The Nine Hells Sin-Purging Liturgy 太上慈悲九幽拔罪忏

The Repentance Scripture of Supreme Compassion for Redeeming Sins in the Nine Underworlds No author is indicated in the original text.

Judging from its content and wording, it was probably compiled between the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty. Consisting of ten scrolls, it is included in The Daozang (the authoritative collection of Taoist scriptures), categorized under ritual texts in the Dongxuan Division.

The opening of the text records the Yuanshi Tianzun (Primeval Lord of Heaven) expounding the karmic causes of life and death, stating that each of the ten directions has its own paradise and pure land. It proclaims that if men and women constantly pay homage to the Heavenly Honored Ones Answering Calls in the Ten Directions, they will obtain blessings in this life and be reborn in the blissful paradise after death. Subsequent scrolls respectively list the names of the blissful paradises in the ten directions, as well as the titles of their Heavenly Honored Ones and True Immortals, instructing all people to pay homage and repent in sequence. It also elaborates extensively on the karmic retributions for various sins committed by sentient beings, such as slandering the Dao, destroying scriptures, being disloyal and unfilial, killing, stealing, and lusting. It declares that only through repentance can sentient beings wipe away their sins. If one donates money on behalf of ancestors, parents or themselves and invites Taoist masters to perform repentance rituals, they can dispel disasters, resolve grievances, deliver deceased ancestors, and bring benefits to the living.