Section on the Way of Rites
Any officiating rite officers 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.
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].
All spirit 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. (trans. adapted from Robert Hymes, Way and Byway: Taoism, Local Religion and Models of Divinity in Sung and modern China Berkeley, 2002, p. 33, fn. 30.)
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.
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 officiating rite officers but interfere without authorization will be given three years’ penal servitude.
Any 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.
Any officiating rite officers 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.
