Repaying Karmic Debt / Settling Yin Debts · 还阴债知识科普

Concept:

• • “Repaying Karmic Debt” or “Settling Yin Debts” (Huán Yīn Zhài) is a concept in Chinese Taoist belief and folk customs.
  • It posits that before a soul is reincarnated, it borrows a sum of money (known as “Pre-birth Debt,” “Yin Debt,” or “Life Debt”) from the treasury officials of the “Underworld” or “Netherworld” (Dìfǔ). This loan is used to fund the basic blessings, resources, and “treasury vaults” (including wealth, health, longevity, etc.) needed for the upcoming life in the Yang world (the world of the living).
  • If this debt is not repaid during one’s lifetime, or if additional “karmic debts” (also called “debts to resentful spirits”) are accumulated due to wrongdoings in past or present lives (such as killing, unpaid debts, broken promises, abortions, etc.), it can manifest as misfortunes in the current life: persistent illness, disasters, career setbacks, financial difficulties, strained relationships, etc.
  • “Repaying Yin Debts” involves performing specific religious rituals (法事 Fǎshì) to symbolically settle this debt owed to the underworld and to resolve karmic obstacles. The purpose is to improve one’s current fate, remove hindrances, increase blessings and longevity, and attract better fortune.

1.  概念:

• “还阴债”是中国道教信仰和民间习俗中的一个概念。
• 它认为人在转世投胎之前，会向“地府”或“阴间”的库官借取一笔钱财（称为“受生债”、“阴债”或“寿生债”），用于支付转世后在阳间生活所需的基本福报、资粮和禄库（包括财富、健康、寿命等）。
• 如果生前没有偿还这笔债务，或者因前世今生的过错（如杀生、欠债不还、失信、堕胎等）积累了额外的“业债”（也称为“冤亲债主债”），就可能导致今生运势不顺、多病多灾、事业坎坷、财运不济、人际关系紧张等问题。
• “还阴债”就是通过特定的宗教仪式（法事），象征性地偿还这笔来自“阴间”的债务和消除业障，以期改善现世命运、消除障碍、增福添寿、转运招财。

 

Sources of Debt:

• • Pre-birth Debt (Shòushēng Zhài): The principal amount borrowed from the underworld treasury before birth.
  • Karmic Debt / Debt to Resentful Spirits (Yè Zhài / Yuānqīn Zhàizhǔ Zhài): Debts incurred due to harmful actions (karma) committed against others or living beings in past or present lives. The “creditors” are the spirits of those who were harmed (“resentful creditors” - Yuānqīn Zhàizhǔ).

来源:

• • 受生债: 投胎前向地府库官所借的本金。
  • 业债/冤亲债主债: 因累世及今生造作的恶业（伤害他人或其他生灵）所欠下的债务，债主可能是前世或今生被伤害的“冤亲债主”。

 

Purpose of Repayment:

1. • To eliminate current hardships believed to be caused by unsettled Yin debts (illness, poverty, disputes, disasters).
   • To replenish one’s metaphorical “wealth vault” and “blessings vault,” thereby improving financial and career luck.
   • To pacify the interference from resentful spirits, reduce life obstacles, and improve interpersonal relationships.
   • To pray for good health and extended lifespan.
   • To accumulate merit (good karma) and lay a better foundation for future fortune.

偿还目的:

• • 消除因阴债未还导致的现世困厄（病痛、贫穷、是非、灾祸等）。
  • 填补命中的“财库”、“禄库”，改善财运、事业运。
  • 化解冤亲债主的干扰，减少人生阻碍，改善人际关系。
  • 祈求身体健康，延年益寿。
  • 积累福报，为未来创造更好的运势基础。

 

Methods of Repayment:

1. • Typically conducted by Taoist priests (道士 Dàoshi) in temples or on ritual altars during specialized “Rituals for Repaying Yin Debts” or “Rituals for Fulfilling the Pre-birth Debt.”
   • Core elements include reciting specific scriptures (e.g., the “Shòushēng Jīng” - Scripture of the Pre-birth Debt) and burning large quantities of special “spirit money” or “hell bank notes” (such as “Shòushēng qián” - Life Debt Money, gold/silver ingots, “Wǎngshēng qián” - Money for the Dead). This burning symbolizes repayment to the underworld officials and appeasement of resentful spirits.
   • A formal petition (疏文 Shūwén) is written, stating the participant’s birth details, name, and the amount being repaid (calculated in ancient virtual units like “guàn” or “wén”). This petition is submitted to the deities and the underworld bureaucracy.
   • Participants are expected to sincerely repent for past wrongs and make vows to perform good deeds.

偿还方式:

1. • 通常由道士在道观或法坛主持专门的“还阴债法事”或“填还受生债法事”。
   • 核心环节包括诵念特定经文（如《受生经》）、焚化大量特制的“纸钱”（如“寿生钱”、“金银元宝”、“往生钱”等），这些纸钱象征性地用于偿还地府库官和安抚冤亲债主。
   • 法事中会书写当事人的生辰八字、姓名、所还金额（以贯、文等虚拟单位计算）于疏文（表文）上，上呈神明及地府。
   • 参与者需诚心忏悔，发愿行善。

 

Timing:

• • Theoretically, it can be done at any time. However, folk traditions and temples often favor dates believed to be when the underworld “gates are open” or when the deities’ power to absolve sins is strongest, such as:
  • The Three Primordial Festivals (Sān Yuán Jié): Shangyuan Festival (Lantern Festival, 15th day of 1st lunar month, Celestial Official bestows blessings), Zhongyuan Festival (Ghost Festival, 15th day of 7th lunar month, Earthly Official absolves sins), Xiayuan Festival (15th day of 10th lunar month, Water Official resolves adversity). Zhongyuan Festival (Ghost Festival) is the most common time, considered highly auspicious for releasing souls and repaying Yin debts.
  • Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day, around April 5th).
  • The entire Ghost Month (7th lunar month), especially around the Zhongyuan Festival.
  • Personal birthdays or during a “Tai Sui” conflict year (a year astrologically challenging for one’s birth sign). 

时间:

• • 理论上任何时候都可进行，但民间和道观常选择在一些认为地府“开门”或神明赦罪力度大的日子举行，例如：
  • 三元节：上元节（元宵节，天官赐福）、中元节（鬼节，地官赦罪）、下元节（水官解厄）。其中中元节最为常见，被认为是最适合超度亡灵和偿还阴债的时期。
  • 清明
  • 农历七月：整个月，尤其是中元节前后。
  • 个人生辰或犯太岁之年

 

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