道教中的神仙们 Taoist Deities

 

道教以“道”为最高信仰。“道”无形无象，而又生育天地万物。“道”在人和万物中的显现就是“德”。故万物莫不尊道而贵德。道散则为气，聚则为神。神仙既是道的化身，又是得道的楷模。神仙以济世度人为宗旨。故道教徒既信道德，又拜神仙。

Taoism holds the "Dao" (Way) as its highest belief. The "Dao" is formless and imageless, yet it gives birth to Heaven, Earth, and all things. The manifestation of the "Dao" within humans and all things is "De" (Virtue). Therefore, all things honor the Dao and value De. The Dao disperses becomes Qi (energy), and coalesces becomes Shen (spirit/god). Deities are both the embodiment of the Dao and models of those who have attained the Dao. The purpose of deities is to aid the world and save humanity. Hence, Taoists both believe in the Dao and its Virtue, and also worship the deities.

道教是一个以信仰神仙为核心的宗教，道教信奉的“神”和“仙”两者有一定的区别。但都属于“道”的信仰。道是宇宙的本原，化育天地万物，天神、地祇等信仰也就属于道的信仰，并且道教最高尊神“三清”直接是道炁所化。仙真是学道体道而得道的人，自然也属于道的信仰。“神仙”亦指有“神通”的“仙人”。

Taoism is a religion centered on the belief in deities. The "Shen" (gods/spirits) and "Xian" (immortals/transcendents) worshipped in Taoism have certain distinctions, but both belong to the faith in the Dao. The Dao is the origin of the universe, nurturing Heaven, Earth, and all things. Thus, beliefs in celestial gods and earth spirits also belong to the faith in the Dao. Moreover, the highest Taoist deities, the "Three Pure Ones," are directly transformed from the Qi of the Dao. Xian are humans who have studied, embodied, and attained the Dao, so they naturally belong to the faith in the Dao. "Shenxian" (deities/immortals) also refers to "transcendents" who possess "supernatural powers" (Shentong).

古书上说：“聪明正直之谓神，阴阳不测之谓神。”从这两句话可以看出，所谓聪明正直即功德成神，多为后天之神。如关帝、岳飞等。阴阳不测者，谓其神、神通广大不可测度，多指先天之神。如玉皇，太阳星君等。这种“神”是超自然体中的最高者，不具物质躯体，虽然不具躯体形象，不受自然规律限制，但能对物质世界施加影响，直至主宰物质世界的一定部分或全部。

Ancient texts say: "Those who are intelligent and upright are called Shen," and "That which is unfathomable as Yin and Yang is called Shen." From these two phrases, we can see that "intelligent and upright" refers to becoming a god through merit and virtue, often referring to acquired or later gods, such as Lord Guan (Guan Yu) or Yue Fei. "Unfathomable as Yin and Yang" refers to their divine nature and vast, immeasurable supernatural powers, often pointing to innate or primordial gods, such as the Jade Emperor or the Star Lord of the Sun. This type of "Shen" is the highest among supernatural entities, lacking a material body. Although without physical form and not bound by natural laws, they can influence the material world, even ruling over certain parts or the entirety of it.

仙，据《尔雅·释名释长幼》言“老而不死曰仙”。《说文》“长生仙去”，“仙，迁也；迁，入山也”。《太平御览·天仙》“飞行云中，神化轻举，以为天仙，亦云飞仙”。道教典籍中常有“神仙”、“仙人”、“神灵”等称谓。

Xian, according to the "Er Ya - Shi Ming Shi Chang You" means "those who are old but do not die are called Xian." The "Shuo Wen" dictionary says "long-lived, transcendent, and departed," and "Xian means to migrate; to migrate means to enter the mountains." The "Taiping Yulan - Tianxian" states: "Flying through the clouds, divinely transformed and lightly ascending, are considered Heavenly Immortals (Tianxian), also called Flying Immortals (Feixian)." Taoist texts often use terms like "Shenxian" (divine immortals), "Xianren" (immortals/transcendents), and "Shenling" (divine spirits).

道教的“神仙”数以千计，下面就道教信仰中主要常见的神仙介绍给大家。

There are thousands of "deities and immortals" in Taoism. Below are introductions to the main and commonly encountered deities in Taoist belief.

三 清
The Three Pure Ones (San Qing)

三清，总称为“虚无自然大罗三清三境三宝天尊”，指道教所尊的玉清、上清、太清三清胜境。也指居于三清仙境的三位尊神，即玉清元始天尊、上清灵宝天尊、太清道德天尊。其中所谓玉清境、上清境、太清境是所居仙境的区别，清微天、禹馀天、大赤天是所统天界的划分。而天尊的意思则是说，极道之尊，至尊至极，故名天尊。

The Three Pure Ones, collectively called the "Heavenly Worthies of the Three Treasures of the Three Purities and the Three Realms of the Great Void and Naturalness," refer to the three revered pure realms of Taoism: Jade Pure, Upper Pure, and Supreme Pure. They also refer to the three supreme deities residing in these pure realms: the Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun) of the Jade Pure, the Heavenly Worthy of Numinous Treasure (Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun) of the Upper Pure, and the Heavenly Worthy of the Dao and Its Virtue (Taiqing Daode Tianzun) of the Supreme Pure. The Jade Pure Realm, Upper Pure Realm, and Supreme Pure Realm distinguish their celestial abodes, while the Heavens of Jade Clarity, Great Veil, and Great Redness划分 the heavens they govern. The title "Heavenly Worthy" (Tianzun) means the utmost尊 of the ultimate Dao, supremely venerable, hence the name Heavenly Worthy.

（元始天尊）
(Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning)

在元始天尊是道教的最高尊神，居于三清之首。道教的三清殿中，中座的元始天尊手执黍米宝珠，象征“天地未形，万物未生”的“无极”状态。

The Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning is the highest deity in Taoism, occupying the first position among the Three Pure Ones. In the Taoist Sanqing Hall, the central seated Yuanshi Tianzun holds a millet-sized precious pearl, symbolizing the "Wuji" state of "before heaven and earth were formed, before all things were born."

元始天尊禀自然之气，存在于宇宙万物之先。道体常存不灭，即使天地全部毁灭，也丝毫影响不了他的存在。每当新的天地形成时，天尊就会降临人世间，传授秘道，开劫度人。所度者都是天仙上品，包括太上老君、天真皇人、五方天帝等神仙。每当新的天地开辟时，都有其年号，曰延康、赤明、龙汉、开皇等等，年号之间相距长达四十一亿万年。并且，元始天尊位居三十六天的最上层“大罗天”中，所居仙府称为“玄都玉京”。玉京之中，黄金铺地，玉石为阶，宫中有七宝、珍玉，仙王、仙公、仙卿、仙伯、仙大夫等居于中央和两旁的仙殿中。

Yuanshi Tianzun, endowed with the Qi of naturalness, exists prior to the universe and all things. His Dao body is eternal and indestructible; even if heaven and earth were completely destroyed, it would not affect his existence in the slightest. Whenever a new heaven and earth are formed, the Heavenly Worthy descends to the human world to transmit secret doctrines and initiate kalpas (eons) to save beings. Those he saves are all of the highest rank of heavenly immortals, including the Supreme Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun), the Celestial True Imperial Man (Tianzhen Huangren), the Five Directional Heavenly Emperors, and other deities. Each time a new heaven and earth are opened, there is a reign title, such as Yankang, Chiming, Longhan, Kaihuang, etc., with intervals of up to 4.1 billion years between them. Furthermore, Yuanshi Tianzun resides in the highest of the Thirty-Six Heavens, the "Great Net Heaven" (Daluo Tian). His celestial mansion is called the "Jade Capital of Mysterious Metropolis" (Xuandu Yujing). Within the Jade Capital, gold paves the ground, jade forms the steps. The palaces contain the Seven Treasures and precious jades. Immortal Kings, Dukes, Ministers, Earls, and Officials reside in the central and side halls.

冬至日为元始天尊的圣诞。
The Christmas (birthday) of Yuanshi Tianzun is on the Winter Solstice.

（灵宝天尊）
(Heavenly Worthy of Numinous Treasure)

灵宝天尊是道教最高尊神“三清”之第二位神。在三清殿中，左座的灵宝天尊手捧太极图或手持玉如意，象征混沌始判，阴阳初分的“太极”状态。

The Heavenly Worthy of Numinous Treasure is the second deity among the highest Taoist deities, the "Three Pure Ones." In the Sanqing Hall, the left-seated Lingbao Tianzun holds a Taiji Diagram or a jade Ruyi scepter, symbolizing the "Taiji" state where chaos first divided and Yin and Yang initially separated.

灵宝天尊又称太上道君，是元始天尊的精气所化生，以开皇元年托胎于西方绿那玉国，寄孕于其母洪氏身中，于母亲身中先琼胎玉府，道君于其中凝神修炼三千七百年，在郁察山浮罗丹玄山脚下诞生。道君长大后，启悟道真，期心玄妙，在一株枯桑树下，精思百日。忽感元始天尊下降，传授道君灵宝大乘之法、十部妙经。于是道君跟随元始天尊游历十方世界，宣讲道法。不久，道君得证道果，元始天尊赐予道君太上灵宝天尊之号，居住在上清真境禹余天中，又将金科宝箓、三洞仙经，付与经师郁罗翘真人，传教于十方世界，万国九州。

Lingbao Tianzun, also known as the Supreme Lord of the Dao (Taishang Daojun), was born from the essence and Qi of Yuanshi Tianzun. In the first year of the Kaihuang era, he entered the womb in the western country of Green Jasper (Lüna Yuguo), conceived within his mother, Lady Hong. Within his mother's body was first a jade palace of a splendid embryo, where the Lord cultivated his spirit for 3,700 years, before being born at the foot of Mount Fuluo Danxuan in Mount Yuça. After growing up, the Lord awakened to the true Dao and sought profound mysteries. Under a withered mulberry tree, he concentrated his thoughts for a hundred days. Suddenly, he felt Yuanshi Tianzun descend, who transmitted to him the Great Vehicle methods of Lingbao and the Ten Wonderful Scriptures. Thereupon, the Lord followed Yuanshi Tianzun, traveling through the ten directions of the world, proclaiming the Dao and its teachings. Soon, the Lord attained the fruition of the Dao. Yuanshi Tianzun bestowed upon him the title Heavenly Worthy of the Supreme Numinous Treasure (Taishang Lingbao Tianzun), to reside in the Upper Pure Realm of the YuYu Heaven. He also entrusted the Golden Scripts and Precious Registers and the Three Caverns Immortal Scriptures to the Scripture Master, the Perfected Person Yuluo Qiao, to spread the teachings throughout the ten directions of the world and all its nations.

夏至日为灵宝天尊的圣诞。
The Christmas of Lingbao Tianzun is on the Summer Solstice.

（道德天尊）
(Heavenly Worthy of the Dao and Its Virtue)

道德天尊是道教最高尊神“三清”之第三位神。在三清殿中右座的道德天尊手持太极神扇，象征“阴阳冲气以为和，万物生化”的“冲和”状态。

The Heavenly Worthy of the Dao and Its Virtue is the third deity among the highest Taoist deities, the "Three Pure Ones." In the Sanqing Hall, the right-seated Daode Tianzun holds a divine Taiji fan, symbolizing the "Chonghe" state where "the rushing together of Yin and Yang Qi creates harmony, and the myriad things are transformed and born."

太初之时，老君从虚空下降凡间，为太初之师，开辟天地，分判阴阳。从此以后劫劫分身下世，开化人天。伏羲之时，老君下界，号无化子（郁华子），作《元阳经》教授伏羲推演阴阳，画八卦；神农之时，老君下界，号大成子，作《太微经》教神农尝百草，种五谷；黄帝之时，老君下界，号广成子，作《道戒经》、《自然经》，传授黄帝长生之道；尧时，老君下界，号务成子，作《政事经》教其治国之道；舜时，老君下界，号尹寿子，作《太清经》，教其孝亲。夏禹之时，老君下界，号直宁子，作《德诫经》，教禹治水；周武王时，老君下界为柱下史（即老子），作《道德经》传授尹喜；汉文帝时，老君降于陕河之滨，号河上公作《河上章句》授于文帝；汉成帝河平二年，老君降于琅琊曲阳，授于吉《太平经》；汉顺帝汉安元年，老君降于蜀山鹤鸣山，授天师张道陵《正一盟盛》秘箓。老君常分身降世，无世不存。

In the time of the Great Beginning (Taichu), Lord Lao descended from the void to the mortal world, becoming the teacher of the Great Beginning, separating heaven and earth, and distinguishing Yin and Yang. From then on, in every kalpa, he sends emanations down to the world to enlighten humans and celestials. During the time of Fu Xi, Lord Lao descended, named Wuhua Zi (or Yuhua Zi), composed the "Yuanyang Jing" and taught Fu Xi to deduce Yin and Yang and draw the eight trigrams. During Shen Nong's time, Lord Lao descended, named Dacheng Zi, composed the "Taiwei Jing" and taught Shen Nong to taste the hundred herbs and cultivate the five grains. During the Yellow Emperor's time, Lord Lao descended, named Guangcheng Zi, composed the "Daojie Jing" and "Ziran Jing," transmitting the way of longevity to the Yellow Emperor. During Yao's time, Lord Lao descended, named Wucheng Zi, composed the "Zhengshi Jing" and taught him the way of governing the state. During Shun's time, Lord Lao descended, named Yinshou Zi, composed the "Taiqing Jing" and taught him filial piety. During Yu the Great's time (Xia Dynasty), Lord Lao descended, named Zhining Zi, composed the "Dejie Jing" and taught Yu to control the floods. During King Wu of Zhou's time, Lord Lao descended as the Archivist (i.e., Laozi), composed the "Daode Jing" and transmitted it to Yin Xi. During Emperor Wen of Han's time, Lord Lao descended by the banks of the Shan River, named He Shang Gong, composed the "Heshang Zhangju" and bestowed it upon the Emperor. In the second year of the Heping era of Emperor Cheng of Han, Lord Lao descended in Quyang, Langya, and bestowed the "Taiping Jing" upon Yu Ji. In the first year of the Han'an era of Emperor Shun of Han, Lord Lao descended on Crane Call Mountain (Hemingshan) in Shu, and bestowed the secret registers of the "Covenant of Orthodox Unity" (Zhengyi Mengwei) upon the Celestial Master Zhang Daoling. Lord Lao constantly sends emanations into the world; there is no age in which he does not exist.

农历二月十五日为老君圣诞。
The Christmas of Lord Lao is on the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month.

 

四 御
The Four Imperial Sovereigns (Si Yu)

四御为道教天界尊神中辅佐“三清”的四位尊神，所以又称“四辅”。他们的全称是：紫微北极大帝、勾陈上宫天皇大帝、承天效法后土皇帝地祇、南极长生大帝。《修真十书》卷七《丹诀歌》中说：“九九道至成真日，三清四御朝天节。

The Four Imperial Sovereigns are the four deities in the Taoist celestial realm who assist the "Three Pure Ones," hence they are also called the "Four Assistants" (Si Fu). Their full titles are: the Great Emperor of the North Star, Purple Tenuity (Ziwei Beiji Dadi); the Great Heavenly Emperor of the Highest Palace of the Curved Array (Gouchen Shanggong Tianhuang Dadi); the Earthly Sovereign, Queen of the Earth, Who Bears Heaven and Follows Its Laws (Chengtian Xiaofa Houtu Huangdi Diqi); and the Great Emperor of Long Life of the South Pole (Nanji Changsheng Dadi). The "Song of Alchemical Formula" in volume 7 of the "Ten Books on Cultivating Perfection" says: "On the day the nine-nines Dao is completed and one becomes a Perfected, it is the festival when the Three Pure Ones and Four Sovereigns face the court."

（中天紫微北极大帝）
(Great Emperor of the North Star, Purple Tenuity)

中天紫微北极大帝又称“紫微北极大帝”，“北极大帝”，“紫微大帝” “北极星君”，道教“四御”之第一位尊神。

The Great Emperor of the North Star, Purple Tenuity, also known as "Ziwei Beiji Dadi," "Beiji Dadi," "Ziwei Dadi," or "North Star Lord," is the first sovereign among the Taoist "Four Imperial Sovereigns."

紫微大帝居高上紫微垣，即北极星宫、紫微天宫。执掌天经地纬，统御三界星神和山川诸神，是一切现象的宗主，能呼风唤雨，役使雷电鬼神。《紫微表文》上说：“中天星主紫微北极大帝：尊居上道，位处中黄。握权衡而周御诸天，运枢纽而周旋万象。部经躔於四野，分星宿於九州。明度推迁，暗遵舍次。”大帝圣诞为农历四月十八日。

Ziwei Dadi resides in the lofty Purple Tenuity Enclosure, namely the North Star Palace or Ziwei Heavenly Palace. He holds authority over the warp and weft of heaven (celestial order), commands the stellar deities of the Three Realms and the various mountain and river gods. He is the sovereign of all phenomena, able to summon wind and rain, and command thunder, lightning, and spirits. The "Purple Tenuity Memorial" states: "Lord of the Central Heaven Stars, Great Emperor Ziwei of the North Pole: Venerably dwelling in the superior Dao, his position is at the Central Yellow. Holding the scales, he universally governs all heavens; turning the pivot, he revolves all manifestations. He arranges the paths [of stars] throughout the four wilds, divides the constellations among the nine provinces. Clearly marking the degrees and changes, secretly following the lodgings and sequences." The Great Emperor's Christmas is on the 18th day of the 4th lunar month.

（勾陈上宫天皇大帝）
(Great Heavenly Emperor of the Highest Palace of the Curved Array)

勾陈上宫天皇大帝简称“勾陈大帝”、“天皇大帝”，“四御”之第二位尊神。

The Great Heavenly Emperor of the Highest Palace of the Curved Array is abbreviated as "Gouchen Dadi" or "Tianhuang Dadi," the second sovereign among the "Four Imperial Sovereigns."

