Fulu

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A Daoist fulu talisman

Fundamentals
Part of a series on Taoism

Dao (Tao) · De Wuji · Taiji Yin-Yang · Wu xing Qi · Neidan Wu wei
Texts
Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) Zhuangzi · Liezi Daozang
Deities
Three Pure Ones Guan Shengdi Eight Immortals Yellow Emperor · Xiwangmu Jade Emperor · Chang'e Other deities
People
Laozi · Zhuangzi Zhang Daoling · Zhang Jiao Ge Hong · Chen Tuan Wang Chongyang
Schools
Five Pecks of Rice Yellow Turbans Shangqing · Lingbao Quanzhen · Zhengyi Xuanxue
Sacred sites
Grotto-heavens
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Fulu (符籙) is a term for Taoist practitioners in the past who could draw and write supernatural talismans, Fu (符), Shenfu (神符) which they believed functioned as summons or instructions to deities, spirits, or as tools of exorcism, as medicinal potions for ailments. It is believed by Taoists that in the past the ability to write Shenfu had been once decreed by their deities to authorized priests or daoshi. Lu (籙) is a register and compilation of the membership of the daoshi as well as the skills they were able to use. These practitioners are also called Fulu Pai (符籙派) or the Fulu Sect made up of daoshi from different schools or offshoots of Taojia.

One of the earliest classical scripture referring to Fu was the Huangdi Yinfujing (黃帝陰符經) although it does not contain specific instructions to write any talisman. In a Taoist guidance book called Tiantang Yiuji it was described by Lingbao Tianjun (靈寶天尊) in chapter six how mortals were once able to perform special feats such as the Disha 72 ways, in which the ability to write and draw Shenfu was skill No.67.

The second chapter of each of the three grottoes in the Daozang is a record of the history and feats of the Fulu Sect.