What is the Zhentan Mu 镇坛木
Paul PengShare
Zhentan Mu, also known as "Zhentan Mu", "Fengzhi" (by imperial decree), "Jingban" (pure board), etc., is a wooden block slightly in the shape of a cuboid. Its top surface is slightly raised, the bottom surface is flat, and it is painted red with lacquer. The front side is carved with the four characters "Wanshen Xianting" (all gods listen attentively), and the two ends are carved with the four trigrams of Qian, Kun, Kan, and Li.
During the Taoist ritual, the Zhentan Mu is placed on the table and used by the high priest in conjunction with the ritual procedures. When Taoist priests perform magic spells, they also use it to pat the table to intimidate evil ghosts and demons.
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This article is part of our comprehensive guide covering all core Taoist philosophies, concepts, and practices — curated from the classic Encyclopedia of Taoism.
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About the Author
Paul Peng
Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is the curator of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.
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