The Hetu Earth Emperors Retreat Ritual

The Hetu Earth Emperors Retreat Ritual 洞玄灵宝河图仰谢三十六土皇斋仪

Paul Peng

The Hetu Earth Emperors Retreat Ritual FULL NAME IS

The Ritual of Worshiping and Repenting to the Thirty-Six Earth Emperors with the Dongxuan Lingbao Hetu

Author unknown. Judging from its content and writing style, it is believed to date from the Tang or Song Dynasty.

Originally consisting of four scrolls, it is included in the Dongxuan Section (Mysterious Grotto Section) of the Daozang under the category of Rituals and Ceremonies.

This text records the ritual procedures for performing the "Grand Retreat of Prayer on the Zhongyuan Festival of the Three Sovereigns." It involves sequentially paying homage, repenting, and offering prayers to the Thirty-Six Earth Emperors across the four directions (east, south, west, and north)—nine Earth Emperors in each direction.

According to the rituals and memorial texts recorded herein, this work is almost identical to The Ritual of Worshiping and Repenting to the Thirty-Six Heavenly Emperors with the Dongxuan Lingbao Hetu. The only difference lies in the titles and revered names of the Thirty-Six Earth Emperors versus the Thirty-Six Heavenly Emperors. Originally, these two retreat rituals should have been compiled as a single book, but were mistakenly divided into two separate works by the compilers of the Daozang.
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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