The Dong Zhen Tai Shang Jiu Chi Ban Fu Wu Di Nei Zhen Jing 洞真太上九赤班符五帝内真经

The Dong Zhen Tai Shang Jiu Chi Ban Fu Wu Di Nei Zhen Jing 洞真太上九赤班符五帝内真经

Paul Peng

The True Grotto: The Supreme Scripture of the Nine Red Striped Talismans and the Inner Truth of the Five Emperors

As one of the early classic texts of the Shangqing School (Supreme Clarity School), it likely originated during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420 CE).

In Volume Five of The True Declarations (Zhengao), it is stated that “the Immortal Dao includes The Nine Red Striped Talismans for Sealing Mountains and Sinking Seas”; The Catalogue of the Supreme Clarity Great Cavern True Scripture (Shangqing Dadong Zhenjing Mu) records “One scroll of the Supreme Clarity: The Supreme Six Jia and Nine Red Striped Talismans”—both references refer to this very scripture.

The present version is included in the Zhengyi Bu (Orthodox Unity Section) of the Daozang (Taoist Canon).

The entire text contains three Taoist practices, detailed as follows:

  1. The Supreme Method of Inner Contemplation of the True Forms of the Five Emperors for Transformation and Immortality

    This practice describes how Taoist priests enter the Five Great Mountains (Wuyue, sacred mountains in Taoism), and perform cunsi (visualization meditation) on the true forms of the Five Emperors to ward off evil and achieve immortality.
  2. The Supreme Method of Inner Contemplation in the Five Great Mountains for Inscribing Names and Confirming Immortality

    It explains that when Taoist priests enter the mountains, they visualize the Emperor Lords of the Five Great Mountains, bury five “Nine Red Mountain-Subduing Talismans for Seeking Immortality” in the mountains, and recite incantations while silently praying—all as a method to seek immortality.
  3. The Supreme Method of the Water Emperors of the Four Seas for Absolving Sins and Erasing Records

    This practice states that Taoist priests visualize the Water Emperors of the Four Seas, throw four “Nine Red Sea-Sealing Talismans for Connecting with the True” into the sea, and recite incantations while quietly praying—aimed at absolving sins and attaining immortality.

The Taoist practices throughout the text primarily focus on “contemplating deities and reciting incantations” as well as “submitting tablets and burying talismans.”
Paul Peng — Zhengyi Taoist Priest, Longhu Mountain

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 one of the curators of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.

Read his full story →
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