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Taoism Mythology

terryboy

Member
First Generation
Chuang Shi Yuan Ling - The Primordial Spirit who created the beginning, was the only 'awaken' one when there was nothing. He suffered unimaginable loneliness and he recruited 4 disciples; an earthworm, an eel, a snake and a human. To each of them he taught different 'method'

Second Generation
Hong Jun Lao Zu - The Great Balance Ancestor, also known as the Saint of Mystery of Mysteries, was an earthworm, cultivated 'Mysterious Pure Chi' and attained Tao. There's a saying in Chinese, 先有鸿钧,后有天, meaning there was Hong Jun and after that Heaven, means that HJLZ existed before Heaven. HJLZ is the teacher of the 3 Pure Ones, and is often considered the originator of Tao, some say HJLZ himself is Tao.

Hun Dun Zu Shi - The Teacher Ancestor of Chaos, was an eel, cultivated 'Mysterious Spiritual Chi'. HDZS had 2 disciples, 接引道人 (JieYing DaoRen) and 准提道人 (ZhunTi DaoRen). The first was said to have been Tathagata Buddha and the latter, Boddhi Buddha.

Nu Wa Niang Niang - was a snake, a female deity, cultivated 'Mysterious Emptiness Chi'. She was said to be introvert and compassionate. After the creation of earth, Nuwa was feeling lonely, so she fashioned little beings in the image of her little brother from clay and water and breathed life into those beings. The humans she created came to life and started talking and she was happy.

Lu Ya Zhen Ren - was a human, cultivated 'mysterious bright chi'. Human was fashioned in his image by NuWa. The characters of humans were also made to be like his. Nobody in heaven or earth knows where he is or what he does. He's not within the 3 religions, not in the paradise, not in the human realm, not in the underworld realm.
 

bobhikes

Nondetermined
Premium Member
Point of note, You are talking about the mythology for the religions based on the Tao not the Tao itself.
 

DreadFish

Cosmic Vagabond
It's interesting. I wonder how these kinds of things were developed when they obviously go against the teachings that Lao Tzu wrote down? I suppose people who just didnt know what they were doing. :shrug:
 

terryboy

Member
The 3 pure ones

1. Yuan Shi Tian Zun - The Heavenly Lord or Primordial Beginning is the god who 'opened' the heaven and earth. That was when he was called 'PanGu', he died of exhaustion afterwards but reincarnated into YSTZ. He cultivated 'Jadely Pure Qi' which was passed to him by HJLZ. He's depicted as the one holding a pearl 混元珠. His birthday falls on the first day of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and he is usually worshiped on winter solstice.

2. Ling Bao Tian Zun - The Heavenly Lord of Treasures and Divinities was said to be the one who separated Yang from Yin. Cultivated 'Supreme Pure Qi'. He's commonly depicted holding a staff 玉如意 (staff of wish). His birthday falls on summer solstice and he's worshiped at the same time.

3. Tao De Tian Zun - The Heavenly Lord of Virtues and Tao is responsible for passing (spreading) Tao. He cultivated 'Grand Pure Qi' LaoZu is said to be one of his reincarnations / avatars. He's depicted holding a fan 太极扇 Fan of TaiJi. His birthday falls on the 15th day of the second month of the Chinese lunar calendar and he's worshiped on the same day.
 
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terryboy

Member
The 4 Imperials

1. Yu Huang Da Di - The Great Emperor of Jade Sovereign, initially was a kind and virtuous deity. He tried to help as many beings as he could and he realized he couldn't really help too many due to his limited power. So he to went into a cave and cultivated Tao for a few million years (some says under the tutelage of YSTZ) and when he came out he defeated the Heavenly Demon 天魔. The three pure ones then made him the ruler in heaven due to his power and virtues. Birthday: 9th day of the 1st month - Lunar Calendar

2. Zi Wei Da Di - The Great Emperor of Polaris. He controls the motions of heaven, earth and stars and lead the deities in heaven.
Birthday: 18th day of the 4th month - Lunar Calendar

3. Gou Chen Da Di - The Great Emperor of Curved Array (the big dipper constellation). He rules over the constellations in both hemispheres. Control the affairs of beings in human realm. Is often associated with military affair, is also the God of War.
Birthday: unknown

4. Hou Tu Niang Niang - The Royal Empress of Earth, rules over earthly deities, birth of Yin and Yang, the beauty of ten thousand of beings mountains and rivers.
Birthday: 18th day of 10th month - Lunar Calendar
 
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