Source: Shangqing gusui lingwen guilü 上清骨髓靈文鬼律 (Spirit Code in Numinous Script from the Marrow of Supreme Purity), compiled by Rao Dongtian 饒洞天 (tenth century), Deng Yougong 鄧有功 (1210-1279), reprint in the Daoist Canon 道藏 of 1445 (no. 203).

上清骨髓靈文鬼律序

Preface to Spirit Code in Numinous Script from the Marrow of Supreme Purity

受上清大洞籙 行天心正法 臣鄧有功撰

Composed by Deng Yougong, Received the Register of the Great Cavern of Supreme Purity, Performing the Correct Rites of the Celestial Heart

臣聞《書》曰：天道福善禍淫。又曰：天命有德，天討有罪。夫善者必福之，淫者必禍之，有德則在所命，有罪則在所討，此天之道也。天之臨下，豈特明之於人為然哉。雖幽之於鬼神，其不爾。是故神有功於國與民者，莫不載之杞典，而秩祭之。乃若邪怪之鬼物，為祟為厲，為祆為孽，擾民害物者，莫不有以治之，則其為患可勝計耶。此《上清骨髓靈文》所以俾付正直者，使之以奉行也。

I know The Book of Documents says, “The Heavenly Way blesses the benevolent and brings calamity to the licentious.” It also says, “The Heaven appoints those with virtue; and the Heaven convicts those with sins.” It is the way of Heaven to always bless the benevolent and always bring calamity to the licentious; anyone with virtue will be appointed and anyone doing crime will be convicted. The way Heaven governs the realms of the low does not only illuminate the human world. Even for mysterious beings, such as spirits, it is never mysterious. For this reason, any gods who have merits to the state and the people will be recorded in the Sacrificial Statute and offered sacrifices according to their ranks. Any evil spirits and ghostly beings who do various types of harm, disturb the people, and damage things will be duly punished. [If not], they will cause numerous disasters. This is why the Numinous Script from the Marrow of Supreme Purity has been entrusted to those with integrity for them to implement it.

其目有三，曰鬼律，曰玉格，曰行法儀式。合而言之，通謂之《骨髓靈文》也。鬼律者，天曹割判，入驅邪院，北帝主而行之。玉格并行法儀式者，玉帝特賜驅邪院以掌判也。其要皆所以批斷鬼神罪犯，輔正驅邪，與民為福，為國禦灾者焉。

It has three sections: the Spirit Code, the Jade Regulations, and the Liturgies of Performing Rites. Put together, they are entitled Numinous Script from the Marrow. The Spirit Code is decided by departments of the Heavenly Administration, passed through the Court of Exorcism, and implemented by the North Emperor. The Jade Regulations and the Liturgies of Performing Rites are specially awarded by the Jade Emperor to the Court of Exorcism for supervision. Their essence is to prevent spirits from committing crimes, to promote righteousness and expel evils, to bless people and to defend the state from disasters.

臣竊見玉格之文，尋常法師只以口傳，而行法儀式，又隱而不諭，故靈文因此散缺，所存者，鬼律而已。鬼律雖存，其俗師不能深曉其意，加之傳寫訛謬，文理舛錯，遂致廢缺，只以符水治病，多致誑惑，豈不負高天之意哉。

In my humble opinion, the script in the Jade Regulations is generally only transmitted orally by ritual masters; the Liturgies of Performing Rites are again full of hidden meaning. For these reasons, the numinous script has been lost and incomplete. All that exist is the Spirit Code. Even though it still exists, due to the fact that ordinary ritual masters are unable to understand its profound meaning and due to textual errors in copying and transmission as well as syntactical mistakes, it has been left incomplete. If it is only used as a talisman for healing, which often causes deception and confusion, would that not be a waste of High Heaven’s good will?

蓋靈文五十六條者，尊一於北極，總領包括天地陰陽五行之數，殺生之理，以邪剋正者，罔不隸焉。玉格儀式六十四條，若八卦生生無窮之象也。鬼律配玉格正條一十六，合七十二，即氣候所攝也。有所行邪，即付泰山七十二司，缺其一則法不全而司不正矣。

All of the fifty-six entries of the numinous script are unified in the noble North Pole. They encompass and outline the numerologies of Heaven and Earth, yin and yang, the Five Substances, and the principles of killing and generation. They cover all evil forces which win over the righteous. The sixty-four entries in the Jade Regulations and the Liturgies symbolise the endless lives embodied in the Eight Trigrams. If combining the Spirit Code and the sixteen main entries of the Jade Regulations, there will be seventy-two entries in total, which is [the number of] seasons. Anyone who does evil will be immediately transferred to the seventy-two offices of the Eastern Peak. Missing any of these, the law would be incomplete, and the offices would be inappropriate.

