Conferral of Registers for Daoist Priests
For a seemingly simple issue like the conferral of registers, I originally had no intention of mentioning it. However, seeing that many people still do not understand it, I will explain here. Daoist priests of the Zhengyi school must receive the conferral of registers. Without it, they are not considered true priests (Fashi), but at best, merely Daoists. After the conferral, a priest is typically given a rank certificate. Upon receiving the initial register, one not only attains a celestial official rank but also a specific altar designation (Jing Tan), which is determined by one's birth year, as follows:
Jiazi: Tongxuan Zhizhen Jingling Zhenying Miao Tan
Yichou: Fuxing Dengzhen Jingling Yingtongzhen Tan
Bingyin: Tongzhen Chenghua Jingying Miaohé Ying Tan
Dingmao: Dongzhen Ziran Jing Sanji Jishen Tan
Wuchen: Yuanyi Baozhen Jing Sanji Hunzhen Tan
Jisi: Chengxin Fuzhen Jing Sanji Jizhen Tan
Gengwu: Baoxing Hongzhen Jing Xuanyi Shouzhen Tan
Xinwei: Dengzhen Mingxing Jing Xuaniao Tongzhen Tan
Renshen: Hunhe Mingzhen Jing Tongxuan Huizhen Tan
Guiyou: Qingxu Ziran Jing Xuaniao Yingzhen Tan
Jiuxu: Zhizhen Tongxuan Jing Leiting Yinghua Tan
Yihai: Jiangzhen Jiling Jing Yutang Zanhua Tan
Bingzi: Hunyuan Zhizhen Jing Feijie Baoying Tan
Dingchou: Xuyi Tongzhen Jing Shouxuan Jingyi Tan
Wuyin: Jizhen Donghua Jing Xuanzhen Tongmiao Tan
Jimao: Yudao Hezhen Jing Ningshen Dingxing Tan
Gengchen: Chaoyuan Dongzhen Jing Yinghua Puzhao Tan
Xinsi: Hanxu Fuzhen Jing Kanli Heyuan Tan
Rengwu: Ziran Chengzhen Jing Hemiao Hunyuan Tan
Guiwei: Yuanzhao Xuzhen Jing Baishen Jiying Tan
Jiashen: Qingzhen Zhengxing Jing Shenmiao Tongxuan Tan
Yiyou: Chengxing Chengzhen Jing Sanji Hunyuan Tan
Bingxu: Baozhen Zhanran Jing Lingyi Shouxuan Tan
Dinghai: Xubai Tongzhen Jing Zhengyi Xuaniao Tan
Wuzi: Ziran Hezhen Jing Santai Baohu Tan
Jichou: Xuyi Shouzhen Jing Daoyi Shouxuan Tan
Gengyin: Zhanzhen Honghua Jing Feimo Yanqing Tan
Xinmao: Baozhen Huiyi Jing Guanjing Qingxu Tan
Rengchen: Chongxu Huizhen Jing Xuanji Yinghua Tan
Guisi: Shezhen Zhaoling Jing Yutang Jingxuan Tan
Jiawu: Ganzhen Jiling Jing Lingzhen Yingmiao Tan
Yiwei: Zhimo Chengzhen Jing Lingying Tongzhen Tan
Bingshen: Tongzhen Huiying Jing Yingmiao Heying Tan
Dingyou: Feishen Dazhen Jing Sanji Jishen Tan
Wuxu: Cunzhen Shouyi Jing Sanji Hunzhen Tan
Jihai: Nianxing Shouzhen Jing Sanji Jizhen Tan
Gengzi: Baozhen Hunyuan Jing Xuanyi Shouzhen Tan
Xinchou: Taoguang Guzhen Jing Xuaniao Tongzhen Tan
Rengyin: Hunran Hezhen Jing Tongxuan Huizhen Tan
Guimao: Yusheng Hezhen Jing Xuaniao Yingzhen Tan
Jiachen: Xuling Zizhen Jing Leiting Yinghua Tan
Yisi: Qizhen Baoyuan Jing Yutang Zanhua Tan
Bingwu: Chengxin Guizhen Jing Feijie Baoying Tan
Dingwei: Wuwei Qizhen Jing Shouxuan Jingyi Tan
Wushen: Zhenyuan Hehua Jing Xuanzhen Tongmiao Tan
Jiyou: Guizhen Anran Jing Ningshen Dingxing Tan
Gengxu: Yuzhen Dongling Jing Yinghua Puzhao Tan
Xinhai: Xiuzhen Zhixing Jing Kanli Heyuan Tan
Rengzi: Tongzhen Dongqing Jing Hemiao Hunyuan Tan
Guichou: Zhenyuan Bianhua Jing Baishen Jiying Tan
Jiayin: Tida Huizhen Jing Shenmiao Tongxuan Tan
Yimao: Fatian Chengzhen Jing Sanji Hunyuan Tan
Bingchen: Yushen Lianzhen Jing Lingyi Shouxuan Tan
Dingsi: Baozhen Dongwei Jing Zhengyi Xuaniao Tan
Wuwu: Chunsu Tongzhen Jing Santai Baohu Tan
Jiwei: Zhiyi Tongzhen Jing Daoyi Shouxuan Tan
Gengshen: Taihua Chengzhen Jing Feimo Yanqing Tan
Xinyou: Taisu Yizhen Jing Guanjing Qingxu Tan
Rengxu: Huiyuan Hezhen Jing Xuanji Yinghua Tan
Guihai: Tongzhen Huiyuan Jing Yutang Jingxuan Tan
After the conferral of the register, the priest receives a rank certificate, such as "X X X Jinglu" (Scripture and Register), "X X Celestial Official Rank"; additionally, "Serving as [Position] in [Department]"; "Establishing [Altar Name]", "Jing [Name]", "Zhi [Name]", "Qi [Name]".
The conferral of registers is divided into Initial Conferral (Chushou), Advancement Conferral (Shengshou), and Additional Conferral (Jiashou):
Initial Conferral: "Taishang Sanwu Dougong Jinglu" (This corresponds to the 6th or 7th rank); Advancement Conferral: "Zhengyi Mengwei Jinglu" (This corresponds to the 4th or 5th rank); Additional Conferral: "Shangqing Wulei Jinglu" (This corresponds to the 3rd rank); Advancement to Higher Rank: "Shangqing Sandong Wulei Jinglu" (This corresponds to the 2nd rank), followed by the "Shangqing Dadong Jinglu" (This corresponds to the 1st rank). Depending on the rank of the scripture and register conferred, those of the 5th rank and above are called "Xianqing" (Celestial Ministers), while those below the 5th rank are called "Xianguan" (Celestial Officials). If one receives the Sandong Wulei, one must be of clean conduct and high virtue, possessing proper status. Without virtue and merit, aspiring to high ranks and registers will only result in reprimand from the higher deities. According to traditional regulations, one can advance one rank every three years; for example, after receiving the initial "Dougong Jinglu", one can advance to the "Mengwei Jinglu" after three years.
Currently, it is quite humorous when many people hold a "Chuandu Certificate" and claim to be priests.