The difference between Yuanshi Tianzun and Qibao Tianzun

The formation of the name "Yuanshi Tianzun"

Although Yuanshi Tianzun has a high status, records are later than Taishang Laojun. In the early days of the formation of Taoism, there was no such thing as "Yuanshi Tianzun". There is no record in the "Taiping Jing" or "Laozi Xiang'er Zhu", and there is no origin in Chinese myths and legends. According to Taoist records: the first name "Yuanshi" appeared in Jin Gehong's "Zhenzhong". "Book", the book records: Before the chaos opened, there was the essence of heaven and earth, named "Yuanshi Tianwang", swimming in it. After the two rites were separated, Yuanshi Tianwang lived in the center of the sky, looking up to absorb the weather and drinking from the earth's spring. After several kalpas, he communicated with the Jade Girl of Taiyuan and gave birth to the Queen Mother of the West. The Emperor of Heaven begat the Emperor of Earth, and the Emperor of Earth begat the Emperor of Humans. Later, Pa Xi and Shen Nong were all descendants of Miao. He also said: "The Qibao Mountain in Yujing of Xuandu is in Da. Above Luo, there are three palaces: upper, middle and lower. The upper palace is ruled by Pangu Zhenren, the Yuanshi Heavenly King, and Taiyuan Our Lady. "At this time, there was only the title of Yuanshi Tianzun. It was not until the Southern Dynasties that Liang Tao Hongjing's "True Spirit Position and Industry Map" had the title of "Yuanshi Tianzun". The first-order median god in the book was "Shangtai Xuhuang Daojun". It should be called "Yuanshi Tianzun", mainly called "Yuqingjing Yuanshi Tianzun", but there is also a "Yuanshi Tianzun" in the book, listed as the fourth god from the left in "Sui Shu·Jing Ji Zhi IV". The Yuanshi Tianzun said that he was "born before the Taiyuan Dynasty" based on the characteristics of the gods. "The body of the Tianzun always exists and is immortal. Every time when the heaven and earth first open, he teaches the secret way, which is called opening tribulations and saving people." However, the beginning of the tribulation did not last for one time, so there were Yankang, Chiming, Longhan, and Kaihuang, which were their reign names. They were separated by four billion years, and all of them were of the highest rank among the immortals. There was Taishang Laojun. , the Supreme Father-in-Law, the True Emperor of Heaven, the Five Emperors of the Five Directions and all Immortal Officials."

The meaning of the name "Yuanshi Tianzun"

About the name of Yuanshi Tianzun, because he was born before chaos , the beginning of Taiwu, the beginning of vitality, so it is called "Yuanshi". Volume 23 of "Ji Xue Ji" quotes "Tai Xuan Zhen Yin Ji Jing" to explain: "No sect is supreme, but it is the beginning of all things." Named Yuanshi. Everything in the destiny path is extremely noble, and it always resides in the two pure realms, emerging from all the heavens, so it is called Tianzun. "Tongjian of the Immortals of the Past Dynasties" says: "The Yuan is the origin." The beginning is the beginning, the innate Qi. "It is believed that Yuanshi is the original origin and is above all gods, so it is called "Tianzun".

The image of Yuanshi Tianzun and its status among Taoist gods

"Zhenzun" compiled by Tao Hongjing The "Spiritual Position and Industry Map" states that Yuanshi Tianzun is located in the top "Da Luo Tian" of the thirty-six heavens, and the immortal mansion he lives in is called "Xuandu Jade Capital". In the Jade Capital, the ground is paved with gold, the steps are jade, and the palace is. There are seven treasures and precious jade, and the immortal king, immortal father, immortal minister, immortal uncle, immortal doctor, etc. live in the center and the immortal halls on both sides. All the gods and immortals must go to the Jade Clear Realm on time to worship Yuanshi Tianzun

According to the "Tongjian of the Immortals of the Past Dynasties", Yuanshi Tianzun "carries a round light on his head and is clothed in seventy-two colors." Therefore, the Yuanshi Tianzun enshrined in the Taoist Sanqing Hall generally has a divine light on his head, holds millet beads in his hand, or has a hollow left hand. Nian, holding it empty in the right hand, symbolizes the "infinite state" when "the heaven and the earth have not been formed, chaos has not opened, and all things have not been born" and the first century of "the time of chaos, yin and yang have not been judged", so the yang is born, the yin is descended, and the day is The short and long winter solstice is the Christmas day of Yuanshi Tianzun

The highest god believed in by the Shangqing sect of Taoism

The Shangqing sect believes that Taishang Laojun, Lingbao Tianzun, and Tianzhenhuangren are all the gods. , the five heavenly emperors and other gods were all saved by the Yuanshi Tianzun. The "True Spirit Position and Industry Map" written by Tao Hongjing, the master of the Shangqing Sect, divided the gods in the heaven and earth into seven levels. The middle level of the first level is the highest. Position: "Shanghe Xuhuang Daojun should be named Yuanshi Tianzun", thus formally establishing Yuanshi Tianzun's exclusive status in the Qing sect of Maoshan and even the entire Taoist system, and also by calling Yuanshi Tianzun "Shanghe Xuhuang Daojun" , which ensured the status of the early Shangqing deities, Shangxu emperors and Taojuns.