Do you know which is the earliest Taoist magical tool?

Common magical tools used by Taoists include the peach-wood sword. In ancient mythology, the earliest door gods were Shen Shu and Yu Lei. These two door gods lived on the Taodu Mountain and guarded the Gate of Ghosts. Therefore, peach wood had an extraordinary role in the minds of the ancients. After the ancient hero Hou Yi seized the ruling power of the Xia Dynasty, he caused public resentment due to his excessive hunting. This great hero who shot down the sun was also killed by his disciple Feng Meng with a peach-wood stick. Therefore, peach wood was used by the ancients to expel bad luck. There has long been a custom of hanging peach charms among the people. Many Taoist magical tools also use peach wood, and the peach-wood sword is a typical representative among them.

However, the earliest magical tool of Taoism was not made of peach wood. The earliest magical tool of Taoism was not the peach-wood sword but the nine-jointed staff commonly used by the Taoists of the Taiping Dao. The Taoists of the Taiping Dao held the nine-jointed staff and used talismans, teaching people to kowtow and reflect on their mistakes. Those who were ill would drink talisman water. The Taiping Dao and the Five Pecks of Rice Dao were the earliest branches of Chinese Taoism, and the nine-jointed staff was the earliest recorded magical tool of Taoists. Therefore, the nine-jointed staff has always been valued by Taoists.
The nine-jointed staff is also called the staff of policy. From the name "nine-jointed," we can also infer that it is made of bamboo. Of course, this bamboo is not ordinary; its selection is very particular. Bamboo that grows in famous mountains and blessed places should be selected, and the bamboo should face south. Only in this way can the bamboo itself be filled with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The date of bamboo selection should also be an auspicious day. Select bamboo with nine joints, and the length should be five feet and five inches.

The making of the nine-jointed staff must not be sloppy. The date of production is not randomly determined; it can only be on one of the four days: March 3rd, May 5th, July 7th, and September 9th. These are all yang months and yang days. The specific production process is to slightly bend the first section of the bamboo to the left, the second section to the right, and open four holes on the lower four sides of the third section, representing the four mountains in the southeast, northwest. Open a hole in the top of the bamboo staff to symbolize the Central Mountain. Then stuff some Taoist scriptures into the bamboo joints and seal them with wax; or incorporate the Five Emperors' Talismans into the staff. Thus, the nine-jointed staff is basically completed.
The nine-jointed staff has nine sections, and each section has the meaning of a star. The nine bamboo sections represent different stars respectively, in sequence: Taihuang Star, Yinghuo Star, Jiao Star, Heng Star, Zhang Star, Yingshi Star, Zhen Star, Dongjing Star, Ju Star, etc. These stars include both fixed stars and planets; both real stars and virtual stars. The nine-jointed staff that absorbs the power of the stars, its power naturally cannot be underestimated. It is said that the function of the nine-jointed staff is extremely great. "Point the staff to the sky, and the gods will show courtesy; point the staff to the ground, and the earth deities will come to welcome; point to the northeast, and all ghosts will be bound." Therefore, the nine-jointed staff is also commonly used in Taoist rituals.
The magical tools used in Taoist rituals are mainly divided into two categories. One category is dedicated to the arrangement of the ritual altar. The typical one in this category is the banner, etc. The other category of magical tools is used during the ritual process, and the nine-jointed staff belongs to this type. When using the nine-jointed staff in the ritual, a small yellow banner is hung under the second section of the staff. The small yellow banner is seven inches long, and on it are written the titles of the Ten Supreme Lords for Saving the Suffering and drawn the Ten Directions' Mystic Transformation Talismans.
As the earliest Taoist magical tool, the nine-jointed staff still plays an important role in Taoist rituals today. In the modern Taoist ritual of the Nine Netherworld Lantern, the nine-jointed staff is still used to summon the Supreme Lord and break the prisons!