Last time, I said "Three Clears", today let's take a look at the "Four Emperors", which are the four "Four Emperors"? The Arctic Ziwei Emperor, the Antarctic Immortal Emperor, the Gouchen Shanggong Emperor, and the Houtu Emperor. They are the four high-ranking gods in Taoism, who preside over the order between heaven and earth.
01
Arctic Ziwei the Great
The Arctic Ziwei Emperor, whose full name is "Zhongtian Ziwei Arctic Emperor", is second only to the Jade Emperor in mythology. The North Star, revered as the Heavenly Pivot, has been a symbol of the Ziwei Emperor since ancient times. Located in the center of the heavens, this star is permanently immovable, so it is regarded as the "lord of the stars" and enjoys a supreme position in the worship of the stars in ancient times.
There are two main theories about the origin of Ziwei the Great. The first is from the record of "Yuqing Supreme Lingbao Natural Beidou Bunsheng Sutra", which mentions that Emperor Ziwei is the second son of King Zhou and Lady Ziguang, and was born together with the Emperor in the Golden Lotus Wenyu Pool. Another theory is related to the historical Bo Yi Kao, who was the sister-in-law of King Wen of Zhou, and was named Emperor Ziwei by Jiang Ziya for his loyalty and filial piety in "The Romance of the Gods".
In the Netherworld, Emperor Ziwei appeared as the Emperor of the Northern Yin Dynasty, he was in charge of Luo Xu, leading the affairs of the Netherworld, and commanding the Four Saints of the North Pole, controlling the demons in the Three Realms. His image is often depicted as a majestic middle-aged emperor, protected by military generals, reflecting his dignity and majesty.
In folk beliefs, the Ziwei Emperor is deeply revered. Every year on the 18th day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar, people celebrate the birthday of his god and pray for the blessings of the heavenly officials by pasting New Year's pictures, hoping for longevity and happiness, and praying for the avoidance of disasters and good luck.
The Song Dynasty was the heyday of Ziwei Emperor worship, and the emperors of that time often worshiped him with the Jade Emperor. To this day, in Dazu, Sichuan and other places, you can still see many statues of the Emperor Ziwei carved in the Song Dynasty, which show his attire as an emperor and the majestic military guard, once again emphasizing his important position in mythology.
02
Antarctic Immortal Emperor
The Antarctic Immortal Emperor, also affectionately known as the Antarctic Immortal, occupies a pivotal position in Taoist mythology. Regarding his background, there are theories that he is the eldest son of the Yuan Shi Heavenly King, and there are also opinions that he is the ninth son. In various Taoist texts, the Antarctic Immortal Emperor is often depicted as a deity who resides in the Yuqing Mansion of Shenxiao and enjoys the honorific title of King Yuqing. In addition, he also incarnated as the Nine Heavens Ying Yuan Thunder Puhua Tianzun, sitting in the Yushu Mansion and commanding the Thunder Department.
The Antarctic Immortal Emperor is in charge of the changes in the climate of the four seasons, and has the ability to summon wind and rain, and drive thunder and lightning ghosts. More importantly, he controls the key to the blessings and misfortunes of all things, sits upright in the Shenxiao Mansion, and leads the thirty-two heavens and eight districts, and is respected as the Tongtian Yuan Shengtianzun. In the catastrophe between heaven and earth, he shouldered the heavy responsibility of helping all living beings and universalizing all sentient beings.
The relationship between the Antarctic Immortal Emperor and the Yuqing Divine Mother Yuanjun, known as the Queen Mother, is also quite strong, and legend has it that he was the son of the Queen Mother. In the rich mythological stories, the worship of the Antarctic Immortal Emperor is believed to bring health and longevity, and for this reason, he has also earned the reputation of "birthday star" or "old man's star".
In ancient societies, longevity was a common pursuit. The legend of the Antarctic Immortal Emperor, in the context of that era, was like an entertaining and educational "health program", but it focused not only on human beings, but also on all creatures in heaven and earth. Because of this, he gradually evolved into a symbol of health and longevity in folk beliefs, and was deeply admired and loved by the people.
03
Emperor Gochen
Gou Chen Shanggu Emperor the Great, often referred to simply as Gou Chen the Great or Emperor of Heaven, has a prominent position in the mythological system, ranking third among the "Four Emperors". As the eldest son of Doumu Yuanjun and the elder brother of Emperor Ziwei, he has a heavy responsibility. According to legend, Emperor Gou Chen was ordered by the Jade Emperor God to fully control the three talents of heaven, earth and man, specializing in managing all living beings in the world, as well as all affairs related to war and war, so he was also revered as the god of martial arts.
