Taoist Talismans — Mysterious Symbols Connecting Heaven and Earth

In the Taoist tradition, talismans and registers (Fu-Lu) are among the most representative magical practices. They are not merely convoluted strokes on paper, but are seen as mysterious carriers that embody the will of deities and harmonize the energy of heaven and earth. From exorcising evil and suppressing malevolent forces to praying for blessings and longevity, Fu-Lu embodies the Taoist wisdom of "the resonance between heaven and humanity," serving as an essential medium for connecting the human world with the divine realm.

What are Fu-Lu?

So-called Fu-Lu, also known as "Fu-zi," "Mo-di," or "Dan-shu," is a collective term for "Fu" (talismans) and "Lu" (registers). "Fu" refers to symbols and graphics written on yellow paper or silk, consisting of tortuous strokes that resemble neither clear characters nor simple drawings, which have been described in detail previously; "Lu" refers to secret texts recording the names of celestial deities written among these talismans, generally also inscribed on yellow paper or silk.

The "Fu," also called "divine talisman," "Taoist talisman," or "heavenly talisman," is one of the important methods of Taoist practice. Talismans were originally tokens in ancient times used for mobilizing troops or representing specific authority. During the Qin and Han dynasties, shamans and practitioners already mimicked these official tokens, attributing them to celestial origins to influence the world of ghosts and spirits, claiming they could be used to summon or repress demons and spirits. The earliest such talisman discovered to date is on a "release bottle" (jie-chu ping) dated to the second year of the Yangjia era (133 AD) of the Eastern Han dynasty. The "Lingbao Wufu" (Five Lingbao Talismans), mentioned in the *Yuejue Shu* written by Yuan Kang of the Eastern Han, was already a systematic set of divine talismans.

The "Lu," as a secret Taoist text, originally referred to registers or account books. Pei Songzhi’s annotation of *Records of the Three Kingdoms* (Chronicles of Wu, Biography of Sun Ce) quotes the *Jiangbiao Zhuan*: "This person is already in the registers of the ghosts, do not waste any more paper and pen. Execute him immediately." Books of talismanic mandates were also called Lu. Registers have two distinct functions: First, they signify that a Taoist’s name is recorded in the divine registers, granting them the qualification to study the Tao and perform magical rites; second, they are used to petition and summon deities to deal with the threats of demons and evil spirits. These two functions dictate the two types of content in registers: the former contains the Taoist's name, known as the "Dengzhen Lu" (Register of Ascending to Truth), which records the practitioner's name, Taoist name, lineage, and rank; the latter is a roster of celestial deities, detailing their names and functions.

Classification of Fu-Lu

Early Taoist groups inherited and developed the tradition of divine talismans, gradually forming a vast system of talismanic books. Depending on the rituals and sects, there is a wide variety of Fu-Lu:

• Named after the revered deity or the founding master they represent, such as the Laozi Talisman, the Hugong Talisman, and the Celestial Master Talisman;
• Categorized by their purpose, such as talismans for healing, suppressing demons, killing ghosts, personal protection, as well as those for summoning wind, bringing rain, invoking thunder, praying for clear weather, or driving away locusts;
• Categorized by the requirements of Taoist liturgical standards, such as specific talismans for setting up altars, summoning generals, casting slips, raising banners, offering incense, or submitting petitions.
• Within Taoism, talismans used in rituals such as *Liandu* (refining souls) or *Jiuyou* (rites for the nine underworlds) to deliver the dead are called "Yin-Fu" (Yin talismans), while those used in rituals for the living, such as for longevity or praying for offspring, are called "Yang-Fu" (Yang talismans).

Writing Forms of Fu-Lu

Common writing materials for talismans include paper, wooden slips, peach wood boards, and iron tablets. A small number of talismans were carved onto jade, coins, mirrors, and other accessories to serve as apotropaic charms. The core of a talisman is the "Fu-script"—tortuous strokes that look neither like words nor pictures. Common writing styles include:

• Fuwen (Compound Script): Composed of multiple overlapping common characters. Most are formed by combining two or more small characters, while a few consist of various twisting horizontal and vertical strokes. Primarily found in the *Taiping Jing*.
• Yunzhuan (Cloud Seal Script): Taoists believe these script forms are manifestations of the natural Qi of the Three Heavens, written by celestial beings and transmitted to the lower world. Therefore, this style often appears in swirling, vapor-like shapes. Primarily found in the *Lingbao Wuliang Duren Shangpin Miaojing*.
• Lingfu (Divine Talismans) and Baofu (Precious Talismans): Graphics composed of more complex circles, dots, and lines.
• Futuji (Talismanic Charts): Fu-Lu where images of deities are integrated with talismanic script. These are also numerous and have been discovered in archaeological excavations of ancient tombs.

Usage of Fu-Lu

Fu-Lu are an important component of Taoist practice and are used in a wide variety of ways.

• Used for healing: Either by writing the talisman on paper with cinnabar ink, burning it, and dissolving the ashes in water for the patient to drink, or by sealing the talisman for the patient to wear.
• Used for exorcism and suppressing evil: Either worn on the body or pasted on the door of the bedroom.
• Used for disaster relief and preventing harm: Such as throwing a talisman into a breached levee to stop floods, or writing a talisman to summon generals and pray for rain to end a drought.
• Used by Taoists during *Zhaijiao* (offering and liturgy) rituals: Such as writing talismans on petitions to be submitted to celestial deities, or using talismans to summon generals and deities to destroy ghosts, or to communicate with the underworld to refine the souls of the deceased. Throughout the ritual altar, various types of talismans are displayed or hung.

 

Fu-Lu are more than just mysterious lines; they are a philosophical manifestation of Taoist concepts regarding essence, energy, the cosmos, and the communication between humans and the divine. They serve both as proof of the interaction between humanity and the gods and as symbols of protection, healing, and harmony.
In the contemporary era, the cultural value of Fu-Lu is being rediscovered, serving not only as a vessel for faith but also as a part of art and spiritual life.