大帝协助玉皇执掌南北两极和天、地、人三才，统御众星，并主持人间兵革之事。《天皇表文》上说：“勾陈上宫天皇大帝：星灿微垣，帝座正惟皇之统。苑开宸极，乾纲御大造之宗。九光宝苑之中，五炁玄都之上。体元皇而佐司玄化，总两极而共理三才。主持兵革之权衡，统御星辰之躔次。毋失常经，上象巍峨。真元恢漠，总摄雷霆，主持天经。德并九清，仁敷万有”。

The Great Emperor assists the Jade Emperor in governing the North and South Poles and the Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, Man), commands the multitude of stars, and presides over military affairs in the human world. The "Heavenly Emperor Memorial" states: "Great Heavenly Emperor of the Highest Palace of the Curved Array: Stars brilliant in the faint enclosure, the Imperial Throne corrects only the Emperor's lineage. The garden opens at the celestial pole; the heavenly net governs the ancestor of great creation. Within the Nine Lights Precious Garden, above the Mysterious Metropolis of the Five Qi. Embodying the Primal Sovereign and assisting in managing mysterious transformations, overseeing the Two Poles and jointly ordering the Three Powers. Presiding over the balance of war and arms, commanding the sequences and positions of the stars. Never losing the constant norms, the celestial images are lofty. The True Origin is vast and silent, collectively controlling the thunderbolts, presiding over the celestial warp. His virtue equals the Nine Purities, his benevolence spreads to all things."

勾陈上宫天皇大帝圣诞为农历二月初一
The Christmas of the Great Heavenly Emperor of the Highest Palace of the Curved Array is on the 1st day of the 2nd lunar month.

（承天效法后土皇帝地祇）
(Earthly Sovereign, Queen of the Earth, Who Bears Heaven and Follows Its Laws)

承天效法后土皇地祇是道教尊神“四御”中的第三位尊神，简称“后土”，俗称“后土娘娘”。与主持天界的玉皇大帝相配台，为主宰大地山川的的女性神。

The Earthly Sovereign, Queen of the Earth, Who Bears Heaven and Follows Its Laws is the third sovereign among the Taoist deities, the "Four Imperial Sovereigns," abbreviated as "Houtu" and commonly called "Empress Houtu" (Houtu Niangniang). She pairs with the Jade Emperor who presides over the celestial realm, serving as the female deity who governs the earth, mountains, and rivers.

大帝执掌阴阳生育、万物之美与大地山河之秀。《后土表文》上说：“承天效法后土皇地祇：天地之间，总呼吸於橐蘥。阴阳之外，由造物於甄陶。动则宣布慈风，静则含弘后德。纲维天运，统御地灵。上昭星宿之辉，下列山川之壮。庶宗源咸化於五三之内，况根本弗生於六九之中。”

The Great Emperor holds authority over Yin and Yang procreation, the beauty of all things, and the elegance of the earth's mountains and rivers. The "Houtu Memorial" states: "Earthly Sovereign Houtu, Who Bears Heaven and Follows Its Laws: Between heaven and earth, she totals the breathing of the bellows. Beyond Yin and Yang, she creates and molds through the potter's wheel. In motion, she proclaims benevolent winds; in stillness, she contains and expands the queenly virtue. She upholds the celestial movement, commands the earthly spirits. Above, she manifests the radiance of the constellations; below, she arrays the majesty of the mountains and rivers. May all ancestral sources be transformed within the Five and Three, let alone the roots not born within the Six and Nine."

大帝圣诞为农历三月十八日。
The Great Emperor's Christmas is on the 18th day of the 3rd lunar month.

（南极长生大帝）
(Great Emperor of Long Life of the South Pole)

南极长生大帝全称“高上神霄玉清真王长生大帝统天元圣天尊”，居高上神霄玉清府，简称神雷玉府。“四御”之第四位尊神。

The Great Emperor of Long Life of the South Pole's full title is "Celestial Worthy of the Supreme Sage Who Governs Heaven, the Great Emperor of Long Life, the Jade Pure True King of the Exalted Divine Empyrean" (Gaoshang Shenxiao Yuqing Zhenwang Changsheng Dadi Tongtian Yuansheng Tianzun). He resides in the Exalted Divine Empyrean Jade Pure Mansion, abbreviated as the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion. He is the fourth sovereign among the "Four Imperial Sovereigns."

大帝执掌人间一切众生寿夭性命。《神宵表文》上说大帝“道尊元圣，位正真王。会元始祖炁以分真，应妙道虚无而开化。位乎九宵之上，统理诸天。总乎十极之中。神霄大法，列二十七品之宗缄。祖劫鸿图，从三十六天之主宰。统御阴阳，默运雷霆，宰制万化。宣金符而垂光济苦，施惠泽而覆育兆民。全体用经纬造化，总司枢机定灾祥”。四御总诰  志心皈命礼。渺渺紫金阙，巍巍碧玉宫。掌紫微七政之权，作皇朝一脉之主。三华毓秀，五纬霓旌。为造化之枢机，作人神之大柄。大罗天上，金阙宫中，四御四皇上帝，金容玉相天尊。

The Great Emperor holds authority over the life, death, and lifespan of all living beings in the human world. The "Divine Empyrean Memorial" says of the Emperor: "Revered in the Dao, the Primal Sage, his position correct as the True King. He converges with the Primordial Beginning Qi to differentiate the true, responds to the wondrous Dao's emptiness and nothingness to initiate transformation. His position is above the nine empyreans, governing all heavens. He totals within the ten poles. The great methods of the Divine Empyrean, arrayed in twenty-seven grades of ancestral secrets. The vast plan of the ancestral kalpa, following the rulership of the thirty-six heavens. Commanding Yin and Yang, silently operating the thunderbolts, controlling all transformations. Proclaiming golden talismans, he bestows light to relieve suffering; spreading beneficent moisture, he covers and nurtures the myriad people. His whole substance and function warp and weft creation, he presides over the pivotal mechanisms determining calamity and auspiciousness." General Invocation of the Four Sovereigns: "With devoted heart, we submit our fate. Distant, the Purple Gold Tower; lofty, the Jade Green Palace. Holding the authority of the Purple Tenuity's seven regulators, acting as the master of the imperial lineage's single vein. Three blossoms nurture excellence; five planets form rainbow banners. They are the pivotal mechanism of creation, the great handle of gods and humans. In the Great Net Heaven, within the Golden Tower Palace, the Four Sovereigns, the Four Imperial Deities, Heavenly Worthies of Golden Countenance and Jade Visage."

南极长生大帝圣诞为农历五月初一
The Christmas of the Great Emperor of Long Life of the South Pole is on the 1st day of the 5th lunar month.

玉皇上帝
Jade Emperor (Yuhuang Shangdi / Yuhuang Dadi)

玉皇上帝又叫玉皇大帝。简称玉皇、玉帝。民间俗称老天爷或天公。

The Jade Emperor is also called the Jade Sovereign. Abbreviated as Yuhuang or Yudi. Commonly known among the people as the Old Heavenly Grandfather (Laotianye) or the Heavenly Duke (Tiangong).

（玉皇上帝）
(Jade Emperor)

《玉皇本行经》中元始天尊演说了玉皇本行修证的功德。经中演说了过去劫中有一个光严妙乐国，净德国王和宝月光王后，因国王年老无嗣，社稷宗庙无法承传，于是诏诸道众，遍祷真圣，已经半载，不退初心。一夜，王后梦境中感太上道君与诸圣真，驾五色龙舆而至。太上道君捧一金容，毫窍放光，照亮宝殿，王后大喜，乞求道：“今王无嗣，愿乞此圣为社稷主。”道君曰：“愿特赐汝。”王后醒而有孕。怀圣一年，于丙午岁正月九日午时降生于王宫。幼帝敏慧，长帝慈仁，后舍弃王位，于普明香岩山中修道，功成超度。从此，行药治病，拯救众生，使民安乐。先后历经三千二百劫，始证金仙，号清静自然觉王如来。又经亿劫，始证玉帝。《皇经》上还说玉帝虽化身下降人间，帝身清静，未尝不在金阙。

In the "Scripture on the Deeds of the Jade Emperor" (Yuhuang Benxing Jing), Yuanshi Tianzun expounds on the merits cultivated by the Jade Emperor in his foundational practices. The scripture recounts that in a past kalpa, there was a country called Radiant and Wondrous Joy (Guangyan Miaoyue Guo). Its king, Pure Virtue (Jingde), and queen, Precious Moonlight (Baoyue Guang), had no heir in the king's old age, threatening the succession of the state and ancestral temple. They summoned all Taoist followers and prayed extensively to the true sages for half a year without wavering from their initial resolve. One night, the queen dreamt of the Supreme Lord Daojun (Taishang Daojun) and various holy Perfected Ones arriving in a chariot drawn by five-colored dragons. The Supreme Lord Daojun held a golden figure whose pores emitted light, illuminating the precious hall. The queen was overjoyed and begged, "The king now has no heir; I wish to beg for this sage to be the lord of our state." Daojun said, "I specially bestow him upon you." The queen awoke pregnant. She carried the sage for one year, and he was born in the royal palace at noon on the ninth day of the first month in the Bingwu year. The young emperor was intelligent and wise; the grown emperor was compassionate and benevolent. Later, he renounced the throne to cultivate the Dao in Mount Puming Xiangyan. After achieving success and transcendence, he thenceforth practiced medicine, healed illnesses, saved beings, and brought peace and comfort to the people. Sequentially undergoing 3,200 kalpas, he first realized the Golden Immortal (Jinxian) stage, named Tathagata King of Awakening through Purity and Naturalness (Qingjing Ziran Juewang Rulai). After passing through hundreds of millions more kalpas, he finally realized the state of the Jade Emperor. The "Imperial Scripture" also states that although the Jade Emperor manifests emanations descending to the human world, his imperial body remains pure and tranquil, never absent from the Golden Tower.

玉皇是仅次于三清道祖的至高尊神。玉皇所居昊天金阙弥罗天宫，妙相庄严，法身无上，统御诸天，宗领万圣，主宰宇宙，开化万天；行天之道，布天之德，造化万物，济度群生；权衡三界，统御万灵，而无量度人，为天界至尊之神，万天帝主。玉皇总管三界、十方、四生、六道的一切阴阳祸福。

The Jade Emperor is the supreme deity, second only to the Three Pure Ones. He resides in the Lofty Heaven Golden Tower, the Heaven Palace of the Luminous Net (Haotian Jinque Miluo Tiangong). His marvelous form is solemn, his Dharma body peerless. He governs all heavens, leads the myriad sages, rules the cosmos, and enlightens the myriad heavens. He implements the Way of Heaven, spreads the Virtue of Heaven, creates and transforms all things, and delivers multitudes of beings. He weighs the Three Realms, commands the myriad spirits, and saves people without limit. He is the supreme god of the celestial realm, the lord of all heavenly emperors. The Jade Emperor has overall charge of all Yin-Yang blessings and calamities within the Three Realms, Ten Directions, Four Types of Birth, and Six Paths.

每年腊月二十五日，玉皇要巡察三界，考校众生道俗的善恶良莠，赏善罚恶。正月初九日为玉皇圣诞，各路神仙都要为玉皇祝寿，道观中要举行盛大的庆贺仪式。玉皇在其圣诞吉日的下午圣驾返回天宫。

Every year on the 25th day of the 12th lunar month, the Jade Emperor inspects the Three Realms, examining the good and evil of all beings, monastic and lay, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked. The 9th day of the first lunar month is the Jade Emperor's Christmas. Deities from all paths come to offer birthday congratulations, and Taoist temples hold grand celebration ceremonies. On the afternoon of his auspicious birthday, the sacred驾 of the Jade Emperor returns to the celestial palace.

五  老
The Five Old Lords (Wu Lao)

五老帝君为协助元始天尊开辟天地的五位上圣髙真，即：东方安宝华林青灵始老君（简称青灵始老苍帝君），南方梵宝昌阳丹灵真老君（简称丹灵真老赤帝君），中央玉宝元灵元老君（简称元灵元老黄帝君），西方七宝金门皓灵皇老君（简称皓灵皇老白帝君），北方洞阴朔单郁绝五灵玄老君（简称五灵玄老黑帝君）。五老帝君在天则称五帝座及五方五星，在神灵则称五方五帝，在山岳则称五岳圣帝，在人身则称五脏神君，是五行之根宗，乃天地五行之精气的化身。

The Five Old Imperial Lords are five supreme exalted Perfected Ones who assisted Yuanshi Tianzun in opening heaven and earth. They are: The Green Numinous Beginning Lord of the East, Peaceful Treasure Blossom Grove (Anbao Hualin Qingling Shilao Jun),简称 Green Numinous Beginning Lord, Azure Emperor; The Cinnabar Numinous True Lord of the South, Brahman's Treasure Flourishing Yang (Fanbao Changyang Danling Zhenlao Jun),简称 Cinnabar Numinous True Lord, Red Emperor; The Primal Numinous Primal Lord of the Center, Jade Treasure (Yubao Yuanling Yuanlao Jun),简称 Primal Numinous Primal Lord, Yellow Emperor; The Bright Numinous Imperial Lord of the West, Seven Treasures Golden Gate (Qibao Jinmen Haoling Huanglao Jun),简称 Bright Numinous Imperial Lord, White Emperor; The Five Numinous Mysterious Lord of the North, Cavernous Yin Solitary Desolate Absolute (Dongyin Shuodan Yujue Wuling Xuanlao Jun),简称 Five Numinous Mysterious Lord, Black Emperor. In the heavens, the Five Old Lords are called the Seats of the Five Emperors and the Five Directional Planets. Among spirits, they are called the Five Directional Emperors. Among mountains, they are called the Sacred Emperors of the Five Peaks. Within the human body, they are called the Spirit Lords of the Five Viscera. They are the root ancestry of the Five Elements (Wu Xing), the embodiment of the essence Qi of Heaven and Earth's Five Elements.

东王公西王母
King Father of the East (Dong Wang Gong) & Queen Mother of the West (Xi Wang Mu)

东王公，又称东华帝君，或青童君、少阳帝君、元阳父扶桑大帝，为先天阳气凝聚而成，在天下苍生未始时，生于碧海之上的方诸山，创造万物，在东方主理阳和之气。西王母又称瑶池金母、龟台金母，是先天阴气凝聚而成，乃是西华至妙洞阴之极尊，居住于昆仑山西麓，是女仙之首。东王公与西王母共同主掌天下仙籍，凡男子成仙必要先拜谒东王公，女子成仙则须拜谒西王母，方得升九天，入三清胜境，面见元始天尊。

The King Father of the East (Dong Wang Gong), also called the Imperial Lord of Eastern Florescence (Donghua Dijun), or the Green Lad Lord (Qingtong Jun), the Imperial Lord of Lesser Yang (Shaoyang Dijun), the Primal Yang Father, the Great Emperor of Fusang (Fusang Dadi), was formed from the congealing of innate Yang Qi. Born on Mount Fangzhu above the azure sea before the multitude of living beings began, he created all things and presides over the harmonious Yang Qi in the East. The Queen Mother of the West (Xi Wang Mu), also called the Golden Mother of the Jade Pool (Yaochi Jinmu) or the Golden Mother of the Tortoise Platform (Guitai Jinmu), was formed from the congealing of innate Yin Qi. She is the ultimate尊 of the supremely wondrous cavernous Yin of Western Florescence, residing on the western slopes of Mount Kunlun, and is the head of female immortals. Dong Wang Gong and Xi Wang Mu jointly preside over the registers of immortals under heaven. Any man who becomes an immortal must first pay homage to Dong Wang Gong; any woman who becomes an immortal must pay homage to Xi Wang Mu. Only then can they ascend to the Nine Heavens, enter the sublime realms of the Three Pure Ones, and behold Yuanshi Tianzun.

（东王公）
(King Father of the East)

东王公也称东王父、东木公、东华大帝、扶桑大帝。 
道教奉祀為掌管男仙名籍的尊神。神异经、东荒经：东荒山上有大石室，东王居此，长一丈，头髮皓白，人形鸟面而虎尾载一黑熊，左右顾望，恒与一玉女投壶，每投千二百矫，说有入不出者，天為之医嘘；矫出而脱误不按者，天為之笑。（中荒经）崑崙之山有铜柱，其高入天。所谓天柱也。围三千里，周圆如削，下有回屋，方百丈，仙人九府治之，上有大鸟，名曰希有，南向张左翼覆东王公，右翼覆西王母，背上小处无翼一万九千里，西王母岁登翼上会东王公也，為神仙领袖之一分管男女仙名籍。

Dong Wang Gong is also called the Father King of the East (Dong Wang Fu), the Duke of the Eastern Wood (Dong Mu Gong), the Great Emperor of Eastern Florescence (Donghua Dadi), and the Great Emperor of Fusang (Fusang Dadi). Taoism venerates him as the尊 deity in charge of the registers of male immortals. The "Classic of Divine Wonders - Scripture of the Eastern Wastes" says: On the Mountain of Eastern Wastes there is a great stone chamber where the King of the East resides. He is ten feet tall, with pure white hair, a human form, a bird's face, and a tiger's tail, and he carries a black bear. He looks around left and right and constantly plays pitch-pot with a jade maiden. Each time they throw [the arrows], twelve hundred feints are made. It is said that when [an arrow] goes in but doesn't come out, Heaven sighs for them; when an arrow feints out but misses and doesn't hit [the pot], Heaven laughs for them. The "Scripture of the Central Wastes" says: The Kunlun Mountains have a bronze pillar that reaches into the heavens. This is the so-called Pillar of Heaven. It is three thousand li in circumference, round as if trimmed. Below it is a winding house, one hundred zhang square, governed by the nine bureaus of immortals. Above it is a great bird named Rare (Xiyou). Facing south, it spreads its left wing to cover Dong Wang Gong and its right wing to cover Xi Wang Mu. The small area on its back without wings is nineteen thousand li. Each year, Xi Wang Mu ascends the wing to meet with Dong Wang Gong. He is one of the leaders of the deities and immortals, responsible for managing the registers of male and female immortals.

东王公主阳和之气，理於东方，亦号东王父。凡上天下地男子登仙得道者，悉所掌管。传汉初童谣：青裙上天门，拜木公揖金母，也就是说世上的人得道昇天，须先拜东王公和西王母，又称东王公為青灵始老君，与丹灵，黄老，皓灵，玄老共称五方五始老。

Dong Wang Gong presides over the harmonious Yang Qi and governs the East. He is also called the Father King of the East. All men under heaven and on earth who ascend as immortals and attain the Dao fall under his jurisdiction. A Han Dynasty nursery rhyme流传: "The green skirt ascends the heavenly gate, pays respects to the Wood Duke (Mu Gong) and greets the Golden Mother (Jin Mu)." This means that people in the world who attain the Dao and ascend to heaven must first pay respects to Dong Wang Gong and Xi Wang Mu. Dong Wang Gong is also called the Green Numinous Beginning Lord (Qingling Shilao Jun), and together with the Cinnabar Numinous (Danling), Yellow Old (Huanglao), Bright Numinous (Haoling), and Mysterious Old (Xuanlao), they are called the Five Directional Primal Lords (Wufang Wu Shilao).

