What Talismans Are Used in Taoist Rituals and Ceremonies?

Talismans hold a pivotal position in Taoist magic; most Taoist magical practices are inseparable from talismans, and this is especially true for rituals.

Taoism holds that sacred talismanic texts originated from the "Opening of the Cosmic Diagram in the Chiming Era." They were formed from the void into divine scripts, featuring dragon-patterned and phoenix-engraved characters with eight-pointed auras glowing around them. The Heavenly True Venerable Person took up the brush to inscribe them, passing them down to the world. The authentic jade inscriptions used on ritual altars (jiao tan) possess boundless magical power: they can stabilize the nation’s fortune and ensure its eternal existence when used for celestial purposes; for earthly matters, they can rescue souls from the underworld and bring peace and benefits to all living beings. Talismans are employed for seeking immortality, receiving the Dao, warding off celestial misfortunes, subduing demons, and eliminating floods. The Lingbao Yujian (Jade Mirror of the Numinous Treasure) records various talismans used in ritual ceremonies (zhai jiao), and a selection of key types is introduced below:

1. Banner Talismans (Fan Fu)

Ritual altars require the erection of banners, known as "spiritual banners" or "Great Law Banners of the Numinous Treasure." In ancient times, banners were made of silk or fine fabric, with a single banner measuring 49 chi (a traditional Chinese unit of length) in size. During ritual ceremonies, long poles are set up around the altar to hoist these banners, which are inscribed with various talismanic patterns.

There are numerous types of banners, and different rituals call for spiritual banners with distinct names—such as the Four Realms Banner, Oath-Proclaiming Banner, Altar-Establishing Banner, Radiance-Returning Banner, Great Compassion Treasure Banner, Taiyi Soul-Rescuing Spiritual Banner, Soul-Transferring Treasure Banner, Yellow-Returning Treasure Banner, Dragon Youth Banner, True-Summoning Banner, and Spirit-Summoning Banner. The list is extensive and impossible to enumerate fully.

Talismanic inscriptions are further categorized into banner-top talismans, banner-face talismans, and banner-back talismans. For example, the top of the Taiyi Soul-Summoning Banner is inscribed with a human-shaped soul-summoning talisman, while the front and back of the banner bear different talismans. Talismans used to summon ghosts include the Soul-Chasing Talisman, Soul-Capturing Talisman, Soul-Guiding Talisman, Soul-Gathering Talisman, Soul-Taking Talisman, and Soul-Driving Talisman.

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The above refers to large banners; there is also a smaller type, such as the "Prison-Breaking Banner" used in soul-delivering rituals. Made of seven chi of red silk, it is hung in the prison lamp altar while reciting incantations during the altar ceremony. Each small banner is also engraved with talismans. Common talismans for the "Twenty-Four Prison-Breaking Banners" include:

Body-Nailing Talisman, Body-Locking Talisman, Bronze Pillar Talisman, Molten Bronze Talisman, Venomous Snake Talisman, Body-Shredding Talisman, Sawing Talisman, Iron Plow Talisman, Iron Staff Talisman, Sword Mountain Talisman, Icy Cold Talisman, Boiling Cauldron Talisman, Iron Wheel Talisman, Furnace Charcoal Talisman, Iron Pellet Talisman, Sword Forest Talisman, Venomous Juice Talisman, Charcoal-Eating Talisman, Stone-Crushing Talisman, Iron Awl Talisman, Iron Bed Talisman, Body-Shattering Talisman, Tongue-Pulling Talisman, and Mountain-Piling Talisman.

Talismans on spiritual banners take forms such as graphics and script talismans (lu fu). The text of script talismans is generally legible, and the Lingbao Yujian records translations of some talismanic inscriptions. For instance, the translation of the "Guidance Banner Talisman" reads:

"Envoys of the Six Jia, hold the banner to guide."

Some talismanic inscriptions on spiritual banners are incantations, known as the "talismanic incantations" commonly used in Taoism. For example, the translations of two talismanic incantations on the "Yanghui Bridge-Crossing Banner" are:

Yanghui Talismanic Incantation

*Bright is the radiance of the sun,

Its divine light permeates the Three Pure Realms.

Qi disperses within the profound void,

Spiritual mist rises from the purple courtyard.

Controlling and riding the wind and rosy clouds,

It drifts beyond the formless. *

Soul-Returning Talismanic Incantation

*Bright celestial light flies in the mysterious scenery,

Guiding and delivering souls from the endless night.

