The Supreme Zhengyi Scripture of Methods
Author unknown. Compiled approximately during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
This scripture is one of the fragmentary scrolls of Zhengyi Scripture of Methods—a classic text of Celestial Master Daoism from the Northern and Southern Dynasties period.
The text is presented as a revelation from the Supreme Lord Dao to Zhang Daoling, expounding the methods to dispel misfortunes and obtain blessings. It states: "People in the mortal world suffer from plagues, imprisonment, fire and flood disasters, warfare, attacks by tigers and wolves, and harm from insects and snakes, unable to escape these calamities on their own. All these sufferings arise because people do not believe in the karmic retribution of fate, disrespect their teachers and belittle the Dao, violate fasting rules and precepts, and act against heaven and earth. Alternatively, they oppress the weak by virtue of their strength, abuse their official power, rule as tyrants if they are rulers, or betray their sovereigns if they are ministers."
Thus, heaven sends forth the Nine Ugly Pestilential Ghosts, each leading a host of ninety million spirits, to inflict nine kinds of calamities upon the world, such as plagues and imprisonment. In addition, there are the Five Emperors’ Divine Officials, who wander the mortal realm holding five swords, spreading five types of disasters including pestilence.
If the common people wish to dispel misfortunes and gain blessings, they must constantly perform good deeds, recite scriptures and cultivate the Dao, repent their sins and receive precepts, burn incense and hold fasting ceremonies, give alms to the poor and destitute, transcribe scriptures and make statues of deities, and so on—only then can they be liberated from calamities.
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