this life and a thousand calamities be dispelled; that blessings may be cultivated for the next life; that the ancestral dead may receive support and deliverance; and that the span of life may be greatly extended.

I have dared to trouble you with this petition (and so on).

3. Further Petition

I have heard that, looking up at those lofty peaks, one climbs Mount Tai and sees the world below as small; the holy countenance is solemn and majestic, and the great power that guards eastern Lu commands reverence.

(The remainder is close in meaning to the petition above. It follows the same format for depositing funds in the treasury and requesting deliverance.)

The following is a plain-language reading of this memorial from the Lingbao Wenjian, presented in the order of the original, with brief explanations of specialized terms at their first appearance.

Opening of the Memorial: Supreme Lord of the Earthly Realm

You hold supreme authority over the earthly realm—the Yin underworld and the realm of the dead—and govern all directions. You show compassion to all people who seek to repay their underworld debts and give thanks for your grace. Since you have granted this earnest request, how could I fail to submit a memorial?

Your servant respectfully reports: The Great Qing state (and so forth)… Having completed this petition, I lay bare my heart and devote myself with utmost care, and ask leave to present this memorial.

Matter of repayment: I, your servant, am as lowly as an ant and as insignificant as a blade of grass. Though I have presumed to assume the rank of libationer—a ritual office leading a Daoist altar and conducting liturgies—I have not yet grasped the mysteries of proclaiming the rites. I also fear that the trivial concerns of the faithful (so-and-so) may not merit being brought before you. Fortunately, the Great Dao shows compassion, bears with me rather than condemning me, and permits me to present this petition and carry out the rites. I respectfully prostrate myself and submit this memorial, praying for grace and forgiveness of sins. I present one vermilion memorial for repayment and deposit in the treasury, presumptuously troubling your august presence and daring to make this known at the steps of the imperial throne. (Your servant and so forth; I respectfully offer thanks.)

General meaning: Before the supreme lord of the underworld, people come to repay debts and give thanks, and the spirits show them compassion. Since their request has been granted, a memorial must be presented. Having completed the petition on behalf of a certain state and for a certain matter, your servant submits it with wholehearted devotion. Though low in status, your servant holds the office of libationer but has not mastered the mysteries of the rites, and worries that the faithful’s minor concerns are unworthy of the heavenly court’s attention. By the Great Dao’s mercy, your servant is not blamed and is allowed to present the petition and carry out the rites. Prostrating himself, your servant submits one vermilion memorial for repayment and deposit in the treasury, praying for forgiveness of sins. The memorial closes with thanks.

The Chief Deity of Mount Tai: An Office of the Eastern Peak

Your authority shines in majesty, and you hold the honored office of Mount Tai, which governs the registers of life and death. Your creative power is as vast as the sea, and your Virtue (De) makes you master of the affairs entrusted to you. Matters of assigning life and determining death all depend on your transformative power; the authority to reward the good and punish the wicked rests entirely in your governance. Now we submit this request for repayment and deposit, confident that you will see it clearly. Accept our humble sincerity and grant your gracious command. Please issue an order to the officials, clerks, and record keepers in the underworld offices and treasury: prepare in advance to review the merits and faults of the faithful (so-and-so), remove their transgressions, check the original debt, and repay the required amount. Verify any remaining funds and store them in the treasury. May the living gain blessings and longevity, and may there be a bridge of salvation to rely on after death. Then issue further instructions throughout the underworld: may the principal celebrant be greatly released from suffering, and may the deceased person (so-and-so), offered as an additional recipient of the rite, leave the shadowy realm and be reborn in a pure land. May all sentient beings share in this grace, so that both the visible and invisible worlds benefit, and beings in both realms receive aid. Forgive your servant’s rash presumption and graciously pardon him. (Your servant has dared to address you and so forth.)

General meaning: The deity is praised for authority as exalted as Mount Tai and for vast creative power, governing the assignment of life and death and the shaping of reward and punishment. A request for repayment and deposit is now submitted, asking the deity to examine it. The petitioner asks for a gracious command to be sent to the underworld: review the faithful person’s merits and faults in advance, remove their sins, repay the amount of the original debt, and place any remaining funds in the treasury. May the living gain blessings and longevity, and may the dead have a bridge to salvation. The petitioner also asks that the underworld be instructed to release the principal celebrant from suffering and guide the deceased person (so-and-so) out of darkness into a pure land. May all sentient beings receive this grace, benefiting both the visible and invisible worlds. The petitioner asks forgiveness for his presumptuous approach.