是則以道為法之體，以律為法之用。鬼物邪氣之所干，必體道以正之，故曰正法也。行事儀式四十八條，以三十六表三十六將，餘十二時神，常置左右，攝歸一身，故曰行事儀。又以身為一真之舍，動為仙化，靜與神默，豈非自然之妙耶。

This is to treat the Way as the substance of law and to treat the code as the manifestations of law. Whatever is affected by evil spirits and ghosts should be rectified by embodying the Way, hence the name Rectified Rites. Among the forty-eight entries in the Liturgies of Performing Rites, thirty-six entries denote the thirty-six spirit officers; the remaining twelve spirits of time should always be kept at hand and learnt in one’s mind; hence, it is called the Liturgies of Performing Rites. One should also treat the body as the dwelling of pure truth; when moving around, it acts in immortal transformations, and when still, it stays silent with divinity. Is not this the wonder about naturalness?

臣嘗細繹鬼律，竊見其文，詳悉精緻，推原其本，則祖仙饒洞天。初為府吏，用心公平，執法嚴正，斷獄不枉，衆心愜適。昭格乾象靈光，下燭地藏為之開闢，而祕文出見，即斯鬼録之法，實皇天之所賜也。祖仙洞天以謂，天人雖異，理則一致。即倣以國家法律參校，深得輕重之意，而定其刑罰之例。

I have studied the Spirit Code carefully and regarded its text as extremely detailed and exquisite. Its origin can be traced to the immortal patriarch Rao Dongtian. Originally a clerk in the administration, he acted on impartiality and maintained stringency in law enforcement. He solved lawsuits with integrity and earned acclaim from crowds. His acts resonated with the trigram of qian and the numinous light that lit up the buried treasure as they opened to him. From there appeared a numinous script, which was the Spirit Code. It was truly an award from great Heaven. The immortal patriarch Dongtian once said that, although Heaven and the human world differ from each other, their principles are the same. He then followed state laws to collate the Spirit Code. With his profound understanding of weight, he determined cases of punishment.

然則鬼神有影響而不可執著，無所施其鞭扑，有罪犯則苦役之。故《豐都律》言鬼以負山之勞，龍以穿池之役，則若是(世?)之有徒役也。《女青鬼律》云：當天圓三帀，則若世之有流竄也。《九地律》云：無上滅形，則若世之處置也。《玄都律》云：分形散影，即若世之法外也。以此行於世間，斷治鬼神，最為詳密。

That said, spirits have shadows and resonances but cannot be captured. They have nothing to whip. If they commit crimes, they will be given labour. That is why the Code of Hell talks about ‘[punishing] ghosts with the labour of carrying a mountain and [punishing] dragons with that of digging a pool’, which resembles the penal servitude of the human world. What the Code for Female Black Ghosts says by ‘equivalent to three rounds circulating Heaven’ resembles exiles in the human world. What the Code of the Nine Earth says by ‘ultimate destruction’ resembles execution in this world. What the Code of Mysterious Capital says by ‘dissecting the shape and dispersing the shadow’ resembles extreme penalties in this world. These are the most detailed and encompassing when applied to this world and to govern spirits.

臣夙緣幸會，上觀真科，遭遇名師，得以傳授。十數年間，嘗於洪州西山玉隆觀、江州廬山太平觀、南康軍簡寂觀、舒州靈仙觀，博求妙本，前後所收《上清鬼律》共五部，校對訛舛，一依舊本，排定編次。鬼律七門五十六條，玉格十六條，行法儀式四十八條，總計一百二十條，分為三卷。逐一勘當，纖悉周備，遂以所得新故之文，焚上天闕，申驅邪院等處，繼獲報應分明，更無遺缺，是謂完本。

I was lucky enough to see the true law of High and to meet and be taught by renowned masters. Over a decade, I travelled to the Temple of Jade Mound at the West Mountain of Hongzhou, the Temple of Great Peace at Mountain Lu of Jiangzhou, the Temple of Simplicity and Serenity in Nanang Military Prefecture, and the Temple of Numinous Immortals at Shuzhou to extensively seek editions of the miraculous text. Since then, I have collected five volumes of the Spirit Code of Supreme Purity. I then collated the text and corrected textual errors based on the old editions. Once put in order, the Spirit Codecontains seven sections and fifty-six entries, sixteen entries from the Jade Regulations, and forty-eight entries from the Liturgies of Performing Rites. In total, there are 120 entries, which are divided into three fascicles. I have checked each entry and ensured that they are detailed and complete. I then burnt the text gathered from both old and new editions to present to Heaven and reported it to administrations, including the Court of Exorcism. I thereafter received clear responses indicating that there are no more omissions in the text, and it is the complete edition.

