Taishang Zhengyi Jing: Escape Karma Through Daoist Scripture

The Supreme Orthodox Unification Scriptural Classic

If one can recite the great scriptures of the Three Caverns (a core category of Taoist scriptures, encompassing Shangqing, Lingbao, and Zhengyi texts), boundless blessings will descend upon them.

The Celestial Master (Tianshi, leader of the Zhengyi School) bowed with hands clasped and asked the Supreme Lord (Taishang): “I, Daoling (Zhang Daoling, founder of Zhengyi Taoism), often see people in the world trapped in hardships—exhaustion, illness, prisons, fetters and chains, floods, fires, weapons of war, tigers, wolves, poisonous insects and snakes. Plagued by countless sufferings and calamities, they cannot free themselves. They endure agony, sorrow, and bitterness; many die prematurely or meet unjust, violent ends. I do not know from what karmic causes these misfortunes arise, nor what merits and virtues one must cultivate to be delivered from them. I earnestly implore the Heavenly Venerable (Tianzun, a revered title for Taoist deities) to show great compassion and grant forgiveness, so that people may understand their transgressions and be freed from grief and sorrow.”

The Supreme Lord told the Celestial Master: “All these calamities befall people because they do not believe in karmic destiny, the causes of sin and blessing; they disrespect their teachers and belittle the Dao; they violate fasting rules and precepts; they go against the will of Heaven, Earth, the Sun, the Moon, and the stars; they uproot the fundamental principles of virtue; they abandon the righteous path and embrace evil; they bully the poor and humble; they curse ghosts and spirits; they profane the Three Venerables (a general term for core Taoist deities or the Three Caverns scriptures); they are unfilial to parents and disloyal to rulers; brothers are discordant, fathers lack kindness to children, couples are incompatible, and men and women fail to act in accordance with propriety. They harm one another in countless deceitful ways: they kill, steal, commit lewd acts, harbor jealousy and envy, are greedy and foolish; they speak maliciously, spread rumors, tell extravagant lies; they drink alcohol and eat meat, defiling their innate purity; they use strength to oppress the weak, abuse official power to bully others; rulers govern without virtue, ministers serve without loyalty; they deceive superiors and exploit inferiors, harm the common people, and wrongfully persecute the loyal and virtuous. Indulging in unrestrained vice, they thus bring upon themselves illness and suffering, and calamities befall them.

“Therefore, Heaven dispatches the Nine Ugly Demon Ghosts, each leading an army of ninety million spirits. These ghosts ride on clouds, control the wind, follow the rain, dwell in forests and trees, and attach themselves to households. They wait for people to become weak or vulnerable, then infiltrate their bodies through clothing, bodily fluids, food, and drink, taking residence in their viscera. Sometimes they linger in dwellings, unleashing nine types of calamities upon the world to discipline these evildoers and guide them back to the virtuous path.

“If one observes fasts, pays homage, practices the Dao, recites scriptures, burns incense, scatters flowers, receives precepts, repents of transgressions, gives alms, makes vows to relieve the poor, redeems lives (to save animals from slaughter), builds Taoist temples and shrines, constructs ritual altars and sacred halls, and broadly cultivates karmic blessings by performing such meritorious deeds—then they can be freed from disasters and delivered from suffering.

“But if one does not believe in karmic retribution for sin and blessing, kills, steals, consumes alcohol and meat, slanders the Three Treasures (the Dao, scriptures, and Taoist priests), disrespects ascetics, damages sacred images, and commits all manner of evil deeds—then all kinds of calamities will befall them. They will encounter misfortune: their fields will be barren and crops destroyed, their livestock will die, their official careers will end in dismissal, family members will die prematurely, their requests will go unfulfilled, and their wishes will never come true.”