The image and function of Emperor Gou Chen are closely linked to the ancient worship of the stars. Similar to the Arctic Ziwei the Great, his origins can also be traced back to the worship of the stars. The "Shangqing Lingbao Dafa" describes in detail the important position of Emperor Gou Chen in the constellation: "On the left side of the North Pole Emperor constellation, there are four stars connected in a slightly curved shape, which is Gou Chen. Underneath it is a large star, which is the symbol of the Emperor. He rules over all the stars, and his status is equal to that of the North Star, and it can even be said that he is the hub of the stars, and the Emperor also follows the heavens. ”
Emperor Gou Chen is also believed to be closely related to the change of power in the world. He participated in the election of a wise monarch and was committed to maintaining the stability and order of the country. It is recorded in the Book of Stars: "Gou Chen is composed of six stars, located under the Five Emperors, representing the harem, that is, the concubine of the Great Emperor." At the same time, it also dominates the six army generals of the Son of Heaven, as well as the positions of the three dukes. This shows the key role of Emperor Gou Chen in the management of the harem, military supervision, and government affairs, and is an important deity in charge of the military revolution and regime change in the world.
The diverse functions of Emperor Gou Chen reflect the profound Taoist understanding of the cosmic order and human affairs, and at the same time demonstrate the high reverence for the divine power that maintains this order. In various rituals of folk beliefs and Taoism, Emperor Gou Chen was given a high status. Through offerings and prayers, people expect his protection and guidance.
04
Later Emperor Diji
Houtu Emperor Diyi, also known as the Earth Mother Yuanjun or Houtu Niangniang, is the fourth emperor of the Taoist "Four Emperors", and what is unique is that she is also the only goddess among them. She is in charge of the balance of yin and yang, nourishing all things in the world, so she is praised as the mother of the earth. The beliefs of the Later Emperor were deeply rooted in the dual worship of land and women in a matriarchal society, and she was regarded as an early king of the earth.
The history of the term "Houtu" can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn period. There are many interpretations of its identity and origin, including the names of specific people, official positions, and deities. In the Han Dynasty, Houtu was officially incorporated into the royal sacrificial system and was revered by successive emperors. In the Song Dynasty, Taoism promoted the Later Emperor to the noble status of the "Four Emperors".
According to the record of "The Three Sects Source Stream Search God Daquan", the Houtu Emperor is only the embodiment of the underworld, she gathers the essence of the five directions, the condensation of the five qis, and holds up the rivers, lakes and seas, mountains, forests, wilderness and even human houses. Because of this, there is a philosophical saying that "the sky is yang, the earth is yin, and the heaven is the mother of the earth". In order to pray for the abundance and stability of life, people build temples and shape statues of gods to worship Mother Earth, hoping to be blessed by her, eliminate disasters and solve problems, and usher in good luck and health.
In the hearts of the people, the Houtu Emperor not only has a lofty status, but also carries a deep sense of intimacy, and is known as "the mother of all things, the mother of the earth". For thousands of years, the devotion to the Mother Earth Goddess has become an important part of folk beliefs.
In addition, the beliefs of the Later Emperor Diji are also closely linked to the profound land worship culture of ancient China. As mentioned in the Book of Rites, the ancients had a deep sense of gratitude for the land because their daily needs were taken from the land, and expressed this "good reward" through various rituals. This worship of Houtu began around the Spring and Autumn period.
In the Han Dynasty, the sacrifice to the Emperor Hou was further respected by the royal family. Especially during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, because a sorcerer in Fenyin discovered Baoding, Emperor Wu built the Houtu Temple on Fenyin and personally presided over the grand sacrificial ceremony. From then on, the Houtu faith was unified during the Han Dynasty, and she was seen as the Yellow Emperor's right-hand man, a symbol of the mythological figures who controlled all sides of the Chinese land.
The legends and beliefs of the Emperor Hou Tu not only reflect the incomparable awe and gratitude of the ancients for the earth, but also demonstrate their deep worship of nature and the source of life. In the grand picture of Chinese culture and religious beliefs, the images and stories of the Later Emperor Diji occupy a pivotal position, and their influence is far-reaching and long-lasting.
Although the story and functions of the Four Emperors may sound ancient, the spirit and values they represent are still of modern significance. Whether it is the reverence for natural phenomena, or the respect for life and the land, these are all things that we should continue to inherit and carry forward.
The Four Emperors, these four bigwigs of the heavenly realm, use their stories to tell us: Whether it is the stars and the sea, or the earth and mountains, they are all worthy of our exploration, respect, and cherishment. This is not only a Taoist belief, but also a philosophy of harmony between human beings and nature.