『元始上真眾仙记』东王公的来歷：上古之时，元始天王与太元圣母在玉京山中通气结精，生下天皇，号元阳父住在碧海之中，宅地方圆三万里，治三万六千岁，称為东王公，道经中说，眾仙登天必须先拜謁东王公和西王母，才能晋见三清尊神。

The "Records of the Primordial Beginning's Supreme Perfected and Multitude of Immortals" describes the origin of Dong Wang Gong: In high antiquity, the Primordial Heavenly King (Yuanshi Tianwang) and the Holy Mother of Supreme Prime (Taiyuan Shengmu) joined their Qi and essence in the Jade Capital Mountain, giving birth to the Heavenly Sovereign (Tianhuang), named the Primal Yang Father (Yuanyang Fu). He lived within the azure sea, in a dwelling three myriad li square, ruling for 36,000 years, and was called Dong Wang Gong. Taoist scriptures say that all immortals ascending to heaven must first pay homage to Dong Wang Gong and Xi Wang Mu before they can have an audience with the尊 deities of the Three Pure Ones.

（西王母）
(Queen Mother of the West)

西王母又称王母娘娘。《列仙全传》卷一称王母为龟台金母。以西华至妙之气，化而生于伊川。东晋葛洪《枕中书》称王母为元始天尊与太玄圣母通气结精所生之女，号曰“太真西王母。”天上天下，三界十方，女子登仙者，得道者咸所隶属。凡是世上成仙之人，进入天庭，都要“先见西王母，后谒东王公”，然后才能朝玉皇、拜三清。

Xi Wang Mu is also called the Queen Mother (Wangmu Niangniang). Volume 1 of the "Complete Biographies of the Arrayed Immortals" calls the Queen Mother the Golden Mother of the Tortoise Platform (Guitai Jinmu). Transformed from the supremely wondrous Qi of Western Florescence, she was born in Yichuan. Ge Hong's "Book of the Pillow" from the Eastern Jin Dynasty states that the Queen Mother was the daughter born from the joined Qi and essence of Yuanshi Tianzun and the Holy Mother of Supreme Mystery (Taixuan Shengmu), and was named the "Supremely True Queen Mother of the West" (Taizhen Xi Wangmu). In heaven and under heaven, throughout the Three Realms and Ten Directions, all women who ascend as immortals or attain the Dao belong to her jurisdiction. All who become immortals in the world and enter the celestial court must "first see the Queen Mother of the West, then pay homage to the King Father of the East," before they can court the Jade Emperor and worship the Three Pure Ones.

西王母有九子、二十三女，所以妇女拜王母，祈求多生儿女。西王母有长生不老的仙丹、蟠桃。每年的农历三月初三，王母开蟠桃仙会宴请群仙。王母有调和阴阳，致召万灵，统括真圣，“运百灵而准今”的神功法力。王母常显圣教化人间，用符咒助黄帝打败蚩尤后，又帮助舜做了皇帝，还赐给舜一幅地图，使原来几个州的国土增加为十二个州，还派使者向舜授以“白玉笛”，只要把这笛一吹，一年之内就能风调雨顺。

Xi Wang Mu has nine sons and twenty-three daughters, so women worship the Queen Mother, praying to bear many children. Xi Wang Mu possesses the elixir of immortality and the Peaches of Immortality (Pantao). Every year on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month, the Queen Mother holds the Peach Banquet to feast all the immortals. The Queen Mother has the divine power to harmonize Yin and Yang, summon the myriad spirits, and command the true sages, "operating the hundred spirits to accord with the present." The Queen Mother often manifests her sacred presence to teach and transform the human world. After using talismans and spells to help the Yellow Emperor defeat Chi You, she also helped Shun become emperor. She bestowed upon Shun a map that expanded the territory from a few provinces to twelve. She also sent an emissary to give Shun a "White Jade Flute"; simply by playing this flute, wind and rain would be favorable throughout the year.

王母圣诞为农历七月十八日。
The Queen Mother's Christmas is on the 18th day of the 7th lunar month.

斗姥元君
The Primordial Goddess of the Dipper (Doumu Yuanjun)

斗姥元君，又称斗姆、斗母或先天道母。乃元始天尊之先天阴气，托化西竺国中，为周御国王之后妃，号“紫光夫人”。常行仁慈，救拔众苦，曾殷勤供养元始天尊，愿生圣子利益众生。元始天尊满其所愿，一天斗姥在玉池中沐浴，忽见元始妙道放大光明，遍照华池。池中化生九朵金色莲苞，经过七日七夜，玉池中光明愈来愈炽盛，光芒上腾九华天中，化成九所大宝楼阁。宝楼阁中，现出九位圣子，便是长子天皇大帝，次子紫微大帝。余七子即北斗七星，分别为贪狼、巨门、禄存、文曲、廉贞、武曲、破军，统称为北斗九皇大帝。农历九月初九日是斗姥元君圣诞，九月初一至初九，是九皇大帝圣诞。天下宫观都举行盛大斋醮庆贺圣寿，称之为“九皇圣会”。若有众生虔诚礼拜斗真，则可以消灾解厄，延年益寿。

The Primordial Goddess of the Dipper (Doumu Yuanjun), also called Doumu or the Primordial Mother of the Dao, is the innate Yin Qi of Yuanshi Tianzun. She manifested in the country of Western India (Xizhu Guo) as the consort of King Zhouyu, named "Lady of Violet Light" (Ziguang Furen). She constantly practiced benevolence, rescuing beings from suffering, and diligently made offerings to Yuanshi Tianzun, vowing to bear sage sons to benefit all beings. Yuanshi Tianzun fulfilled her wish. One day, while Doumu was bathing in a Jade Pond, she suddenly saw the wondrous Dao of the Primordial Beginning emit a great light, illuminating the magnificent pond. Within the pond, nine golden lotus buds transformed into being. After seven days and nights, the light in the Jade Pond grew increasingly intense, soaring up to the Nine Splendid Heavens (Jiuhua Tian), where it transformed into nine great precious towers. Within these precious towers appeared nine sage sons: the eldest son, the Great Heavenly Emperor (Tianhuang Dadi); the second son, the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity (Ziwei Dadi); and the remaining seven sons, who are the seven stars of the Northern Dipper (Beidou Qixing): Greedy Wolf (Tanlang), Giant Gate (Jumen), Storehouse of Wealth (Lucun), Literary Curved (Wenqu), Pure and Chaste (Lianzhen), Martial曲 (Wuqu), and Army Breaker (Pojun). Collectively, they are known as the Nine Imperial Sovereigns of the Northern Dipper (Beidou Jiuhuang Dadi). The Christmas of Doumu Yuanjun is on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. The 1st to the 9th days of the 9th lunar month are the Christmas of the Nine Imperial Sovereigns. Taoist temples throughout the world hold grand vegetarian feasts and rituals (zhaijiao) to celebrate their sacred birthdays, known as the "Sacred Assembly of the Nine Emperors" (Jiuhuang Shenghui). If living beings devoutly worship the Dipper Deities, they can eliminate disasters, resolve adversities, and prolong their lives.

（斗姥元君）
(Primordial Goddess of the Dipper)

斗姥元君又称“斗母”。《斗母延生心经》上说：“斗母为北斗众星之母”。也称“圆明道母天尊”，谓之“象道之母”。斗姥妙相紫光圆融，禀一炁玄元之象，应无极生太极也。秉持日月二轮，应阴阳二气，象太极也。四头磊落，应四象也。八臂垂雄，应八卦也。端坐于獬座之上以救度众生，持宝杵以降魔御患，执弧矢以救劫消灾，振法铃以济人度鬼。

Doumu Yuanjun is also called "Doumu" (Dipper Mother). The "Heart Scripture of the Dipper Mother for Prolonging Life" says: "The Dipper Mother is the mother of all the stars of the Northern Dipper." She is also called the "Heavenly Worthy of the Perfectly Bright Mother of the Dao" (Yuanming Daomu Tianzun), referred to as the "Mother Who Images the Dao." Doumu's marvelous form, with violet light perfectly fused, receives the image of the Mysterious Origin of the Single Qi, corresponding to Wuji giving birth to Taiji. Holding the two wheels of the sun and moon, she corresponds to the two Qi of Yin and Yang, imaging Taiji. Her four heads are majestic, corresponding to the Four Symbols (Sixiang). Her eight arms hang powerfully, corresponding to the Eight Trigrams (Bagua). She sits upright on a Xiezhi throne to save and deliver beings, holds a precious pestle to subdue demons and ward off calamities, grasps a bow and arrow to rescue from kalpas and eliminate disasters, and shakes a dharma bell to aid people and ferry ghosts.

斗姥圣诞为农历九月初九日。
Doumu's Christmas is on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month.

 

九天应元雷声普化天尊
Celestial Worthy of Universal Transformations of Thunder, Responding to the Primordial with the Sound of Thunder (Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun)

普化天尊是神霄玉清真王，南极长生大帝的化身。掌握雷霆，居九天应元府，手执金光如意，坐九凤丹霞宝座，或骑火麒麟。每月初六日与旬中辛日，巡游三界，察众生善恶功过，驱妖除魔。天尊曾于元始天尊前发清净愿，愿于未来世，一切众生，若称天尊名者，鬼妖丧胆，万神护佑，一切不顺化为微尘，一切愿望皆得满足，若人求道希仙、求长生延命，或命运坎坷，或遭口舌官司一切不顺，或驱邪治病，或安镇土煞，或求解除冤孽、超度亡魂，或求保护行藏，出入平安，平时皆可持诵“九天应元雷声普化天尊”圣号，妖邪远避，神钦鬼敬，消灾免难，转运获福。

The Universal Transformation天尊 (Puhua Tianzun) is an emanation of the Jade Pure True King of the Divine Empyrean (Shenxiao Yuqing Zhenwang), who is the Great Emperor of Long Life of the South Pole (Nanji Changsheng Dadi). He controls the thunder, resides in the Responding to the Primordial Mansion of the Nine Heavens (Jiutian Yingyuan Fu), holds a golden light Ruyi scepter, sits on a nine-phoenix cinnabar cloud precious throne, or rides a fire qilin. On the 6th day of each month and on the Xin days within the ten-day week, he tours the Three Realms, investigating the good, evil, merits, and faults of all beings, and exorcising demons and monsters. The天尊 once made a pure vow before Yuanshi Tianzun, vowing that in future ages, all beings who invoke the name of the天尊 will cause ghosts and demons to lose their courage, and myriad gods will protect them. All adversities will turn to dust, all wishes will be fulfilled. If people seek the Dao hoping to become immortals, seek longevity and extended life, or have unfortunate fate, suffer from disputes and lawsuits (all adversities), or need exorcism and healing, or to pacify and settle earth evils (tusha), or seek to resolve karmic obstructions and超度 souls of the deceased, or seek protection for travel and movement, safety in going out and coming in, they can usually recite the holy name "Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun." Demons and evil spirits will stay far away, spirits will respect and ghosts will revere, disasters will be eliminated and difficulties avoided, fortune will turn and blessings obtained.

天尊是雷部的最高天神。“主天之灾福，持物之权衡，掌物掌人，司生司杀”。天尊执掌五雷，是众生之父，万灵之师，掌握生杀大权，专门惩处恶人。《历代神仙通鉴》上说：“（黄帝）封号为九天应元雷声普化真王。所居神宵玉府，在碧霄梵气之中，去雷城二千三百里。雷城高八十一丈，左有玉枢五雷使院，右有玉府五雷使院。真王之前有雷鼓三十六面，三十六神司之。凡行雷之时，真王亲击本部雷鼓一下，即时雷公雷师兴发雷声也。雷公即入雷泽而为神者也。力牧敕为雷师皓翁。三十六雷，皆当时辅相有功之臣。” 

The天尊 is the highest celestial god of the Thunder Ministry (Lei Bu). "He presides over the disasters and blessings of heaven, holds the scales of things, controls things and people, manages life and death." The天尊 holds authority over the Five Thunders (Wu Lei). He is the father of all living beings, the teacher of the myriad spirits, holding the power of life and death, specially punishing evil people. The "Comprehensive Mirror of Successive Generations of Deities and Immortals" says: "(The Yellow Emperor) conferred upon him the title True King of Universal Transformations of Thunder, Responding to the Primordial with the Sound of Thunder of the Nine Heavens. His residence, the Jade Mansion of the Divine Empyrean (Shenxiao Yu Fu), is amidst the Brahma Qi of the Azure Empyrean, 2,300 li from the Thunder City. The Thunder City is 81 zhang high. To the left is the Jade Pivot Five Thunder Envoy Court, to the right is the Jade Mansion Five Thunder Envoy Court. Before the True King are thirty-six thunder drums, managed by thirty-six gods. Whenever thunder is deployed, the True King personally strikes his own thunder drum once, and immediately the Thunder Dukes and Masters raise the sound of thunder. The Thunder Duke is the one who entered the Thunder Marsh and became a god. Li Mu was appointed as the Thunder Master, Haoweng. The Thirty-Six Thunders were all meritorious ministers who served as assistants at that time."

《玉枢宝经》中载天尊尝于大罗元始天尊前以清静心发广大愿。天尊说：“若未来世有诸众生，得闻吾名，但冥心默想，作是念言九天应元雷声普化天尊，或一声，或五七声，或千百声，吾即化形十方，运心三界，使称名者咸得如意”。

The "Precious Scripture of the Jade Pivot" records that the天尊 once before Yuanshi Tianzun of the Great Net (Daluo) made vast vows with a pure heart. The天尊 said: "If in future ages there are beings who hear my name, and merely silently concentrate their minds and think, uttering this thought 'Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun' – whether once, or five to seven times, or hundreds and thousands of times – I will immediately transform my appearance throughout the ten directions, and direct my mind throughout the Three Realms, so that those who invoke the name will all attain their wishes."

天尊圣诞为农历六月二十四日。
The天尊's Christmas is on the 24th day of the 6th lunar month.

太乙救苦天尊
Celestial Worthy of Salvation from Suffering, the Great One (Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun)

太乙救苦天尊是元始天尊九阳之精气所化，居青华长乐世界，十方化号，广救群生。在天界为东方长乐世界的太乙福神，在人间是救苦度厄的大慈仁者，在地狱是荐拔亡魂的日耀帝君，在水府应化为洞渊帝君，在外道则化为狮子明王，又化身为十方灵宝救苦天尊，在十方世界救苦救难，普度世人。此圣最尊最贵，最圣最灵。农历十一月十一日是天尊诞辰，每月逢三、九日，降临人间，普救众生。众生在危急之时，只要念诵天尊圣号，天尊即随声赴感，前往救护。命终之时，称扬天尊圣号，即蒙天尊接引，往生东方长乐净土。

The Celestial Worthy of Salvation from Suffering, the Great One (Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun), is transformed from the essence Qi of the Nine Yangs of Yuanshi Tianzun. He resides in the World of Eastern Bliss (Qinghua Changle Shijie), manifesting titles in the ten directions to widely save multitudes of beings. In the celestial realm, he is the God of Blessings, the Great One (Taiyi Fushén) of the Eastern World of Longlasting Bliss. In the human world, he is the Greatly Compassionate and Benevolent One who saves from suffering and crosses over calamities. In hell, he is the Solar Radiance Imperial Lord (Riyao Dijun) who recommends and delivers deceased souls. In the water palaces, he manifests as the Cavernous Abyss Imperial Lord (Dongyuan Dijun). Among external paths, he transforms into the Lion Bright King (Shizi Mingwang). He also manifests as the Ten Directional Numinous Treasure Salvation天尊 (Shifang Lingbao Jiuku Tianzun), saving from suffering and rescuing from difficulties in the worlds of the ten directions, universally delivering people. This sage is the most尊, most noble, most sage, and most efficacious. The 11th day of the 11th lunar month is the天尊's birthday. On days ending with the numbers 3 and 9 each month, he descends to the human world to universally save beings. When beings are in critical danger, merely reciting the天尊's holy name will cause the天尊 to respond to the sound and feeling, going to rescue and protect. At the end of life, praising the天尊's holy name will result in receiving the天尊's welcome and guidance, leading to rebirth in the Eastern Pure Land of Bliss.

《太乙救苦护身妙经》上说：救苦天尊，化身如恒沙数，物随声应，或住天宫，或降人间，或居地狱，或摄群邪……神通无量，功行无穷，寻声救苦，应物随机。

The "Wondrous Scripture of the Great One's Salvation from Suffering and Protection of the Body" says: The Salvation天尊 has emanations as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. Things respond according to the sound; he may dwell in celestial palaces, or descend to the human world, or reside in hell, or subdue groups of evil beings... His supernatural powers are immeasurable, his merits and practices endless. He seeks the sound to save from suffering, responding to things according to opportunity.

救苦天尊应化十方，而为十方救苦天尊。分别为东方玉宝皇上天尊；南方玄真万福天尊；西方太妙至极天尊；北方玄上玉宸天尊；东北方度仙上圣天尊；东南方好生度命天尊；西南方太灵虚皇天尊；西北方无量太华天尊；上方玉虚明皇天尊；下方真皇洞神天尊。《救苦经》上说：“道言十方诸天尊，其数如沙尘。化行十方界，普济度天人。委气聚功德，同声救罪人。”天尊圣诞为农历十一月十一日。

The Salvation天尊 responds and transforms in the ten directions, becoming the Ten Directional Salvation天尊s. They are respectively: The Heavenly Worthy of Jade Treasure and Imperial Superiority of the East; The Heavenly Worthy of Mysterious Truth and Myriad Blessings of the South; The Heavenly Worthy of Supreme Wondrousness and Ultimate of the West; The Heavenly Worthy of Mysterious Superiority and Jade Palace of the North; The Heavenly Worthy of Delivering Immortals and Supreme Sage of the Northeast; The Heavenly Worthy of Loving Life and Delivering Fate of the Southeast; The Heavenly Worthy of Great Numinosity and Empty Emperor of the Southwest; The Heavenly Worthy of Immeasurable Great Florescence of the Northwest; The Heavenly Worthy of Jade Void and Luminous Emperor of the Above; The Heavenly Worthy of True Emperor and Cavernous Spirit of the Below. The "Salvation from Suffering Scripture" says: "The Dao speaks: the various Heavenly Worthies of the ten directions, their number is like sand and dust. Transforming and acting in the realms of the ten directions, universally aiding and delivering celestial and human beings. Entrusting Qi, accumulating merit and virtue, with one voice saving sinners." The天尊's Christmas is on the 11th day of the 11th lunar month.

