The Eastern Dipper's Life-Account Guardianship 太上说东斗主算护命妙经

The author is unknown. According to textual research, it was composed by Taoist priests in Sichuan in the early Song Dynasty.

Originally a chapter of The Five Dipper Scriptures, it was separated as an independent scripture in the version of The Daozang and included in the Original Text Category of The Dongshen Section.

This scripture purports that after Laozi imparted the Scriptures of the Northern and Southern Dippers to the Heavenly Master of Zhengyi Dao in Sichuan, he bestowed this scripture in the second year of Yongshou. It states that the Eastern Dipper Emperor Lords preside over karmic accounts and prolong mortal lifespan, and are able to redeem all beings from the tribulations of the Three Paths, Five Miseries and Eight Calamities.

All mortal beings shall pay homage to the Eastern Dipper in accordance with Taoist rituals on their natal birthdays, or on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, as well as the ninth day of each lunar month. They may offer fresh flowers and rare fruits in their homes or Taoist temples, burn incense and recite prayers in tranquility, and hold rituals to pay homage to the Eastern Dipper Emperor Lords, repent for their karmic sins and pray for the increase of lifespan and longevity.

See the entry for The Five Dipper Scriptures.