Chinese Magical Medicine

The potency of a ritual implement is mediated by, if not entirely dependent on, that of the practitioner.

“Following this interpretation, the potency of the object is mediated by, if not entirely dependent on, that of the practitioner.”

The Sūtra of the Supremely Enlightened Dhāraṇī of Āṭavika provides different spells and rites to subdue demons, as well as instructions for talismans and seals to treat a variety of ailments.

“This talisman (figure 4) is drawn from a dhāraṇī sutra called the Sūtra of the Supremely Enlightened Dhāraṇī of Āṭavika, the Demon General (Azhapoju guishen dajiang shangfo tuoluoni jing 阿吒婆拘鬼神大將上仏陀羅尼経), a scripture providing different spells and rites to subdue demons, as well as instructions for talismans and seals to treat a variety of ailments (T 21, 1238;Strickmann 2002, 143-51).”

If using ox bezoar on seal talismans was quite common in Buddhist therapeutics, granting intelligence, control over poisons and demons, to fertility, it is nevertheless uncommon to find explicit references to childbirth or safe parturition.

“If using ox bezoar on seal talismans was quite common in Buddhist therapeutics, granting anything from sublime intelligence, control over poisons and demons (Strickmann 2002, 148-49), to fertility, it is nevertheless uncommon to find explicit references to childbirth or safe parturition.”

Taking talismans to speed up the birthing process, especially in difficult or painful labor, is a common prescription found across dhāraṇī sutra and medical literature.

“Taking talismans to speed up the birthing process, especially in the case of difficult or painful labor, is a common prescription found across dhāraṇī sutra and medical literature.”

Medieval Chinese Buddhist, Daoist, and Buddho-Daoist texts often intertwine worldly concerns with soteriology in rituals and methods for protection from demonic attack.

“medieval Chinese Buddhist, Daoist, and Buddho-Daoist texts often intertwine such “worldly” concerns with questions of soteriology in the formulation of rituals and other methods for protection from demonic attack.”

According to the Secret Record for the Mother and the Son by Xu Renze (before 762), for abscesses and alopecia areata in children, and a series of white abscesses on the head, cow dung should be spread over the area.

“According to the Secret Record for the Mother and the Son ( Zimu milu 子母秘錄 ) by Xu Renze 許仁則 (before 762), for abscesses and alopecia areata (spot baldness) in children, and a series of white abscesses on the head, cow dung should be spread over the area.$^{8}$^{5}”

The Strickmann seal is filled with complicated graphs, including a scoop-shaped 'doublet of the Northern Dipper' and numerous renditions of the archaic logograph for the sun.

“Strikingly different from earlier samples, the Strickmann seal is filled with complicated graphs. Strickmann drew additional graphic analysis of the seal to highlight the scoop-shaped 'doublet of the Northern Dipper and numerous renditions of the archaic logograph for the sun'”

Buddhist sources show a slight preference for white sandalwood, although peach and jujube were also popular.

“More generally, Buddhist sources show a slight preference for white sandalwood ( bai tangxiangmu 䙤㩧榀㜏 ), although peach and jujube were also popular (Strickmann 2002, 173).”