The Secret of Talismans: The Thunderbolt Arrow Technique of Thunder Magic

Generally speaking, there are many schools of Thunder Magic within the Daoist mysterious gate, each with its own cultivation methods and philosophies. However, there is one commonality: any magical technique is ultimately judged by its efficacy. Here, we introduce the Thunderbolt Arrow Technique, a secret art within Daoist Thunder Magic. This technique encompasses myriad methods, with the core lying in the combination of numerology and talismans.

Many people have seen descriptions in novels, such as summoning thunder to slay demons and exorcise evil spirits. Many believe this is merely fiction, but in reality, such Daoist methods do exist, and this specific practice is called the Thunderbolt Arrow Technique.

It is called the 'Arrow Technique' because the thunder is like an arrow, using thunder as the arrow to attack. Traces of this technique can also be found in extant Daoist texts, but generally, the transmitted materials are incomplete, with many secret key points left unstated. Here, referring to the experiences of past masters inherited in the Yin Fu school, we discuss the functions and essential application points of the Thunderbolt Arrow Technique. Too secret parts will not be discussed in detail; those who are interested can study this method to master it. However, since the Daoist school requires many things to remain confidential, we only point out some parts here. Those dedicated to serious research can still figure it out.

Past masters described the function of the Thunderbolt Arrow Technique in the classic text 'Thunderbolt Arrow Sha Year and Month Pivot': "When my master hears of evil spirits, demons, and thieves who have frequently killed living beings, and it is time to punish and destroy them, he seeks the Golden Tiger Great Sha and the Flowing Fire Ominous Star among the palm's positions. Among the twenty-four positions, he determines where they fall in the current month and day. Once the direction is pointed and fixed, he applies the Thunder Fire Talisman. That star belongs to Metal, and this talisman belongs to Fire. When Metal and Fire clash at the appropriate time, both thunder and fire erupt, burning down the evil temples."

The meaning of this statement is that when encountering evil spirits, demons, and thieves that need to be killed, one should first use numerological methods to find the positions of the Golden Tiger Great Sha and the Flowing Fire Ominous Star, and determine the exact position of each sha in the twenty-four mountains (same as the twenty-four directions in Feng Shui). Then, find the direction and point the sha direction towards the方位 where the thunder strike is needed, and then burn the Thunder Fire Talisman towards this方位. The Thunder Fire Talisman belongs to Fire, while the Golden Tiger at this方位 belongs to Metal. Fire and Metal clash, instantly triggering the effect, allowing one to summon the thunder down. In ancient times, Daoist masters practicing Thunder Magic usually used this method to strike evil temples.

At the same time, there are specific requirements for summoning thunder. First, one must use the Direct Officer to summon the Thunder God, then use the Heavenly Gang command, and only then can the Thunderbolt Arrow Technique be used. The Heavenly Gang command generally has two methods: one is purely using secret characters and commands combined with internal cultivation to stir the spirit and qi, which requires deep cultivation to use conveniently; the other is using a token. The token is usually consecrated and refined using Thunder Magic methods, and used when needed. A more clever approach is to use tokens made of special materials, which practitioners of this method should know what to use, so I will not elaborate further.

The方位 of the Golden Tiger Great Sha is not difficult to find. Past masters left behind a mantra:

Jia and Ji return to Kun or Gui Dui, Ding and Ren follow Xun, you must know.
Yi and Geng Yin Dun Li Palace reverse, Xin and Bing must also Zhen reverse fly.
This must look at the month belonging to the ten stems, starting to fly to the current day to distribute the stars.
Phoenix makes the Vermilion Bird descend, Qilin subdues the Tiger and brings no disaster.
Kui Gang person's sword goes to other directions, White Tiger encountering it is also no harm.

The mantra for the Flowing Fire Divine Sha is as follows:

Jia and Xin in Kun position, Bing and Ren in Qian, Geng in Kan, Yi and Gui at the edge of Gen.
Wu and Ji sit in the middle of the Snake, one strike at the Flowing Fire shocks the heavens.

These two mantras are very simple, and anyone with a foundation can understand them, so no explanation is needed.

For example, on the Bing Shen day at Hai hour, through calculation, it can be known that the Yin方位 is where the killing energy gathers. Then, one can face the temple from the Shen方位 of the temple, summon the Thunder God, use the Heavenly Gang command, and then burn the Thunder Fire Talisman, thereby summoning thunder to strike the temple.

Since the Thunderbolt Arrow Technique is a somewhat profound Daoist art, its functions are not limited to this. In specific applications, it can also be used to create certain natural phenomena. This method is called the Thunderbolt Combined Arrow Technique.所谓 'Combined Arrow' means utilizing certain combinations to perform.

Past masters described this combined arrow style in a poem:

Thunderbolt Thunder God combines with Hui Xia, Rain Master Tai Yi meets Flying Sand.
Lightning Tai Yi meets and appears, Rain Master Electric Light rides the Thunder Chariot.
Day encounters Ding and Jia meeting Light and Electricity, Tai Yi Sweet Rain sprinkles dust.
Respectful Star Sweet Moisture Jade Light rises, Blazing Heat Sweet Rain Electric Clouds.
Rain Master Six Jia Heaven darkens, Wind Master Hui Xia Electric Hail pours.
If a person knows the Combined Arrow Technique, he is the first among immortals.

In this mantra, such as 'Thunderbolt Thunder God combines with Hui Xia', it does not mean that Thunderbolt Thunder God can combine to form Hui Xia, but rather that Thunderbolt Thunder God, Hui Xia, and the Three Sha must combine to produce the phenomenon of Hui Xia, while Wind Master and Hui Xia can produce the phenomenon of thunder and hail.