Memorial to the Fire Virtue Deity

Your servant has heard that Yang Virtue (De) holds spiritual power and raises divine might to the highest heavens; the Taiwei constellation, a celestial office associated with the emperor, sends forth its radiance and governs fortune and misfortune in the human world. All who pray for protection from calamity are sure to receive a response.

Statement of intent: Your servant has received an earnest and urgent petition and dares not refuse it. I respectfully prostrate myself and submit this memorial, making it known to the true powers above (and so forth).

You are stationed in the bright southern position of Li, one of the Eight Trigrams (Bagua), associated with Fire. Your name is renowned for its brilliance and majesty. In the human heart, you correspond to the image of Dan Yuan, the Cinnabar Origin; in the heavens, you are known as Yinghuo, the Planet Mars. You assist Taiwei and illuminate the earthly realm, and support the Jade Emperor in sustaining the warp and weft of the ten thousand things… (The text continues beyond this point in the original scroll.)

General meaning: The memorial to the Fire Virtue deity opens by saying that Yang energy holds spiritual power and shakes the heavens with its might, while the Taiwei celestial office governs fortune and misfortune on earth. Prayers for protection from calamity receive a response. Your servant does not dare refuse the faithful person’s urgent request and submits a memorial to the powers above. The deity is praised for occupying the southern Li position, associated with Fire, and for the brilliance of its name. It corresponds to Dan Yuan in the heart, an image associated with internal cultivation and Fire, and is identified in the heavens with Mars. It assists Taiwei in illuminating the earth and supports the Jade Emperor in maintaining the structure of the cosmos. The original scroll continues beyond this point.

Note: This text follows the vermilion memorial format used in Lingbao Zhaijiao, Daoist purification rituals. Terms such as “your servant,” “the faithful (so-and-so),” “libationer,” “repayment and deposit in the treasury,” “Mount Tai,” and “underworld review” are common in these formal liturgical documents, in which Daoist priests submit petitions on behalf of the faithful to Celestial Worthies, the Eastern Peak deity, the Fire Virtue deity, and other powers. They request repayment of debts and deposits in the treasury, relief from underworld suffering, and rites for the salvation of the dead. The placeholders “and so forth” and “so-and-so” appear in the source text; during the rite, the state name, personal names, and specific circumstances are supplied.

Plain-Language Commentary on the Lingbao Memorial Forms

All things depend on the work of creation to nourish them, and all living beings depend on its power of transformation—like a potter shaping and firing clay. We earnestly beg Your Majesty to take special thought for this vast creative power, to proclaim your wise commands far and wide, and to entrust them to the sacred gods of the Fire Department and the deities under their authority. May they discern our sincerity and forgive our offenses, so that the winds do not rage and the four directions suffer no calamity of drought. May harmony bring good fortune, and may the villages receive the blessing of renewal. We vow to take refuge with unwavering resolve, in repayment for the grace that brings forth and nourishes life. (And so on.)

Memorial of Gratitude to the Fire God

The ritual master has heard that while the kitchen fire has not yet been lit, people can still manage to live in peace; but once a city gate catches fire, even the fish in the moat are caught up in the disaster. Reflecting that if human affairs are put in order, even heavenly calamities may be averted, we sincerely set out water as an offering to the fire and urgently pray for the flames to be extinguished. I, your subject, respectfully report the following on behalf of (the place of residence and the substance of the petition):

You occupy the central position of the Li Trigram, where light is governed, and your merit joins with the creative power of the Qian principle. In the south, harmonious warmth holds authority over firing and refining, and the flames blaze with splendor; in the north, Kan Water responds, restraining the harsh, dry, and rigid nature of fire. Qi issues from Heaven and brightens all things; it flows across the Earth, where the Five Phases take their places. Grant us the means to reward Mi Zhu—renowned in antiquity for his skill with fire and cooking—and the power to avert disaster, as Duke Jing did when he feared a fire and withdrew from his residence. Do not let virtue run unchecked, or go unnamed and unspoken. We have received your gracious radiance and have lived in modest safety beneath our roofs. Several households dwell together, their eaves joined and their buildings contiguous; should a fire break out, it could reach neighboring homes just across the wall. Thankfully, by Heaven’s protection, the smoke has dispersed everywhere. Now that we have escaped this calamity, how could we expect such great good fortune to come again and again? We must therefore examine and correct ourselves with greater care, and join together in rituals to avert disaster. May the signal fires of red flame be turned back, and may the wrath of Feilian, the wind god, be subdued. May we prepare food and drink, tend the six vital organs, and nourish life; may we be sheltered and protected, so that the three households can live and work in peace. In this prayer, may past offenses be forgiven. (The petitioner, a mortal, dares to approach the true and mighty presence. And so on.)

