《靈寶文檢》Vol. 32

Interpretation

Lingbao Wenjian, Volume Twelve: Table of Contents (Plain-Language Explanation)

This text comes from Volume Twelve of the Lingbao Wenjian, part of the Shangqing tradition, as included in the Daozang Jiyao. What follows is the volume’s table of contents. The entries listed are the names of documents used in the Great Netherworld-and-Yang Purification Ritual—a major liturgy for delivering the deceased and praying for blessings for the living—including talismans and registers, slips, petitions, and passes.

Talismans and Registers for the Great Netherworld-and-Yang Purification Ritual

Ten Talismans for Delivering People Through the Ten Cycles (ten items), Ten Slips for Delivering People Through the Ten Cycles (ten items)

Talismans and slips associated with “Delivering People Through the Ten Cycles,” ten of each, used to deliver departed souls repeatedly.

Yellow Petition to the Ten Directions

A yellow petition addressed to the ten directions (a document for the underworld).

Pass and Guide for Delivering People

A pass and guide used to escort souls through checkpoints during the ritual for delivering people.

Nine Slips for the Nine Heavens’ Generation of Spirits (nine items), Nine Talismans for the Nine Heavens’ Generation of Spirits (nine items)

Slips and talismans used in conjunction with the ritual for the generation of spirits by the Nine Heavens, nine of each.

Yellow Petition for the Generation of Spirits, Pass and Guide for the Generation of Spirits

A yellow petition and a pass and guide used in the ritual for the generation of spirits.

Five Sprouts Talisman for the Five Spirits’ Brahmā Deliverance (five items)

Five talismans for delivering the dead, associated with the Five Spirits, Brahmā sounds, and the five sprouts.

True Talisman for Breaking Through Darkness

A talisman for dispelling obscurity and illuminating the road through the netherworld.

Talisman for Opening the Netherworld Prison by Command (ten items)

Ten talismans issued by command to open the prisons of the netherworld.

Talismans for Opening the Quarters and Delivering Souls to Life (note: the true text for opening the quarters and delivering souls to life is found in Volume Nine)

Talismans for establishing ritual directions and delivering souls to life through the quarters; they correspond to the “True Text for Opening the Quarters and Delivering Souls to Life” in Volume Nine.

Jade Coffer Talisman

A talisman kept in a jade coffer or associated with the Jade Coffer ritual.

Precious Edict in Seal Script for Ascending to Heaven, Jade Text of the Precious Edict for Ascending to Heaven

A seal-script text and a jade-document format used for ascension to heaven and precious edicts.

Jade Text for Leaving the Cycle of Life and Death

A jade text symbolizing release from the cycle of life and death.

Jade Text of the Precious Edict of the Jade Clarity Realm, Jade Text of the Precious Edict for the Generation of Spirits

Jade texts used for precious edicts of the Jade Clarity realm and the generation of spirits.

True Talismans for Summoning the Five Emperors to the Dead (five items)

Five true talismans for summoning departed souls and invoking the protection of the Five Emperors.

Golden Bridge Talisman for Ascension and Deliverance

A talisman used to cross the “Golden Bridge” during ascension and deliverance, symbolizing passage over a bridge and ascent to a higher state in underworld rites.

Talisman for Bathing and Delivering Souls

A talisman for bathing and delivering departed souls.

Talismans for Transforming Clothes (two items)

Two talismans used in the ritual for transforming clothes.

Talisman of the Elixir Spirit for Renewing Life

A talisman associated with the Elixir Spirit and the renewal of life.

Six Talismans for Summoning and Inviting

Six talismans used for summoning and inviting.

Talisman for the Complete Manifestation of the Five Emperors

A talisman associated with the complete manifestation of the Five Emperors.

Talisman for Resolving Grievances with True Qi

A talisman for using True Qi to resolve grievances and untie knots of resentment.

Talisman for Releasing Qi from Fear and Dread

A talisman that frees departed souls from fear and dread.

Talisman of the Numinous Chapter of the Eight Assemblies

A talisman associated with the Eight Assemblies and numinous chapters.

Talisman for Boundless Ritual Food

A talisman used in offering boundless ritual food (offerings in underworld rites).

Talisman for Sprinkling Sweet Dew by Command

A talisman for sprinkling sweet dew by command.

Five Offerings Talisman

A talisman used for the five offerings.

Wisdom Light Talisman

A talisman for illuminating with the light of wisdom.

Leaving the Sealed Courts and Offices

An entry title, likely concerning release from the sealed courts and offices of the netherworld; its precise use is described in the main text.

Talismans for Summoning Generals, Talisman for Universal Gathering

Talismans for summoning officers and generals and gathering departed souls universally.

Talisman for Summoning Lonely Souls

A talisman specifically for summoning lonely, unclaimed souls.

True Talismans for Refining and Delivering Souls Back to Life (nine items)

Nine true talismans used in rituals for refining and delivering souls back to life.

Slips and Talismans of the Three Origins

Talismans and slips associated with the Three Origins (the Upper, Middle, and Lower Origins, or the three origins of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity).

Note: Volume Twelve’s table of contents mainly lists talismans and registers, slips, petitions, passes and guides, and jade texts—a “document inventory” for the Lingbao Great Netherworld-and-Yang Purification Ritual. For the specific forms and uses of each item, and how they correspond to the steps of the liturgy, consult the main text of Volume Twelve of the Lingbao Wenjian and chapters such as the “True Text for Opening the Quarters and Delivering Souls to Life” in Volume Nine.

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