若乃只自奉行，隱默不傳于世，則其功未廣，恐違天意而貽陰譴也。是以繕寫投進，抑嘗聞昔之以道御天下者，其鬼不神。非其鬼不神，其神不傷人，以至兩不相傷而德交歸焉，然後為盛治之極致，豈不偉哉。

If I keep it for my own implementation and hide it from transmission in the world, its merit will not spread widely, which I fear would go against Heavenly will and invite retribution. Therefore, I made a copy of it to present to the court. I also once heard that rulers in the past who governed all under Heaven with the Way, the ghosts of their times did not act as divinity. Not [only] that the ghosts do not act as divinity, the divine [also] does not harm people, so that [spirits and humans] do not harm each other, and their virtues go to each other. Subsequently, it will be possible to achieve the ultimate state of good governance. Isn’t that great?

伏惟皇帝陛下，操至權而獨運，斡萬化於不測，百神受職，庶民安堵，則馭之者固自有道矣。臣且區區以進此者，非特欲乞頒行四方，以廣其傳。庶幾天下法師皆得完本，依此行持，使遐邦僻邑、祆邪靈怪皆不得以傷人，是亦少裨陛下道化之萬一也。臣謹拜手稽首而為之序。

Your Highness holds the ultimate power and operates it solely by yourself; you mediate the myriad transformations out of the unfathomable. With hundreds of gods receiving duties and the mass dwelling in peace, you who harness them surely have your own way. The reason why I humbly present the Spirit Code is not only to plead for distribution in the four directions to widen its spread. I also hope that all ritual masters under Heaven would have access to the complete edition and perform rites accordingly so that in states and villages near and far, evil spirits and abnormal beings are not able to harm people, which might be a humble contribution to Your Highness’ transformation of the world by the Way. I hereby bow with respect and write a preface to it.

法道門二十七條 Section on the Way of Rites, twenty-seven entries

諸行法官，乃陽行陰報，並依式歲考功績。如能止邪抑非，治困拯危，度死超生，含靈受賜，解除怨仇者，依儀遷職。如傍循私曲，隨惡長姦者，許三官斜察以聞，當議重行黜責。
Any officers officiating rite who are rewarded invisibly for what they do in this world, their achievements should be investigated each year according to rules. Those who can stop evil and prevent wrongdoing, handle people’s sufferings and save them from danger, relieve the deceased for rebirth, possess numinosity and receive rewards, and dissolve grudge and hatred, should be promoted according to norms. For those who act in partiality to aid evil and treachery, it is up to the Three Offices to investigate and report them. Demotions and heavy punishments will be considered.

諸發遣文字，危急行劄子，限當時。謂病篤，會問陰府天曹命數延促之類。次緊牒，城隍限一日。次申東嶽立獄，催鬼神，限二日。常程給限，並不過三日。輒有留滯，半日杖一百。涉私故，徒一年。情重者，加一等。在道阻節者，以其罪罪之。
Any written messages issued and any documents dispatched with urgency should be delivered immediately. These may refer to messages regarding people dying from illness and consulting the Heavenly Offices about the lengths of their years of life left. Next are urgent documents, for which the City Gods are allowed one day. Next are memorials to the Eastern Peak to set up a case, for which the mobilisation of spirits is allowed two days. For ordinary communications, no more than three days. If there is an unauthorized delay, for half a day, the penalty will be a hundred strokes with the heavy rod. If any private reasons are involved, it will be one year’s penal servitude. For serious cases, one extra level of punishment will be given. Those who impede the message on the way will be penalized for the same crime [as that for which they were dispatched].

諸應管東嶽差到神將吏兵，三年一替。一年一替者聽。並具勞績過犯，報本嶽考察賞罰，仍於去替一月前，預差替人。願留再任者，關本嶽。應替不替，不應替而替者，杖一百，有故者勿論。
All divine officers, clerks, and troops assigned by the Eastern Peak to a local administration shall complete one service rotation in three years. One rotation each year is also permitted. All their achievements and violations should be recorded in full and reported to the Peak to investigate for reward or punishment. Replacements shall be assigned one month in advance of the completion of and departure from a rotation. Those who wish to remain for a second service should be registered with the Peak. Failure to rotate or unauthorized rotation shall be punished by one hundred strokes with the heavy rod. Those who have a reason can be exempt. (For this entry and six more marked below, trans. adapted from those in Robert Hymes, Way and Byway: Taoism, Local Religion and Models of Divinity in Sung and modern China, Berkeley, 2002, p. 33.)

諸神將被命報應稽遲者，杖一百。緣事害人受賂者，徒二年。天兵將吏，仍具所犯，因依奏聞。
Any spirit officers who delay their orders to administer retributions will be punished by a hundred strokes with the heavy rod. Those who harm people or receive bribes on purpose will be punished by two year’s penal servitude. For Heavenly soldiers, officers, and clerks, details of their violations should be recorded and reported.

諸行法事，有不便者，不得擅行改易。即時奏請，以俟報應。謂如遣鬼不去，即符使不靈神之類。違者，徒二年。非行法官輒干預者，徒三年。
Any rules regarding performing rites, even if there are inconveniences, should not be altered without authorization. [Those involved] should report and make a petition, then await a response. These refer to cases such as dispatched spirits refusing to go, or emissaries of talismans showing no efficacy. Those who violate the rules will be given two years’ penal servitude. Those who are not officers officiating rite but interfere without authorization will be given three years’ penal servitude.

