Three Pristine One
The most venerable deities of the Taoist religion are the Three Pristine One, namely the Primeval Lord of Heaven, the Heavenly Lord of Numinous Treasure, and the Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue. The Primeval Lord of Heaven resides in the Jade Purity Realm of in the 35th qing-wei heaven, the Heavenly Lord of Numinous Treasure resides in the High Purity Realm in the 34th yu-yu heaven, and the Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue resides in the Supreme Purity Realm in the 33rd da-chi heaven. Together, their realms are known as the Sacred Realms of the Three Pristine Ones, are also referred to as the Three Jewels. The Primeval Lord of Heaven represents the 1st Jewel, which is the great Dao: the Heavenly Lord of Numinous Treasure represents the 2nd Jewel, which is the sacred scriptures: and the Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue represents the 3rd Jewel, which is the master. Followers of the Taoism formally become a Taoist after seeking refuge in “the great Dao the sacred scriptures, and the master”.
The Primeval Lord of Heaven
Former life was Pangu and the Primeval King of Heaven. Primeval Lord of Heaven exists eternally. Every time Heaven and Earth come into being, he inaugurates the new kalpa and saves people by teaching them the secret Dao. Occupied the middle position of the Three Pristine Ones (San Qing), sculpture of the Primeval Lord of Heaven with a Pearl of Original Chaos in his hand, symbolizes the state of chaos “Wu Ji”. “In the great chaos before Yin and Yang divided, no form existed. Without Heaven and Earth, and the sun and moon, it was like a chaotic and blackist-yellow egg”. This is known as the first big century.
Holy birthday of the Primeval Lord of Heaven: winter solstice.
The Heavenly Lord of the Numinous Treasure
“The essence of vital breath of the jade morning and purple clouds of best auspices, combined with the Original Spirit and dwelt in the mother’s womb, and were transformed into a man”. The Heavenly Lord of the Numinous Treasure was born from the Vital Breath of the Dao, saves people by using the Laws of the Numinous Treasure. He has 36 transformations and 72 apparitions, and can correspond immediately to the wishes of the people in tens of thousands of places. Sculpture of the Heavenly Lord of the Numinous Treasure appears to the left of the Primeval Lord of Heaven, with an S-Shaped Ornamental Object in his hand, symbolizes “The egg hatched, then Yin and Yang began to separate. The lighter, most pure substances Yang floated upward and became the heaven. The heavier, more impure substances Ying descended and became the earth”. This is known as the second big century.
Holy birthday of the Heavenly Lord of the Numinous Treasure: summer solstice
The Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue
The Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue was born before Heaven and Earth, and descended to the mortal world as Lao Zi, a great Chinese philosopher. Taoist scriptures mentioned that one of the San Qing, Dao De, came to Lao Zi’s mother. She was a princess and dreamt that a god entered her body. After conceiving for 81 years, she gave birth through her armpit to Lao Zi and died after giving birth. The child was name Lao Zi. Lao Zi was once served as archivist in the Imperial Library in Zhou dynasty. He was a great thinker, philosopher and founder of Taoism. He composed the famous book “daodejing” (i.e. “Classic of the Way and the Virtue”), and used it to educate later generations. “Daodejing” was praised by celebrities throughout history, and there were many commentary interpretations of the scripture. Today “daodejing” has been translated into dozens of languages, and is circulated around the world. It is enlightening people from all nations. Sculpture of the Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue appears to the right of the Primeval Lord of Heaven, as a white-haired and white-bearded elder man with a feather fan in his hand, symbolizes “heaven and earth grew everyday until the heaven was higher and the earth was thicker, and they would never join again. New life formed”. This is known as the third big century.
Holy birthday of the Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue: 15th of the 2nd lunar month
Jade Emperor
Is the Great Jade Emperor, and is also called Grandpa Heaven by folk people in Taiwan and Fujian. Full name is “’Most Venerable Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Golden Palace”. Ranks below the Three Pristine Ones, Jade Emperor is the emperor of all heavens, king of all Immortals, and lord of saints, the highest divinity of the ten thousand spirits in the three realms and of all Immortals of the Three Grottoes. He has the power to order the Immortals of the Nine Heavens and to invoke the spirits of the four seas and five sacred mountains. Jade Emperor makes an inspection tour every New Year’s Eve and rewards or punishes people who do good or evil. The holy birthday of Jade Emperor is the 9th of the first month of the lunar calendar. Usually in temples a grand Ritual Assembly is held to celebrate it while the people gather to burn incense. This ceremony is called “Jade Emperor Assembly”.
Holy birthday of Jade Emperor: 9th of the 1st lunar month.
The Golden Mother of the Jasper Lake
Is popularly called the Queen Mother of the West, complete names are “Great Void Nine fold Glory Golden Mother of the Tortoise Platform” or “the Nine-Soul Great Sublimity Golden Mother of the Tortoise Mountain ”. The Golden Mother of the Jasper Lake was born out of the Most Perfect Vital Breath of the Eastern Essence, holds a high position in Taoism. As leader of Female Immortals, the Golden Mother of the Jasper Lake dwells at the capital Kunlun Mountain and summons all the spirits. She and the Grandpa King of the East administer the two Vital Breaths Yin and Yang together and nourish all things in Heaven and Earth. All women who have attained immortality in the three realms and ten directions, in Heaven or in the human world, are under her rule. She is also in charged of marriages and childbirth on the Earth.
Holy birthday of the Golden Mother of the Jasper Lake: 18th of the 17th lunar month
3rd of the 3rd lunar month is “Peach Banquet”
Celestial Master of Orthodox Oneness
(also called Zhang Daoling Tianshi)
Celestial Master of Orthodox Oneness, Zhang Daoling was born in 34 CE, and was a native of Fengxian County in Jiangsu Province and an eighth-generation grandson of Zhang Liang. He was regarded as the founder of religious Taoism. From 126 CE to 144 CE, Zhang Daoling practiced Dao in Heming Mountain in Sichuan Province, honored the supreme Venerable Sovereign Taishang Laojun, and treated “daodejing” (i.e. “Classic of the Way and the Virtue”) as canon. He founded the first regular Taoist community. A major change instituted by the new Covenant was the rejection of food and animal sacrifices. Also, the teachings of Laozi as transmitted by Zhang Daoling included the first true Taoist religious pantheon as distinguished from the prior ancient religion of China. It is said that Zhang Daoling did not die. He ascended to heaven with his wife and two disciples. As immortal, he is also known as the “Ancestral Celestial Master” or “Celestial Master Zhang”. Descendants of Celestial Master Zhang Daoling resided in Longhu Mountain in Sichuan Province and carried on the title of “Celestial Master”.
Holy birthday of Celestial Master of Orthodox Oneness: 15th day of the 1st lunar month.