Yuanshi Tianzun
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Yuanshi Tianzun (Chinese: 元始天尊; pinyin: Yuánshǐ Tīanzūn), the Celestial Venerable of the Primordial Beginning or the Primeval Lord of Heaven, is one of the highest deities of Taoism. He is one of the Three Pure Ones (Chinese: 三清; pinyin: Sānqīng) and is also known as the Jade Pure One (Chinese: 玉清; pinyin: Yùqīng). He resides in the Great Web[1] or the Heaven of Jade Purity. It is believed that he came into being at the beginning of the universe as a result of the merging of pure breaths. He then created Heaven and Earth.
In Taoist mythology
He once was the supreme administrator of Heaven, but later entrusted that task to his assistant Yuhuang, the Jade Emperor. Yuhuang took over the administrative duties of Yuanshi Tianzun and became the overseer of both Heaven and Earth. At the beginning of each age, Yuanshi Tianzun transports the Lingpao ching (or "Yuanshi Ching"), the Scriptures of the Magic Jewel, to his students (who are lesser deities), who in turn instruct mankind in the teachings of the Tao.
Yuanshi Tianzun is said to be without beginning and the most supreme of all beings. He is in fact, a representation of the principle of all being. From him all things arose. He is eternal, limitless, and without form.
Yuanshi Tianzun was thought to be able to control the present.[2]
Role in Fengshen Yanyi
In the famous 16th-century "
Worship
Taoists claim that sacrifices offered to Yuanshi Tianzun by the king predate the
The ten stages of the ritual were:[4]
- Welcoming deities
- Offering of jade and silk
- Offering of sacrificial food
- First offering of wine
- Second offering of wine
- Last offering of wine
- Retreat of civil dancers and entry of military dancers
- Performance of the military dance
- Farewell to deities
- Burning of sacrificial articles
It is important to note that Yuanshi Tianzun is never represented with either images or idols. Instead, in the center building of the Temple of Heaven, in a structure called the "Imperial Vault of Heaven", a "spirit tablet" (神位, or shénwèi) inscribed with the name of Yuanshi Tianzun is stored on the throne, Huangtian Shangdi (皇天上帝). During an annual sacrifice, the emperor would carry these tablets to the north part of the Temple of Heaven, a place called the "Prayer Hall For Good Harvests", and place them on that throne.[5]
The highest heaven in some historic Chinese religious organizations was the "Great Web" which was sometimes said to be where Yuanshi Tianzun lived.[1]
See also
Counterparts of Yuanshi Tianzun in other Asian cultures
- Jade Emperor, the Chinese folk counterpart
- Adi Buddha, the Buddhistcounterpart
- Amenominakanushi, the Japanesecounterpart
- Haneullim, the Koreancounterpart
- Vishnu/Shiva, the Hindu counterpart
- Mongoliancounterpart
Notes
- ^ For instance, the Classic of History records the Duke of Zhou building an altar in the southern part of Luo.[citation needed]
- ^ Although the Duke of Zhou is presented as sacrificing two.
References
Citations
- ^ a b Storm, Rachel (2011). Sudell, Helen (ed.). Myths & Legends of India, Egypt, China & Japan (2nd ed.). Wigston, Leicestershire: Lorenz Books. p. 233.
- )
- ^ Xu Yahui. Caltonhill, Mark & al., trans. Ancient Chinese Writing: Oracle Bone Inscriptions from the Ruins of Yin. Academia Sinica. Nat'l Palace Museum (Taipei), 2002. Govt. Publ. No. 1009100250.
- ^ Lam, Joseph S.C. 1998. State Sacrifices and Music in Ming China: Orthodoxy, Creativity, and Expressiveness. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
- ^ "JSDJ".
Sources
- Xu Zhonglin or Lu Xixing. "Ch. 15". 封神演義 [Investiture of the Gods] (in Literary Chinese). pp. 173–174.