諸差使鬼神不任職，誤取生人魂魄，或令發狂致疾者，流一千里。因而害人性命，加二等。毀法不遵者，處死。
Any gods and spirits who are dispatched but are incompetent in their duties, such as taking the souls of living people by mistake or causing trance and diseases, will be exiled to a distance of a thousand li. Those who harm people’s lives will be given two extra levels of penalty. Those who slander and disobey the rites will be executed.

諸行法官所至，許帶符印隨行，在處稱行司。應有須索呼召將吏等，輒違戾者，徒一年。干仙班者，具事因奏聞。
Any officers officiating rite will be allowed to bring talismans and seals with them during travel. The places they travel to should be treated as an administration in travel. When they need to summon officers and clerks, those who disobey without authorization will be given one year’s penal servitude. For cases involving the immortals, details and reasons should be recorded and reported.

諸承受文字遺墜者，畫時經驅邪院自陳，檢會別行。仍責限追尋不獲者，杖一百。限內尋獲，與免罪。
Any who carry written messages but have lost them should go to the Court of Exorcism immediately to report the incident for an investigation and a separate dispatch. Those required to recover the message within a time limit but fail to do so will be beaten a hundred strokes with the heavy rod. Those who recover the loss within the time limit will be exempt.

諸鬼神應送所置，輒違而不往者，流三千里，累犯者處死。
Any spirits dispatched to their placements but who refuse to go without authorization will be exiled to a distance of three thousand li. Those who violate repeatedly will be executed.

諸神將吏兵等，因追攝鬼祟殘害受賂者，徒二年。若隱芘縱令逃避者，以犯人罪罪之。若罪人在壇顯驗通露，後忽因事身死者，具將吏所責情狀奏聞。
Any spirit officers, clerks, and soldiers who, during the pursuit of ghosts and devils, harm life and receive bribes will be given two years’ penal servitude. Those who cover it up or let the perpetrator flee will be punished for the same crime as committed by the perpetrator. If the perpetrator manifest him/herself at the altar but later dies for any causes, records and reports from the officers and clerks should be made known in detail.

諸神將名山大川城隍社令主三品神衆，凡遇承受驅邪院文字，並須驗認印記，嚴謹護持，速具報應。輒有輕易者，徒二年。
Any spirit officers, famous mountains and great rivers, city gods and earth gods, and those administrators at the third rank, upon encounters with any written documents from the Court of Exorcism, should verify the seals and signs, guard them strictly and cautiously, and respond immediately. Those who do not treat them seriously shall be given two years’ penal servitude.

諸鬼神等，受驅邪院發遣，經宿不離當處者，一日徒一年。十日加一等，罪止徒三年。
Any spirits who are dispatched by the Court of Exorcism but do not set off overnight, for one day’s delay shall be given one year’s penal servitude; for ten days’ delay, the penalty should be one level higher, until reaching three years’ penal servitude.

諸邪祟經驅遣，而六甲土公司命等神輒隱藏不發去者，徒三年。因而害人性命者，流三千里。天曹降旨留住者，勿論。
Any evil spirits already expelled but who are hidden and protected from having to leave by such gods as the Six Jia, earth gods, and stove gods without authorization, the gods shall be given three years’ penal servitude. If any human lives are lost, they shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li. Those who are kept and stopped by edicts from Heaven can be exempt.

諸民人有事告訴行法官，受接不行，雖行而苟簡，及妄入鬼神罪目者，杖一百。不候告，而別指事故行遣者非。
When common people report an incident to rite officers, if they receive the case but do not act upon it, or if they act upon it in a perfunctory way, or if they thoughtlessly enter it into the category of offences by spirits, they shall be beaten a hundred strokes with the heavy rod. This does not include cases where dispatchments are made upon separate incidents before any reports are made.

諸當職之神，輒與民人婦女私通者，流三千里。情理重者，奏裁。如地分鬼神犯者，加一等。諸鬼神無故害人性命及偷盜人間財物，不受咨懇被捉者，處死。所屬城隍土地等故縱者，同罪。失覺察者，杖一百。
Any gods on duty committing random adultery with common people’s wives shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li. Serious cases shall be reported to Heaven for decision. If the perpetrators are gods or spirits administering the place, an extra level of penalty shall be added. Any gods and spirits who harm people’s lives for no reason, steal properties of the human world, and who are captured for refusing to be investigated, shall be executed. City gods and earth gods who administer the area but give free reign to the perpetrators shall be convicted with the same crime. Those who fail to notice the crime shall be beaten a hundred strokes with the heavy rod.

