Tài shàng sān wǔ páng jiù jiào wǔ dì duàn wēn yí 太上三五傍救醮五帝斷瘟儀
Most High Three-Five Side-Rescue Offering Liturgy to the Five Emperors for Cutting Off Epidemic
Anonymous; late Táng / Sòng
A Daoist epidemic-prevention ritual — an offering (jiào 醮) to the Five Emperors (wǔ dì 五帝 — cosmic emperors of the five directions) for the cutting off of epidemic (duàn wēn 斷瘟). Preserved as DZ 809 / CT 809 (Dòngshén bù, Jiè lǜ lèi 洞神部戒律類).
About the work
The “Side-Rescue” (páng jiù 傍救) framing indicates a supplementary / auxiliary ritual addressed to the Five Emperors as protectors against epidemic disease. Such rituals were central to the Daoist ritual-medical response to the recurrent epidemics of medieval China.
Dating. Late Táng to Sòng. Dynasty: 唐-宋.