Longevity Memorial to Wenchang

I, your subject, have heard that when the nine heavens first opened, a single Qi held the fullness of essence and radiance; when the seven bends divided into the perfected, the Three Powers encompassed the wonder of Heaven and Earth. Your kindness flows without end, and your transformations are without limit. Whenever people present prayers and blessings, they are surely seen by the Emperor. I, your subject, respectfully submit this petition on behalf of (the substance of the petition and expressions of gratitude):

You hold office at the Southern Pole and your position guards the Celestial Pivot. You appear in the form of a great minister through seventeen lifetimes, and manifest in the image of one who guides and transforms through eight or nine kalpas. Your longevity equals that of Heaven and Earth, and your virtue surpasses that of past and present. We humbly hope that Your Imperial Compassion will look down and grant us your all-seeing attention. May you accept the sincerity of these three blessings offered today and bestow the good fortune of a thousand auspicious signs. (The petitioner, a mortal, dares to approach. And so on.)

A Plain-Language Interpretation of the Lingbao Textual Forms

Memorial for Praying to Wenchang for Descendants

I, your servant, have heard that the Nine Heavens have opened the way to enlightenment and widely bestowed the teaching of virtue for seventeen generations, while the Perfected One of Seven Bends has appeared in the world and continued the generations of descendants for countless ages. I dare not presume to perform the rites of Gaoji, the ancient ceremonies for praying for children and arranging marriages. Yet my sincere devotion, though no more than a small thought, has already reached beyond; I would humbly follow the example of the prayer at Mount Ni, the place said to be where Confucius was born, and express this single wish.

I, your servant, hold the duty of maintaining the incense offerings and am charged with expounding the scriptures. With reverence, I prostrate myself and present this memorial, sending it up to the heavenly court. I, your servant, (name), am filled with awe and trepidation. I bow my head repeatedly and respectfully address the sacred throne: You are compassionate and kind in nurturing all things, possess great virtue and cherish life, uphold the impartial workings of creation, and set Yin-Yang in motion without confusion. All beings depend on your shaping and refinement.

I humbly hope for your sacred grace. May you issue a true decree and transmit it to the offices of the Three Officials (the Celestial, Terrestrial, and Water Officials) that review the registers, and to the Bureau of the Nine Heavens that oversees births. Summon the spirits and gather the winds; divide your numinous presence and transform Qi (vital energy). For (name), may an heir be entered in the register of years and allotted a place in the palace of descendants; may blessings increase, years be extended, calamities dispelled, and hardships overcome. May descendants flourish and carry the family’s good name forward, bringing the honor of generations as abundant as trailing gourds. May husband and wife live together in harmony to a ripe old age, and enjoy the peaceful years of life’s later season. May the lonely stars of widowhood and solitude follow their proper courses; may stars of blessing and good fortune shine upon them. Protect the whole household, harmonize the four seasons, and allow them to live at ease in a flourishing age, with the hope of enjoying peace and prosperity. If this prayer is heard and answered, we will not forget to show our gratitude and faith.

Memorial to Wenchang

I humbly submit: Heaven’s way makes clear the order of blessings and calamities; whether fortune or misfortune comes to pass, the spirits respond with evident signs. I lament that, from the past until now, the people have suffered many illnesses. The masterful remedies of the apricot grove, the physicians, have had no effect, and households are filled with groans. Nor have the miraculous waters of the Upper Pool, the elixir spring of the immortals, brought relief. Though some disasters may arise from the celestial regions governing a place, or from calamities assigned to particular directions during the cycles of the year, their root lies in our own dull and foolish nature. We have often brought shame upon our family bonds; our inborn nature is clouded and dim, and we have accumulated many faults in our conduct. We have cultivated virtue without success—how can we speak of reaching good fortune? We have done good without knowing the proper way, and have not yet received auspicious blessings. The wrongs we have made are our own; responsibility has its rightful source.