Wandering spirits return at the appointed time,

Each wisp of qi returns to its original root. *

The Yanghui Talismanic Incantation is written on the main body of the banner, while the Soul-Returning Talismanic Incantation is inscribed on the two sides of the banner respectively.

Twenty-four banners are erected inside and outside the ritual altar. Each banner features six talismanic characters, which also serve as the name of the banner. The translations of the talismanic inscriptions on the twenty-four altar banners are:

Banner of Guiding Souls to Bright Light, Banner of Mighty Salvation

Banner of Shedding Compassionate Radiance, Banner of Pervasive Heavenly Qi

Banner of Bright Clouds and Wisdom, Banner of Illuminating Dharma Lamps

Banner of Spiritual Light and the Eight Sceneries, Banner of Profound Clarity and True Stability

Banner of Wisdom Sun and Flowing Radiance, Banner of Golden Vitality and Heavenly Spirits

Banner of Grace for Both the Living and the Dead, Banner of Radiance in the Pure Scenery

Banner of Enlightenment Through Five Kalpas, Banner of Universal Brightness

Banner of Merging and Distinguishing Life, Banner of Bright Glowing Spiritual Light

Banner of Shedding Radiance and Illumination, Banner of Vast Divine Blessings

Banner of Recording Names on Jade Slips, Banner of Spiritual Sensation Through Contemplation

Banner of Dragon Power and Dream Salvation, Banner of Bright Rosy Clouds

Banner of Nurturing Souls and Penetrating Light, Banner of Jade Emperor’s Sin Forgiveness

2. Gate Talismans (Men Fu)

These are talismans inscribed on the gate plaques of ritual altars. A ritual altar is generally divided into outer, middle, and inner tiers, each with its own gates, and gate plaques are equally inscribed with talismans. For example, the "Imperial Altar" has the following talismans for each tier:

Outer Altar: Qi of Profound Purity Talisman, Qi of Heavenly Movement Talisman, Qi of Profound Yang Talisman, Qi of Heavenly Yang Talisman, Qi of Minor Yang Talisman, Qi of Heavenly Penetration Talisman, Qi of Profound Yin Talisman, Talisman of Heavenly Origin, Sun Gate Talisman, Moon Gate Talisman
Middle Altar: Heavenly Gate Talisman, Earthly Gate Talisman, Human Gate Talisman, Ghost Gate Talisman
Inner Altar: Gate Talisman of Green Glory and Primordial Yang, Gate Talisman of Nascent Yang Vitality, Gate Talisman of the Nine Spirits and Imperial Truth, Gate Talisman of Profound Yang and Great Light, Gate Talisman of Primordial Emperor and Lofty Stars, Gate Talisman of Profound Yin and Golden Palace, Gate Talisman of the Nine Immortals and Heavenly Movement, Gate Talisman of the Great Luo and Flying Heaven, Gate Talisman of Yin Birth and Vast Spirits, Gate Talisman of Spiritual Penetration and Forbidden Authority

Each gate talisman is also accompanied by an authentic text—such as celestial script, hidden script, treasure chapter, or jade chapter. For example, the Sun Gate Talisman features the Precious Chapter of the Sun Palace’s Bright Radiance for Refining Souls and Subduing Demons, which reads:

*Harmonious yang radiates bright qi,

Its fiery glow illuminates the great void.

The Ten Wheels return to the heavenly pass,

The Eight Sceneries pay homage to the Purple Forbidden Enclosure.

Monitoring and subduing hordes of demons,

Evil temptations dare not intrude.

Delivering from the five sufferings,

Great harmony ascends to the blessed hall. *

Volume 35 of Ning Quanzhen’s Great Law of the Supreme Numinous Treasure (Shangqing Lingbao Dafa) records an "Eight-Gate Soul-Summoning Altar," which uses eight gate-plate talismans. These talismans are written on yellow paper plates, each 1.4 chi tall, and placed inside the altar—two on each side. Taoism holds that when the deceased come into contact with these talismans, their souls will enter the altar, and everyone present can witness traces of their presence.

3. Lamp Talismans (Deng Fu)

Taoist rituals require the use of lamps to pierce darkness and break through "prisons" to deliver souls. Various lamp styles are paired with lamp talismans; Taoism believes that only when ritual lamps are combined with divine talismans can they possess the magical power to dispel darkness and illuminate the underworld.