諸被使鬼神不即時往幹者，杖一百。緊切事干人命，徒二年。因而至死，流三千里。受敕符違而不去者，處死。
Any spirits who are dispatched but do not set off immediately to their business shall be beaten a hundred strokes with the heavy rod. In serious cases which threaten human lives, they shall be given two years’ penal servitude. If any death is involved, they shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li. Those who have received edicts or talismans but refuse to go shall be executed.

諸蝗蟲旱潦天霜雪雹害民稼穡，本地分神衆不能救濟，驅邪院差將吏同力止絕，違者，杖一百。事干天曹時行年灾，許具章表奏聞。
In various cases of locusts, drought and flooding, frost and hailstorm which harm crops, when local gods are unable to save [the people], the Court of Exorcism will dispatch officers and clerks to join their effort. Those who disobey [the dispatchment] shall be beaten a hundred strokes with the heavy rod. For cases involving the Heavenly Administration implementing seasonal disasters, they are allowed to report the matter in a memorial.

諸神將吏兵，應使而不使，不應使而使者，一人杖一百。十人加一等，罪止徒三年。
Any spirit officers and clerks who should be dispatched but refused to go or who should not be dispatched but went (nonetheless) shall each receive a hundred strokes with the heavy rod. If it reaches ten individuals, an extra level of penalty shall be given, until reaching three years’ penal servitude.

諸救濟民人疾苦合用干礙神鬼，呼召輒不到者，流三千里。雖到而不協心搜捕幹捷者，徒二年。天府差幹他事者，勿論。
Any spirits who are supposed to save people from suffering, if they do not turn up when summoned, they shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li. Those who arrive but do not make effort to join the pursuit for perpetrators shall be given two years’ penal servitude. Those who are dispatched by the Heavenly administration on other businesses can be exempt.

諸天行疫疾，令人患瘡腫走痛之類，隸十二年王子統行，所主鬼神受驅邪院遣除，事合遵稟天曹拘收者，即時報應，具奏上界，違者杖一百。
For various plagues implemented by Heaven that caused ailments such as ulcers and blisters in people, it should be delegated to the Twelve Yearly Princes for universal action. Those spirits in charge who are dispatched and appointed by the Court of Exorcism, on matters that should be reported to the Heavenly Administration for the implementation of imprisonment, should respond immediately and report in detail to the realm above. Those who disobey will be beaten a hundred strokes with the heavy rod.

諸山川土地司命城隍，受命搜捕邪祟，輒有違滯故縱於經歷地分害人者，直送東嶽處斷，主者失覺察，杖一百。
Any mountain gods, river gods, earth gods, stove gods, and city gods who receive orders to pursue evil spirits but disobey the orders, wander around the places they travel, or do harm to the people, shall be sent directly to the Eastern Peak for conviction. Those in charge who fail to notice [the crime] will be beaten a hundred strokes with the heavy rod.

諸提舉城隍社令有過者，具奏北極取旨，三官糾察，關驅邪院施行。
Any appointed city gods and earth gods who commit wrongdoing shall be reported in detail to the North Dipper for decision and to the Three Offices for investigation. The Court of Exorcism should also be notified for action.

諸方境內遇年灾大疫，損傷人民牛馬畜獸之類，被告即關年王神收毒，仍奏知上界，違者杖一百。
For any areas inflicted by annual disasters and serious plagues that cause casualties to people and animals, upon report it should be notified immediately to the Divine King of Years to stop the inflictions. It should also be reported to the High Realm. Those who disobey shall be beaten a hundred strokes with the heavy rod.

諸囹圄久淹受苦之人，所犯非辜，實負冤屈，諸處雪理不明，即委當處城隍獄神，顯諭推勘官吏，省悟實情，立為委決，違者徒一年。如囚人實犯陰譴者，勿論。
Any people who suffer from prolonged imprisonment, if they have done nothing wrong and maintain their innocence but are wrongly convicted by various administrations, their cases should immediately be passed on to the local City God or the Prison God for them to manifestly instruct officials in charge of the investigation, who will then realise the truth and resolve them immediately. Those who disobey shall be given one year’s penal servitude. Cases in which the prisoners should indeed be given retributions are not included.

諸神將吏兵輒離行法官者，杖一百。遇有急闕，許於近便神祠差借兵，不得過五百人。幹辦訖，犒賞推恩，申奏所屬錄功。
Any spirit officers, clerks, or soldiers who leave an officer officiating rite without authorization shall be beaten one hundred strokes with the heavy rod. In cases of urgent shortage of personnel, [the rite officer] is permitted to borrow spirit troops from a neighbouring shrine, up to five hundred soldiers. Once the business is over, special awards and favours shall be reported in a memorial to their affiliated administrations to record merits. (trans. adapted from Hymes, p. 33.)

諸鬼神承受天府委幹，稽留不行五日，杖一百。十日加一等，罪止徒三年。有緣故者，具奏天府。
Any spirits who receive commands from the Office of Heaven but delay departure for five days shall be beaten a hundred strokes with the heavy rod. For every ten days, an extra level of penalty will be given, until reaching three years’ penal servitude. Those who have a reason should report in detail to the Office of Heaven.

