Four heavenly ministers

Part of a series on
Taoism
Theories Dao (Tao) De (Te) Wuji Taiji Yin-Yang Wuwei Ziran Xian Wu Xing Qi Zhenren
Practices Three Treasures Daoist meditation Daoist diet (Bigu) Neidan Waidan Daoist sexual practices Five Precepts Ten Precepts
Texts Yijing Laozi (Daodejing) Zhuangzi Huainanzi Taipingjing Xiang'er Liezi Sanhuangjing Huahujing Qingjing Jing Baopuzi Daozang
Deities Hongjun Laozu Three Pure Ones Guan Shengdi Eight Immortals Yellow Emperor Li Hong Xiwangmu Chang'e Jade Emperor Other deities
People Laozi Zhuangzi Lie Yukou Heshanggong Zhang Daoling Zhang Jue Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove Ge Hong Bao Jingyan Kou Qianzhi Tao Hongjing Cheng Xuanying Chen Tuan Wang Chongyang Qiu Chuji fangshi
Schools Orthodox Unity Wudoumi Tianshi Northern Tianshi Zhengyi Huang–Lao Way of the Taiping Xuanxue Shangqing Lingbao Chongxuan Quanzhen (Longmen) Wuliu Yao Taoism
Holy places Taoist temple Grotto-heavens Mount Penglai Mount Kunlun Wudang Mountains Louguan Tower Baiyun Monastery
Institutions and Organizations Chinese Taoist Association Celestial Master Taoist priests
v t e

The Four Heavenly Ministers (Chinese: 四御; pinyin: Sì yù), also translated as the Four Sovereigns, are four of the highest sky deities of Daoism and subordinate only to The Great Jade Emperor (Chinese: 玉皇上帝; pinyin: Yù huáng shàngdì). They assist the Jade Emperor in administering all phenomenon of the universe.^[1][2] The Four Heavenly Ministers (四御 Si Yu), are four deputies assisting the Heavenly Jade Emperor in governing the heaven and earth. They are highly revered in Taoism and positioned just after the Heavenly Jade Emperor.

The Four Heavenly Ministers are:^[3] # the Southern Apex Longevity Great Emperor^{[lower-alpha 1]}

1. the Great Emperor of the North Star (Polaris) in the Purple Forbidden enclosure at the center of Heaven (Tian)^{[lower-alpha 2]}
2. the Great Heavenly Emperor of the Highest Palace of the Curved Array (Little Dipper)^{[lower-alpha 3]}
3. the Empress of the Earth^{[lower-alpha 4]} (Houtu)

Southern Apex Longevity Great Emperor (南極長生大帝 Nan Ji Chang Sheng Da Di) is in charge of all spirits. He oversees the destiny and fate of humanity, commands over the various thunder spirits and bestow blessings and guidance to all sentient beings. The Great Emperor of the North Star assists the Jade Emperor in managing the sun, the moon, stars, and the climate of the four seasons. The Great Emperor of the Curved Array (zh)/Little Dipper oversees all matters in heaven, earth, and the human world. The Empress of the Earth is in charge of fertility, land, rivers, and mountains.^[4] The four heavenly ministers are often worshiped in Daoist temples.

In some later Daoist accounts, this group is extended to six. The Six Heavenly Ministers (Chinese: 六御; pinyin: liù yù) include, in addition to the prior four:^[5][6]

• the King Father of the East,^{[lower-alpha 5]} also called the Sovereign of the Eastern Florescence^{[lower-alpha 6]}
• the Queen Mother of the West,^{[lower-alpha 7]} also called the Primordial Lady Golden Mother^{[lower-alpha 8]}

Other accounts instead add:

• the Old Man of the South Pole^{[lower-alpha 9]}
• the Heavenly Lord of Supreme Oneness and Salvation from Misery,^{[lower-alpha 10]} also called the East Pole Emperor of Blue Essence^{[lower-alpha 11]}

• Chinese mythology

• 道教文化资料库
• 玉皇大帝
• 道法会元卷之三
• 星座探奇
• 神祇列傳-紫微大帝
• 道教之音
• 地母
• 后土皇地祇－地母元君

0.00 (0 votes) Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four heavenly ministers. Read more