The Twenty-Four Precepts Sutra of the True Person states: "All living beings commit twenty-four kinds of sins during their lifetime, and after death, they undergo twenty-four kinds of retribution, which transform into twenty-four hells." Therefore, in soul-delivering rituals, twenty-four "hell lamps" are set up on the altar to illuminate the twenty-four hells and deliver the deceased souls—and it is the lamp talismans that possess the power to break through these hells. The twenty-four hell lamp talismans are:

Talisman to Break the Body-Nailing Hell, Talisman to Break the Body-Locking Hell, Talisman to Break the Bronze Pillar Hell, Talisman to Break the Molten Bronze Hell, Talisman to Break the Venomous Snake Hell, Talisman to Break the Body-Shredding Hell, Talisman to Break the Sawing Hell, Talisman to Break the Iron Plow Hell, Talisman to Break the Iron Staff Hell, Talisman to Break the Sword Mountain Hell, Talisman to Break the Icy Cold Hell, Talisman to Break the Boiling Cauldron Hell, Talisman to Break the Iron Wheel Hell, Talisman to Break the Furnace Charcoal Hell, Talisman to Break the Iron Pellet Hell, Talisman to Break the Sword Forest Hell, Talisman to Break the Venomous Juice Hell, Talisman to Break the Charcoal-Eating Hell, Talisman to Break the Stone-Crushing Hell, Talisman to Break the Iron Awl Hell, Talisman to Break the Iron Bed Hell, Talisman to Break the Body-Shattering Hell, Talisman to Break the Tongue-Pulling Hell, Talisman to Break the Mountain-Piling Hell

Within the twenty-four hells, deceased souls must also pass through the realms of the "Three Paths," "Five Sufferings," and "Eight Hardships." Hence, there is the "Eternal Deliverance Talisman from the Three Paths, Five Sufferings, and Eight Hardships." The ritual altar also has dedicated "Eight Hardships Lamps," paired with the Eight Hardships Lamp Talismans:

Talisman to Relieve the Hardship of Thunder and Lightning Servitude, Talisman to Relieve the Hardship of Carrying Sand and Stones, Talisman to Relieve the Hardship of Drawing Water from the Abyss, Talisman to Relieve the Hardship of the Sword Mountain Hell, Talisman to Relieve the Hardship of the Sword Forest Hell, Talisman to Relieve the Hardship of the Boiling Cauldron Hell, Talisman to Relieve the Hardship of the Furnace Charcoal Hell, Talisman to Relieve the Hardship of the Icy Cold Hell

Lamp talismans are burned one by one when extinguishing the lamps. During the burning, the ritual master (gaogong) recites the incantation:

*The Heavenly Venerable saves all who are lost,

Delivering them from the eight hardships.

Rejoicing in the assembly of the human realm,

The five sufferings are ended as one.

Forever extinguishing the ford of the Three Paths,

The glowing wheel initiates the universal model.

Abiding in profound tranquility and true constancy,

For endless kalpas without limit.

Hastily, in accordance with the divine command! *

This is the "talismanic incantation" of Taoism, the most widely used magical tool. Taoism holds that burning talismans and reciting incantations enables communication with heaven.

Taoism also has the "Nine-Tier Lamp Talismans," which are paired with the "Nine-Heaven Lamps." The first heaven’s lamp is placed in the center of the Nine-Heaven Lamp diagram, while the remaining eight are arranged in the eight directions—with nine-tier lamp talismans erected alongside each.

4. Ritual Altar Spiritual Talismans (Jiao Yi Ling Fu)

In various ritual ceremonies, talismanic inscriptions are burned on the altar to pray to celestial spirits. Different ceremonies require burning different talismans, which are collectively referred to as "ritual altar spiritual talismans."

For example, in "refining and delivering" rituals (liandu), the ritual master successively uses the "Grievance-Resolution Talisman," "Water-Summoning Talisman," "Fire-Summoning Talisman," "Nine-Waters Rebirth Talisman," "Nine-Fires Rebirth Talisman," "Eighteen Great Cavern Talismans," "Nine-Chapter Talismans," "Five-Spirits Merging Talisman," "Jade Infant Transformation Talisman," and "Immortal-to-Human Transformation Talisman." The ritual master performs the "step of the 罡 (gang)" to align with cosmic qi, either casting talismans into the water pool or the fire basin. In the "dragon tablet casting" ceremony (tou long jian), three tablet spiritual talismans are cast together with the dragon tablets.

