The Celestial Purple Lumina Register 高上大洞文昌司禄紫阳宝箓

The author is unknown.

As the book mentions Zhang Zhengchang, Zhang Yuchu, Zhang Yuqing and other Celestial Masters of the Zhengyi School in the early Ming Dynasty, it was presumably compiled during the Ming Dynasty.

It consists of three scrolls and is included in the Zhengyi Bu (Zhengyi Section) of the Daozang (Taoist Canon).

Falsely attributed to Emperor Wenchang who imparted it through a spirit-writing altar, the book is divided into twenty-four sections (pin). It states that the deity Wenchang is in charge of official rank and emoluments, determining nobility, and promoting virtuous talents. For literati and virtuous scholars who aspire to academic and official honors but are hindered by demons and evil spirits, receiving these Wenchang Precious Talismans can "enhance literary talent, sharpen insight and judgment, eliminate demonic obstacles, expel evil spirits, secure brilliant results in imperial examinations, and attain official positions and emoluments".

The book lists the sacred decrees, talismans, divine diagrams and divine incantations of Emperor Wenchang. It also contains the "Jade Chapters of the Purple Yang of the Great Cavern of Wenchang" — a collection of nine five-character odes intended for practitioners to recite.

Finally, it includes the "Section of the Eight Auspicious Dream Diagrams of Wenchang", which records eight diagrams featuring jade cats, white horses, white deer, yellow oxen and other creatures.

It is claimed that dreaming of these eight diagrams is an omen of great fortune; ten notable figures including Yao Wei of the Tang Dynasty and Su Shi of the Song Dynasty were all said to have dreamed of these diagrams, which proved efficacious and enabled them to achieve success in the imperial examinations.

This book reveals the close connection between Taoist beliefs and the imperial examination system in ancient China.