We look up in reverence to the Sagely Emperor Wenchang. His station is exalted in the Southern Pole, and his virtue presides over literary affairs. He manifests in ninety-eight transformations and reveals hundreds of thousands of wondrous divine forms. He saves the state and the people, and his scriptures transmit profound truths. He dispels evil and supports what is right; his registers record numinous decrees. His protection covers the bustling multitude, and his virtue reaches all without exception. He takes pity on and cares for all people, and his compassion is complete.

We earnestly pray that Wenchang, in his compassion, will look upon us and bear witness: dispel calamity and relieve hardship, bestow blessings and extend life, and protect this region with peace and purity. May every household enjoy health and safety. If this prayer is heard and answered, we will not forget our faithful reverence.

Explanation: This text is a model memorial in the format used by a Lingbao Daoist altar to petition Emperor Wenchang, who governs scholarly achievement and literary fortune and is also associated with prayers for descendants and the removal of calamity. Terms in parentheses, such as “your servant,” “name,” and “the people,” are filled in during the ritual with the titles or names of the officiating Daoist, the person concerned, and the congregation. The first half is devoted to praying for descendants—seeking children and the continuation of the family line. The second half more generally petitions for the removal of calamity and the arrival of good fortune, including relief from illness, misfortune in the yearly cycle, and the consequences of accumulated wrongdoing.

The following are modern vernacular interpretations of several petitions in the Lingbao Wenjian, explained in the order of the original text.

General overview of the Jiao ritual / Petition expressing a prayer for grace

May the boundless compassion look down upon us. We repent and reflect on our past transgressions, and hope to turn back from the delusions of the past, correct our faults, and open the road to awakening in the future. We respectfully follow the liturgy of the Jiao altar and humbly pray for special grace. (The following is omitted.) Therefore, (the disciple), ashamed of my dullness and unworthy of the ritual office I occupy, though I cherish the wish to benefit the world, have not yet deeply understood the Way of Heaven. With only a single thought of utmost sincerity, I bow in supplication for the grace of the Primordial Beginning. (The disciple, so-and-so), beneath the throne of Emperor Wen (honorific title missing), humbly prays that Your Benevolence look down, discern, and grant approval, and convey this petition to the Celestial Court. Recognize the sincerity of my single thought and extend widely the Virtue of cherishing life: command the Five Plague spirits to return to their palaces, order the Eight Demons to retreat and disperse, and let the world be free of calamities, with all people sharing in Your grace and Virtue. May people attain the realm of longevity and together enjoy Heaven’s blessings. (The disciple) presumes upon Your august presence. (The following is omitted.)

Petition for Lord Guan’s birthday

I, your subject, have heard that when the Three Qi—the energies of Heaven, Earth, and humanity—store their essence, a thousand years pass before an outstanding sage is born; and when the Five Phases—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—gather their finest qualities, it takes countless generations for an eminent spirit to appear. The Han of old displayed its mighty strength; our dynasty spreads the power of the sage. People throughout past and present look up to him, and all under Heaven revere him. Whoever sincerely places their trust in him will surely receive his discerning regard. I, your subject, respectfully submit this petition on behalf of (native place and petition text). The Southern Dipper shines brilliantly; the Virtue of Fire is radiant. The title of Perfected Lord is rightly bestowed, and the epithet “Subduer of Demons” is truly deserved. He is revered throughout the Three Realms and worshipped in sacrifices across the Nine Provinces. I, your subject, respectfully hope for Your boundless compassion: kindly grant a favorable response, recognize the sincerity with which we now take refuge, and bestow renewed blessings. (The disciple) presumes upon Your august presence. (The following is omitted.)

Petition to Fengdu

I, the disciple, have heard that the majestic power of the divine spirits holds the authority of Luofeng, while the clear workings of karmic retribution make manifest the power of the courts of the underworld. They assist Heaven in carrying out transformation, embody the Dao in governing the netherworld, answer every plea, and leave no prayer unheard. Whenever people perform a purification ritual, they must appeal to this compassionate grace. I, the disciple, respectfully submit this petition on behalf of (native place and petition text; expressions of thanks follow). The sage’s heart is compassionate and benevolent: he brings order through ritual and guides through Virtue. Heaven’s grace spreads far and wide. When merit and guilt are uncertain, the greater weight is given to merit and the lesser to guilt. I, the disciple, respectfully hope that Your Great Benevolence will extend its compassion, approve this petition, and specially issue a true decree to the netherworld of Luofeng, directing the Six Caverns and Ten Palaces, along with all their responsible officials, to make known the worldly deeds and misdeeds, blessings and offenses, and the fate that follows from them. Then let them remove the transgressions of (so-and-so) and others from the black register, record their good deeds in the green ledger, and allow their good results to come to fruition and their blessings to endure. (The disciple) presumes upon Your august presence. (The following is omitted.)