These Taoist talismans, which mimic the shapes of clouds, celestial bodies, and stars—resembling neither pure text nor pure images—serve as credentials for communicating between humans and gods. Lu Xiujing once stated:

*"All talismanic inscriptions contain text, but humans cannot understand them. Those who can interpret the talismanic characters can summon all spirits and command all ghosts, with nothing beyond their reach." *

Given the immense divine power of Taoist talismans, their creation—including writing and painting—must be done with piety and solemnity. When drawing a talisman, one must recite incantations, form finger gestures (qia kuai), tap the teeth (kou chi), and visualize celestial beings. For example, when writing the "Jade Pure Wisdom Light Talisman" used in lamp rituals, the ritual master recites the talisman-writing incantation:

*"Radiance of the sun, moon, and stars,

Penetrating the layers of the underworld.

The primordial qi of the Origin,

Evolving into the Three Realms.

Merging with the vast void,

Before the cosmic qi of the Dao.

The Jade Emperor has issued a command,

Proclaimed to the Ten Heavens.

The yang radiance blazes,

The yin scenery is clear and complete.

Void and clarity shine through,

Illuminating the altar’s expanse.

Light purifies the myriad voids,

Scenery aligns with profound mystery.

Clearing the human realm,

Responding and transforming naturally.

Hastily, in accordance with the decree of the Primordial Emperor! *

Volume 39 of Ning Quanzhen’s Great Law of the Supreme Numinous Treasure describes the method of writing talismans: one must set up an incense table and ritual tools. The talisman-writing master visualizes the cinnabar inkstone and water vessel as the sun and moon, the paper as a golden plate, the brush as a green dragon, and the incense smoke as white clouds. He forms the "Big Dipper Seal" with his hands, visualizes the Five Stars surrounding his body, performs the "Huoluo Step of the Dipper," forms the "Emperor’s Finger Gesture," and imagines himself standing within the "Three Terraces and Big Dipper" constellation. He flicks his hands to mimic the Dipper, bows in worship, offers incense, taps his teeth, and kneels to report to the celestial spirits:

"Your servant now presents the petition on behalf of the ritual patron, and hereby establishes this sacred chamber with reverence. In accordance with the Numinous Treasure ritual method, I write and inscribe all necessary talismans and decrees, awaiting the appointed time to use them in accordance with the rules... I implore the grace of heaven to show compassion and bestow the wonderful light of the Great Dao and the upright qi of the Ten Directions, flowing into my body, mind, and pores, as well as into the cinnabar, ink, and tools. May this dissolve karmic knots and purify the root of existence, clear my thoughts, and arouse the divine light to radiate forth—each stroke aligning with the Dao and truth. May all actions be blessed with auspicious responses, conforming to the mysteries of the heavens and completing the merit of deliverance.

The ritual master visualizes the Supreme Dao Lord commanding immortals to descend and bestow the talismans. After respectfully reciting the prayer, he draws in qi thirty-two times before taking his seat to write the talisman. When putting brush to paper, his spirit must not wander, his qi must not be disrupted—his mind and the talisman must become one, and the talisman must merge with his mind. The talisman is completed in one continuous stroke.

Volume 67 of Daofa Huiyuan (Collected Essentials of Taoist Methods) discusses the functions of talismans and the secrets of drawing them, stating: "A talisman is a fusion of Yin and Yang forces. Only those with the utmost sincerity in the world can use it; if one’s sincerity is insufficient, the talisman will naturally lack spiritual efficacy. Therefore, when drawing a talisman, one must align one’s own essence (jing) with the essence of all things in heaven and earth; and align one’s own spirit (shen) with the spirit of all things in heaven and earth. It requires that essences correspond with each other, spirits rely on each other, and one’s own vital energy (qi) aligns with the vital energy of the cosmos. Essence governs the spirit, the spirit governs vital energy, vital energy governs the talisman, and the talisman governs spiritual beings. When this (alignment) is achieved, responses follow; when this (sincerity) is felt, spiritual efficacy manifests. Hence, by means of a small sheet of paper, one can summon ghosts and gods, and they cannot but respond."

In summary, those who draw talismans must guide their vital energy (qi) and focus their spirit (shen), pouring their "essence" and "spirit" into the tip of the brush. Only talismans drawn in this way possess the spiritual power to command ghosts and gods. Wherever such talismans are dispatched, there is no barrier they cannot penetrate, and no being they cannot deliver. This is the secret to drawing effective talismans.