三官大帝
The Three Official Sovereigns (Sanguan Dadi)

三官大帝，即天官、地官、水官。是往昔元始天尊在太虚之极，吸取始阳九气，在九土洞阳，吸取清虚七气，又在洞阳风泽中，取晨浩五气，一并吸入口中，与三焦处混合凝结。九九八十一天之后，在元始天尊体内结成灵胎圣体。在上元正月十五日，从口中吐出婴孩，相好光明。又在中元七月十五日、下元十月十五日，又吐出两个婴孩，元始天尊封号为：上元一品九气天官紫微大帝，住在玄都元阳七宝紫微上宫，总主诸天神王上圣高真及三罗万象天君；中元二品七气地官清虚大帝，住在九土无极世界洞空清虚之宫，总主五岳帝君并二十四治山川，九地土皇、四维八极神君；下元品五气水官洞阴大帝，住在金灵长乐宫，总主九江水帝、四渎神君、十二溪真及三河四梅神君。三官大帝余气应化人间，便为尧、舜、禹三位明君，每到三元之日，三官大帝便巡游三界，考校大千世界之内十方国土之中的神仙升临、品汇考限与万类化生之事。若众生常礼念醮祭三官大帝，则可以赐福、赦罪、解厄，功德无量。

The Three Official Sovereigns (Sanguan Dadi) are the Official of Heaven (Tianguan), the Official of Earth (Diguan), and the Official of Water (Shuiguan). In the past, Yuanshi Tianzun, at the extremity of the Great Void, absorbed the Nine Qi of Primal Yang; at the Cavernous Yang of the Nine Lands, he absorbed the Seven Qi of Clear Emptiness; and within the Cavernous Yang Windy Marsh, he took the Five Qi of Vast Dawn. He inhaled them all into his mouth, where they mixed and congealed at the Triple Burner area. After eighty-one days (nine times nine), a sacred embryo and holy body formed within Yuanshi Tianzun. On the Shangyuan Festival, the 15th day of the first lunar month, he spit out an infant from his mouth, radiant and beautiful. Then, on the Zhongyuan Festival, the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, and the Xiayuan Festival, the 15th day of the tenth lunar month, he spit out two more infants. Yuanshi Tianzun bestowed upon them the titles: The First Grade Nine Qi Official of Heaven, Purple Tenuity Great Emperor (Shangyuan Yipin Jiuqi Tianguan Ziwei Dadi) of the Upper Prime, residing in the Supreme Palace of Purple Tenuity and Seven Treasures of Mysterious Metropolis and Primal Yang (Xuandu Yuanyang Qibao Ziwei Shang Gong),总体上 presiding over the various celestial god-kings, supreme sages, exalted perfected ones, and the heavenly lords of the Three Veils and Myriad Manifestations; The Second Grade Seven Qi Official of Earth, Clear Emptiness Great Emperor (Zhongyuan Erpin Qiqi Diguan Qingxu Dadi) of the Middle Prime, residing in the Palace of Clear Emptiness in the Cavernous Void of the World of Nine Lands Without Limit (Jiutu Wuji Shijie Dongkong Qingxu Zhi Gong),总体上 presiding over the Imperial Lords of the Five Peaks along with the twenty-four administrative mountains and rivers, the Earthly Emperors of the Nine Grounds, and the spirit lords of the four dimensions and eight extremities; The Grade Five Qi Official of Water, Cavernous Yin Great Emperor (Xiayuan Pin Wuqi Shuiguan Dongyin Dadi) of the Lower Prime, residing in the Palace of Longlasting Joy of Golden Numen (Jinling Changle Gong),总体上 presiding over the Water Emperors of the Nine Rivers, the spirit lords of the Four waterways (Sidu), the perfected ones of the Twelve Streams, and the spirit lords of the Three Rivers and Four Channels. The residual Qi of the Three Officials responded and transformed in the human world, becoming the three enlightened rulers Yao, Shun, and Yu. On each of the Three Primes (Sanyuan) days, the Three Official Sovereigns tour the Three Realms, examining and checking within the great chiliocosm the ascension of deities and immortals in the lands of the ten directions, their grades, classifications, examination limits, and the transformation and birth of the myriad categories. If living beings regularly worship, recite, and make offerings to the Three Official Sovereigns, they can bestow blessings, pardon sins, and resolve adversities. The merit is immeasurable.

（上元一品赐福天官）
(First Grade Bestower of Blessings, Official of Heaven)

天官名为上元一品赐福天官，紫微大帝，隶属玉清境。天官由青黄白三气结成，总主诸天帝王。每逢正月十五日，即下人间，校定人之罪福。故称天官赐福。

The Official of Heaven is named the First Grade Bestower of Blessings Official of Heaven (Shangyuan Yipin Cifu Tianguan), the Purple Tenuity Great Emperor, subordinate to the Jade Pure realm. The Official of Heaven is formed from green, yellow, and white Qi, and总体上 presides over the emperors of all heavens. Every year on the 15th day of the first lunar month, he descends to the human world to examine and determine people's sins and blessings. Hence he is called the Official of Heaven Bestows Blessings (Tianguan Cifu).

（中元二品赦罪地官）
(Second Grade Pardoner of Sins, Official of Earth)

地官名为中元二品赦罪地官，清虚大帝，隶属上清境。地官由元洞混灵之气和极黄之精结成，总主五帝五岳诸地神仙。每逢七月十五日，即来人间，校戒罪福，为人赦罪。 

The Official of Earth is named the Second Grade Pardoner of Sins Official of Earth (Zhongyuan Erpin Shezui Diguan), the Clear Emptiness Great Emperor, subordinate to the Upper Pure realm. The Official of Earth is formed from the Qi of the Primal Cavern's Mixed Numen and the Essence of the Ultimate Yellow, and总体上 presides over the Five Emperors, Five Peaks, and various earthly deities and immortals. Every year on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, he comes to the human world to examine and admonish on sins and blessings, pardoning people's sins.

（下元三品解厄水官）
(Grade Three Resolver of Adversities, Official of Water)

水官名为下元三品解厄水官，洞阴大帝，隶属太清境。水官由风泽之气和晨浩之精结成，总主水中诸大神仙。每逢十月十五日，即来人间，校戒罪福，为人消灾。

The Official of Water is named the Grade Three Resolver of Adversities Official of Water (Xiayuan Sanpin Jie'e Shuiguan), the Cavernous Yin Great Emperor, subordinate to the Supreme Pure realm. The Official of Water is formed from the Qi of Windy Marsh and the Essence of Vast Dawn, and总体上 presides over the various great deities and immortals within the waters. Every year on the 15th day of the tenth lunar month, he comes to the human world to examine and admonish on sins and blessings, eliminating disasters for people.

真武大帝
The Great Emperor of Perfect Warrior (Zhenwu Dadi)

真武大帝又称玄天上帝、玄武大帝、佑圣真君玄天上帝，全称真武荡魔大帝，为道教神仙中赫赫有名的玉京尊神。道经中称他为“镇天真武灵应佑圣帝君”，简称“真武帝君”。民间称荡魔天尊、报恩祖师、披发祖师。

The Great Emperor of Perfect Warrior (Zhenwu Dadi), also called the Heavenly Emperor of the Mysterious Heaven (Xuantian Shangdi), the Great Emperor of the Dark Warrior (Xuanwu Dadi), the True Lord Protecting the Sage (Yousheng Zhenjun), and fully titled the Great Emperor of Perfect Warrior Who Subdues Demons (Zhenwu Dangmo Dadi), is a famous尊 deity of the Jade Capital in Taoism. Taoist scriptures call him the "Imperial Lord Who Guards Heaven, the Numinously Responsive Perfect Warrior Protecting the Sage" (Zhentian Zhenwu Lingying Yousheng Dijun), abbreviated as "Imperial Lord Perfect Warrior" (Zhenwu Dijun). Among the people, he is called the天尊 Who Subdues Demons (Dangmo Tianzun), the Patriarch Who Repays Kindness (Bao'en Zushi), and the Patriarch with Disheveled Hair (Pifa Zushi).

真武大帝本为玄武星宿，因受太阳精气降圣为净乐国太子。

The Great Emperor of Perfect Warrior was originally the Dark Warrior (Xuanwu) constellation. Because he received the essence Qi of the sun, he descended as a sage to become the crown prince of the Kingdom of Pure Joy (Jingyue Guo).

据《元始天尊说北方真武妙经》等道经所载：昔有净乐国王，与善胜皇后，梦吞日光，觉而有娠，怀圣十四个月。于开皇元年。三月初三日降圣于皇宫。帝生而神灵，长而勇猛，不统王位，唯务修行。帝十五岁那年，离别父母，前往深山幽谷，访求修道之术，帝的修行感动了玉清圣祖紫虚元君，授以无上秘道，元君指引帝越海东游，又遇天神授以宝剑。入湖北武當山（太和山），修炼四十二年，帝五十六岁那年，九月九日清晨，祥云自天而降，白日飞升，玉帝命帝敕镇北方，统摄玄武之位。帝奉元始敕命，誓断天下妖邪，清理阴间。六天魔王，用“坎离二气”，化作“苍龟巨蛇”，被帝用神力踩在圣足之下，又用法力将六天魔王镇压，玉帝封为“真武大帝”。

According to the "Wonderful Scripture of the Perfect Warrior of the North Spoken by Yuanshi Tianzun" and other Taoist texts: In the past, the King of Pure Joy and the Queen of Good Victory dreamed of swallowing sunlight, awoke pregnant, and carried the sage for fourteen months. In the first year of the Kaihuang era, on the 3rd day of the 3rd month, the sage was born in the royal palace. The Emperor was divine and numinous from birth, and grew up brave and fierce. He did not assume the throne, but devoted himself solely to cultivation. At the age of fifteen, he left his parents and went to deep mountains and secluded valleys seeking the methods of cultivating the Dao. His cultivation moved the Jade Pure Sacred Ancestor, the Mysterious Void Primordial Lord (Zi Xu Yuanjun), who bestowed upon him the supreme secret Dao. The Primordial Lord guided the Emperor to travel east across the sea, where he encountered a celestial god who gave him a precious sword. He entered Mount Wudang (Taihe Shan) in Hubei and cultivated for forty-two years. At the age of fifty-six, on the morning of the 9th day of the 9th month, auspicious clouds descended from heaven, and he ascended in broad daylight. The Jade Emperor commanded him to guard the North and assume the position of the Dark Warrior. Receiving the decree of Yuanshi, he vowed to cut off all demons and evil spirits in the world and purify the underworld. The Six Heavens Demon Kings (Liu Tian Mowang) used the "two Qi of Kan and Li" to transform into a "blue/green turtle and giant snake," which the Emperor subdued under his holy feet using his divine power. He then used his dharma power to suppress the Six Heavens Demon Kings. The Jade Emperor enfeoffed him as the "Great Emperor of Perfect Warrior."

真武大帝法力无边，能断一切妖邪，能驱一切魔精，能避水火之灾。道教又奉真武祖师为“报恩祖师”。祖师化身为净乐国太子之时，侍父母至孝。《报恩法忏》上说：“因劬劳之未报，爰顶踵之不饰”。若有志诚孝子为在世父母求福寿，为已故祖先求超拔。祖师定当保佑是人，心愿得以圆满。

The Great Emperor of Perfect Warrior's dharma power is boundless. He can sever all demons and evil, expel all demonic essences, and avoid disasters of water and fire. Taoism also venerates Patriarch Perfect Warrior as the "Patriarch Who Repays Kindness." When the Patriarch manifested as the crown prince of Pure Joy Kingdom, he served his parents with utmost filial piety. The "Ritual Repentance for Repaying Kindness" says: "Because the toils [of parents] are not yet repaid, therefore head and heel are not adorned." If sincere and filial children seek blessings and longevity for their living parents, or seek deliverance for their deceased ancestors, the Patriarch will certainly protect such persons and fulfill their wishes.

真武大帝圣诞为农历三月初三日。
The Christmas of the Great Emperor of Perfect Warrior is on the 3rd day of the3rd lunar month.

文昌帝君
The Imperial Lord Wenchang (Wenchang Dijun)

文昌帝君，全称文昌梓潼帝君，简称梓潼帝君、文昌君。是保护文运与考试的神祇。文昌帝君与大魁星君、朱衣星君、纯阳帝君、关圣帝君，合称“五文昌”，同受士人学子敬奉。文昌帝君的陪祀神为“天聋”、“地哑”两位书僮打扮的神祇，代表着“天机不可泄漏”、“文运人不能知”、“文人须谦卑少言”等意义。

The Imperial Lord Wenchang (Wenchang Dijun), fully titled the Imperial Lord of Literary Glory of Zitong (Wenchang Zitong Dijun), abbreviated as Lord Zitong or Lord Wenchang, is the deity protecting literary fortune and examinations. Lord Wenchang, together with the Star Lord of Great Chief (Dakui Xingjun), the Star Lord of Red Robe (Zhuyi Xingjun), the Imperial Lord of Pure Yang (Chunyang Dijun - Lü Dongbin), and the Imperial Lord Guan (Guan Sheng Dijun - Guan Yu), are collectively called the "Five Wenchange" (Wu Wenchang), revered together by scholars and students. The attendant gods of Lord Wenchang are two deity attendants dressed as page boys: "Heavenly Deaf" (Tian Long) and "Earthly Mute" (Di Ya). They represent meanings such as "Heaven's secrets must not be leaked," "Humanity cannot know literary fortune," and "Scholars must be humble and speak little."

文昌帝君又称梓潼帝君，《历代神仙通鉴》上说帝君“上主三十三天仙籍，中主人间寿夭祸福，下主十八狱轮回”。文昌，本是星官名，包括六颗星。即斗魁（魁星）之上六星的总称。星君为主宰功名禄位之神，并叫“文星”。 

The Imperial Lord Wenchang is also called the Imperial Lord of Zitong. The "Comprehensive Mirror of Successive Generations of Deities and Immortals" says the Imperial Lord "above presides over the immortal registers of the Thirty-Three Heavens; in the middle presides over human lifespan, premature death, fortune, and misfortune; below presides over the轮回 of the eighteen hells." Wenchang was originally the name of a stellar official, comprising six stars. It is the collective name for the six stars above the Dipper's Ladle (Dou Kui, or Kuixing). The Star Lord is the deity governing scholarly fame, official rank, and emolument, and is also called the "Literary Star" (Wenxing).

《梓潼帝君化书》、《清河内传》上说帝君降生于周初，经七十三代，降生为四川张亚子，居蜀七曲山。帝君对母极其孝顺，母病疽重，乃为吮之，并於夜中自割股肉烹而供，母病遂愈。后值瘟疫流行，梦神授以大洞仙经并法箓，谓可治邪祛瘟，行之果验。因帝君累世为儒，天帝乃命掌天曹桂籍文昌之事。

The "Transformation Book of the Imperial Lord of Zitong" and the "Inner Biography of the Qinghe" say that the Imperial Lord was born in the early Zhou Dynasty, passed through seventy-three generations, and was born as Zhang Yazi in Sichuan, residing on Qiqu Mountain in Shu. The Imperial Lord was extremely filial to his mother. When his mother was severely ill with ulcers, he sucked them for her, and at night cut flesh from his own thigh to cook and offer to her, whereupon her illness was cured. Later, during an epidemic, he dreamed that a god bestowed upon him the "Great Cavern Immortal Scripture" and dharma registers, saying they could cure evil and dispel plague; practicing this proved effective. Because the Imperial Lord had been a Confucian scholar for generations, the Heavenly Emperor commanded him to manage the affairs of the celestial bureau's osmanthus registers (guiji, symbolizing the lists of successful exam candidates) and literary glory.

帝君身旁常立天聋、地哑两童子。因帝君为文章之司命，贵贱所系，故用聋哑于侧，使其知者不能言，言者不能知，以保天机不可泄露也。

The Imperial Lord is often flanked by the two attendants, Heavenly Deaf and Earthly Mute. Because the Imperial Lord is the Director of Destinies for literature, upon which nobility and baseness depend, he uses the deaf and mute at his side so that those who know cannot speak, and those who speak cannot know, thus ensuring that celestial secrets are not leaked.

凡人升学考试、升职考试、应聘考试等应试前都可向帝君祈求。帝君能保佑人考运亨通，官秩高迁，智慧聪明，文思敏捷。

Ordinary people can pray to the Imperial Lord before entrance exams, promotion exams, job application exams, and other tests. The Imperial Lord can protect people to have smooth examination luck, high official promotion, wisdom, intelligence, and agile literary thinking.

帝君圣诞农历二月初三日。
The Imperial Lord's Christmas is on the 3rd day of the 2nd lunar month.

五岳大帝
The Great Emperors of the Five Peaks (Wuyue Dadi)

五岳大帝指东岳泰山大帝、南岳衡山大帝、西岳华山大帝、北岳恒山大帝、中岳嵩山大帝。五岳山情水秀，云缠霉绕，地大物博，高峻雄伟，神秘莫测，令人敬佩又令人恐惧。祀之为神，顶礼膜拜。

The Great Emperors of the Five Peaks refer to the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak, Mount Tai (Dongyue Taishan Dadi); the Great Emperor of the Southern Peak, Mount Heng (Nanyue Hengshan Dadi); the Great Emperor of the Western Peak, Mount Hua (Xiyue Huashan Dadi); the Great Emperor of the Northern Peak, Mount Heng (Beiyue Hengshan Dadi); and the Great Emperor of the Central Peak, Mount Song (Zhongyue Songshan Dadi). The Five Peaks have beautiful mountains and waters, wrapped in clouds and mist. They are vast in territory and rich in resources, lofty, majestic, and mysteriously unpredictable, inspiring both awe and fear. They are worshipped as gods and revered with devotion.

