Fulu, is a term for supernatural Taoist incantations and magic symbols as a Chinese incantation or charm or a Chinese talisman as a Lingfu by Taoist practitioners in the past,
Fu, Shenfu 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 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 or the Fulu Sect made up of daoshi from different schools or offshoots of Taojia.
Names
Different names for Fulu in English include Daoist magic writing, Daoist magic script characters, Daoist magic figures, Daoist magic formulas, Daoist secret talismanic writing, and talismanic characters.
Fu symbols tend to have twisted strokes that sometimes resemble Traditional Chinese characters. Only Daoist priests can write, read, and understand this "magic" writing system and the characters can differ from Daoist sect to Daoist sect. The method of writing down these characters is passed down secretly from Daoist master to their disciples. According to these Daoist sects if "magic" writing were easy to understand then anyone could have the power to control the spirits. Some "magic" Fu script characters appear to have been formed by stacking one Traditional Chinese character atop of another Traditional Chinese character and then making these different characters into a single character. This specific technique of linking or combining different Chinese characters was not used exclusively by the Daoists, however, Fu characters also appear on other types of Chinese charms such as Buddhist coin charms and woodblock print charms.
Daoist scripture
One of the earliest classical scripture referring to Fu was the Huangdi Yinfujing, although it does not contain specific instructions to write any talisman. The second chapter of each of the three grottoes in the Daozang is a record of the history and feats of the Fulu Sect, where it is described that the origin of Fu script is from the condensation of clouds in the sky.
Fu script was also used on Taoist coin talismans, many of these talismans haven't been deciphered yet but a specimen where Fu was used next to what is believed to be their equivalent Chinese characters exists. On rare occasions Taoist Fu writing has also been found on Buddhist numismatic charms and amulets. Most of these coin talismans that feature Fu writings request Lei Gong to protect its carriers from evil spirits and misfortune. Fulu characters are usually included at the beginning and the end of the inscription of a Taoist coin charm.
