Guangcheng Yizhi is an voluminous work, divided into 275 headings, and collects various
Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) sect rituals. It is said to be the most comprehensive compilation of Quanzhen ritual norms discovered to date. The book records regular temple rituals of Quanzhen monasteries, such as the Three Yuan Grand Assembly, the Nine Emperors' Offering Ritual (
Jiuhuang Jiao), the Reception of the Royal Procession (
Jie Wangjia), the Dipper Offering Ritual (
Dou Jiao), and the Birth Chart Offering Ritual (
Yuanchen Jiao). It also includes rituals for saving the souls of the deceased, such as the Salvation Feast (
Duren Zhai) and the Food Offering Ritual (
Shishi Yi), as well as prayer and exorcism rituals tailored for folk needs, such as rituals for harmonizing plagues (
Hewen), warding off ants (
Rangyi), and thanking for fire prevention (
Xiehuo).
The rituals included in this book extensively absorb the ritual norms of the Lingbao (Numinous Treasure) and
Qingwei (Pure Subtlety) schools, which were revised in line with the style of the Quanzhen sect. Many rituals in the book were created to adapt to folk belief customs, carrying a strong flavor of folk culture, while some others bear the local characteristics of Sichuan and the Yangtze River basin.
Guangcheng Yizhi was originally collected in Guchangdao Guan (Ancient Perpetual Daoist Temple) on
Qingcheng Mountain. Several volumes of the original collection were missing; later, Tian Shi Dong (Heavenly Master Cave) organized Taoist priests to transcribe and complete the missing parts. It was subsequently included in the
Zangwai Daoshu (Taoist Books Outside the Canon) under the category of ritual norms.
