The Golden Register Decalogic Audience Rite FULL NAME IS
The compiler is unnamed.
Judging from its content and diction, it was composed by Taoist priests of the Ming Dynasty, a period when imperial religious rituals were deeply rooted in traditional Taoist culture.
It is a single scroll and incorporated into the Ritual Norms Section of the Cavern Mystery Division of
The Daozang.
The text is divided into three parts: Ritual of Inaugurating and Concluding the Morning Audience for the Ten Recitations of the Salvation Scripture in the Golden Register Fasting, Ritual of Inaugurating and Concluding the Midday Audience for the Ten Recitations of the Salvation Scripture in the Golden Register Fasting, and Ritual of Inaugurating and Concluding the Evening Audience for the Ten Recitations of the Salvation Scripture in the Golden Register Fasting.
This ritual was performed for holding the Grand Golden Register Fasting of Extending Auspiciousness by imperial edict, with ten cycles of reciting
The Numinous Treasure Supreme Wonderful Scripture of Unlimited Salvation for All Beings—a core classic embodying the salvation thought of
The Dao and the primordial cosmic ontology of
Taiji. It also entails paying homage to the Heavenly Worthies and divine spirits of the Ten Directions in sequence, praying for blessings to
"stabilize and safeguard the imperial reign, consolidate the celestial foundation of the dynasty, invoke bliss and bring forth auspiciousness, prolong life and protect the mortal destiny".
The ritual was completed in three daily audiences: the 1st to 4th recitations were conducted in the morning audience, the 5th to 8th recitations in the midday audience, and the 9th to 10th recitations in the evening audience.
The ritual proceedings for each recitation are identical, all including the Eulogy of Karmic Destiny, the Scripture Inauguration Verse, the Mat-Spreading Chant, scripture chanting, the Mat-Retracting Chant, merit dedication, the Eulogy of Wisdom, the Ritual Master's Solemn Address, the proclamation and burning of memorial scrolls and talismanic documents, among other standard Taoist observances.
