Taoist Mantra: Mantra for Summoning the Ten Primordial Merit Officials

Primordial Origin initiates the teaching, one qi differentiates into true essence. The Six Heavens issue decrees, governing all gods.

The Three Terraces shield the body, the Five Dippers conceal the form. Celestial axes and battle axes guard my true self.

Thunder generals come and go, knowing my name. Ten Great Merit Officials, obey my command and act.

Managing yin and yang, each has their official duty. Purification Merit Official, dispel filth and eliminate qi. Demon-Sweeping Merit Official, bind ghosts and behead spirits. Message-Delivering Merit Official, convey mortal sentiments. Calamity-Transcending Merit Official, increase lifespan and prolong years. Guardian Merit Official, stabilize the soul and calm the spirit. Distress-Relieving Merit Official, protect childbirth and hasten delivery. Body-Possessing Merit Official, seize and lift the soul. Celestial Physician Merit Official, dispense medicines and fly needles. Healing Merit Official, unblock qi and nurture true essence. Qi-Circulating Merit Official, act as desired and advance. One divine talisman, ensuring qi and meridians are peaceful.

Hurry, hurry, in accordance with the imperial decree!

"Merit Official" (Gongcao) was an official position in the Han Dynasty. After the formation of Taoism, the officials in charge of the year, month, day, and hour were called "On-Duty Merit Officials". They specialize in recording the merits and demerits of the true gods in the celestial realm and reporting to the Jade Emperor, and also deliver memorials from the human world to the heavenly court.

As one of the Taoist gods, Merit Officials are transformed from the innate true qi of Sanwu (Three-Five), and are formed by summoning the upright qi of the three cinnabar fields and five zang-organs in the body with Taoist qi, thus governing the official bureaus. Since the creation of heaven and earth, all things exist because of qi; both gods and humans cannot do without the nourishment of innate true qi. The role of the Ten Great Merit Officials on the human body lies solely in the balanced operation of yin and yang qi.

This mantra prays to the presiding Merit Officials in ten aspects to expel pathogenic qi from the body and refine the diseased parts according to their different functional characteristics. It aims to purify the five zang-organs and six fu-organs from diseases, unblock all meridians, balance the triple burner, and endow the prayers with a healthy physique. "One divine talisman" serves as a preventive and strengthening measure.