**The Mysteries of Taoist Talismanic Scripts: Origins, Functions, and Spiritual Empowerment** **道教符画的奥秘：起源、功能与灵性赋予**
AdminYup01 The Secrets of Taoist Talismanic Scripts
### 01 道教画符的秘密
▲ 1. Definition of Talismanic Scripts (符的定义)
**Chinese**:
《三国志》中记载，张陵在鹤鸣山学道时，曾造作符书，这展现了正一道自张道陵创教以来，画符便是正一弟子不可或缺的技能。而据《说文解字》解释，“符”字意为“信也”。在道教中，这个“信也”指的是祖师爷的法力被以“符”的形式书写在纸、绢、木、石等载体上。借助这些“符”，即便无法力之人也能借用祖师爷的力量，实现镇魔、压邪、治病、求福等目的。因此，符在这里起到了凭证的作用。
符通常由符头、符窍和符脚三个部分组成。这些部分通过不同的排列方式进行组合，可能是上下结构，也可能是左右结构，具体取决于各道门的独特风格。例如，嗣汉天师府的天师符就采用了上下结构的排列方式，其中“符头”位于上方，“符脚”则在下方，而中间的部分被称为符窍，也可以称作“符心”或“符胆”。
**English**:
*Records of the Three Kingdoms* documents that Zhang Ling, while studying Taoism at Heming Mountain, created talismanic scripts. This reflects how talisman painting has been an essential skill for Zhengyi Taoist disciples since the founding of the tradition by Zhang Daoling. According to *Shuowen Jiezi* (an ancient Chinese dictionary), the character "符" (fu) means "credential" (信也). In Taoism, this "credential" refers to the power of the Patriarchs being inscribed onto mediums such as paper, silk, wood, or stone through talismans. Through these talismans, even those without spiritual power can borrow the Patriarchs’ strength to achieve goals like warding off demons, suppressing evil, curing illnesses, and seeking blessings. Thus, the talisman serves as a certificate of authority.
A talisman generally consists of three parts: the **Head** (符头), **Cavity** (符窍), and **Foot** (符脚). These components may be arranged vertically or horizontally, depending on the unique traditions of each Taoist lineage. For example, the Celestial Master Talismans (天师符) of the Si Han Celestial Master Temple (嗣汉天师府) adopt a vertical structure: the Head at the top, the Foot at the bottom, and the Cavity (also called the "Heart" or "胆") in the center.
▲ 2. Functions of Celestial Master Talismans (天师符的功能)
**Chinese**:
《汉天师世家》中记载，历代天师常以画符作为治病与御灾的手段。例如，唐初的第十一代天师张通元，在国有大疫时，将“标”（一种符）植于水中，汲饮者皆能痊愈，甚至有远道而来乞求符水者。天师符具有多种功能，如治病、镇邪、驱鬼等，并且在历史记载中展现了其神奇的效果。北宋第三十代天师张继先，在瘟疫流行时，以符投大瓮贮水以供饮疫者，皆能治愈。又如，明朝第四十五代天师张懋丞，在杭州瘟疫流行之际，书薜符投井，饮者立愈。此外，第三十代天师张继先用铁符为宋徽宗盐池治蛟，第三十八代天师张与材曾为元成宗“持符治潮”，第四十七代天师张元庆曾为明孝宗“书铁符投白象潭”求雨，都体现了天师符的神奇功效。
《黄庭遁甲缘身经》中详述了各种天师符的特定功能。例如，六甲六乙符驱鬼、六壬六癸符避火，而六戊六已符则擅长防水。此外，六庚六辛符在处理诉讼事务时颇有效果。这些符咒可外烧、内服，或随身携带，或悬挂在屋内，每一种都各有其独特功效。如今，嗣汉天师府常见的天师符包括五雷符、发财符、镇宅符、驱邪符、和合符、送子符、平安符、文昌符以及太岁符等。
**English**:
*Records of the Han Celestial Masters* (汉天师世家) notes that successive Celestial Masters historically used talisman painting to heal diseases and avert disasters. For instance, during a national epidemic in the early Tang Dynasty, the 11th Celestial Master Zhang Tongyuan placed a "biao" (a type of talisman) in water; those who drank it recovered, drawing pleas for "talisman water" from distant travelers. Celestial Master Talismans serve diverse functions—healing, suppressing evil, exorcising ghosts—and historical records attest to their miraculous efficacy. The 30th Celestial Master Zhang Jixian of the Northern Song Dynasty cured plague victims by placing talismans in water jars; the 45th Master Zhang Maocheng of the Ming Dynasty ended an epidemic in Hangzhou by casting talismans into wells, with immediate results. Additionally, Zhang Jixian used an iron talisman (铁符) to subdue a flood dragon for Emperor Huizong; the 38th Master Zhang Yucai controlled tides for Emperor Chengzong of Yuan; and the 47th Master Zhang Yuanqing summoned rain for Emperor Xiaozong of Ming by casting an iron talisman into White Elephant Pond (白象潭).