Notes for reading the petitions

A biao is a formal document through which Daoist priests submit petitions to celestial deities, divine rulers, or the offices of the netherworld, often during a purification ritual.

“Your servant” or “your subject” is how the presiding priest or the person leading the petition refers to themselves during a ritual assembly.

A Jiao ceremony refers to the liturgy of a purification ritual.

The Five Plague spirits and the Eight Demons are names for spirits and demons associated with calamities, whom ritual texts often beseech to depart.

The birthday petition for Lord Guan is a petition offering birthday greetings and prayers for blessings to the Holy Lord Guan, the deified Guan Yu.

A petition to Fengdu is addressed to the Great Emperor of Fengdu and the offices of the netherworld, asking them to examine merits and transgressions, remove offenses, and record good deeds.

A Plain-Language Reading of Lingbao Writings and Documents

Opening Formula

May this message be proclaimed everywhere, with reverence and due humility. (The following uses the format of a formal memorial; some wording is omitted.)

Memorial to the Dark Emperor

Your servant has heard that the pure, clear source has tended the world since the time of the Kaihuang era, while the unseen, mysterious principles have endured countless great kalpas and upheld the heavens. Their work in rescuing and delivering all living beings is immeasurable. Your servant respectfully submits this memorial concerning (a certain matter).

Your servant humbly reflects that, though unworthy, he holds the position of conducting purification rites and has diligently observed the original rules. He is always afraid of failing to understand, failing to recognize, lacking faith, and accomplishing nothing. Now, on the occasion of (a certain time and matter), the sacred rank and Dao talismans belong to the Mysterious Origin; its De is exalted through past and present. Sacred spirits descend from the Golden Gates, their divine power filling the cosmos. The Jade Void assists in governing, and wondrous transformations shine throughout heaven and earth. All beneath the heavens look up in reverence, and all within the realm receive their protection.

Your servant humbly hopes that the cloudy banners will briefly depart from the palace of the Vermilion Gates, and the rainbow pennants will stream down to this ritual altar. May you drive away demons and cut down baleful spirits, bringing blessings to the state and prosperity to the people. Your servant ventures to submit this memorial (and so forth).

Memorial Inviting the Masters

Your disciple has heard that the Great Dao is profoundly mysterious, quietly turning the wondrous workings within the pearl; its divine power is vast and boundless—who can grasp the hidden mechanism beyond appearances? It stands foremost among all beings and holds an exalted place among the Three Treasures. Whenever the mysterious rites are undertaken, the lineage of the masters must first be honored.

Your disciple respectfully submits this memorial concerning (place of origin and matter, with words of thanks). The five masters, whose titles are offered in service at the Jade Capital, expound the teachings within the Forest of Qian. Attending the Celestial Court at the Golden Gates, they bestowed compassion before the great kalpas. May they spread their abundant benevolence and graciously turn their pure gaze this way; may they ride down on nine rays of light and arrive upon five-colored clouds. May they examine and encompass all things, and bring good results to completion. Your disciple ventures to submit this memorial (and so forth).

Memorial of Thanks to the Masters

Your disciple has heard that the establishment of the teachings is governed by strict rules, and that the rites were brought to completion by following (a certain person’s) instructions. The deliverance of people is without limit, and success was achieved through the masters’ guidance. Your disciple ventures to set this down, offers an apology on behalf of the one responsible, and respectfully submits a full record of gratitude, daring to present this memorial despite his offense.

Your disciple respectfully submits this memorial concerning (place of origin and matter). Having received the petition, your disciple earnestly followed the instructions. Now that the rites have been fully and properly performed, your disciple reflects again that his nature is dull and foolish, and that he remains ignorant of the ritual texts. Although the procedures have been completed, there were many actual errors and departures from the rules. Your disciple looks up in hope of the masters’ compassion and asks them especially to grant pardon and forgiveness (your disciple, and so forth). With repeated bows, your disciple respectfully addresses the True Lords of the Five Masters who serve at Mount Jade Capital and established the Lingbao teachings (in their presence).

