Introduction to Taoist talismans

OCTOBER 29，2025

The earliest talismans (符 - Fú) originated from the Daoist adepts' profound understanding of the informational fields between Heaven and Earth. In early times, these were known as "Cloud Seal Celestial Script" (云篆天书 - Yúnzhuàn Tiānshū). Mastering this symbolic code allowed one to communicate directly with Heaven, Earth, ghosts, and spirits. Later, various forms gradually developed, such as human-shaped talismans, secret celestial name talismans (密讳符 - Mìhuì Fú), and divine general talismans (神将符 - Shénjiàng Fú).

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During the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, demons and malevolent spirits ran rampant, and the realms of humans and ghosts intermingled. Taishang Laojun transmitted the Dao to the Ancestral Celestial Master Zhang Daoling and bestowed upon him sacred treasures, including the "Zhengyi Mengwei Registers" (正一盟威法箓), the "Seal of Yangping Jurisdiction" (阳平治都功印), and the "Three-Five Demon-Slaying Swords" (三五斩邪雌雄剑).

After receiving the Dharma, the Ancestral Celestial Master transmitted it to his disciples, granting them authority through the Registers (Lu). Initiated disciples who received the Registers could borrow the power of the divine spirits to enact talismanic rites (Fu) for healing the sick, expelling evil, praying for blessings, and averting disaster. The Celestial Master's talismans were regarded as the very edicts of the celestial gods, establishing the orthodox position of the Zhengyi School's talismanic arts, a tradition passed down to this very day.

During the Tang and Song dynasties, this tradition received significant attention from the imperial court. Emperors Tang Xuanzong and Tang Xizong, Princess Yuzhen, the "Immortal Poet" Li Bai, and others all received the sacred Registers (Lu). Given the noble status of these individuals, it shows that receiving the Registers was by no means a simple matter.

Many people conflate the 'Fu' (符 - Talismans) and 'Lu' (箓 - Registers) within Taoism, but upon closer examination, there is a distinct difference.

Fu (符 - Talismans) are described as "condensing the essential Qi of the Dao and deploying it onto simple materials like bamboo slips or silk, depicting the essential Qi of things." Taoist texts state: "The Fu has no fixed form; it is made efficacious by Qi" (符无正形，以气而灵). "A single point of spiritual light is itself the Fu" (一点灵光即是符). When a Taoist adept gathers Qi to form a Fu, they can not only communicate across the Three Realms but also resolve various real-world problems faced by people. Talismans possess divine efficacy and authority for averting disaster and praying for blessings. The medium for a Fu can be tangible or intangible, but it is generally a mixture of script and symbols inscribed upon paper, wood, silk, or other materials.

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All talisman products from LonghuTao are spiritually empowered and consecrated by High Priests who have formally received the sacred Registers (Lu), ensuring their unparalleled efficacy.

The Lu (箓 - Register) of the Zhengyi school serves as the valid credential authorizing a disciple to perform sacred rites. It records the Taoist priest's name, rank, religious title, and lineage, as well as the celestial registers of divine officials and spirit soldiers under their command. Only after a Taoist priest has formally received the Registers (授箓 - shòu lù) do they gain the authority to affix their official seal when drawing talismans, enabling them to command ghosts and spirits, and to petition and mobilize deities and spiritual officers from the ten directions to assist in their rites.

However, receiving the Registers is not easy. From the foundational "Three-Five Dusks and Achievements Register" (三五都功箓) up to the high-level "Shangqing Great Grotto Register" (上清大洞箓), the progression through each rank has strict requirements. Taoist priests must be thoroughly familiar with the contents of their Registers in both their personal cultivation and ritual practice to truly manifest the Registers' efficacy. The High Priests of LonghuTao have all formally received the Zhengyi Mengwei Registers (正一盟威法箓), possessing the qualifications to perform high-level sacred rites.

The Fu (Talisman) and the Lu (Register) complement each other. Only a Taoist priest who has received the Registers can, through secret, transmitted hand seals (mudras), embed the secret celestial names (秘讳 - Mìhuì) of Taoist deities into a talisman, making the drawn Fu divinely efficacious and potent.

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