Wén chāng yán sì jīng 文昌延嗣經
Wénchāng’s Scripture for Extending the Heir-Lineage
planchette-revealed at the order of 文昌帝君; preface descended (降撰) by 文昌右弼天聾真人 (Wénchāng yòu bì tiānlóng zhēnrén — the Wénchāng cult’s “right-helper Heavenly-Deaf Perfected”) on 雍正甲寅孟冬朔 = early winter 1734 (Yōngzhèng 12)
A short Wén-chāng-cult moral-merit scripture in the yǎn sì register — addressing the problem of childlessness (a major late-imperial cult-concern, given the Confucian-orthodox demand for an heir to carry on the patriline) and prescribing moral-and-meditative remedies. The scripture’s argument: Heaven’s begetting-mechanism (生機) does not stop, but men have yǒu sì (with-heir) and bù sì (without-heir) according to their good-and-evil; those without heir are mostly chī mí bù wù (foolish-deluded-and-unawake), drowned in shēngsè huòlì (sound-color-wealth-profit) and ignoring the essentials of lì xīn xíng jǐ (establishing the heart and conducting oneself).
Prefaces
Preface (Wénchāng yòubì Tiānlóng zhēnrén), dated 雍正甲寅孟冬朔 = 1 November 1734 (Yōngzhèng 12). “*Mèngzǐ said: ‘of the three unfilial-pieties, the worst is having no heir.’ Excellent indeed are these words! When one knows this saying is the essential, then one knows the Yán sì jīng cannot be missed. Heaven’s begetting-mechanism is originally never-ceasing; but men have-or-have-not heir according to their goodness-and-badness — Heaven’s begetting-mechanism therefore differs. — Yet, surveying the heirless: half are foolish-deluded-and-unawake, drowned in shēngsè huòlì’s arena, while as for the essentials of lì xīn (setting one’s mind) and xíng jǐ (conducting oneself) they place themselves as if not-listening. — Therefore the Jade-Emperor in pity to the fányú (vulgar fools) commanded the Imperial Lord to write this scripture — to extend it to the world, that men in the moment of receiving-and-uphold may suddenly deeply reflect, change their former wrong, and turn back to the right; with one heart of regret-and-awakening, that is to gé (move) Heaven’s heart; the heart can match Heaven-Earth, and Heaven-Earth’s begetting-mechanism is then in oneself. — How could one fear that the heir would not extend? — But if one merely as a recitation-task upholds the work, while in the chapter’s wonderful meaning one only mouths and does not maintain in the heart, then though our Imperial Lord be most-merciful, in the end he can do nothing about it. May only the viewers of this scripture all take my words as medicine-and-stone, and together rejoice in fortunate omens — that would be most-fortunate. — Time, Yōngzhèng jiǎyín mid-winter 1st-day, Wénchāng yòubì Tiānlóng zhēnrén descended-and-composed.”
Abstract
A Wén-chāng-cult planchette-revealed yán sì (heir-extending) scripture, dated by its descended-preface to early winter 1734 (Yōngzhèng 12). The pagination begins at sheet 26a, indicating the text is the second item in a longer woodblock printing — likely continuous with a Wénchāng family of texts in the Liú Tǐshù / Liǔ Shǒu-yuán-circle production. The framing of the descended-preface as Tiānlóng zhēnrén (the “Heavenly-Deaf Perfected” — Wénchāng’s right-helper, who is deaf so as not to record speech and so guard secrets) is a distinctive register of the Wénchāng cult’s planchette pantheon.
For the Wénchāng cult more generally see 文昌帝君 and Kleeman, A God’s Own Tale.
Translations and research
- Kleeman, A God’s Own Tale (1994). — fundamental on the cult.
- No critical edition or translation of this specific scripture located.
Links
- Kanseki Repository KR5i0086
- Preface speaker: 文昌右弼天聾真人 (Wénchāng yòubì Tiānlóng zhēnrén).