（五岳大帝）
(Great Emperors of the Five Peaks)

东岳大帝：东岳泰山为五岳之首。东岳大帝掌“人间贵贱高下之分，禄科长短之事，十八地狱六案簿籍，七十五司生死之期。”大帝辖五千九百神，设置了七十二司，负责管理各项事务。《东岳妙经》演说大帝“气应青阳，位尊震位，独居中界，统摄万灵。掌人间善恶之权，司阴府是非之目，案判七十二曹，刑分三十六狱，惩奸罚恶，灵死注死，化形四岳四天圣帝，抚育六合万物群生。”《后汉书·乌桓传》说：“其俗谓人死，则神游赤山，如中国人死者魂归岱山。”岱山就是指泰山。所以，人们对大帝特别虔诚，希望死后不受酷刑而能幸福。东岳大帝圣诞为农历三月二十八。

Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak: Mount Tai of the Eastern Peak is the head of the Five Peaks. The Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak holds authority over "the distinctions between nobility and baseness, high and low, in the human world; matters of official salary and lifespan; the registers of the eighteen hells and six courts; and the dates of life and death in the seventy-five departments." The Great Emperor governs 5,900 gods and has established seventy-two departments responsible for managing various affairs. The "Wonderful Scripture of the Eastern Peak" expounds that the Emperor's "Qi corresponds to Green Yang, his position尊 corresponds to the Zhen trigram (East). Solely residing in the central realm, he commands the myriad spirits. He holds the power over good and evil in the human world, manages the discernment of right and wrong in the underworld, judges cases in seventy-two bureaus, divides punishments among thirty-six hells, punishes treachery and penalizes evil, determines spirits' death and records death. He transforms into the form of the Sacred Emperors of the Four Peaks and Four Heavens, nurturing the myriad beings of the six directions." The "Book of Later Han - Biography of the Wuhuan" says: "Their custom says that when a person dies, the spirit wanders to Red Mountain, just as Chinese people say the souls of the dead return to Mount Dai." Mount Dai refers to Mount Tai. Therefore, people are especially devout towards the Great Emperor, hoping for happiness after death without severe punishment." The Christmas of the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak is on the 28th day of the 3rd lunar month.

南岳大帝：南岳衡山是五岳之一。南岳大帝主“世界分野之地，兼督鳞甲水族变化等事”。南岳大帝圣诞为农历腊月十六。

Great Emperor of the Southern Peak: Mount Heng of the Southern Peak is one of the Five Peaks. The Great Emperor of the Southern Peak presides over "the earthly divisions corresponding to the celestial fields, and also supervises matters such as the transformations of scaly and armored aquatic creatures." The Christmas of the Great Emperor of the Southern Peak is on the 16th day of the 12th lunar month.

西岳大帝：西岳华山是五岳之一。西岳大帝主“世界珍宝五金之属，陶铸坑冶，兼羽毛飞禽之类”。西岳大帝圣诞为农历十一月初六。

Great Emperor of the Western Peak: Mount Hua of the Western Peak is one of the Five Peaks. The Great Emperor of the Western Peak presides over "the world's treasures and the category of the five metals, pottery, casting, mining, smelting, and also feathered flying birds." The Christmas of the Great Emperor of the Western Peak is on the 6th day of the 11th lunar month.

北岳大帝：北岳恒山是五岳之一。北岳大帝主“世界江河湖海淮济泾渭，兼虎豹走兽之类，虺蛇昆虫，四足多足等属”。北岳大帝圣诞为农历八月初十。

Great Emperor of the Northern Peak: Mount Heng of the Northern Peak is one of the Five Peaks. The Great Emperor of the Northern Peak presides over "the world's rivers, lakes, seas, Huai, Ji, Jing, Wei rivers, and also the category of tigers, leopards, walking beasts, vipers, snakes, insects, four-legged and multi-legged creatures." The Christmas of the Great Emperor of the Northern Peak is on the 10th day of the 8th lunar month.

中岳大帝：中岳嵩山是五岳之一。中岳大帝主“世界土地山川陵谷，兼牛羊食稻”。

Great Emperor of the Central Peak: Mount Song of the Central Peak is one of the Five Peaks. The Great Emperor of the Central Peak presides over "the world's earth, mountains, rivers, mounds, valleys, and also cattle, sheep, and grain-eating [animals?]".

慈航道人
The Daoist of Compassionate Salvation (Cihang Daoren)

慈航道人又称观音大士。大士为妙庄王三公主，自幼好道，王为择婿不从。王命斩之，刀寻段段坏，后于香山修道成仙。王有病之时，大士以眼手为药引，救活了父亲。大士孝感动上天，上天以一偿十，现千手千眼灵感观世音宝相。大士大慈大悲，救苦救难，广大灵感，无刹不现身。

The Daoist of Compassionate Salvation (Cihang Daoren) is also called the Great Being Guanyin (Guanyin Dashi). The Great Being was the third princess of King Wonderful Adornment (Miaozhuang Wang). From childhood, she loved the Dao. The king chose a husband for her, but she refused. The king ordered her execution, but the blades broke into pieces. Later, she cultivated the Dao on Mount Xiang (Fragrant Mountain) and became an immortal. When the king was ill, the Great Being used her eyes and hands as medicine ingredients, saving her father's life. Her filial piety moved heaven, and heaven repaid one with ten, manifesting the precious form of the Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Numinously Responsive Guanyin (Qianshou Qianyan Linggan Guanyin). The Great Being is greatly compassionate, saves from suffering and rescues from difficulties, vastly numinous and responsive, appearing in every place.

《灵宝经》曰：普陀落伽岩潮音洞中有一女真，商王时修道于此，发愿欲度世间男女。后托生南浮妙庄国王家为三女，因哑不能言，被王遗于桑阿空山之中。后与神人会于丹陵之舍，柏林之下。女于赤石上书字：吾姓音，汝虽不言，可忆此文也。神人知其因果，遣朱宫灵童下教治病之术。世人观其姓是音，遂乃称观音。国中大旱，人民焦燎，死者过半，观音祈天降洪水至十丈。妙庄王身患顽疾危在旦夕，求救一老者。老者认为只有亲生女儿的手眼配药才能医治。但自己的两个女儿坚决不允。后知香山有位仙长，有求必应。妙庄王到香山，仙长竟是他失去的三女。仙长二话没说当即挖掉双眼、割断手臂，奉给妙庄王，妙庄王感动而令人在香山修建庙宇。专祀观音。又经八百劫，化一男身，人称慈航道人。归命南海，观音救苦，拔生度死，济物利人。转凶成吉，变祸为祥。作苦海之舟航，为险桥之津梁。众生慈父，万德医王，虔修善果。道教尊称观音大士、慈航道人。

The "Lingbao Scripture" says: In the Tidal Sound Cave of Mount Potalaka, there was a female Perfected One who cultivated the Dao here during the time of the Shang king, vowing to deliver all men and women in the world. Later, she was reborn as the third daughter in the family of King Wonderful Adornment of Nanfu. Because she was mute and could not speak, the king abandoned her in the Kong Mountain of Sang'a. Later, she met a divine being at a house in Danling, under a cypress forest. The girl wrote characters on a red stone: "My surname is Yin. Although you do not speak, you can remember this text." The divine being knew her karmic cause and effect, and sent a numinous boy from the Vermilion Palace down to teach her healing techniques. People saw her surname was Yin (sound), and thus called her Guanyin (Perceiver of Sounds). The country suffered a great drought; people were scorched, and over half died. Guanyin prayed to heaven, which sent a flood ten zhang deep. King Wonderful Adornment was afflicted by a stubborn disease and near death. He sought help from an old man. The old man believed only the hands and eyes of his own daughter used as medicine could cure him. But his two daughters firmly refused. Later, he learned of an immortal elder on Mount Xiang who responded to all requests. King Wonderful Adornment went to Mount Xiang; the immortal elder turned out to be his lost third daughter. Without a word, the elder immediately gouged out her eyes and severed her arms, offering them to the king. Deeply moved, the king ordered a temple built on Mount Xiang dedicated solely to Guanyin. After another eight hundred kalpas, she transformed into a male body, called the Daoist of Compassionate Salvation (Cihang Daoren). Submitting to the Southern Sea, Guanyin saves from suffering, uplifts the living and delivers the dead, aids beings and benefits people. She turns inauspiciousness into auspiciousness, transforms disaster into good fortune. She is the boat and vessel on the sea of suffering, the ford and bridge at the dangerous crossing. The compassionate father of all beings, the king of medicine with myriad virtues, devoutly cultivating good fruit. Taoism尊称 her as the Great Being Guanyin and the Daoist of Compassionate Salvation.

《观音正朝》上说：“修音教主，救苦慈尊。拔生度死，济物利人。灭息刀兵水火之灾，普救疾病公私之难。转凶成吉，变祸为祥。作苦海之舟航，为险桥之津梁。众生慈父，万德医王。”大士神通广大，法力无边，善用不同的法相化度芸芸众生。

The "Proper Liturgy of Guanyin" says: "Leader of the Cultivation of Sound, Compassionate尊 Who Saves from Suffering. Uplifting the living and delivering the dead, aiding beings and benefiting people. Extinguishing the disasters of weaponry, water, and fire, universally saving from the difficulties of disease, public and private. Turning inauspiciousness into auspiciousness, transforming disaster into good fortune. Serving as the boat and vessel on the sea of suffering, the ford and bridge at the dangerous crossing. The compassionate father of all beings, the king of medicine with myriad virtues." The Great Being's supernatural powers are vast, her dharma power boundless. She skillfully uses different Dharma forms to transform and deliver the multitude of beings.

大士圣诞农历二月十九日。
The Great Being's Christmas is on the 19th day of the 2nd lunar month.

财   神
God of Wealth (Caishen)

民间信仰中的财神不可屡计，大概是由于每位神明都有赐予善良的人们福禄、财源的功能，所以财神在民间信仰中的划分并不很明确。道教一般有如下几位财神：文财神比干、范蠡；武财神赵公明、关羽。

The Gods of Wealth in folk belief are too numerous to count, probably because every deity has the function of bestowing blessings, emolument, and wealth sources upon good people, so the classification of Gods of Wealth in folk belief is not very clear. Taoism generally recognizes the following Gods of Wealth: Civil Gods of Wealth: Bi Gan, Fan Li; Martial Gods of Wealth: Zhao Gongming, Guan Yu.

药  王
Medicine King (Yaowang)

孙思邈，亦称孙真人，后世尊之为药王，唐京兆华原（今陕西耀县）孙家塬人，孙思邈大约生于公元542年，卒于公元682年，终年140岁左右。因各地民俗的不同，故信奉的药王还不止一个，其中著名的还有神农，春秋时期的扁鹊，三国时的华佗，韦慈藏、韦善俊、韦古道、河北安国邳彤等。

Sun Simiao, also called the Perfected One Sun (Sun Zhenren), was later尊称为 the Medicine King (Yaowang). He was from Sunjiayuan, Huayuan, Jingzhao (modern Yaoxian, Shaanxi) in the Tang Dynasty. Sun Simiao was born around 542 CE and died in 682 CE, living to about 140 years old. Due to different folk customs across regions, the believed Medicine Kings are more than one. Other famous ones include Shennong, Bian Que of the Spring and Autumn Period, Hua Tuo of the Three Kingdoms period, Wei Cang, Wei Shanjun, Wei Gudao, Pi Tong from Anguo, Hebei, etc.

药王孙真人据《旧唐书》上说真人为京兆华原人，七岁就学，日诵千余文。弱冠，善谈老庄及百家之说，兼好释典。周宣帝时，真人以王室多故，隐居太白山，后隐居终南山，行医修道，隋唐皇帝屡次派人请他出山，均辞谢不往。永淳元年（682）厌世登仙，羽化后数月颜貌不改，体若空衣，时人异之。

According to the "Old Book of Tang," the Perfected One Sun was from Huayuan, Jingzhao. At seven years old, he began studying, reciting over a thousand characters daily. Upon reaching adulthood, he was skilled in discussing Laozi, Zhuangzi, and the theories of the hundred schools, and also fond of Buddhist scriptures. During the time of Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou, due to the many troubles of the royal house, the Perfected One secluded himself on Mount Taibai, later secluding himself on Mount Zhongnan, practicing medicine and cultivating the Dao. Emperors of the Sui and Tang dynasties repeatedly sent people to invite him out of seclusion, but he declined to go. In the first year of Yongchun (682), weary of the world, he ascended as an immortal. Months after his ascension, his facial appearance remained unchanged, and his body was like empty clothing, which people found extraordinary.

《药王忠孝宝卷》上演说了孙真人如何救助白蛇，得道为药王的始末。真人住世之时，曾著有《千金要方》、《千金翼方》、《摄生论》等医学名著，为我国的医学方面做出了极大贡献。药王医道高妙，能起死回生，能治一切疑难杂症。《药王表文》上说“千金济世，方通水国之灵。一匕活人，药应尘寰之疚。提携品汇，拯救多方。降溟渤之蛟龙，道高天汉；伏嶙峋之虎豹，德重地舆。”道教把药王孙真人也称“坐虎针龙”孙真人。针龙是说药王用神针治愈了龙太子的病。坐虎是说药王的坐骑猛虎。原来此虎食一妇人，妇人的发簪卡其喉咙，欲吞不能，欲吐不可。老虎找到药王祈求为自己治病，药王用神力将发簪取出，伤口自然愈合。老虎向慈悲的真人忏悔，表示自己从今以后，断恶修善，随真人修行。自此，老虎成了药王的护法神将。药王的“坐虎针龙”也彰显了“道高龙虎伏，德重鬼神钦”这幅著名对联所表达的精神。

The "Precious Scroll of the Medicine King's Loyalty and Filial Piety" narrates how the Perfected One Sun saved a white snake and ultimately attained the Dao as the Medicine King. During his lifetime, the Perfected One authored medical masterpieces such as "Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold," "Supplement to the Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold," and "Discourse on Nourishing Life," making tremendous contributions to medicine in China. The Medicine King's medical skills were sublime; he could raise the dead and cure all difficult and complicated diseases. The "Medicine King Memorial" says: "A thousand gold aiding the world, his prescriptions connect with the spirits of the water kingdom. A spoonful reviving people, his medicine responds to the ailments of the dusty world. Lifting up the categories of beings, saving in many ways. Subduing the蛟 dragons of the vast sea, his Dao is lofty as the Milky Way; taming the rugged tigers and leopards, his virtue is weighty as the earth's vehicle." Taoism also calls the Medicine King Sun Zhenren "Sun Zhenren Who Rides the Tiger and Needles the Dragon." "Needling the Dragon" refers to the Medicine King using a divine needle to cure the dragon prince's illness. "Riding the Tiger" refers to the Medicine King's mount, a fierce tiger. Originally, this tiger had eaten a woman, and the woman's hairpin got stuck in its throat; it could neither swallow it nor vomit it out. The tiger found the Medicine King, begging him to cure it. The Medicine King used his divine power to remove the hairpin, and the wound healed naturally. The tiger repented before the compassionate Perfected One, vowing from then on to cease evil and cultivate goodness, following the Perfected One in cultivation. From then on, the tiger became the Medicine King's guardian deity general. The Medicine King's "Riding the Tiger and Needling the Dragon" also exemplifies the spirit expressed in the famous couplet: "When the Dao is high, dragons and tigers submit; when virtue is weighty, ghosts and spirits admire."

药王圣诞农历四月廿八日。
The Medicine King's Christmas is on the 28th day of the 4th lunar month.

护法四帅
Four Marshal Guardians (Hufa Sishuai)

道教护法四帅为道教四位十分有名的护法神，是用来驱邪禳灾的四大神将，指马、赵、温、岳四大元帅。在民间颇受人们信仰。

The Four Marshal Guardians of Taoism are four very famous guardian deities, the four great divine generals used for exorcising evil and averting disasters. They refer to the Four Marshals: Ma, Zhao, Wen, and Yue. They are quite popular in folk belief.

马元帅，道教护法四帅之一，名马灵耀。道教常称为华光大帝，又称灵官马元帅、三眼灵光、华光天王、马天君等，为道教护法四帅之一。因生有三只眼，故民间又称“马王爷三只眼”。

Marshal Ma, one of the Four Marshal Guardians of Taoism, is named Ma Lingyao. Taoism often calls him the Great Emperor Huaguang (Huaguang Dadi), also called Marshal Ma the Numinous Officer (Lingguan Ma Yuanshuai), the Three-Eyed Numinous Light (Sanyan Lingguang), the Heavenly King Huaguang (Huaguang Tianwang), Heavenly Lord Ma (Ma Tianjun), etc. Because he was born with three eyes, he is also commonly called "Lord Ma Has Three Eyes" (Ma Wangye San Zhi Yan).

赵元帅即赵公明，又称“黑虎玄坛赵元帅”、“赵玄坛”。道教护法四帅之一。初为恶神，明以后被道教奉为财神。其信仰普及民间。

Marshal Zhao is Zhao Gongming, also called "Marshal Zhao of the Black Tiger and Mysterious Altar" (Heihu Xuantan Zhao Yuanshuai), "Zhao Xuantan." He is one of the Four Marshal Guardians of Taoism. Initially a malevolent god, after the Ming Dynasty, he was revered by Taoism as a God of Wealth. His belief is widespread among the people.

温琼元帅是我国浙江沿海一带颇为有名的尊神之一。他与马、赵、岳同为护法四元帅。温元帅形象较为特别，“蓝靛包巾光满目，翡翠长袍花一簇。朱砂发梁遍通红，青面擦牙形太毒。祥云露露离天宫，狼狼牙妖精尽伏。”

Marshal Wen Qiong is one of the quite famous尊 deities in the coastal areas of Zhejiang, China. He, along with Ma, Zhao, and Yue, is one of the Four Marshal Guardians. Marshal Wen's appearance is rather special: "A blue-dyed turban, light filling the eyes; a jadeite long robe with a cluster of flowers. Vermilion hair and beard entirely red; a blue face with bared teeth, his form extremely fierce. Auspicious clouds dripping, leaving the celestial palace; wolf-like fangs, demonic spirits all subdued."

