The Essential Spells for Spirit Animals is an ancient Chinese book documenting commonly used spells for spirit animals. Originally authored by Diaochan the Spirit Weasel in the Eastern Han Dynasty (CE 200), its earliest known version is the Essential Spells for Spirit Animals Expanded by Sun Wukong the Spirit Monkey in the Tang Dynasty (circa 650), which includes over 300 spells and is referred to as the “Sun Edition.” The book was lost during turbulent times, and what remains was compiled by Bai Suzhen the Spirit Snake in the Southern Song Dynasty (circa 1150), containing 108 spells with annotations by Suzhen, known as the “Bai Edition.” Modern spirit animals have rewritten this edition in vernacular Chinese, resulting in the Modern Chinese Essential Spells for Spirit Animals Explained, or the “New Edition,” which features 72 spells after removing obsolete ones and adding new ones.
There are similar spellbooks in various countries and regions, showcasing the unique characteristics of spells worldwide and historical technical exchanges.
(This page will be expanded in the future)
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