The Translation of "Kai Guang" (Consecration)
The term "Kai Guang" (consecration) originates from the story of "adding the finishing touch to a dragon painting". According to legend, in ancient times, there was someone who painted dragons so vividly that once he added eyes to the dragon, it would come to life and fly away. This implies that before the eyes were painted, the dragon was an inanimate object; after the eyes were added, it became vivid and full of life. The act of the painter adding the eyes was called "Kai Guang". By the same logic, the act of a jade carver carving eyes on a jade sculpture is also "Kai Guang".

The original meaning of "Kai Guang" is very simple and clear—it merely refers to adding eyes to a deity statue. After a master artist adds the "finishing touch" (i.e., paints the eyes) to a painted or stone statue of a deity, people believe that the statue gains spirituality and can exert extraordinary protective powers. This is the "Kai Guang" as understood in common secular perception.
The formal adoption of "Kai Guang" comes from Taoism, where it is one of the Taoist rituals. "Kai Guang" involves infusing the invisible true spirits with boundless magical power from the universe into a deity statue, thereby endowing the statue with the spirituality of boundless magical power. Therefore, "Kai Guang" is an indispensable ritual after a deity statue is enshrined.
Buddhism originally did not have "Kai Guang", but it had a ritual of blessing Buddha statues, which is similar to "Kai Guang". As this practice has been passed down to the present day, both rituals are collectively referred to as "Kai Guang".
The method of Taoist "Kai Guang" for deity statues must be performed by a high-ranking Taoist priest (Gao Gong) on an auspicious day. The ritual consists of twelve distinct ceremonies, including: purification (Qing Jing), inviting the deities (Qing Shen), issuing decrees (Fa Zhi), giving orders (Fa Ling), invoking the Seven Stars (Qi Xing), using the Eight Trigrams (Ba Gua), inviting the spirit into the statue (Ru Shen), consecrating the brush (Chi Bi), consecrating the mirror (Chi Jing), consecrating the rooster (Chi Ji), performing "Kai Guang" (consecration itself), and drawing the divine hairs (Fa Hao). Only after completing these ceremonies can the invited divine spirits gather in the statue. By virtue of the deity's divine power, the worshiper's fortune is believed to improve, making it easier for them to seek wealth and achieve their goals. Only then can the statue be properly placed in a home or temple for people to worship and pray for peace.
What distinguishes Taoist "Kai Guang" from similar rituals in other religions is that Taoist deity statues have a "Ru Shen" (inviting the spirit into the statue) ceremony, whose purpose is to ensure that the divine spirit resides in the statue permanently.
A person's spiritual cultivation has certain limitations. Although practicing and reciting scriptures every day can accumulate karmic blessings for oneself, it cannot lead one to grasp the true essence of Taoist doctrines. Only by worshipping a "Kai Guang" deity statue can the statue, by virtue of the true spirit it embodies, enlighten one's mind, help one suddenly comprehend the profound principles of Taoism, and ultimately reach the supreme state of "supreme goodness is like water" (a core Taoist concept from Tao Te Ching). The true purpose of visiting Taoist temples and worshipping deities lies precisely in this.
During Taoist "Kai Guang" rituals, the Golden Light Mantra (Jin Guang Shen Zhou) is often chanted. This mantra is used by Taoist practitioners for blessing and protection—it dispels evil spirits, purifies defilements, aids in "Kai Guang" rituals, enhances wisdom, prolongs life, improves fortune, and prays for blessings.