岳元帅，道教护法四帅之一。岳元帅名岳飞。字鹏举，相州汤阴(今河南)人，其声名事迹可谓是家喻户晓，一首《满江红》至今仍为人们所广泛传颂。他被奸臣秦桧以“莫颁有”的罪名害死后，南宋孝宗淳熙六年(1179年)追谥为“武穆’；宁宗嘉定四年(1211年)追封为“鄂王’。人们普遍敬仰岳飞大义凛然的民族气节，赞颂他精忠报国的英雄业绩，更同情他告冤而死于盛年，所以水远怀念他，奉其为神，立庙祀奉。因为他生前是抗金的大元帅，所以他成神之后，人们仍称之为“岳元帅”。

Marshal Yue, one of the Four Marshal Guardians of Taoism, is named Yue Fei, courtesy name Pengju, from Tangyin, Xiangzhou (modern Henan). His fame and deeds are household knowledge; his poem "Man Jiang Hong" is still widely recited today. After he was wrongfully killed by the treacherous minister Qin Hui on false charges, he was posthumously awarded the title "Wumu" in 1179 by Emperor Xiaozong of the Southern Song, and posthumously enfeoffed as "Prince of E" (E Wang) in 1211 by Emperor Ningzong. People universally admired Yue Fei's righteous national integrity, praised his heroic deeds of serving the country with utmost loyalty, and sympathized with his wrongful death in his prime. Therefore, they forever remember him, revere him as a god, and establish temples to worship him. Because he was a great marshal resisting the Jin during his lifetime, even after becoming a god, people still call him "Marshal Yue."

 

北斗真君
The True Lord of the Northern Dipper (Beidou Zhenjun)

北斗真君又称北斗星君、北斗七元星君。据《太上玄灵北斗本命延生真经》卷一、《太上玄灵北斗本命延生经注》卷上记载，北斗七元星君为：北斗阳明贪狼星君，北斗阴精巨门星君，北斗真人禄存星君，北斗玄冥文曲星君，北斗丹元廉贞星君，北斗北极武曲星君，北斗天关破军星君。

The True Lord of the Northern Dipper (Beidou Zhenjun), also called the Star Lord of the Northern Dipper (Beidou Xingjun) or the Seven Primordial Star Lords of the Northern Dipper (Beidou Qiyuan Xingjun). According to volume 1 of the "True Scripture of the Northern Dipper of the Supreme Mysterious Numen for Prolonging Life Based on Birth" and the commentary thereon, the Seven Primordial Star Lords of the Northern Dipper are: The Star Lord of Yang Brightness and Greedy Wolf of the Northern Dipper; The Star Lord of Yin Essence and Giant Gate of the Northern Dipper; The Star Lord of the True Man and Storehouse of Wealth of the Northern Dipper; The Star Lord of Mysterious Darkness and Literary曲 of the Northern Dipper; The Star Lord of Cinnabar Origin and Pure and Chaste of the Northern Dipper; The Star Lord of the North Pole and Martial曲 of the Northern Dipper; The Star Lord of the Heavenly Gate and Army Breaker of the Northern Dipper.

（北斗真君）
(True Lord of the Northern Dipper)

北斗七星君是斗姥所生，斗姥，即是紫光夫人。 某日，夫人于莲池中沐浴，忽感莲花九朵化生九子。长为天皇大帝，次子为紫微大帝，其余七子为贪狼、巨门，禄存、文曲，廉贞、武曲、破军七星。“二长帝君居紫微垣太虚宫中勾陈之位。”“紫光夫人亦号北斗九真圣德天后，道身玄天大圣真后，……

The Seven Star Lords of the Northern Dipper were born from Doumu, who is Lady of Violet Light (Ziguang Furen). One day, while the Lady was bathing in a lotus pond, she suddenly felt nine lotus flowers transform and give birth to nine sons. The eldest was the Great Heavenly Emperor (Tianhuang Dadi), the second son was the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity (Ziwei Dadi), and the remaining seven sons were the seven stars: Greedy Wolf, Giant Gate, Storehouse of Wealth, Literary曲, Pure and Chaste, Martial曲, and Army Breaker. "The two elder Imperial Lords reside in the position of the Curved Array within the Great Void Palace of the Purple Tenuity Enclosure." "Lady of Violet Light is also called the Heavenly Empress of the Nine True Ones of the Northern Dipper and Sagely Virtue, the True Empress of the Mysterious Heaven Great Sage in her Dao body..."

《太上玄灵北斗本命长生妙经》云：“北斗司生司杀，养物济人之都会也。凡诸有情之人，既禀天地之气，阴阳之令，为男为女，可寿可夭，皆出其北斗之政命也。”

The "Wondrous Scripture of the Northern Dipper of the Supreme Mysterious Numen for Long Life Based on Birth" says: "The Northern Dipper manages life and manages death; it is the metropolis that nurtures things and aids people. All sentient people, since they receive the Qi of heaven and earth and the orders of Yin and Yang, being male or female, capable of longevity or premature death, all come under the administrative mandate of the Northern Dipper."

《道门科范大全集》卷五七亦称北斗七元君：“能解三灾厄、四杀厄、五行厄、六害厄、七伤厄、八难厄、九星厄、夫妻厄、男女厄、产生厄、复连厄、疫疠厄、精邪厄、虎狼厄、虫蛇厄、劫贼厄、枷棒厄、横死厄、咒誓厄、天罗厄、地网厄、水火厄、刀兵厄”等。

Volume 57 of the "Complete Collection of Taoist Ritual Protocols" also states that the Seven Primordial Lords of the Northern Dipper can resolve: the calamity of the three disasters, the calamity of the four killings, the calamity of the five elements, the calamity of the six harms, the calamity of the seven injuries, the calamity of the eight difficulties, the calamity of the nine stars, the calamity of husband and wife, the calamity of sons and daughters, the calamity of childbirth, the calamity of repeated connection (fu lian), the calamity of epidemic pestilence, the calamity of spirit possession, the calamity of tigers and wolves, the calamity of insects and snakes, the calamity of robbers and thieves, the calamity of cangue and club, the calamity of untimely death, the calamity of curses and oaths, the calamity of the heavenly net, the calamity of the earthly net, the calamity of water and fire, the calamity of knife and troops, etc.

北斗七星与天皇大帝、紫微大帝统称为北斗九皇大帝。农历九月初九日是斗姥元君圣诞，九月初一至初九，是九皇大帝圣诞。天下宫观都举行盛大斋醮庆贺圣寿，称之为“九皇圣会”。若有众生虔诚礼拜斗真，则可以消灾解厄，延年益寿。

The seven stars of the Northern Dipper, together with the Great Heavenly Emperor and the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity, are collectively called the Nine Imperial Sovereigns of the Northern Dipper (Beidou Jiuhuang Dadi). The Christmas of Doumu Yuanjun is on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. The 1st to the 9th days of the 9th lunar month are the Christmas of the Nine Imperial Sovereigns. Taoist temples throughout the world hold grand vegetarian feasts and rituals (zhaijiao) to celebrate their sacred birthdays, known as the "Sacred Assembly of the Nine Emperors" (Jiuhuang Shenghui). If living beings devoutly worship the Dipper Deities, they can eliminate disasters, resolve adversities, and prolong their lives.

三台星君
The Star Lords of the Three Platforms (Santai Xingjun)

三台星君即“上台虚精开德星君，中台六淳司空星君，下台曲生司禄星君。三台星君上拱卫紫薇，中和阴阳而理万物，下承万星神众，为众星之宗。

The Star Lords of the Three Platforms (Santai Xingjun) are: The Star Lord of the Upper Platform, Empty Essence, who Opens Virtue (Shangtai Xujing Kaide Xingjun); The Star Lord of the Middle Platform, Six Pureness, Minister of Works (Zhongtai Liuchun Sikong Xingjun); The Star Lord of the Lower Platform,曲 Life, Director of Emolument (Xiatai Qusheng Silu Xingjun). The Three Platform Star Lords above guard and support Purple Tenuity (Ziwei), in the middle harmonize Yin and Yang and order the myriad things, below receive the myriad stellar spirits and masses. They are the ancestors of all stars.

（三台星君）
(Star Lords of the Three Platforms)

三台有六星，两两而起势，横北斗第二星之前，一曰天柱，乃王公之位、在天曰三台，在人曰三公。西近文昌二星曰上台，为司命主寿；次二星曰中台，为司中主宗室；东二星为下台，为司禄主兵。又曰上台司命为太尉，中台司中为司徒，下台司禄为司空。一曰泰阶上台上星护助天子，下星为女后；中台上星为诸侯，下星为卿大夫，下台上星为士，下星主庶人，所以和阴阳而理万物也。

The Three Platforms have six stars, rising in pairs, located transversely in front of the second star of the Northern Dipper. One is called the Celestial Pillar (Tianzhu), which is the position of princes and dukes. In heaven, they are called the Three Platforms; in humans, they are called the Three Dukes (Sangong). The two stars near Wenchang in the west are called the Upper Platform, they are the Director of Destinies (Siming), governing lifespan; the next two stars are called the Middle Platform, they are the Director of the Center (Sizhong), governing the imperial clan; the two eastern stars are the Lower Platform, they are the Director of Emolument (Silu), governing military affairs. It is also said: the Upper Platform, Director of Destinies, is the Grand Commandant (Taiwei); the Middle Platform, Director of the Center, is the Minister of Education (Situ); the Lower Platform, Director of Emolument, is the Minister of Works (Sikong). Another saying: On the Great Step (Taijie), the upper star of the Upper Platform protects and assists the Son of Heaven, the lower star is for the empress; the upper star of the Middle Platform is for feudal lords, the lower star is for ministers and grandees; the upper star of the Lower Platform is for scholars, the lower star governs commoners. Thus, they harmonize Yin and Yang and order the myriad things.

三台秉持自身之职能，上安天子，下顾黎民，修持自身，又能教化世人，不器于自身，不拘束于自身，动静相合，阴阳互生，故能居中天之大化，和阴阳而理万物。

The Three Platforms uphold their own functions: above, they pacify the Son of Heaven; below, they care for the common people. They cultivate themselves and can also teach and transform the world. Not limited by their own forms, not constrained by themselves, movement and stillness combine, Yin and Yang mutually generate. Therefore, they can reside in the great transformation of the central heaven, harmonize Yin and Yang, and order the myriad things.

四值功曹
The Four Duty Officers (Sizhi Gongcao)

四值功曹是道教所奉的的天庭中值年﹑值月﹑值日﹑值时四神。相当于天界的值班神仙。这四神分别是值年神李丙、值月神黄承乙、值日神周登、值时神刘洪.

The Four Duty Officers (Sizhi Gongcao) are the four gods in the Taoist celestial court responsible for the duty year, duty month, duty day, and duty hour. They are equivalent to the duty officers of the celestial realm. These four gods are respectively: the God on Yearly Duty, Li Bing; the God on Monthly Duty, Huang Chengyi; the God on Daily Duty, Zhou Deng; and the God on Hourly Duty, Liu Hong.

四值功曹职掌三界十方的功过，向玉皇大帝禀告。四值功曹还是专管公文传送的官职，他也是凡人与众神灵间的联络者，凡是人间“上达天廷”的表文，焚烧后就是由四值功曹“呈送”

The Four Duty Officers are in charge of recording the merits and faults within the Three Realms and Ten Directions, reporting them to the Jade Emperor. The Four Duty Officers are also officials专门 responsible for delivering documents. They are the liaisons between ordinary people and the multitude of spirits. Any memorial from the human world that is "submitted upward to the celestial court" is, after being burned, "presented" by the Four Duty Officers.

王灵官
Marshal Wang Lingguan (Wang Lingguan)

进入道教的宫观，山门内的第一座殿往往为灵官殿，殿内供奉着一位赤面髯须，身披金甲红袍，三目怒视，左持风火轮，右举钢鞭，形象极其威武勇猛，令人畏惧的神仙，他就是道教的护法神将王灵官，又称“火车灵官王元帅”、“ 豁落火车王灵官”、“玉枢火府天将王灵官”、“隆恩真君”。

Entering a Taoist temple, the first hall inside the mountain gate is often the Lingguan Hall. Enshrined inside is a deity with a red face and bearded须, wearing golden armor and a red robe, three eyes glaring angrily, holding a wind-fire wheel in his left hand and raising a steel whip in his right hand. His image is extremely majestic, fierce, and awe-inspiring. He is the Taoist guardian deity general, Wang Lingguan, also called "Marshal Wang, the Numinous Officer of the Fire Chariot" (Huoche Lingguan Wang Yuanshuai), "Wang Lingguan of the Fire Chariot of the Luminous Fall" (Huoluo Huoche Wang Lingguan), "Celestial General Wang Lingguan of the Jade Pivot Fire Mansion" (Yushu Huofu Tianjiang Wang Lingguan), and "True Lord of Abundant Kindness" (Long'en Zhenjun).

据明清时期的神仙传记称，王灵官原名王恶，湘阴浮梁之庙神，因其吞噬童男童女，为西河的第三十代天师虚靖真人的弟子萨守坚，飞符火焚，将王恶烧成火眼金睛。王恶不服，奏告于天庭。玉皇大帝即赐慧眼并金鞭，准其阴随萨真人，察有过错，即可报复前仇。十二年间，王恶以慧眼观察无遗，竟无过错可归咎于萨真人。后至闽中，拜萨真人为师，誓佐行持。萨真人乃以“善”易其名，改王恶为王善，并且奏告天庭，录为雷部三五火车雷公，又称豁落灵官。

According to deity biographies from the Ming and Qing periods, Wang Lingguan was originally named Wang E (Wang Evil), a temple god in Fuliang, Xiangyin. Because he devoured boys and girls, he was burned by flying talismans and fire by Sa Shoujian, a disciple of the 30th Celestial Master Xu Jing of Xihe, which burned Wang E into having fiery eyes and golden pupils (火眼金睛). Wang E was不服 and appealed to the celestial court. The Jade Emperor then bestowed upon him a wisdom eye and a golden whip, permitting him to secretly follow the Perfected One Sa and observe any faults, so he could seek revenge. For twelve years, Wang E observed with his wisdom eye without omission, but found no fault to blame on the Perfected One Sa. Later, in central Fujian, he bowed to the Perfected One Sa as his teacher, vowing to assist him in his practices. The Perfected One Sa then changed his name from "E" (Evil) to "Shan" (Good), changing Wang E to Wang Shan (Wang Good), and reported to the celestial court, where he was registered as the Thunder Duke of the Three Fives Fire Chariot of the Thunder Ministry (Lei Bu Sanwu Huoche Leigong), also called the Luminous Fall Numinous Officer (Huoluo Lingguan).

四大天师
The Four Great Celestial Masters (Sida Tianshi)

四大天师，即张天师张道陵，许天师许逊，萨天师萨守坚，葛天师葛玄，道教尊为四大天师。

The Four Great Celestial Masters (Sida Tianshi) are: Celestial Master Zhang Daoling, Celestial Master Xu Xun, Celestial Master Sa Shoujian, and Celestial Master Ge Xuan. Taoism venerates them as the Four Great Celestial Masters.

（四大天师）
(Four Great Celestial Masters)

张天师,本名张陵(34－157年），字辅汉，号天师，尊称为张道陵。他于东汉末年创建五斗米道。正一真人是太上老君授予他的称号。又称“降魔护道天尊”，“高明大帝”，“正一真人”，“祖天师”。

Celestial Master Zhang, originally named Zhang Ling (34-157 CE), courtesy name Fuhan, titled Celestial Master (Tianshi),尊称为 Zhang Daoling. He founded the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice (Wudoumi Dao) in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. The title "Perfected One of Orthodox Unity" (Zhengyi Zhenren) was bestowed upon him by the Supreme Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun). He is also called the "Heavenly Worthy Who Subdues Demons and Protects the Dao" (Xiangmo Hudao Tianzun), the "Great Emperor of High Brilliance" (Gaoming Dadi), the "Perfected One of Orthodox Unity" (Zhengyi Zhenren), and the "Ancestral Celestial Master" (Zu Tianshi).

 

许天师，为晋代道士许逊，字敬之，南昌(今江西)人，又称“许真君”。

Celestial Master Xu was the Jin Dynasty Taoist Xu Xun, courtesy name Jingzhi, from Nanchang (modern Jiangxi). He is also called "Perfected One Xu" (Xu Zhenjun).

萨天师，又称萨真人，崇恩真君。相传为宋代著名道士萨守坚，号全阳子。一说为蜀西河(今四川崇宁县西)人，一说南华(南华山今广东曲江县南，南华山在今山东东明县东南)人。元赵道一《历世真仙体道通鉴》云：“自称汾阳萨客。”

Celestial Master Sa, also called the Perfected One Sa (Sa Zhenren), and the True Lord of Revered Kindness (Chong'en Zhenjun). Traditionally, he is the famous Song Dynasty Taoist Sa Shoujian, style name Quanyangzi. Some say he was from Western River, Shu (west of modern Chongning County, Sichuan); others say from Nanhua (Mount Nanhua south of modern Qujiang County, Guangdong; or Mount Nanhua southeast of modern Dongming County, Shandong). Zhao Daoyi's Yuan Dynasty work "Comprehensive Mirror of Perfected Immortals and Those Who Embody the Dao Through the Ages" says: "He called himself the Sa Guest from Fenyang."

葛天师，名玄，字孝先。丹阳句容(今江苏句窖市)人。三国时的方士，据《抱朴子》记载，曾经从左慈学道，修炼道术，受《九鼎丹经》、《太清丹经》、《金液丹经》等，并受诸秘诀，后以之俱传郑隐。相传他曾在江西阁皂山修道，常辟谷服饵，擅符咒诸法，能用符箓为人驱病辟耶。道教尊其为“葛仙公”，又称“太极左仙公”。梁陶景《真灵位业图》将其列为第三层。

Celestial Master Ge, named Ge Xuan, courtesy name Xiaoxian. From Jurong, Danyang (modern Jurong City, Jiangsu). A fangshi (master of esoteric arts) of the Three Kingdoms period. According to the "Baopuzi," he studied the Dao from Zuo Ci, cultivated Daoist arts, received the "Scripture of the Nine Tripod Elixir," "Scripture of the Great Clarity Elixir," "Scripture of the Golden Liquid Elixir," etc., and received various secret formulas, later transmitting them all to Zheng Yin. He is said to have cultivated the Dao on Mount Gezao in Jiangxi, often practiced abstention from grains and ingested supplements, was skilled in talismans, spells, and various methods, and could use talismans to heal illnesses and ward off evil for people. Taoism尊称 him as "Immortal Lord Ge" (Ge Xiangong), also called "Left Immortal Lord of the Great Ultimate" (Taiji Zuo Xiangong). Tao Hongjing's Liang Dynasty work "Chart of the Ranks and Functions of the True Spirits" places him in the third rank.