The nine calamities are as follows:

Illness: Refers to wind-cold, summer-heat, dampness, epidemic plagues, sores, lumps, intestinal disorders, cholera, diarrhea, and afflictions by evil spirits. All manner of illnesses and pains cling to the body—one cannot eat or drink, grows gaunt and haggard, cannot seek life nor death, endures suffering day and night, and finds no peace whether sitting or lying down.
Imprisonment: Refers to disputes that lead to official charges, unjust lawsuits, fetters and chains, flogging with whips and cudgels, torture that harms the body—suffering too great to bear. It involves parents, brothers, wives, children, and family members, trapping them for years on end with no way to escape.
Weapons of War: Refers to encountering tyrannical rulers who kill the virtuous and good; or being wrongfully accused of banditry, falling prey to robbers, and being cut down, limbs torn apart; or being conscripted for state campaigns, struck by blades and arrows, body shattered, flesh and bones scattered, devoured by birds and beasts—soul wandering in foreign lands, forever without a home.
Floods: Refers to overwhelming floods that surge to the heavens, rushing through valleys and rivers. Those caught in the deluge drown—fathers and sons perish together, flesh and bones scattered, buried in ditches, devoured by fish and turtles; or when traveling on rivers, lakes, or seas, they drown, bodies dissolving in the underwater realm.
Fire: Refers to encountering wildfires while traveling in mountains and marshes, or when at home, being caught in a blazing fire that burns the body to cinders.
Poisoning: Refers to venom from tigers, wolves, insects, snakes, wasps, and scorpions; or poisoning from plants, flowers, and leaves that harm the skin; or toxic qi and poisons entering the body and intestines, causing unbearable suffering.
Crushing: Refers to collapses of rocks, cliffs, houses, tiles, and timbers—falling debris crushes the body, injuring limbs, causing excruciating pain in the head and limbs, leaving one restless whether sitting or lying.
Terror: Refers to the power of officials, floods, fires, weapons of war, thunderstorms, fierce birds and beasts, and evil spirits—all suddenly descending to threaten, causing overwhelming fear and restlessness. The soul wails in despair, leading to death.
Hunger and Cold: Refers to being forced into labor (public or private) and sent to distant lands, encountering dangers such as floods, fires, soldiers, and bandits who oppress them, with no clothes or food left; or living in poverty at home, constantly suffering from hunger and cold. All these are controlled by the Nine Ugly Demon Ghosts.

The Nine Ugly Ghosts are:

Di Xing (Demon Star Ghost),
Kuang Yun (Wild Cloud Ghost),
Zhong Yao (Many Evils Ghost),
Tian Guai (Heavenly Deviance Ghost),
Jian Zhou (Unruly Steed Ghost),
Gan Du (Bitter Poison Ghost),
Jing Kuang (Blinding Madness Ghost),
Jing Hu Chang (Startling Cry Ghost),
Zhi (Ominous Encounter Ghost).

Each is in charge of one calamity and roams the human world at all times.

Additionally, there are the Divine Officials of the Five Emperors (referring to celestial deities governing the five directions), each in charge of five more calamities, waiting to discipline evildoers:

1. Divine Officials of the Green Emperor

They unleash the Green Plague, Green Pestilence, Green Poison, Green Gu (venomous parasites), Green Blight, and Green Wind. Those who encounter these suffer from headache and high fever, cold-induced illnesses and seasonal epidemics, cholera and diarrhea, aching hands and feet, stiff shoulders and back, inability to eat or drink, bodily pain, soreness in bones and flesh, slurred and disoriented speech, and a loss of self-awareness.

2. Divine Officials of the Red Emperor

They unleash the Red Plague, Red Pestilence, Red Poison, Red Gu, Red Blight, and Red Wind. Those who meet these face government imprisonment, fetters and chains, legal disputes and verbal quarrels, detention as prisoners, flogging and torture, and endless agony.

3. Divine Officials of the White Emperor

They unleash the White Plague, White Pestilence, White Poison, White Gu, White Blight, and White Wind. Those who suffer these encounters face weapons of war and bandits, tigers, wolves, insects, snakes, wasps, scorpions, and other poisonous creatures—all inflicting harm and wounding the body.

4. Divine Officials of the Black Emperor

They unleash the Black Plague, Black Pestilence, Black Poison, Black Gu, Black Blight, and Black Wind. Those who cross their path drown in rivers, valleys, and springs; are swept away and submerged by floods; and perish in the swirling waters.

