Actually, there are 2 branches of "Mao Shan" Schools. One is the "Mao Shan - San Qing Zong" (茅山三清宗) , which focus on personal cultivation by reciting scriptures. The other branch is known as "Southern Mao Shan Sect" （南传茅山派）， which focus on Taoist Sorcery. The practitioners of "Southern Mao Shan Sect" （南传茅山派） can be found in Chinese Communities in South East Asia.
Folks who watched Hong Kong Ghosts Movies of the 1980s might have a glimpse of Taoist Sorcerers fighting battles with each other on their ritual altars but have never seen the actual Ritual Altar of a Taoist Sorcerer used during spiritual battles.
Over here will reveal one of the Mao Shan Sect's Altars, which are used during Spiritual Battles.
There are 3 types of sorcery altars operated by practitioners of "Southern Mao Shan Sect" （南传茅山派）.
The 1st type - Altar of 5 Ghosts （五鬼坛）
Operating the 5 Ghosts Altar （五鬼坛） has the ability to perform Black Magic.
The 2nd type - Altar of Ying Yang （阴阳坛）
Operating the Ying Yang Altar （阴阳坛） has the ability to seek help from the Heavenly Deities and Hell Deities.
The 3rd type - Altar of 6 Ding 6 Jia (六甲坛)
6 Ding 6 Jia Altar(六甲坛) is the highest level of Mao-Shan Sect. Operating this Altar has the power to command the 6 Ding & 6 Jia Warriors. To do Spiritual Battle (斗法), Mao Shan Masters will need 6 Ding 6 Jia Altar.
This article is sharing the basic information of the Mao Shan Altar of 6 Ding 6 Jia (六甲坛)
On the Altar of 6 Ding 6 Jia:
The Main Deity who takes charge is San Shan Jiu Hou (三山九侯先师)
On the left of the altar is Mao Shan Zu Shi (茅山祖师）
On The right of the altar is Wu Xian Da Di (五显大帝)
The Six Ding Deity Warriors (六丁神将):
Ding Mao Deity (丁卯神)
Ding Chou Deity (丁丑神)
Ding Hai Deity (丁亥神)
Ding You Deity (丁酉神)
Ding Wei Deity (丁未神)
Ding Si Deity (丁巳神)
The respectable (courtesy - 字) titles of Six Ding Deity Warriors are based on Liu Jia Tian Su (六甲天书)
The Six Jia Deity Warriors (六甲神将):
Jia Zi Deity (甲子神)
Jia Xu Deity (甲戌神)
Jia Shen Deity (甲申神)
Jia Wu Deity (甲午神)
Jia Chen Deity (甲辰神)
Jia Yin Deity (甲寅神)
The respectable (courtesy - 字) titles of Six Jia Deity Warriors are based on Liu Jia Tian Su (六甲天书)
Now, You have the basic understanding of the types of altars Mao Shan Masters operate, and how 6 Ding 6 Jia Altar look like.
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