 

碧霞元君
The Primordial Lord of the Colored Clouds (Bixia Yuanjun)

碧霞元君又称“泰山玉女”，全称“东岳泰山天仙玉女碧霞元君”，民间俗称为“泰山奶奶”。道教所奉女仙尊神之一。

The Primordial Lord of the Colored Clouds (Bixia Yuanjun) is also called the "Jade Maiden of Mount Tai" (Taishan Yünü), fully titled "Heavenly Immortal Jade Maiden of Mount Tai of the Eastern Peak, the Primordial Lord of the Colored Clouds" (Dongyue Taishan Tianxian Yünü Bixia Yuanjun). Commonly known among the people as the "Grandmother of Mount Tai" (Taishan Nainai). She is one of the尊 female immortals venerated in Taoism.

碧霞元君，为东岳大帝的女儿，神通广大，祷之则灵。主司农耕、经商、旅行、婚姻、生育并能治病救人。《道藏》上说元君乃天仙降世，神功莫测，受玉帝之命，证位天仙，统岳府之神兵，察人间之善恶，罪福照报，感应速彰。

Bixia Yuanjun is the daughter of the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak. Her supernatural powers are vast, and prayers to her are efficacious. She primarily oversees farming, commerce, travel, marriage, childbirth, and can also heal illnesses and save people. The Taoist Canon says the Primordial Lord is a heavenly immortal descended into the world, her divine powers unfathomable. Receiving the Jade Emperor's command, she verified her position as a heavenly immortal, commands the divine troops of the Peak Mansion, investigates the good and evil in the human world, with retribution for sin and blessing clear and swift, her responses quickly manifested.

因碧霞元君神通广大，尤其能使妇女生子，儿童无恙。民间旧时妇女信仰碧霞元君特别虔诚，不仅在泰山有庙，在各地也建有许多“娘娘庙”，并常在左右配祀送子娘娘、催生娘娘、眼光娘娘、天花娘娘等四位娘娘。这种信仰至今仍很兴旺，人们仍不辞劳苦登上泰山绝顶，许愿还愿，向其祈祷，香火不断。

Because Bixia Yuanjun's powers are vast, especially in enabling women to bear children and keeping children safe, women in old times had特别虔诚 faith in her. Not only is there a temple on Mount Tai, but "Goddess Temples" (Niangniang Miao) were built everywhere, often with four attendant goddesses: the Goddess Who Bestows Children (Songzi Niangniang), the Goddess Who Hastens Birth (Cuisheng Niangniang), the Goddess of Eyesight (Yanguang Niangniang), and the Goddess of Smallpox (Tianhua Niangniang). This belief remains prosperous today; people still take the trouble to climb to the summit of Mount Tai to make vows, fulfill vows, pray to her, with incense offerings continuously.

关圣帝君
The Imperial Lord Guan Sheng (Guan Sheng Dijun) [Guan Yu]

关圣帝君，即在中国道教神话传说和民间信仰的三国时期蜀国大将——关羽，五虎上将之首，字云长，美须髯，武勇绝伦，与刘备、张飞结义于桃园，即所谓桃园三结义。平定西蜀，督师荆州，曾经大破曹军，他的忠义大节，永垂青史。

The Imperial Lord Guan Sheng (Guan Sheng Dijun) refers to the Shu Kingdom general from the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese Taoist mythology and folk belief—Guan Yu, the head of the Five Tiger Generals, courtesy name Yunchang, with beautiful beard and mustache, peerlessly brave and martial. He swore brotherhood with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei in the Peach Garden, the so-called Peach Garden Oath. He pacified Western Shu, commanded forces in Jingzhou, and once severely defeated Cao Cao's army. His loyalty and righteousness are eternally recorded in history.

关帝有司命禄、佑科举，治病除灾、驱邪避恶，巡察冥司等多种法力。据《三国志》上说：关羽字云长，仪表威武，武艺超群。关帝是一位义结千秋，忠贞不二的英雄好汉，“桃园结义”是江湖义气的楷模，倍受人们崇拜。有幅对联赞曰：汉朝忠义无双士，千古英雄第一人。关帝的前生是龙神转世。《历代神仙通鉴》上说：关帝生前是雷首山泽的龙神，因吸黄河水救济抗旱灾民，得罪天庭，后转世于人，“忠义性成，神圣之质。”

Lord Guan has various dharma powers such as controlling fate and emolument, protecting imperial examinations, healing illnesses and eliminating disasters, exorcising evil and avoiding harm, inspecting the underworld courts, etc. According to the "Records of the Three Kingdoms": Guan Yu, courtesy name Yunchang, had a majestic appearance and exceptional martial skills. Lord Guan is a heroic figure whose righteousness binds through the ages, loyal and steadfast. The "Peach Garden Oath" is a model of righteous spirit in the martial world, greatly admired by people. A couplet praises him: "The Han dynasty's peerless scholar of loyalty and righteousness; the number one hero through the ages." Lord Guan's previous life was a dragon god转世. The "Comprehensive Mirror of Successive Generations of Deities and Immortals" says: Lord Guan was originally a dragon god of the Thunder Head Mountain Marsh in his previous life. Because he sucked water from the Yellow River to relieve drought-stricken people, he offended the celestial court, and was later reborn as a human, "his nature formed from loyalty and righteousness, possessing a sacred quality."

关圣帝君曾在家乡从商，以贩卖布匹为业。生前精於理财之道，最擅长算数记账，曾设簿记法，并发明日清簿，这是一种清楚的记账法，即为现今一般商人所使用的流水账。关公所用的青龙偃月刀，十分锋利，与生意上求“利”同音，求之获“利”。一般合伙做生意，最重义气和信用，关羽信义俱全，因此被後世商人尊为商业守护神，及视他为保佑人们发财的武财神。

The Imperial Lord Guan Sheng was once engaged in business in his hometown, trading cloth. During his lifetime, he was adept at financial management, especially skilled in calculation and bookkeeping. He established a bookkeeping method and invented the daily clear ledger (riqingbu), a clear accounting method which is the running account used by merchants today. The Green Dragon Crescent Moon Blade used by Lord Guan is very sharp, and the word for "sharp" (利 li) is homophonous with "profit" (利 li) in business, seeking it brings "profit." Generally, in partnership businesses, righteousness and credit are most valued. Guan Yu possessed both trustworthiness and righteousness, therefore he is尊称为 by later generations of merchants as the guardian god of commerce, and regarded as the Martial God of Wealth who保佑 people to get rich.

关帝圣诞为农历六月二十四日。
Lord Guan's Christmas is on the 24th day of the 6th lunar month.

 

福禄寿三星君
The Three Star Lords of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity (Fulu Shou San Xingjun)

三星，即福、禄、寿三位星君。福禄寿三星高照，象征着家庭的喜庆和吉祥、荣华和富贵、平安和健康。

The Three Stars (Sanxing) refer to the three Star Lords: Fortune (Fu), Prosperity (Lu), and Longevity (Shou). The high shining of the Three Stars Fu, Lu, and Shou symbolizes family joy and auspiciousness, glory and wealth, peace and health.

福星，又名木星，俗称岁星，寓意着岁中有福。有的地方认为福星就是三官中的天官大帝。福星的形象是身穿官服，系大红袍带，脚穿厚底靴，慈眉善目，长须飘飘。他的左右常有飞舞的蝙蝠，寓意天降吉祥、命中来福。

The Star of Fortune (Fuxing), also called the Wood Star (Muxing, Jupiter), commonly known as the Year Star (Suixing), implies fortune within the year. Some places believe the Star of Fortune is the Official of Heaven from the Three Officials. The image of the Star of Fortune is wearing official robes, tied with a large red sash, wearing thick-soled boots, with kind eyebrows and benevolent eyes, a long flowing beard. He is often flanked by flying bats, symbolizing heaven bestowing auspiciousness and destiny bringing fortune.

禄星，为北斗七星中的司禄星，掌管着人间的富贵和贫贱。人们相信只要禄星当临，就一定能够得到荣华和富贵。禄星的形象是一副员外打扮，手持羽毛扇，身着绣有大红牡丹的衣帽，慈祥温和，喜气洋洋。

The Star of Prosperity (Luxing) is the Director of Emolument Star (Silu Xing) among the seven stars of the Northern Dipper, governing wealth, nobility, poverty, and baseness in the human world. People believe that as long as the Star of Prosperity is present, one can certainly obtain glory and wealth. The image of the Star of Prosperity is dressed as a wealthy gentleman, holding a feather fan, wearing clothes and hat embroidered with large red peonies, kind and gentle, full of joy.

寿星，为南极老人星，道教也称南极仙翁。他掌管着人们的寿命长短。其形象是长长的白胡子，面色红润，笑容可掬，最为突出的是他高高凸起的额头。一手拄着拐杖，一手拿着仙桃，身边常有仙鹤、神鹿相伴。

The Star of Longevity (Shouxing) is the Old Man Star of the South Pole (Nanji Laorenxing), also called the Old Immortal of the South Pole (Nanji Xianweng) in Taoism. He governs the length of people's lifespans. His image features a long white beard, a ruddy complexion, a beaming smile, and most prominently, his highly protruding forehead. He leans on a staff with one hand and holds a peach of immortality in the other, often accompanied by a crane and a divine deer.

福、禄、寿三星，民间信仰十分广泛，都希望家宅吉祥、富贵、健康和长寿。故在祝寿时都喜欢送寿桃、三星图以及写有“福如东海长流水，寿比南山不老松”的对联，以示庆贺和祝福。

The Three Stars of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity have very widespread folk belief. People hope for household auspiciousness, wealth, health, and longevity. Therefore, during birthday celebrations, people like to give peaches of longevity, pictures of the Three Stars, and couplets such as "May your happiness be as deep as the eastern sea and ever-flowing; may your longevity compare to the southern mountain's ageless pine" to express celebration and blessings.

土地神
The God of the Land (Tudi Shen)

土地神又称土地公或土地爷，在民间信仰极为普遍，是民间信仰中的地方保护神，流行于全国各地，凡有人群居住的地方就有祀奉土地神的现象存在。

The God of the Land (Tudi Shen), also called the Duke of the Land (Tudigong) or the Grandpa of the Land (Tudiye), is extremely common in folk belief. He is the local protective deity in folk belief, popular throughout China. Wherever there are people living, there is worship of the God of the Land.

土地神源于古代的“社神”，是管理一小块地面的神。《公羊传》注曰：“社者，土地之主也。”汉应昭《风俗通史·祀典》引《孝纬经》曰：“社者，土地之主，土地广博，不可遍敬，故封土为社而祀之，报功也。”清翟灏《通惜编·神鬼》：“今凡社神，俱呼土地。”般商时期，祭祀土地神即祭祀大地，因而土地神更多地带有自然属性。据《礼记·祭法》载，同时祭祀土地神已有等级之分，文称：“王为群姓立社曰大社，诸侯为百姓立社日国社，诸侯自立社曰侯社，大夫以下成群立社曰暑社。”汉武帝时将“后土皇地祗”奉为总司土地的最高神，各地仍祀本处土地神 。

The God of the Land originates from the ancient "She Shen" (God of the Soil Altar), a god managing a small piece of land. The commentary on the "Gongyang Zhuan" says: "She is the master of the land." Ying Shao's Han Dynasty work "Comprehensive Meaning of Customs - Sacrificial Canon" quotes the "Classic of Filial Piety Weft" saying: "She is the master of the land. The land is vast and cannot be universally revered, therefore heaped earth is made into a she and sacrificed to, to repay its merits." Zhai Hao's Qing Dynasty work "Tongxi Bian - Gods and Ghosts" says: "Nowadays, all She Shen are called Tudi." During the Shang Dynasty, sacrificing to the God of the Land meant sacrificing to the earth itself, so the God of the Land had more natural attributes. According to the "Book of Rites - Sacrificial Methods," there were already grades in sacrificing to the God of the Land at that time, the text says: "The king establishes a she for the multitude of surnames called the Great She; feudal lords establish a she for the hundred surnames called the State She; feudal lords establish their own she called the Hou She; below grandees, groups establish a she called the Shu She." During Emperor Wu of Han's time, the "Queen Earth, Imperial Earthly Deity" (Houtu Huang Dizhi) was revered as the highest deity in charge of the land overall, but各地 still sacrificed to their local God of the Land.

土地神的形象大都衣着朴实，平易近人，慈祥可亲，多为须发全白的老者。一般土地庙中，除塑土地神外，尚塑其配偶，惜称“土地奶奶”，与土地神共受香火供奉，没有特殊职司。玉皇在其诞辰日的下午回鸾返回天宫。是时道教宫观内均要举行隆重的庆贺科仪。土地公是商人崇拜的财神，每个月的初二、十六，都要祭拜土地公，称 为『做迓』（或做牙）。农历二 月二日叫做『头迓』，十二月十六日叫做『尾迓』，尤其尾牙商家更是为了答谢员工一年的辛苦，请吃『尾牙』宴。

The image of the God of the Land is mostly simply dressed, approachable, kind and amiable, often an old man with completely white hair and beard. In一般的 land god temples, besides the statue of the God of the Land, there is also his配偶, affectionately called the "Grandma of the Land" (Tudi Nainai), who receives incense offerings together with the God of the Land, without special duties. The Jade Emperor returns to the celestial palace in the afternoon of his birthday. At that time, Taoist temples hold grand celebration rituals. The Duke of the Land is also worshipped as a God of Wealth by merchants. On the 2nd and 16th days of every month, they make offerings to the Duke of the Land, called 'doing Ya' (Zuo Ya). The 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month is called 'Head Ya' (Tou Ya), and the 16th day of the 12th lunar month is called 'Tail Ya' (Wei Ya). Especially for the Tail Ya, businesses thank their employees for a year's hard work by hosting a 'Tail Ya' banquet.

天妃娘娘
The Heavenly Consort (Tianfei Niangniang) [Mazu]

天妃娘娘，亦称“天后娘娘”、“天后”、“天上圣母”、简称“天妃”，俗称“妈祖娘娘”。是历代船工、海员、旅客、商人和渔民共同信奉的神祗。古代在海上航行经常受到风浪的袭击而船沉人亡，船员的安全成航海者的主要问题，他们把希望寄托于神灵的保佑。在船舶启航前要先祭天妃，祈求保佑顺风和安全，在船舶上还立天妃神位供奉。

The Heavenly Consort (Tianfei Niangniang), also called the "Queen of Heaven" (Tianhou Niangniang), "Heavenly Queen" (Tianhou), "Holy Mother in Heaven" (Tianshang Shengmu), abbreviated as "Heavenly Consort" (Tianfei), commonly known as "Goddess Mazu" (Mazu Niangniang). She is the deity commonly believed in by boatmen, sailors, travelers, merchants, and fishermen throughout history. In ancient times, sea voyages were often attacked by storms, resulting in shipwrecks and deaths. The safety of the crew was the main concern for navigators, who placed their hopes on divine protection. Before setting sail, offerings were made to the Heavenly Consort, praying for favorable winds and safety. A shrine for the Heavenly Consort was also set up on the ship for worship.

天妃本姓林名默，世居福建莆田湄洲屿。因出生一个多月，未曾啼哭，故而得其名曰默。其父林愿，曾任宋代都巡检，林默在家最小，长得眉清目秀，聪明惹人喜爱。据《古今图书集成·神异典》卷二八按《莆田县志》云：林默出生时，“而地变紫，有祥光异香”。《三裁搜神大全》卷四则说：林默母陈氏，尝梦南海慈航，与之优钵花，吞之，已而孕，十四月始娩身得妃，诞之日异香闻里许，经旬不散。林默则满周岁时，在襁褓中看见诸神像，叉手作欲拜状。五岁能诵《慈航经》十一岁能婆娑按节乐神。少年时，一日在家静思熟读诗书，偶见一怪异道人从门前过，心中顿悟，拜之为师，得“玄微真法”。故长大后，能通悟秘法，预知休咎，乡民若以病告，辄意。可见林默还是个巫医式的人物，而她最大的本领则常在海上得以灵验。

The Heavenly Consort's original surname was Lin, named Mo, whose family lived for generations on Meizhou Island, Putian, Fujian. Because she did not cry for over a month after birth, she was named Mo (Silent). Her father, Lin Yuan, once held the position of Chief Inspector in the Song Dynasty. Lin Mo was the youngest at home, with clear eyebrows and beautiful eyes, clever and adorable. According to the "Complete Collection of Illustrations and Writings from the Earliest to Current Times - Canon of Gods and Miracles" volume 28, citing the "Putian County Gazetteer": When Lin Mo was born, "the ground turned purple, there was auspicious light and strange fragrance." The "Complete Collection of Gods and Their Manifestations" volume 4 says: Lin Mo's mother, née Chen, once dreamed of the Compassionate Ferry of the Southern Sea (Nanhai Cihang), who gave her an Udumbara flower; she swallowed it and subsequently became pregnant, giving birth to the Consort after fourteen months. On the day of her birth, a strange fragrance could be smelled for over a li, lasting for ten days without dispersing. When Lin Mo was one year old, she saw various deity statues in her swaddling clothes and clasped her hands as if wanting to bow. At five, she could recite the "Compassionate Ferry Scripture"; at eleven, she could dance in time to please the gods. In her youth, one day while quietly contemplating and diligently reading texts at home, she偶然 saw a strange Daoist passing by the door; she suddenly had an

钟  馗
Zhong Kui

钟馗，中国道教神祇，道教中称翊圣雷霆驱魔辟邪镇宅赐福帝君，简称“镇宅真君”、“驱魔真君”、“驱魔帝君”，其为长安鄠邑终南山欢乐谷人。另一说是由逐鬼法器“终葵”而来。“终葵”为逐鬼之物，被取为人名作辟邪之用。中国江南的道教信仰，伏魔大帝关圣帝君、荡魔天尊真武帝君、与驱魔真君钟馗帝君，合称为三伏魔帝君，为降妖伏魔的三大神祇。

Zhong Kui is a Chinese Taoist deity. In Taoism, he is called the Imperial Lord Who Assists the Sage, Thunderous, Drives Out Demons, Exorcises Evil, Protects the Home, and Bestows Blessings (Yisheng Leiting Qumo Pixie Zhenzhai Cifu Dijun), abbreviated as "True Lord Who Protects Homes" (Zhenzhai Zhenjun), "True Lord Who Drives Out Demons" (Qumo Zhenjun), or "Imperial Lord Who Drives Out Demons" (Qumo Dijun). He is said to be from Happy Valley (Huanlegu) on Mount Zhongnan in Hu County, near Chang'an. Another theory suggests his name derives from the demon-expelling ritual object "Zhongkui." The "Zhongkui" was an object used to exorcise ghosts, and its name was adopted for a person used for辟邪 (warding off evil). In the Taoist beliefs of Southern China, the Demon Subduing Great Emperor Lord Guan (Fumo Dadi Guan Sheng Dijun), the Demon Vanquishing Heavenly Worthy True Warrior Imperial Lord (Dangmo Tianzun Zhenwu Dijun), and the Demon Driving True Lord Zhong Kui Imperial Lord (Qumo Zhenjun Zhong Kui Dijun) are collectively called the Three Demon-Subduing Imperial Lords (San Fumo Dijun), the three great deities who subdue demons and monsters.

