The sacred banner (宝幡, bǎofān) is a common ritual object in Daoist ceremonies, distinct from the ritual pennon (幢, chuáng). While the pennon often includes a canopy and a staff for carrying, the banner is usually suspended and lacks a canopy. In large-scale Daoist rites such as jiao (斋醮), banners are prominently raised, symbolizing communication with deities and blessings for participants. The use of banners is deeply integrated into Daoist ritual practices, involving specific ceremonies and sacred invocations. The raising of banners is believed to bring blessings, ward off misfortune, and establish a connection with divine beings.
What is a Sacred Banner?
A sacred banner is a ritual object raised to announce solemn vows to myriad deities. Daoist rituals often employ a grand banner, measuring 49 feet in length, with a six-sided canopy at the top. Six smaller banners hang from the canopy, with a main banner in the center, all mounted on a tall pole. Declarations of the ceremony’s purpose are inscribed and sent forth to the Three Realms. The act of raising the banner serves to establish sacred communication with the divine.
The type of banner used depends on the nature of the ritual. For ceremonies invoking blessings, banners dedicated to the Jade Emperor or the Three Primordials are common. For rituals of transcendence, banners of deliverance or ancestral veneration are utilized. Other types include banners for Thunder Ancestors and the Dark Emperor (玄帝).
Bringing Favor and Dispelling Harm
According to the Scripture of the Lofty Jade Emperor’s Acts (高上玉皇本行集经), banners inscribed with the sacred names of the Jade Emperor and raised in temple grounds or at home sanctuaries are said to bless all beings touched by their shadow or blown by the wind carrying their essence. This divine influence cleanses negative karma and eradicates past misdeeds.
The scripture further states that writing the divine names on sound-producing ritual instruments like bells, chimes, and cymbals imbues their sounds with purifying power. The resonance of these instruments cleanses all beings who hear them, freeing them from obstructions and restoring their natural harmony.
Offering Salvation Through a Glimpse
In the Supreme Clarity Lingbao Great Rituals (上清灵宝大法), it is recorded that during large rituals, banners made of yellow silk (for summoning spirits), red silk (for reflecting light), or blue silk (for invoking Taiyi’s decree) are hung at the altar. When spirits and souls see these banners swaying in the wind, even a moment of recognition inspires reverence, dissolves karmic burdens, and grants freedom from aeons of suffering. The banners are believed to guide spirits to ascend to the celestial palaces.
The Raising Banner Invocation states:
“As the sacred banner waves, its essence extends across the Three Realms and the ten directions. All beings of the four forms and six paths are summoned to the sacred site. Spirits and souls, from the depths of shadowy lands to the farthest edges of existence, are liberated and ascend to celestial realms.”
The Power of Sacred Banners
Banners are believed to embody sacred vibrations that resonate through the cosmos. When unfurled, they summon auspicious clouds and disperse spiritual mist. When furled, they bring calm to the heavens and clarity to the earth. The banners connect the celestial and earthly realms, illuminating the depths of shadowy lands and purifying spiritual impediments.
Their presence calls forth celestial beings, including water deities, dragons, and mountain lords, to convene at the sacred site. With their movement in the wind, the banners emit divine radiance that blesses all directions. The scriptural texts describe the transformative effects of banners as follows:
– Elevating the Spirit: Beings who see the banners and align themselves with the Dao are guided to ascend to higher spiritual realms.
– Relieving the Burdened: Suffering souls in dark realms find liberation through the banners’ grace.
The Sacred Banner’s Role in Daoist Practice
The sacred banner is both a physical object and a spiritual instrument. As it waves, it disperses divine energy across the cosmos, purifies past misdeeds, and bestows blessings for the future. Beings who glimpse the banner and sincerely align their hearts with the Dao receive the combined merit of the banner’s power and the divine intervention it invokes.
Thus, the raising of sacred banners during Daoist rituals is not merely a symbolic act but a profound spiritual tool, connecting beings to the infinite path of the Dao.
Written and Translated by XuanMenJun