Shàng tán qí jǔ Bùxū shēng, Zhù guó yíng xiáng jié cùn chéng.
This verse describes the ceremonial commencement of scripture recitation (Buxu Sheng - "Stepping Void Chant") upon entering the altar. It signifies the Taoist community's wholehearted devotion to invoking blessings for national prosperity and auspiciousness through sacred chants.
Dāng rì chén qíng Jīnquè nèi, Jīn zhāo xiāng ǎi yù lú fén.
The "Golden Palace" (Jinquè) refers to the celestial abode of divine beings. This couplet emphasizes the continuity of spiritual communication - both past petitions to the deities and present offerings through jade incense burner smoke (a medium for celestial communication in Taoist practice), demonstrating persistent devotion across time.
Huáng tú gǒnggù shānhé zhuàng, Dì dào xiá chāng rìyuè míng.
These lines specify the prayer content: To strengthen the nation's foundation through sacred cosmic order (Huangtu), empower the land's vitality, and perpetuate the divine governance (Di Dao) to maintain celestial-earthly harmony as bright as sun and moon. This reflects Taoist cosmology linking statecraft with cosmic forces.
Wànmín zhānyǎng Yáo-Shùn rì, Suì rěn fēng dēng lè tàipíng.
The Yáo-Shùn era symbolizes the Taoist ideal of sage-king governance. This verse petitions for an agricultural golden age with abundant harvests (echoing Taoist agrarian blessings) and universal peace, embodying the Taoist vision of social harmony aligned with natural cycles.
Liturgical Context:
This diao gua (hanging verse) constitutes the incense-offering ritual opening. Through smoke mediation, Taoists petition:
National stability through sacred reinforcement (gǒnggù)
Celestial blessings for agricultural prosperity (suì rěn)
Social harmony modeled after sage-kings' governance (Yáo-Shùn)
Cosmic alignment ensuring perpetual peace (tàipíng)
The ritual embodies core Taoist principles of:
Sacred-state interconnection
Liturgical efficacy through smoke purification
Historical consciousness through sage-king paradigms
Agricultural-divine reciprocity