5. Divine Officials of the Yellow Emperor

They unleash the Yellow Plague, Yellow Pestilence, Yellow Poison, Yellow Gu, Yellow Blight, and Yellow Wind. Those who bear the brunt of these see mountains collapsing and rocks crumbling, houses falling into ruin, carts breaking and horses dying, being crushed by plants and trees, and all manner of poisons afflicting the body.

Each group of these Divine Officials leads three million demon ghosts, each wielding five types of blades, roaming among humans:

Wood Blade: When it strikes a person, they suffer from alternating chills and fever, itchy and painful skin, restlessness, aching hands and feet, madness and confusion, and inability to find peace whether sitting or lying down.
Fire Blade: When it hits a person, they develop a severe headache and high fever, body-wide aches and restlessness, slurred and nonsensical speech, and a reddened face.
Metal Blade: When it harms a person, they cough and struggle to breathe, suffer from painful joints, or develop sores on the body.
Water Blade: When it strikes a person, they are afflicted with cholera and diarrhea, a pale and dark complexion, body swelling, and aching hands and feet.
Earth Blade: When it affects a person, they feel abdominal distension and inability to digest food.

From these five blades, hundreds of illnesses arise. They make people gaunt and haggard, their souls scattered; they often dream of wandering with the dead. The demons reduce their lifespan, record their names in the Black Register (a celestial record of those destined for misfortune), or seal their fates under the influence of "Black Stars" and "Red Constellations"—trapped in the "Heavenly Net" and "Earthly Snare" (metaphors for inescapable calamity).

For anyone beset by such disasters, they must first take their finest clothes, make an image of the "Savior Heavenly Venerable" (a Taoist deity who delivers from suffering), copy this sacred scripture, and craft "calamity-delivering banners"—all using the number nine (the more, the better). They must light "ever-burning lamps" that stay lit day and night, while reciting scriptures, practicing the Dao, repenting of transgressions, receiving precepts, burning incense, scattering flowers, holding fasting ceremonies, chanting praises to the Dao, relieving those in distress, releasing prisoners, giving alms to the poor, redeeming lives (to save creatures from slaughter), setting up a high platform, inviting virtuous people to expound on Mahayana teachings (borrowed from Buddhism to emphasize universal salvation), building Taoist temples to deliver sentient beings, and fulfilling all good vows without slacking day or night. Only then can they escape disasters and prolong their lifespan.

The Supreme Lord further said: If a person can regularly make images of the "Ten Directions Heavenly Venerables"—ten, a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand, according to their ability—and copy the "Three Caverns Scriptures" (core Taoist scriptures) one set, ten sets, a hundred sets, a thousand sets, or ten thousand sets, to circulate and recite; if they invite Taoist priests to chant all scriptures of the Three Caverns, practice the Dao, make vows, pray for blessings and ward off disasters, deliver sentient beings, and build temples—this is the supreme practice, beyond all comprehension.

If one cannot do this, they should at least purify their residence, bathe their body and mind, recite this scripture day and night, pay homage to the Ten Directions Heavenly Venerables, burn incense to dispel misfortune, scatter flowers to declare their vows—and they will naturally be freed from all disasters and gain boundless blessings.

The Supreme Lord said: If you wish to dispel misfortune and eliminate disasters, take green silk, twist it to the left to make a "nine-section cord" (nine feet long), and prepare nine metal rings (gold, silver, copper, etc.). First, tie one ring to the end of the cord, then burn incense and light lamps—all in quantities based on the number nine. Sit facing east, recite this scripture: for each chapter or recitation, tie one knot on the ring. After tying nine knots, add another ring and repeat until nine rings are completed. Then hold a fasting ceremony to "untie the knots"—this is called "untying the Nine Heavenly Calamities," "opening the Nine Heavenly Knots," "registering one’s name in the Nine Heavens," and "nourishing the Nine True Essences." After untying, repeat the knotting process as before.

If there are multiple people, each should tie and untie their own cords. If one completes ninety thousand recitations and untyings, they will be free from calamities for life, and their name will be recorded in the "Eastern Flower Capital" (a celestial realm of immortality). When untying the knots, if one makes images of the Heavenly Venerables, lamps, and banners—nine for each of the Nine Heavens—and praises the blessings bestowed, the merit will be majestic. The knots may also be tied while the priest wears the cord and recites the scripture, or while one recites and praises by themselves, then wears the cord.

