3. No pardon for offences committed on the Jade Emperor’s sacred birthday, nor at the time of a parent’s passing.
For the above-mentioned unpardonable offences, each transgression counts as one hundred demerits. The offender’s allotted life span shall be reduced by three years, and his wealth and rank shall be demoted by one grade. Rape incurs one additional penalty grade. Those who cause loss of human‑life in the offense incur two further penalty grades. In accordance with the gravity of the guilt, grade‑one offenses bring retribution by heavenly thunder; grade‑two offences by divine execution; and grade‑three offenses draw karmic retribution through flood, fire and conflagration. While accumulated merits and virtues may offset these unpardonable transgressions, the offender must still stand trial and receive chastisement.
4. Five hundred demerits for raping and violating the chastity of chaste women, widows or nuns. Four hundred demerits for plot‑driven seduction. Three hundred demerits for consensual illicit intercourse, accompanied by a one‑year reduction of one’s lifespan and a one‑grade demotion of wealth and rank. The
penalty shall be reduced by one grade if the act is not consummated. One hundred demerits for lewd teasing.
5. Regarding married women separated from their husbands, reformed courtesans, the beloved of another person, maids and female servants: one hundred demerits for rape; fifty demerits for plotted seduction; twenty demerits for consensual illicit intercourse, accompanied by a one‑year reduction of one’s allotted lifespan and a one‑grade demotion of wealth and rank. The penalty shall be reduced by one grade if the act is not consummated. Ten demerits for lewd teasing.
6. Five demerits for lustful gazing with the eyes. Upon the accumulation of ten offenses, the offender’s lifespan shall be reduced by one year, and his emolument shall be demoted for six months. In the present life, one shall suffer eye disorders. After death, one shall fall into the Eye‑Digging Hell and Eye‑Piercing Hell; in subsequent reincarnation, one shall be blind.
7. Five demerits for lustful listening with the ears. Upon the accumulation of ten offenses, the offender’s lifespan and emolument shall be reduced as aforesaid. In the present life, one shall endure ear sores, inflammatory swellings, pus‑bloody discharges and ear blockages. After death, one shall fall into the Ear‑Digging Hell and the Hell of Worms Burrowing into Ears; in subsequent reincarnation, one shall be deaf, disabled and slow‑witted.
8. Ten demerits for lustful acts of the hands. Upon the accumulation of ten offenses, the offender’s lifespan and emolument shall be reduced as aforesaid. In the present life, one shall suffer boils, toxic abscesses and festering sores on the hands. After death, one shall fall into the Hell of Pulling out Fingernails and Toenails; in subsequent reincarnation, one shall have crippled hands and feet.
9. Lewd speech by mouth is divided into five grades according to gravity: one hundred demerits per utterance for the first grade; fifty demerits per utterance for the second grade; thirty demerits per utterance for the third grade; twenty demerits per utterance for the fourth grade; ten demerits per utterance for the fifth grade. Upon the accumulation of ten offenses, the offender’s lifespan and emolument shall be reduced as aforesaid. In this life, one shall endure destitution and misfortune and die a violent death. After death, one shall fall into the Bronze‑Pillar Hell. In reincarnation, males shall be reborn as female forms, and females
as courtesans to repay karmic debts. When karmic retribution is exhausted, one shall be reborn among moisture‑born beings.