Scriptures for Morning and Evening Rites of the Complete Perfection Tradition

Essentials

The Morning and Evening Rites of recitation are practised every day in order to make offerings to spirits in terms of the teachings. In addition, they serve to make the Daoist priests practise scriptural confession diligently, and not forget the divine precepts of the founder of their sect, so as to produce results from their cultivation of moral character and accumulation of merit.

Brief introduction

The daily Morning and Evening Recitation of the Complete Perfection Tradition is an ordinary religious activity in the temples of the tradition. This recitation tradition came into existence when Wang Chongyang, the Daoist founder of the sect in the Jin dynasty, established the Daoist temple system, so it has a history of 800 years lasting till today. Following this recitation tradition, all the Daoist priests who have renounced their family and live in temples should get up at five olock every morning, and after sweeping the courts and temples, having breakfast and a bath, washing their face and rinsing their mouth, and adjusting their dresses and hats, they should go to the temple to recite the scriptures for recitation at the morning altar. After supper in the evening, as soon as the drum is beaten, the Daoist priests in the temple adjust their dresses and hats, and ascend the altar to recite the scripture for evening recitation at the evening altar. This routine is followed every day the year round.

The content of the daily Morning Recitation of the Complete Perfection Tradition

What is recited at the Morning and Evening Recitation varies with different inherited habits and different founders of the temples. Take the White Cloud Temple ( 白雲觀 Baiyun Guan ) in Beijing as an example. What is recited in the morning includes: the Clear and Pure Rhythm ( 澄清韻 Qingjing Yun ), the Hanging Rhythm ( 吊掛 Diaogua ), the Outline Rhythm ( 提鋼 Tigang ), the Divine Incantation for Purifying the Mind ( 淨心神咒 Jingxian Shenzhou ), the Divine Incantation for Purifying the Mouth ( 淨口神咒 Jingkou Shenzhou ), the Divine Incantation for Purifying the Body ( 淨身神咒 Jingshen Shenzhou ), the Incantation for Pacifying the Earth Spirits ( 安土地咒 an Tudi Zhou ), the Divine Incantation for Purifying Heaven and Earth ( 淨天地咒 Jing Tiandi Zhou ), the Joss Stick Prayer Incantation ( 祝香咒 Zhuxiang Zhou ), the Divine Incantation of Golden Light ( 金光神咒 Jinguang Shenzhou ), the Mysterious and Profound Incantation ( 玄蘊咒 Xuanyun Zhou ), the Book of the Supreme Venerable Sovereign's Teachings on Eternal Purity and Tranquility ( 太上老君說常清靜咒 Taishang Laojun Shuo Chang Qingjing Jing ), The Supreme Sublime Book of the Numinous Treasure of Pervasive Mystery for Ascending to Mystery, Eliminating Calamities and Protecting Lives ( 太上洞玄靈寶升玄消災護命妙經 Taishang Dongxuan Lingbao Shengxuan Xiaozai Huming Miaojing ), the Perfect Book of the Supreme Heavenly Lord of the Numinous Treasure's Teachings on Averting Misfortunes and Adversities ( 太上靈寶天尊說禳災度厄真經 Taishang Lingbao Tianzun Shuo Rangzai du’e Zhenjing ), the Lofty Jade Emperor's Sublime Book of the Mind Seal ( 高上玉皇心印妙經 Gaoshang Yuhuang Xinyin Miaojing ), the Precious Declarations of Jade Clarity ( 玉清寶誥 Yuqing Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of the Highest Clarity ( 上清寶誥 Shanqing Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of Supreme Clarity ( 太清寶誥 Taiqing Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of the Jade Emperor ( 玉帝寶誥 Yudi Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of the Heavenly Emperor ( 天皇寶誥 Tianhuang Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of the Stellar Ruler ( 星主寶誥 Xingzhu Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of the Earth God ( 后土寶誥 Houtu Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of the South Pole ( 南極寶誥 Nanji Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of the Five Northern Patriarchs ( 北五祖寶誥 Bei Wuzu Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of the Five Southern Patriarchs ( 南五祖寶誥 Nan Wuzu Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of the Seven Perfect Ones ( 七真寶誥 Qizhen Baogao ), the Precious Declarations on Universal Salvation ( 普化寶誥 Puhua Baogao ), the Written Prayers to the Sages ( 祝聖文 Zhusheng Wen ), the Written Confessions ( 懺悔文 Chanhui Wen ), and the Small Odes for Morning Recitation ( 早課小贊 Zaoke Xiaozan ) (also, the Incantations of the Numinous Officials ( 靈官咒 Lingguan Zhou ), the Incantations of the Earth Spirits ( 土地咒 Tudi Zhou ), the Great Conversion ( 大皈依 Da Guiyi ), and the Three Conversions ( 三皈依 San Guiyi )).

The content of daily Evening Recitation of the Complete Perfection Tradition

The Hanging Rhythm, Offering Joss Sticks to the Heavenly Lord of Supreme Oneness and Benevolence ( 香供養太乙救苦天尊 Xiang Gongyang Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun ), the Outline Rhythm, the Mysterious and Profound Incantation, the Precious Declarations of the Elder Lady of the Big Dipper ( 斗姥寶誥 Doumu Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of the Three Heavenly Officials ( 三官寶誥 Sanguan Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of Mysterious Northern Heaven ( 玄天寶誥 Xuantian Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of Patriarch Lu ( 呂祖寶誥 Luzu Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of Patriarch Qiu ( 邱祖寶誥 Qiuzu Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of Patriarch Sa ( 薩祖寶誥 Sazu Baogao ), the Precious Declarations of the Numinous Officials ( 靈官寶誥 Lingguan Baogao ), the Precious Declarations on Saving the Suffering ( 救苦寶誥 Jiuku Baogao ), the Precious Declarations on Showing Gratitude ( 報恩寶誥 Bao’en Zhou ), the Incantations of the Earth Spirits, the Three Conversions, the Incantation for Offering Sacrifices( 供養咒 Gongyang Zhou ), and the Incantation for Ending Fasts ( 結齋咒 Jiezhai Zhou ).