太甲門二條 Section of the Great Jia, two entries

諸林谷祆異累害人者，處死。所部鬼物非過干累及者，送東嶽處分。應干經歷地分不覺察，杖一百。同情犯者，罪亦如之。
Any evil spirits from forests and valleys who harm people shall be executed. The ghosts under their lead who are involved but innocent shall be sent to the Eastern Peak for conviction. Local gods in charge of the place who fail to notice the crime shall be beaten a hundred strokes with the heavy rod. Those who sympathize with the perpetrators shall be convicted of the same crime.

諸林木散大，為人欽仰，立祠祈檮無福報者，並除之。因立祠而不為害，善能興福於人者，聽以有無功績奏聞，違者杖一百。
Any trees that are expansively huge and are worshipped by people, who establish shrines for them and pray to them, if they do not give auspicious responses, they shall be eliminated. Those who do not do harm thanks to the enshrinement and whose benevolence brings blessings to people shall be allowed to be reported to the Court [of Exorcism] based on whether they have merit. Those who disobey shall be beaten a hundred strokes with the heavy rod.

太戊門一十七條 Section of the Great Wu, seventeen entries

諸地氣所產育養之物，遇災年須出生地毛。如鬼神無故出入，別興風雨，而因損傷稼穡害及人命者，並流一千里。仙官拘執六地犯者，具奏天府。
Any things generated and nurtured by earth should yield plants during years of disaster. Any spirits who go in and out for no reason and cause unregulated wind and rain that lead to loss of crops and human lives shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li. Immortal officers should arrest and imprison those perpetrators from the Six Lands and report in detail to the Office of Heaven.

諸神鬼盜人財滿千錢者，流二千里。不滿千錢，徒二年。若常住供獻之物，不以多寡，滅形。諸地分主首故縱邪祟於部下為害者，關日遊神吏謄報，違者杖一百。
Any spirits who steal money from people, with the amount reaching a thousand coins, shall be exiled to a distance of two thousand li; if the amount is less than a thousand coins, they shall receive two years’ penal servitude. If they steal things from offerings and sacrifices, regardless of the amount, they shall be annihilated. In cases where the chief [gods] of the various places knowingly indulge evil spirits doing harm under their administration, it is up to the spirit clerks who are on daily patrols to submit a copy of the report. Violators shall be beaten one hundred strokes with the heavy rod. (trans. adapted from Hymes, p. 33.)

諸掌文字管攝邪魔、差當日功曹將吏承受，有稽遲、投至不明、磨擦損污者，杖一百。私拆封角視者，徒二年。奏書有漏泄遺墜者，流三千里。
Any paperwork about controlling evils should be delegated to spirit officers and clerks on duty that day. Those who delay the delivery or deliver to unspecified places or damage the message shall be beaten one hundred strokes with the heavy rod. Those who secretly open and peek into the sealed message shall be given two years’ penal servitude. Those who either lose or leak the content of memorials and documents shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li.

諸鬼神妄攝人魂者，流三千里。因而致斃者，處死。
Any spirits who capture human souls without authorization shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li. Those who cause death shall be executed.

諸神鬼呼召不至，輒違慢不恭者，徒三年。
Any spirits who do not arrive when summoned or show disobedience and disrespect shall be given three years’ penal servitude.

諸鬼神非攝受於人世，不得與生靈混處，違者杖一百。天府謫仙者非。如妄假名目，邀求祭祀者，徒二年。切害者，送東嶽處置。拒捕者，處死。
Any spirits who are not on the mission of an arrest should not mingle with living beings. Those who disobey shall be beaten one hundred strokes with the heavy rod. This excludes demoted immortals from the Office of Heaven. Any spirits who request sacrifices for unauthorized reasons shall be given two years’ penal servitude. Those severe perpetrators shall be sent to the Eastern Peak for conviction. Those who refuse arrest shall be executed.

諸鬼神無故在人家潛伏，妄興妖祟為害，經宿不去者，杖一百。五日加一等，罪止徒二年。被命遣不去者，處死。
Any spirits who hide in human households for no reason, cause random evil and harm, or stay overnight without leaving shall be beaten one hundred strokes with the heavy rod. Those who stay over five days shall be given an extra level of penalty, until reaching two years’ penal servitude. Those who refuse to set off upon dispatchment shall be executed.

諸人間染疾，旬月淹延不退，夢寐與鬼魅交通者，委所居地祇具事狀，申東嶽誅滅，違者杖一百。
Any people who fall ill for ten days to a month without recovering from the illness and who enter close relationships with ghosts and devils in their dreams, the local Earth God should be delegated to prepare a detailed report of the event and send to the Eastern Peak for the destruction [of the spirits involved]. Those who disobey shall be beaten one hundred strokes with the heavy rod.