Note: This document belongs to the “memorial” genre used in Lingbao purification rites and is divided into three parts: a memorial to the Dark Emperor, an invitation to the Five Masters, and thanks to the masters. The bracketed sections are standard spaces for entering one’s place of origin, name, and reason for the memorial. Terms such as “venture to submit,” “humbly reflect,” and “your disciple” are conventional expressions of humility and respect in formal memorials.

A Plain-Language Interpretation of the Lingbao Text of Formal Documents

First section: Hymn and memorial of gratitude

The Dao transcends kalpa after kalpa, and its profound principles are complete and all-encompassing. The true transmission of the Lingbao lineage’s liturgy has been bestowed and passed down through countless generations. Heaven and humanity join in celebrating this great ritual assembly, and we are fortunate to have reached the appointed period of fulfillment, the Three-Five. We, (the successor, so-and-so) and others, are filled with reverence and joy.

Your compassionate light shines far and wide, and merits are recorded throughout the Nine Earths. Your immense grace sustains everyone.

We, the Five Masters’ successors and others, presume to approach you (a humble expression meaning “we do not presume to deserve this”).

We bow before our revered master (and so on), bow again, and respectfully prepare this memorial. Facing the distant

Celestial Pivot Office—the heavenly bureau that oversees the central affairs and the presentation of memorials—we submit our thanks and report our plea.

Second section: Memorial for Opening the Mystery (announcing the opening of the purification rite to the masters)

We, the successors, have heard that the Dao has no divergent paths, while the teachings follow established rules. Before carrying out a purification rite according to the liturgy, one must first report to the lineage of the masters. We respectfully submit this memorial: concerning matters such as (the place of origin and the purpose of the petition), we have received the petition and will faithfully follow the teachings. Today, on the solemn Jade Altar—the ritual ground for purification rites—we proclaim the wondrous transformation. Without turning to the masters’ seat, we fear it will be difficult to summon the High Perfected to descend. We therefore follow the Mystery liturgy and sincerely turn to the masters’ presence. We, (the successor, so-and-so, and others), respectfully contemplate:

The True Lords of the Five Masters who inaugurated the Lingbao teaching;

The True Lords of the Three Departments and Four Ministers of the Golden Palace (in attendance);

The ancestral masters of the Clear Subtlety and Lingbao traditions,

who support the Mystery and uphold the teaching, oversee the central affairs, and accord with the precelestial;

who expound the methods and transmit the liturgy, part the cloud-brocade, and open the way for later students.

We, the successors, respectfully hope that the masters will compassionately review our humble intentions, graciously extend their great creative power, and bestow profound kindness. May they witness today’s purification practice and raise up the liturgical observance at this time, so that the memorial may reach and communicate with the divine, and people may venerate and uphold the teachings; may both the unseen and visible realms benefit, and the living and the dead alike receive its blessings; may family and state alike enjoy peace, and may those near and far share in the celebration.

We, the successors, presume to approach you (and so on).

Third section: Memorial of thanks to the Mystery (thanking the masters after the purification rite)

We, the successors, have heard that the power of the Dao is exalted, as it teaches in the human world, and that its profound grace is boundless, leaving exemplary rites throughout the lands. Whenever we offer our initial thanks, we are sure to receive pardon.

We respectfully submit this memorial: concerning matters such as (the place of origin and the purpose of the petition), we, the successors, have received the petition and faithfully followed the teachings. Now the ritual at the Jade Altar has concluded, and the matter of (so-and-so) is nearing its end. From the opening of the purification rite until its completion, perhaps our minds were distracted and our attention inadequate; perhaps our gestures and postures were improper, or our actions and stillness departed from the liturgy. We fear that the Four Offices—the underworld authorities who record and investigate transgressions—may record our faults, and that the Five Emperors, divine inspectors of Heaven, may hold us accountable for our offenses. We once again approach…

This scripture is a liturgical document used in Daoist purification rituals (Zhaijiao), comprising three main sections: repentance before patriarchs of various schools, invocation of the Celestial Master (Tianshi) to purify the ritual space, and supplication to the Eleven Great Luminaries for divine protection.

First, the disciple humbly repents before the patriarchs of the Qingwei, Lingbao, Daode, and Zhengyi schools (founders of different Daoist lineages). The text describes these patriarchs as masters of profound and unfathomable Daoist methods, their spirits roaming the realm of the Supreme Void (Taixu). The disciple earnestly seeks their forgiveness for past transgressions and implores their blessings, so that both the living and the deceased may receive deliverance, allowing the Daoist teachings to flourish and spread.