《唐逸史》说唐明皇病中梦见小鬼偷去玉笛和杨贵妃的绣番囊，正当值怒时见一满面虬髯大鬼，挖下小鬼的眼珠吞掉。此鬼自称南山钟馗，高祖年间应考武举人，但因其貌不扬落第，羞愤撞殿前石阶而死。蒙高祖赐缘袍陪葬，钟馗化鬼后誓要为大唐斩妖除魔。唐明皇醒后，病不药而愈，遂向吴道子忆述梦中所见，并命其绘出钟馗像，颁布天下。民间亦挂其画像驱鬼避邪。

The "Unofficial History of the Tang" says that Emperor Minghuang of Tang, while ill, dreamed that a small ghost stole his jade flute and Yang Guifei's embroidered perfume pouch. Just as he was enraged, he saw a large ghost with a full face of curly beard, who dug out the small ghost's eyeballs and swallowed them. This ghost claimed to be Zhong Kui from South Mountain (Zhongnan), who during Emperor Gaozu's reign had taken the military imperial examinations but failed due to his ugly appearance. Ashamed and angry, he killed himself by crashing against the stone steps in front of the palace hall. He was honored by Emperor Gaozu with a green robe for burial. After becoming a ghost, Zhong Kui vowed to behead demons and drive out evil for the Great Tang. When Emperor Minghuang awoke, his illness was cured without medicine. He then described what he saw in the dream to the painter Wu Daozi and ordered him to paint a portrait of Zhong Kui, which was promulgated throughout the land. People also hang his image to drive away ghosts and avoid evil.

钟馗的形象许多，一般是豹头虎面，龙额鱼眼，脸上大把虬髯，身着官服，头戴乌纱帽，一手仗剑，一手持扇，脚踏恶鬼。或有小鬼在旁为其提印、撑伞、背葫芦。另外钟馗身边常随一蝙蝠，代表为其侦查邪魔恶鬼，“蝠”也象征“福”。

There are many depictions of Zhong Kui. Generally, he has a leopard's head and tiger's face, a dragon's forehead and fish's eyes, a large curly beard on his face, wears official robes, a black gauze cap, holds a sword in one hand and a fan in the other, and treads on evil ghosts. Sometimes small ghosts are beside him, holding his seal, holding an umbrella, or carrying a gourd. Additionally, Zhong Kui is often accompanied by a bat, representing its role in scouting for evil demons and ghosts; the word for "bat" (蝠 fu) also symbolizes "blessing" (福 fu).

酆都大帝
Yama of Fengdu (Fengdu Dadi)

酆都大帝又称“酆都北阴大帝”，是道教阴府地狱的最高神灵。

The Yama of Fengdu (Fengdu Dadi), also called the "Great Emperor of the Northern Yin of Fengdu" (Fengdu Beiyin Dadi), is the highest deity of the underworld hells in Taoism.

（酆都大帝）
(Yama of Fengdu)

《山海经》中的记载，称度朔山上有大桃木，出幡三千里，其枝问东北叫鬼门，为万鬼出入的地方，门上有二神人，一叫神荼，一叫郁垒，主阅领万鬼。《太平经》中亦有阴府召人灵魂考人魂魄的说法，文曰：“大阴法曹，计所承负，除算减年。算尽之后，召地阴神，并召土府，收取形骸，考其魂神。”晋葛洪《枕中书》亦云：“张衡杨云为北方鬼帝，治罗酆山。”其实葛洪在《元始上真众仙记》中还记载了“五方鬼帝”，文称：东方鬼帝治桃止山，南方鬼帝治罗浮山，西方鬼帝治幡冢山，中央鬼帝治抱犊山；而北方鬼帝为张衡杨云，治罗酆山。后来梁陶弘景在《真灵位业图》和《真诰》中将“酆都大帝”描绘得就较为系统了，《真灵位业图》神阶第七位即为酆都北阴大帝，注云：“炎帝大庭氏，讳庆甲，为天下鬼神之宗，治罗酆山，三千年而一替。”

The "Classic of Mountains and Seas" records that on Mount Dushuo there was a great peach tree, its branches stretching out for three thousand li. Its northeast-facing branches were called the Ghost Gate, the place where myriad ghosts entered and exited. Above the gate were two divine figures, one named Shen Shu and the other Yu Lu, responsible for inspecting and leading the myriad ghosts. The "Scripture of Great Peace" (Taiping Jing) also mentions the underworld summoning human souls to examine them: "The Court of the Great Yin calculates the inherited burden [of deeds], reduces the tally and subtracts years [from life]. After the tally is exhausted, it summons the earthly Yin spirits and also the Earth Mansion to collect the body and examine the soul and spirit." Ge Hong's Jin Dynasty work "Book of the Pillow" (Zhongshu) also states: "Zhang Heng and Yang Yun are the Ghost Emperors of the North, governing Mount Luofeng." Actually, in his "Records of the Primordial Beginning's Supreme Perfected and Multitude of Immortals," Ge Hong also recorded the "Five Directional Ghost Emperors": the Ghost Emperor of the East governs Mount Taozhi; the Ghost Emperor of the South governs Mount Luofu; the Ghost Emperor of the West governs Mount Bozhong; the Ghost Emperor of the Center governs Mount Baodu; and the Ghost Emperor of the North is Zhang Heng and Yang Yun, governing Mount Luofeng. Later, Tao Hongjing of the Liang Dynasty described the "Yama of Fengdu" more systematically in his "Chart of the Ranks and Functions of the True Spirits" (Zhenling Weiye Tu) and "Declarations of the Perfected" (Zhengao). In the "Chart," the seventh rank is the Great Emperor of the Northern Yin of Fengdu, with a note: "The Flame Emperor of the Great Hall Clan, named Qing Jia, is the ancestor of all ghosts and spirits under heaven, governing Mount Luofeng, replaced every three thousand years."

灶  神
Kitchen God (Zaoshen / Zaojun)

灶神，又称“灶君”、“灶王”、“灶王爷”、“灶界”、“灶界老爷”、“东厨司命”等，因其特殊的地位和作用，在民间信仰极为昔遍，自汉代以来无论是在宫廷还是在民间，信仰都十分虔诚。

The Kitchen God (Zaoshen or Zaojun), also called "Stove Lord," "Stove King," "Stove Prince," "Stove Realm," "Stove Realm Master," "Director of Destinies of the Eastern Kitchen," etc., holds a special position and role. Belief in him is extremely widespread in folk religion, and since the Han Dynasty, devotion has been very虔诚, both in the imperial court and among the common people.

道教称灶君为“昆仑老母”或“云种火老母”、“种火老母元君”。其实据道经记载，灶神因时因地因职而有别。《灶王经》云：“东方青帝灶君，南方赤帝灶君，西方白帝灶君，北方黑帝灶君，中央黄帝灶君。五方五帝灶君夫人。天厨灵灶神君，地厨神灶神君，曾灶祖灶神君，灶公灶母神君，灶夫灶妇神君，灶子灶孙神君，灶家姊妹媳妇眷属神君，灶下炊涛神女，运火左右将军，进火神母，游火童子，天帝娇男，地常娇女，囱中童子童男童女。”其中“五方五帝灶君”为专门的灶君，“五方游奕灶君”为闲散灶君，“灶子灶孙神君”为家族灶君，“炊涛神女、运火将军、进火神母、游火童子”为灶之衙门，各司其职，连烟囱也有童子存在，保护正常工作。

Taoism refers to the Kitchen God as the "Kunlun Old Mother" (Kunlun Laomu) or "Cloud-Sown Fire Old Mother" (Yun Zhonghuo Laomu) or "Primordial Lord of the Sown Fire Old Mother" (Zhonghuo Laomu Yuanjun). Actually, according to Taoist scriptures, the Kitchen God varies by time, place, and function. The "Kitchen God Scripture" (Zaowang Jing) says: "The Green Emperor Kitchen God of the East, the Red Emperor Kitchen God of the South, the White Emperor Kitchen God of the West, the Black Emperor Kitchen God of the North, the Yellow Emperor Kitchen God of the Center. The Wives of the Five Directional Five Emperor Kitchen Gods. The Divine Kitchen Numinous Stove God, the Earthly Kitchen Divine Stove God, the Ancestral Stove God, the Stove Duke and Stove Mother Gods, the Stove Husband and Stove Wife Gods, the Stove Son and Stove Grandson Gods, the Stove Family Sisters, Wives, and Kinship Gods, the Stove-side Cooking Wave Divine Maiden, the Left and Right Fire-Transporting Generals, the Fire-Introducing Divine Mother, the Wandering Fire Youths, the Heavenly Emperor's Pampered Boys, the Earth's Constant Pampered Girls, the Youths, Boys, and Girls in the Chimney." Among these, the "Five Directional Five Emperor Kitchen Gods" are the specific Kitchen Gods, the "Five Directional Wandering Kitchen Gods" are the idle Kitchen Gods, the "Stove Son and Stove Grandson Gods" are the family Kitchen Gods, and the "Cooking Wave Divine Maiden, Fire-Transporting Generals, Fire-Introducing Divine Mother, Wandering Fire Youths" form the Stove's bureaucracy, each with its own duty. Even the chimney has youths present to protect its proper functioning.

广成子
Guangchengzi

广成子，黄帝时期汝州人，住临汝镇崆峒山上。位居道教“十二金仙”之首。广成子活了1200岁后升天，在崆峒山留下了两个升天时的大脚印。广成子是太上老君的化身，《太上老君开天经》：“黄帝之时，老君下为师，号曰广成子。消自阴阳，作《道戒经》、《道德经》。黄帝以来，始有君臣父子，尊卑以别，贵贱有殊。

Guangchengzi was from Ruzhou during the time of the Yellow Emperor and lived on Mount Kongtong in Linru Town. He ranks first among the Taoist "Twelve Golden Immortals." Guangchengzi lived for 1200 years before ascending to heaven, leaving two large footprints on Mount Kongtong from his ascension. Guangchengzi is an incarnation of the Supreme Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun). The "Supreme Lord Lao's Scripture of Opening Heaven" states: "During the time of the Yellow Emperor, Lord Lao descended to be a teacher, named Guangchengzi. He explained Yin and Yang, composed the 'Scripture of Dao Precepts' and the 'Scripture of the Dao and Its Virtue.' Since the Yellow Emperor, there began to be rulers and ministers, fathers and sons, distinctions between noble and base, and differences between esteemed and humble."

广成子是古代的一位神仙，住在汝州西南崆峒山的一个石洞里。黄帝听说后曾专程去拜访他，向他请教修炼道术的要诀。广成子对黄帝说，“你所治理的天下，候鸟不到迁徙的季节就飞走，草木还没黄就凋落了，我和你这样的人有什么好谈呢？”黄帝回去后三个月不理朝政，什么事都不干，然后又去见广成子，很恭敬的跪着走到广成子面前，再三叩拜求教修身的方法。广成子回答说：“修道所达到最高境界就是心中一片空漠，即看不见什么，也听不见什么。凝神静修，你的肉体必然就会十分洁净，你的心神也会非常清爽。不是你的身体劳顿，不是你的精神分散，你就可以长生。注重内心的修养，排除完结的干扰，知道过多的俗事会败坏你的真性。我能牢牢的专注于养性，永远心境平和清净无为，所以活了一千二百岁，而形体上没有一点衰老的迹象。得到我道术的可以成为君王，失去我道术的只能成为凡俗之辈。我的道将把你引向无穷之门，游于无极的原野，与日月同辉，与天地共存。凡人都将死去，而得我道的人却会长存于天地之间”。

Guangchengzi was an ancient immortal who lived in a stone cave on Mount Kongtong, southwest of Ruzhou. The Yellow Emperor heard about him and made a special trip to visit him, seeking the essential secrets of cultivating the Dao. Guangchengzi said to the Yellow Emperor, "The world you govern: migratory birds fly away before the season, plants and trees wither before turning yellow. What could I have to discuss with someone like you?" The Yellow Emperor returned and for three months ignored state affairs, doing nothing. Then he went to see Guangchengzi again, walking respectfully on his knees to approach him, bowing repeatedly to seek the method of cultivating the body. Guangchengzi replied: "The highest state achieved by cultivating the Dao is a vast emptiness in the heart, where one sees nothing and hears nothing. By concentrating the spirit in tranquil cultivation, your body will inevitably become very pure, and your mind will become exceedingly clear. It is not that your body is wearied, nor your spirit distracted; [in this state] you can achieve long life. Focus on inner cultivation, eliminate external disturbances, and know that excessive worldly affairs will damage your true nature. I can firmly concentrate on nurturing my nature, forever peaceful in heart, serene and non-acting (qingjing wuwei). Therefore, I have lived twelve hundred years without any sign of aging in my form. Those who obtain my Dao arts can become sovereigns; those who lose my Dao arts can only become ordinary people. My Dao will lead you to the gate of infinity, wandering in the fields of the limitless, shining with the sun and moon, coexisting with heaven and earth. All mortals will die, but those who obtain my Dao will endure between heaven and earth."

火德荧惑星君
The Fire Virtue Sparkling Delusion Star Lord (Huode Yinghuo Xingjun)

火德荧惑星君全称“南方火德荧惑执法星君”姓皓空，名维淳，字散融，夫人名华凝，字玄罗，居洞阳宫或治明离宫。

The Fire Virtue Sparkling Delusion Star Lord (Huode Yinghuo Xingjun), fully titled the "Star Lord of the South, Fire Virtue, Sparkling Delusion, Upholder of the Law" (Nanfang Huode Yinghuo Zhifa Xingjun), has the surname Haokong, given name Weichun, courtesy name Sanrong. His wife's name is Huaning, courtesy name Xuanluo. They reside in the Cavernous Yang Palace (Dongyang Gong) or govern the Luminous Li Palace (Mingli Gong).

《还丹众仙论》称，“荧惑星者，火也，火之精得木星之炁”。 
宋代李思聪《洞渊集》卷7称，“南方火德荧惑星君，火之精，赤帝之子，执法之星，其精下降为风伯之神，常以十月人太微受事。光照八十万里，径约一百里，二年一周天。星君戴星冠，蹑朱履，衣朱霞鹤寿之衣，执玉简，垂七星金剑，白玉环珮。管人间火焰，众虫、凤凰、鸡雉、乌鹊、百劳群飞鸟雀之类，火德昭彰，巡行天下。”

The "Discourse of the Assembled Immortals on the Reverted Elixir" (Huan Dan Zhong Xian Lun) states, "The Sparkling Delusion star (Yinghuo, Mars) is fire; the essence of fire obtains the Qi of the Wood Star (Jupiter)." Volume 7 of Li Sicong's Song Dynasty work "Cavernous Abyss Collection" (Dong Yuan Ji) says: "The Star Lord of the South, Fire Virtue, Sparkling Delusion is the essence of fire, the son of the Red Emperor, the star that upholds the law. Its essence descends to become the God of the Wind Master. It often enters the Great Tenuity (Taiwei) in the tenth month to receive duties. Its light shines for 800,000 li, its diameter is about 100 li, and it circles the heavens every two years. The Star Lord wears a star crown, treads in vermilion shoes, is clothed in garments of red mist and crane longevity, holds a jade tablet, and has a seven-star golden sword and white jade pendants hanging. He governs human affairs related to flames, various insects, phoenixes, chickens, pheasants, magpies, thrushes, and flocks of flying birds and sparrows. The Fire Virtue is manifest and illustrious as he patrols the world."

《太上说玄天大圣真武本传神咒妙经注》卷1称，“南方荧惑主礼，生丙丁，化烟火，司夏令，宰匾毛羽翼千种卵生之禽，凡二岁纬一周天”。 
《元始天尊說十一大曜消灾神咒经》：火星真君神咒：芒角森龙凤，威光叱十方。丹罡耀五夜，朱火焰叁边。晶明符正炁，剑戟焕兵权。搀抢应灭跡，孛彗敢当前。

Volume 1 of the "Commentary on the Supreme Lord Lao's Wondrous Scripture of the True Warrior's Original Legend and Divine Spells" states: "The Southern Sparkling Delusion presides over propriety (Li), generates Bing-Ding [Fire], transforms into smoke and fire, manages the Summer Order, and governs the thousand kinds of thin-feathered, winged, egg-born birds. It completes its circuit through the heavens in two years." The "Scripture of the Eleven Luminaries' Disaster-Averting Divine Spells Spoken by the Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning" contains the Divine Spell of the Fire Star True Lord: "Awe-inspiring rays teem with dragon and phoenix, majestic light rebukes the ten directions. The cinnabar firmament illuminates the five watches, vermilion flames blaze through the three borders. Crystalline brightness accords with upright Qi, swords and halberds gleam with military power. The Comet (Chancqiang) should vanish without trace, the fluffy comet (Bo) dares not approach."

以上为中国道教神话中的部分人物
The above are some characters from Chinese Taoist mythology