諸驅邪院官行天符，委山川地主收捕鬼祟，不即力幹違慢者，徒一年。
When officers from the Court of Exorcism issue the Heavenly talisman and delegate the terrestrial gods of mountains and rivers to arrest ghosts and devils, those who do not act immediately but show disobedience or negligence shall be given one year’s penal servitude.

正一門四條 Section of the Correct Unity, four entries

諸稱水者，不以大小淺深，善能滋養稼穡而不隨時者，許九江水帝察其功過保奏，違者杖一百。
Any gods or spirits named after rivers, regardless of whether big or small, deep or shallow, if they are benevolent and can nurture crops outside the seasons, allow the Emperor of Waters Who Oversees the Nine Rivers to investigate their merits and violations for reporting to the court. Those who disobey shall be beaten one hundred strokes with the heavy rod.

諸龍神在江河湖潭湫水，有所主者謂之主，正則祠之。若因大風雨，無故非理出遊害人稼穡者，徒一年。妄邀祭祀者，徒二年。掌水司引水，因漂溺田屋苗稼被害及五十家已上者，流三千里。不及五十家，徒三年。災年時行地分變異者，勿論，仍具表以聞。
Any dragon gods dwelling at various rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams, those who are in charge of any matters can be called an administrator; if they have moral integrity, they can be worshipped. If during great wind and rain they come out for no good reason and harm people or crops, they shall be given one year’s penal servitude. Any of them who request sacrifice without authorization shall be given two years’ penal servitude. Any of them who administer water and irrigation but cause floods to fields and houses, those who damage crops and up to fifty households shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li. Those who cause damage to fewer than fifty households shall be given three years’ penal servitude. Cases involving the implementation of disasters during certain years and anomalies in certain places are not included but should still be reported in memorials.

諸龍神鬼主江河汙流去處，若故曲邀舟車祭祀者，徒二年。妄興風雨，翻陷田屋至傷人命，一人流三千里，十人處死，十人已上滅形。干涉湖潭主守，並同罪。本地分不紏者，罪亦如之。
Any dragon gods and spirits who are in charge of places along rivers and stream, if they harass passenger ships and carriages to request sacrifices, they shall be given two years’ penal servitude. Those who start wind and rain without authorization, blow over houses or cause flooding, and as a result harm lives, for one human life they shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li. For ten lives, they shall be executed. Above ten lives, they shall be annihilated. Those administrators of lakes and pools related to the incident shall be punished for the same crime. Those who administer the local area but do not look after the case shall also be punished for the same crime.

諸隱伏神鬼合起雨澤，不急救旱救苦，水主同情隱匿不為放露者，並徒三年。
Any hidden gods and spirits who are supposed to give rain and moisture but do not immediately relieve drought or alleviate suffering, and any administrators of that water who conspire in covering the event up and do not expose it, shall both be given three years’ penal servitude. (trans. adapted from Hymes, p. 33.)

亡祟門六條 Section of the dead and the evil, six entries

諸亡者有怨於生人，曾經地府陳理，未結絕而擅於人家，作祆異尅害他人，僥求功果為報，雖非損人命，而動煩立獄仇對平人者，關地府滅形。
Any deceased people who, bearing a grievance against a living person and having made a statement of his case through the Office of Hell, prior to its resolution and without authorization causes spiritual monstrosities in the person’s home, if they endlessly seek merits and retribution in return, although not harming human lives, having caused frequent setup of cases and hatred towards ordinary people, shall be turned over to the Office of Hell to be destroyed. (trans. from Hymes, pp. 33-34.)

諸無道邪祟隱顯形影，放火撒血、引弄家畜之類，驚犯生人者，流三千里。至害性命者，處死。
Any sinister spirits who manifest or hide their shapes and shadows, start fires or splash blood, distract or disturb domestic animals, and shock or offend the living people shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li. Those who even take people’s lives shall be executed.

諸鬼祟放火在人居室，或籠櫃中燒熱財物舍宅，及十戶者處死，不及十戶徒三年，送酆都重役地分。知情故縱不糾者，流三千里。
Any ghosts and spirits who set fire to people’s rooms and cupboards, burning down possessions and properties, if the number of victims reaches ten households, they shall be executed; if less than ten households, they shall be given three years’ penal servitude and sent to places of heavy punishment in the underworld. Those who knowingly indulge the case without intervening shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li.

諸伏屍鬼怪古物精祆一切無名之鬼，妄託不繫籍，身死輒停世間不去者，徒一年。妄假威勢，曲求祭祀，陷害生人，流二千里。地主者知而不紏，同罪。
Any buried corpses, any ghosts or evil spirits from old times, and all other nameless ghosts, if they linger in the human world on the excuse of lacking a host and refuse to leave after death, they shall be given one year of penal servitude. Those who rely on their power to harass living people for sacrifices or harm people’s lives shall be exiled to a distance of two thousand li. Any spirits in charge of the local place who know but do not investigate shall be punished for the same crime.