Next, the disciple ventures to invoke the Celestial Master Zhang (Zhang Daoling, founder of Daoism). The passage extols the Celestial Master as one who embodies the celestial essence and commands the mysterious principles of emptiness and non-being (Xuanmiao). His teachings pervade both the human and celestial realms, and his grace extends across the boundaries of Yin and Yang. The disciple beseeches the Celestial Master to descend with radiant golden light and righteous Qi, dispatching the Nine Phoenixes of Purity (divine beings specialized in dispelling defilement) to cleanse the ritual space of all impurities. This purification ensures the sacred altar becomes immaculate and dignified, allowing the descent of various deities.

Finally, the disciple reverently invites the Eleven Great Luminaries (highly venerated stellar deities in Daoism). The text describes these luminaries as dwelling in the celestial Purple Tenuity Palace (Ziwei Gong), their brilliance shining like pearls. The sun (Yu Yi) and moon (Jie Lin) radiate crimson and silvery light respectively, embodying the essences of the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) and manifesting the five colors (azure, yellow, red, white, and black). These stellar deities govern the fortunes and misfortunes of humanity, overseeing the destinies of all people. The disciple respectfully requests their descent to safeguard the ritual proceedings.

The entire text is imbued with profound reverence for the divine, expressed through elegant language that conveys repentance, supplication, and praise. It exemplifies the standard format of Daoist liturgical documents used in purification rituals.

A Vernacular Interpretation of Lingbao Wenshu

First Section: Averting Calamity and Praying for Blessings

The rules distinguish the degrees of response associated with such things as the “Divine Head” and “Divine Tail,” and use stellar deities such as Tianyi and Taiyi to determine these degrees. When floods, fires, locust plagues, illness, or the calamities of weapons threaten, the stars’ degrees, as they shine upon the earthly realm, govern good and ill fortune in the central heavens. If an altar is established to avert and dispel disaster, blessings arise from it; if taboos are violated, calamity may follow. We dare not fail to reverently invite the windborne divine chariot, and pray only that it manifest its power amid abundant blessings. May we receive the grace of its protective care and enjoy blessings as plentiful as a river: may all things be free from harm and affliction, and every household enjoy peace and health; may a thousand calamities dissolve over the course of the year, and a hundred blessings arrive together within one’s allotted span of life. May peace and well-being come at the appointed time, and prosperity endure forever.

Memorial to the Eastern Peak (Presented to the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak)

The memorial states: Your servant has heard that the Emperor’s virtue is vast, and benevolent grace extends throughout the cosmos; the Sage’s majesty is boundless, and beneficence fills Heaven and Earth. He protects the state and its people, supremely benevolent and supremely sagely. With reverence I lay bare my sincere heart and presume to trouble Your Sacred Hearing.

Your servant respectfully submits this memorial on behalf of (native place, petition, and concluding expression of thanks) to the Sacred Seat:

You dwell in honor atop Mount Tai, your station guarding the southwest. You protect and secure the imperial realm, and preserve the capital region in peace and purity. All beneath Heaven look up to you in reverence; the myriad people turn their hearts toward you. You record merit and examine transgressions, blessing the good and bringing misfortune upon the wicked.

Your servant humbly looks to Your Heavenly Compassion to grant this petition, pardon my faults, and cause the misfortunes of the virtuous petitioner (name) to be dispelled, with auspicious blessings gathering in abundance: may husband and wife walk safely through life; may sons and grandsons flourish like fragrant orchids and cassia; may wealth and goods grow as luxuriantly as pines; may granaries increase in abundant harvest; may the household be peaceful and auspicious, and the family home rich and thriving.

Your servant dares to intrude upon Your Heavenly Majesty. My humble plea is as follows: (details).

Note: This text is a wenshu, a formal memorial format used in Lingbao Zhaijiao rites. The first part discusses the division of stellar deities’ degrees and the principles of averting calamity. The second part is a formal memorial addressed to the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak—the deity of Mount Tai, who governs life, death, fortune, and misfortune. At the end, phrases such as “native place, petition, and concluding expression of thanks” mark standard spaces to be filled in during the ritual with the petitioner’s name and reason for the petition. This concludes Scroll Five.