集 Series
Hidden Mysteries of Daoist Ritual Arts
- 01Mysteries of Taoist Magic, Uncovered (I): Palm-Heart ThunderJianhu Ji records of a certain Taoist at the Celestial Altar: A certain Taoist at the Celestial Altar was skilled at catching foxes. One day a man in white knocked at the door and said: “My house is full of demons; I beg you to go and subdue them.” The Taoist was slightly tipsy; he had a sedan chair fetched and was carried along, moving very fast. Waking a little, he lifted the curtain and looked—and was already in the Western Hills. He saw countless foxes crowding around him, leaping; he could not free himself. Looking back at the foxes he said: “I am already here—how could I go elsewhere? If you can open my hand, then do as you like; I will hold no grudge.” At first only one fox tried to open it and could not move it; then three or four tried together, still without success. Then all the foxes scrambled to open it. The Taoist formed a Palm-Heart Thunder seal with his fingers, released his hand and opened his palm—and with a thunderous roar that shook the world, the foxes scattered in fright. Only then could the Taoist return.
- 02Mysteries of Taoist Magic, Uncovered (II): The Precious Mirror1. The Bone-Illuminating Mirror of the First Emperor — According to Miscellanea of the Western Capital: “Emperor Gaozu of Han obtained a square mirror of the First Emperor, four chi wide and five chi tall, luminous inside and out. When one looked into it, the reflection appeared inverted; holding the hands over the heart, one could see the intestines, stomach, and five viscera. If a person with illness looked into it, the location of the disease was known; if a woman harbored an improper heart, her gall would expand and her heart would pound.” 2. The Illness-Free Mirror — According to Qiaomei Xiantan: “During the time of Meng Chang, Zhang Di obtained an ancient mirror more than a chi across. Its light illuminated the bedchamber like candles, and the whole household was free of illness; it was called the ‘Illness-Free Mirror.’”
- 03Unveiling the Mysteries of Taoist Magic (3): The Heavenly Heart MethodAmong Taoist methods there is one called the Heavenly Heart Orthodox Method. In the world it has many miraculous deeds to its name; yet though the method still exists in the present age, its deeds are mostly no longer transmitted. So we have gathered stories related to the Heavenly Heart Method to catch a glimpse of its appearance. Biographies of the Southern Tang: Tan Zixiao was a native of Quanzhou and became a Taoist in youth. At first there was one Chen Shouyuan, also a Taoist, who while hoeing the ground found dozens of wooden tablets stored in a bronze basin— talismans of Zhang Daoling, cinnabar and ink as fresh as newly hidden. Unable to use them, he gave them to Zixiao. Zixiao mastered them all, and thereafter claimed to have attained Daoling's Heavenly Heart Orthodox Method; effective against demons and in treating obstetric illness. King Meng Shuzun of Min honored him as "Perfected Guest of the Golden Gate" and "Master of Orthodox Unity." After Min fell, he lived in seclusion at Bingyin Cave on Mount Lu, with over a hundred students…
- 04Mysteries of Taoist Magic, Uncovered (IV): The Technique for Pulling Out a Ghost’s SinewsFrom Yi Jian Zhi: On the night of the full moon of the first month in the seventh year of Xuanhe, lanterns were hung at the Taiyi Palace in the capital, and spectators jammed the roads. Two people fell into the pond. Palace guards hurried to rescue them, but the pair refused to come up and raved like madmen. The Daoist assembly applied talismans and commands of every kind, all without effect. Word reached the inner palace, and an edict ordered the master of the Baolu Palace to go and deal with it. The master feared he could not prevail, so he went in person to the Daoist hall, bowed all around, and said: “If among us there is one of high skill, please join forces to help—otherwise this will become a disgrace to the religion.” Hundreds of people in the hall dared not answer.
- 05Mysteries of Taoist Magic, Uncovered (V): Yin Fire Burns the Six-Armored Ghost and Sealing a CorpseAccording to the Compiled Ritual Manuals of the Meishan Tiger Masters from Yanxichong, Jinlong Township, Huitong County, Hunan Province: the Zhengyi Daoists of Yanxichong had two ritual arts that could be called their ultimate specialties. One was “freezing a funeral and sealing away the stench”—when someone died in the sweltering heat of midsummer, the Daoist could perform rites so that, without any refrigeration, the body would lie in the mourning hall for ten days to half a month without rotting or stinking. The other was “yin fire burns the Six-Armored Ghosts”—when a woman died in difficult childbirth, it was considered inauspicious and her corpse had to be cremated by fire.
- 06Unveiling the Mysteries of Taoist Magic (6): Fractal Shadow-SpreadingThe Taoist art of "fractal shadow-spreading"—what folk tradition calls the body-doubling technique—is an intriguing practice; details follow. First, from the Baopuzi: The master said: if you wish for long life, you must diligently take the great medicine; if you wish to commune with the spirits, you must achieve "metal-and-water form-division." When the form is divided, one sees for oneself the three hun and seven po within the body; heavenly spirits and earthly deities can all be met and seen, and the gods of mountains and rivers can all be commanded.
- 07Unveiling the Mysteries of Taoist Spellcraft (VII): The Way of ConcealmentTaoism has the Way of Concealment — what popularly is called the art of invisibility. Among methods that accord with common custom is Ancestor Xiang’s White Crane and Purple Mushroom Escape, which can transform one into a crane or into grass to escape disaster; this Ancestor Xiang is Han Xiangzi. Among methods that differ from common custom are the Eight Arts of Hiddenness from the Shangqing tradition: First, conceal form and hide shadow — once mastered, others cannot see you. Second, ride emptiness and control the void — once mastered, one mounts emptiness and drives the void, so people see oneself as air. Third, concealment and flight through the empyrean — once mastered, one can fly through the sky, moving together with qi. Fourth, emerge from being and enter non-being — once mastered, one can make one’s body a flame of light, going in and out without limit. Fifth, soar in spirit to the eight directions — once mastered, one can make one’s body mist and dew, flying to the eight quarters. Sixth, unbind form…