Statues and ritual implements are the medium through which Taoism communicates with heaven and earth. Their preservation requires both material preservation and spiritual cleanliness, adhering to the core principle of the Taoist Canon: "Respect is the foundation, and cleanliness is essential."

1. Dharma seal (copper seal, wooden seal)

• Daily use: After each use, use a new brush dipped in clean water to clean the imprint, then wipe it dry with a red towel and store it in a wooden ink box. A small amount of cinnabar can be placed inside the box to prevent moisture.
• Maintenance: At noon each month (11:00-13:00), use three incense sticks to trace the seal pattern from a distance and recite the "Opening Seal Mantra" "Golden light enters the house, the divine seal communicates with the spirit" to enhance its spiritual power; apply a thin layer of wax to copper seals every quarter to prevent rust, and keep wooden seals away from fire sources.
• Taboo: Do ​​not use the seal on dirty things (such as garbage or torn paper), and never place the seal face down.

2. Peach wood sword, Bagua mirror

• Peach wood sword: Place it in a dry and ventilated place. During the rainy season, you can hang camphor balls on it. Avoid dampness and mold. If it gets dirty, purify it with cypress leaf incense. Do not hang it directly opposite the bed or shrine.
• Bagua Mirror: The metal mirror body should be wiped clean with a soft cloth regularly to prevent oxidation and rust; the convex mirror (for warding off evil spirits) should be kept clean, and the reflection direction should not be directly facing the doors and windows of neighbors; when storing, wrap it with cotton paper to avoid contact with sharp objects.

The core of maintaining spiritual practice objects (beads, clothing, etc.) is to "protect the purity of energy," which needs to be combined with spiritual practice rituals and daily usage scenarios.

Taoist amulets emphasize "materials that conform to the five elements and maintenance that follows the natural order," with different materials requiring different approaches to care:

1. Wood beads (rosewood, sandalwood)

• Daily routine: The best time to pluck the beads is between 3-5 AM. Before touching them, you should wash your hands and burn incense. Use the "Big Dipper Technique" (thumb twists over index and middle fingers) to rotate them, and avoid scratching your nails.
• Maintenance: Apply natural beeswax once a month. Melt the wax and apply it evenly. Let it sit for 12 hours and then polish it with a soft cloth. If it loses its shine after a long time, gently wipe it with a cotton cloth dipped in a small amount of walnut oil.
• Taboo: Do ​​not play with the beads during the Zi hour (11 PM - 1 AM). Remove them when using the toilet or having sex. Replace any broken beads promptly and bury them in a clean place.

2. Vermilion Beads

• Daily use: Avoid wearing it close to the skin to prevent sweat corrosion. Clean it by wiping off dust with a dry cloth. Do not wash it with water.
• Maintenance: Purify the item monthly with sandalwood incense and store it in a red brocade pouch to prevent children from accidentally ingesting it.
• Contraindications: Not for use by pregnant women; should not be used for divination by tossing beads.

1. Taoist robes and ceremonial garments

• For daily use: cotton robes should be hand washed with a neutral detergent at a water temperature not exceeding 30℃, and ironed after air drying; silk robes should be dry cleaned to avoid shrinkage and fading.
• Maintenance: Store in a camphor wood box to prevent insects and pests; clean promptly after each ceremony, and do not leave it unwashed for a long time to prevent the energy field from becoming turbid.
• Taboos: It is forbidden to wear Taoist robes while engaging in activities such as killing or insulting others, and it is even more forbidden to fold Taoist robes as ordinary clothing.

2. Taoist crown (lotus crown, fishtail crown)

• Daily care: After each wear, use a soft brush to clean the dust off the crown. If the beads become loose, reinforce them promptly. Store the crown on a dedicated crown stand to avoid squeezing and deformation.
• Maintenance: Apply wood wax oil to the wooden crown frame regularly, wipe the metal accessories with a soft cloth to prevent oxidation and blackening; when the tassels on the crown are dirty, wipe them gently with a cotton swab dipped in water.
• Taboo: Hair must be neat when wearing the crown. Do not wear it with a shaved head or disheveled hair, and especially avoid letting the crown touch the ground.

3. Hairpins (peach wood hairpins, jade hairpins)

• Daily use: Wipe with a dry cloth after each use to avoid sweat residue, and store in a wooden hairpin holder. A small amount of fragrance can be placed inside the holder.
• Maintenance: Peach wood hairpins should not be exposed to moisture, and jade hairpins should be protected from impacts. When combing your hair, use the "Haircutting Incantation" and the phrase "Mud Pill Mysterious Essence, Preserve Essence and Longevity" to both care for your hair and maintain your hairpins.
• Caution: Do not use the hairpin to pierce hard objects. If it breaks, store it properly and do not discard it carelessly.

1. Cleaning before cleaning: Before maintaining any object, you should wash your hands, burn incense, and silently recite "Heaven and earth are pure, objects are spiritual" to express your respect; when cleaning statues of gods and ritual implements, you should use new tools (such as special soft cloths and brushes) and not mix them with daily cleaning tools.

2. Timing: The first and fifteenth of each month are considered auspicious days, suitable for deep maintenance (such as incense purification and waxing); avoid maintenance during periods of "heavy negative energy" such as funerals or illnesses.

3. Handling of Damage: Damaged consecrated objects should not be discarded casually. Wooden and paper objects can be cremated and buried in clean soil, while metal and jade objects can be sent to a temple for the Taoist priest to handle, or buried under willow or cypress trees.

1. Purification Ritual

• New objects must undergo "three purifications"—first, they must be fumigated with mugwort, then soaked in moonlight overnight, and finally circled three times clockwise on an incense burner to complete the initial purification.
• Regular purification: Purify with moonlight on the 15th of each month (suitable for crystal and jade objects), or burn sandalwood and cypress leaves (suitable for wooden and metal objects), and recite the "Purification Mantra of Heaven and Earth" seven times.

2. Energy replenishment

• Deity statue: Every morning when offering incense, sprinkle clean water on the four corners of the statue and silently recite "Clean water sprinkles, divine light shines everywhere";
• Ritual implements: After each major ritual, a Taoist priest can be asked to perform a "light-replenishing" ceremony, or one can visualize the light of the Big Dipper infusing the implements.
• Flowing Beads: When chanting sacred names, twist the beads to allow your own aura to resonate with the object, enhancing its spirituality.

1. Home storage: Statues and ritual implements should be placed above shoulder height and away from unclean places such as toilets and kitchens; small items such as beads and jade pendants can be stored in locked wooden boxes to prevent children from touching them.

2. When carrying out: Wrap the ritual implements (such as a peach wood sword or compass) in red cloth, and place the rosary in a close-fitting brocade pouch. Remove them when entering places such as hospitals or funeral homes, and store them in a clean bag.

3. Emergency treatment: If an object is accidentally stained with sewage, rinse it immediately with clean water and then burn sandalwood incense; if it is dropped but not broken, burn incense to explain that it was an "unintentional mistake" and then take care of it.