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Super God of Originality
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"Super
God" is a title for
the most distinguished
heavenly Gods in Taoism.
There are not so many
gods can be bestowed the
title "Super God".
While the three Qings,
i.e., Yuqing Super God
of Originality, Shangqing
Linbao Super God and Taiqing
Super God of Moral, are
among the group. The celestial
residences of the three
gods are called Yuqing,
Shangqing and Taiqing
Territory.
Among the three Qings,
Super God of Originality
has the highest official
rank, for he is the forefather
of all the Gods in the
Taoism. The Word originality
is a term to describe
the source or root of
the universe. Later according
to this word the Taoists
transfer it to an image
as the most distinguished
God. In Taoist books,
Super God of Originality
is said to live on the
thirty-sixth layer of
Heaven. And He has existed
before all the things
are created, never vanished
and will be eternal. He
will descend from Heaven
to teach people and transmit
knowledge to human beings
when a new world is set
up. Super God of Originality
is generally worshiped
in the middle of the statues
of the three |
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gods. Over
his head mysterious light broods.
Body in the robe, he wears an
upright coronet. His left hand
is seemingly grabbing something
while the right hand is upward
and half-opened. The gestures
symbolize the state of chaotic
and unformed universe. |
Super
God of Holy Mist
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Super
God of Holy Mist is the
next to Super God of Originality,
also called Taishang Taoist.
According to Taoist documents,
he was born from the elementary
materials before the world
was set up. It is said
that he originated from
the light and nutrition
of the sun and moon, smoke
and mist of the universe,
and was born after he
stayed in the belly of
the universe for 3700
years. He has been living
in the mysterious jade
mansion in the Shangqing
territory, escorted by
30,000 virginal boys and
girls respectively. He
has saved uncountable
sinful people from the
hellish situation. He
is said to be able to
exist in 36 different
states and 72 sub-states.
In fact, he is almost
omnipresent
In the temple, his statue
is usually put on the
left hand to that of Super
God of Originality. In
his hand there is a Taiji
Chart or a Jade Ruyi that
symbolizes auspiciousness. |
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Among
the Three Qings, Super
God of Moral is the most
well known. At the beginning,
Super God of Moral is
also called Taishang Laojun,
an honorable title for
Laozi, Li-Er, the founder
of the school of Taoism
before the Qin Dynasty.
Because he was born with
complete white hairs,
so people gave him a name
Laozi, means an old man.
According to Taoist scripts,
it was Laozi who spread
the essence of Taoism,
which exists before the
existence of world, can
function as the root of
the royal family and the
guidebook for cultivating
immortals. He employed
his unusual wisdom to
write down the 5,000 words
Book of Moral (Book of
Virtue). In the process
of the history, all walks
of people, such as militarist,
law researcher, diplomatist,
boxer and astrologist,
etc. from the Book, have
sought the inspiration
and encouragement, sources
and principals of their
theories and regulations.
While Taoism has taken
Book of Moral as the holy
scripts, given great amount
of illustrations from
the perspectives of the
conception of laws and
Virtue and formed their
unique principals of theology.
And on the basis of the
principles, Taoism has
formed their own doctrines
and creeds by derivation
and deduction. |
By apotheosis and added
explanations of generations,
Laozi has already been
canonized as a super God
of opening a new era.
He has white hairs, an
affable smile and a divine
fan in his hand.
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He
is the supervisor of all
the Gods and the creator
of the World. The Chinese
Yu refers to the word
"Imperial" which
is exclusive for the emperor.
In Taoism, Emperor Jade,
the highest emperor in
heaven, is in charge of
heaven, the earth and
the waters, all the affairs
in all the four directions
and all the lives.
The antitype of Emperor
Jade originated from the
ancient adoration to heavenly
emperor. In the primitive
societies, the people
venerated the natural
Gods of the sun, the earth,
the thunder and the lightning;
therefore, omnipotent
heavenly emperor, who
takes charge of the other
gods, appeared. Later
canonized by the rulers
of all dynasties, that
emperor became the most
distinguished almighty
Emperor Jade in charge
of the universe and all
creatures. |
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(1)(2)(3)(4) |
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