諸鬼祟傷害生人，因追捉藏伏者，徒三年。拒捕輒與吏兵鬬敵者，處死。
Any ghosts and evil spirits who do harm to living people and when pursued hide themselves shall be given three years’ penal servitude. Those who refuse arrest and fight with spirit clerks and soldiers shall be executed.

諸孤露無主邪鬼，假於新死故亡之便，纏繞生人有所求者，流一千里。傷人命者，滅形。委是家親眷屬逐時有闕祭祀，因而作祟者，以肴饌祭享，善功為報，化諭遣退。若受祭享福力後，依前為害生人者，送東嶽，於下鬼籍中拘係。
Any evil ghosts wandering without a host, if they take the chance of being newly dead or having been dead for long to harass living people and request things, they shall be exiled to a distance of one thousand li. Those who harm people’s lives shall be annihilated. In cases where the deceased’s family indeed fail to offer sacrifices occasionally so the ghosts take the chance to do evil things, they shall be offered food as sacrifices, given good retributions for their merits of benevolence, and be dismissed after receiving moral remonstrations. If after receiving sacrifices and blessings, they still do harm to living people as before, they shall be sent to the Eastern Peak to be imprisoned as a low ghost.

國祀門五條 Section of state sacrifices, five entries

諸國家不載祠典神鬼，妄興祆孽，誑惑人民，輒為禍福者，流三千里。曾傷人命者，滅形。諸鬼神雖不載祠典而能福及於民者，當考功績，以聞推恩。
Any spirits not recorded in the state’s Sacrificial Register who cause disorderly spiritual retributions, deceive the people, and give unauthorized good or ill fortunes shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li. Any who does injury to human life shall be annihilated. But for any spirits not recorded in the Sacrificial Register who are yet able to bring good fortune to the people, their accomplishments shall be investigated, and petitions shall be made for a grant of grace. (trans. adapted from Hymes, p. 37.)

若自矜其功，而輒便妄以祆異於人興疾疫，須求檮祀而不退者，徒三年。至傷人命者，流三千里。及十人，處死。十人已上者，滅形。
Any spirits who boast of their merits, cause plagues among people with their unauthorized power, and refuse to retreat upon prayers shall be given three years’ penal servitude. Those who cause the loss of human lives shall be exiled to a distance of three thousand li. If the number of lost lives reaches ten, they shall be executed. Exceeding ten lives, they shall be annihilated.

諸里社本界神祠，水陸二路，見係陽界靈感，該在祀典，不得受人間曲祀及不得受人厭呪生命，違者紏察，申三官，當議重行黜陟。
Any spirit shrines in the local area, on land or on water, who show efficacy in the human world and are supposed to be included in the Sacrificial Register, should neither receive improper worship from the people nor receive some people’s prayers to harm other’s lives. Those who disobey shall be investigated and reported to the Three Offices for discussion of heavy punishment or demotion.

諸祀典福神，有害於人間者，具所犯，奏取救裁。
Any auspicious gods in the Sacrificial Register who do harm to the human world, their violations should be recorded in detail and reported in a memorial to obtain a judgment. (trans. adapted from Hymes, p. 37.)

諸朝列功臣名賢，因立廟祀後有害於民者，立便遣之，違而不去關東嶽，并具所犯奏聞。
Any meritorious ministers and worthies of previous dynasties who are worshipped in shrines but do harm to people shall be dismissed immediately. Those who refuse to leave shall be turned over to the Eastern Peak and their violations shall be reported to the court.

飛奏門二條 Section of urgent reports, two entries

諸急切飛奏，限兩時報應。上天急切，興地嶽靈官行報者不同。若違時不報，或因謄奏有失者，並杖一百。仍許再奏，候報施行。如驅邪院悮報，因而違者，勿論。
Any urgent requests with high priority should be responded to within four hours. Urgencies from the Heaven on High are different from retributions administered by the Numinous Officers of the underworld. Those who delay the response beyond the time limit or make mistakes in copying the report shall be given a hundred strokes with the heavy rod. They are allowed to report again and await a response for implementation. Those who delay due to mistakes made in the report from the Court of Exorcism can be exempt.

諸奏書緊切，限一日。次緊，限三日。常程，限七日報應。並謂奏上天者。皆用引劄通落，須經歷地分護送出界，輒邀攔拘滯者，一日杖一百，十日加一等，罪止徒三年。若情理切害者，並具事因奏聞。
Any urgent memorials and documents should be [delivered] within one day; less urgent, within three days; ordinary ones, to be responded to within seven days. These refer to memorials to the Heaven on High. All should be communicated with a guiding note and be escorted out of the local domain. Those who stop or delay the communication without authorization, for one day shall be given a hundred strokes with the heavy rod; for ten days, one extra level of penalty shall be given, until reaching three years’ penal servitude. Cases with serious consequences should be reported in detail to the court.