*Huangting Dunjia Yuanshen Jing* (黄庭遁甲缘身经) details specific functions of various talismans: *Liujia-Liuyi Fu* expels ghosts; *Liuren-Liugui Fu* wards off fire; *Liuwu-Liuji Fu* prevents floods; and *Liugeng-Liuxin Fu* resolves legal disputes. These talismans can be burned, ingested, carried, or displayed in homes. Today, common talismans at the Si Han Celestial Master Temple include:
- Five Thunder Talisman (五雷符)
- Wealth Talisman (发财符)
- Home Protection Talisman (镇宅符)
- Evil Warding Talisman (驱邪符)
- Harmony Talisman (和合符)
- Fertility Talisman (送子符)
- Peace Talisman (平安符)
- Scholar’s Blessing Talisman (文昌符)
- Tai Sui (Year Guardian) Talisman (太岁符)
#### ▲ 3. Methods to Imbue Talismans with Spiritual Efficacy (赋予符咒灵性的方法)
**Chinese**:
尽管不同派别的传承导致符咒的外观画法各异，但其内在的原理是相通的。要让符咒拥有灵性，关键在于“入意”，即把天兵天将的灵性引入符咒之中，从而将普通的符咒转化为具有仙力的符咒。这一过程类似于人的投胎转世，不仅需要形体的塑造，更需要灵性的赋予。而人的独特之处在于其灵性，灵性才是我们本我的体现。同样，画符时，法师需将自身箓中的神明暂时分拨到符咒之中，这样才能使符咒拥有灵性。
授箓道士通过合法的画符来赋予符咒灵性，而未授箓的信众通过自身修持积累法力也能做到，但较为罕见。此外，通过忏悔和积累功德来提升符咒的灵性也是重要途径。例如，在日常生活中增加忏罪的环节对提升符咒灵性至关重要。《度人经》中指出，在秽气未散、体未洞真之际，注重忏罪是提升符咒灵性的关键。
**English**:
Though lineages differ in talisman designs, their underlying principles align. To imbue a talisman with spiritual efficacy, the key lies in **"infusing intent"** (入意)—channeling the spiritual essence of celestial soldiers and generals into the script, transforming it from ordinary writing into divine power. This process mirrors reincarnation: just as a human requires both physical form and spiritual essence to exist, a talisman needs not only structure but infused spirituality. Thus, when painting a talisman, the ritual master must temporarily transfer deities from their own **Lu** (箓, register of ordination) into the script.
**Ordained Taoist priests** (授箓道士) confer spirituality through ritually orthodox painting. Lay practitioners without ordination may rarely achieve this through self-cultivation and accumulated power. Additionally, **repentance** and **merit accumulation** enhance a talisman’s potency. Integrating repentance into daily practice is crucial, as the *Duren Jing* (度人经, *Scripture of Salvation*) emphasizes: when impurity lingers and the body lacks purity, focused repentance is vital for activating the talisman’s spiritual power.