Ritual for Paying Homage to the Heavenly Venerables of the Ten Directions:

Prostrate 90 times toward the Eastern Direction, 120 times toward the Southeastern Direction, 30 times toward the Southern Direction, 120 times toward the Southwestern Direction, 70 times toward the Western Direction, 120 times toward the Northwestern Direction, 50 times toward the Northern Direction, and 120 times toward the Northeastern Direction. Then, prostrate 360 times toward the Upper Realm (positioned to the northwest) and 120 times toward the Lower Realm (positioned to the southeast). The total number of prostrations for all directions combined is 1,200. During each prostration, recite the name of the Heavenly Venerable corresponding to that direction, saying:

With sincere devotion, I submit to the Jade Treasure Supreme Sovereign Heavenly Venerable of the East.
With sincere devotion, I submit to the Heavenly Venerable of Cherishing Life and Granting Deliverance of the Southeast.
With sincere devotion, I submit to the Mysterious Truth and Myriad Blessings Heavenly Venerable of the South.
With sincere devotion, I submit to the Great Spirit Void Sovereign Heavenly Venerable of the Southwest.
With sincere devotion, I submit to the Supreme Wonder and Utmost Perfection Heavenly Venerable of the West.
With sincere devotion, I submit to the Boundless Great Glory Heavenly Venerable of the Northwest.
With sincere devotion, I submit to the Mysterious Supreme Jade Dawn Heavenly Venerable of the North.
With sincere devotion, I submit to the Immortal-transcending Supreme Sage Heavenly Venerable of the Northeast.
With sincere devotion, I submit to the Jade Void Bright Sovereign Heavenly Venerable of the Upper Realm.
With sincere devotion, I submit to the True Sovereign Cavern Spirit Heavenly Venerable of the Lower Realm.

After completing prostrations to one direction, kneel upright, burn incense three times, and confess as follows:

“Your disciple [insert one’s name, e.g., “Mou Jia”] is a mortal of flesh and blood, born into this world. Since the age of seven, I have transgressed against Heaven and Earth, scolded the wind and cursed the rain, disregarded the stars and constellations, disrespected the Three Treasures (the Dao, Scriptures, and Taoist Priests), defiled the Ten Directions, violated ritual precepts, slandered the true and upright, been unfilial to parents and disloyal to rulers, killed sentient beings, stolen, committed lewd acts, indulged in delusion, spoken deceitful lies, used malicious words and curses. My sins are countless and unrecordable, yet I was unaware of my transgressions. Today, I sincerely repent and submit to the Heavenly Venerables. I earnestly implore the Heavenly Venerables to show great compassion and grant forgiveness, to pardon [insert one’s name] for countless sins, to deliver me from calamities, and to inscribe my name in the register of immortals for eternal life.”

Then burn incense three more times, kowtow, and tap one’s cheeks (a traditional gesture of sincere repentance in Taoist rituals).

The Supreme Lord said:

“Light lamps and recite scriptures at the locations corresponding to your Birth Year Star, Current Fortune Star, Tai Sui Star (the Year Star), and the tombs of your ancestors (both immediate and distant). This will dispel misfortune and eliminate disasters.

“Light lamps at the positions of the Twelve Earthly Branches and Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions to prolong life and increase your lifespan.

“Light lamps above doorways to boost family prosperity and attract wealth.

“Light a Seven-Star Lamp in the courtyard to free oneself from imprisonment and detention.

“In all these cases, you must burn incense and recite scriptures.”

He further said:

“Always observe a pure fast, burn incense, and light lamps dedicated to the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions on the first day of the lunar month, full moon day, and last day of the lunar month. Keep the lamps lit day and night without interruption, and the celestial realms will spare you from death, grant you new life, extend your lifespan, and increase your years.

“If one can recite the great scriptures of the Three Caverns (core Taoist scriptures), boundless blessings will descend.”

The Celestial Master bowed with hands clasped, praised the teachings as virtuous, and withdrew.