Four heavenly ministers

Short description: Group of four important Daoist deities

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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.

## Contents

* 1 Four Sovereigns
* 2 Six Sovereigns
* 3 See also
* 4 Notes
* 5 References
* 6 External links

## Four Sovereigns

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.

## Six Sovereigns

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]

## See also

* Chinese mythology

## Notes

1. ↑ Chinese: 南極長生大帝; pinyin: Nánjí chángshēng dàdì.
2. ↑ Chinese: 中天紫微北極太皇大帝; pinyin: zhōngtiān zǐwēi běijí tàihuáng dàdì.
3. ↑ Chinese: 勾陈上宫天皇大帝; pinyin: gōuchén shànggōng tiānhuáng dàdì.
4. ↑ Chinese: 后土皇地祇; pinyin: hòutǔ huáng dìqí.
5. ↑ Chinese: 東王公; pinyin: dōngwánggōng.
6. ↑ Chinese: 東華帝君; pinyin: dōnghuá dìjūn.
7. ↑ Chinese: 西王母; pinyin: xīwángmǔ.
8. ↑ Chinese: 金母元君; pinyin: jīnmǔ yuánjūn.
9. ↑ Chinese: 南極長生大帝; pinyin: nánjí chángshēng dàdì.
10. ↑ Chinese: 太乙救苦天尊; pinyin: tàiyǐ jiùkǔ tiānzūn.
11. ↑ Chinese: 東極青華大帝; pinyin: dōngjí qīnghuá dàdì.

## References

1. ↑ Richard Wolff (2007). The Popular Encyclopedia of World Religions. Harvest House Publishers. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-7369-2007-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=o9Ls4I5t5gIC&pg=PA121.
2. ↑
3. ↑
4. ↑ (in zh) 《文獻通考_(四庫全書本)》
5. ↑ Gesterkamp, L. (5 March 2008). The Heavenly Court: a study on the Iconopraxis of Daoist Temple Painting (Thesis). Leiden University. p. 54\. hdl:1887/12632.
6. ↑ Geng, Jipeng (2008) (in zh), https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTotal-QZDY201800005.htm

## External links

* 道教文化资料库
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* 神祇列傳-紫微大帝
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* 后土皇地祇－地母元君

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Daoism

Fundamentals|

* Dao (Tao)
* De (Te)
* Wuji
* Taiji
* Yin-Yang
* Wu Xing
* Qi
* Neidan
* Waidan
* Wuwei

Texts|

* Laozi (Daodejing)
* Zhuangzi
* Liezi
* Huainanzi
* Taipingjing
* Xiang'er
* Baopuzi
* Sanhuangjing
* Huahujing
* Qingjing Jing
* Baopuzi
* Daozang

Deities|

* Three Pure Ones
* Yuhuang
* Guan Shengdi
* Eight Immortals
* Yellow Emperor
* Xiwangmu
* Jade Emperor
* Chang'e
* Li Hong
* Other deities

Code of ethics|

* Five Precepts
* Ten Precepts

People|

* Laozi
* Zhuangzi
* Lie Yukou
* Heshanggong
* Zhang Daoling
* Zhang Jue
* Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove
* Ge Hong
* Kou Qianzhi
* Tao Hongjing
* Cheng Xuanying
* Chen Tuan
* Wang Chongyang
* Qiu Chuji
* fangshi

Schools|

* Huang–Lao
* Taiping
* Wudoumi
* Tianshi
* Xuanxue
* Shangqing
* Lingbao
* Northern Celestial Masters
* Chongxuan
* Quanzhen (Longmen)
* Zhengyi
* Wuliu
* Yao

Sacred sites|

* Grotto-heavens
* Mount Penglai
* Mount Kunlun
* Wudang Mountains
* Louguan Tower
* Baiyun Monastery

* v
* t
* e

Chinese mythology

Overview topics|

* Creation myth
* Godly world concepts
* Astrology
* Dragons
* Shenmo fiction
* Gods and immortals
* Tian
* Pangu
* Ghosts

Major personages|

* Deities
* Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
* Eight Immortals
* Shennong
* Yellow Emperor
* Yan Emperor
* Chiyou
* Hou Yi
* Kua Fu

Creatures|

* Four Symbols
* Black Tortoise
* Azure Dragon
* White Tiger
* Vermilion Bird
* Yellow Dragon
* Four Benevolent Animals
* Qilin
* Fenghuang
* Yinglong
* Spirit turtle
* Huli jing
* Chinese guardian lions
* Pixiu (Bixie)
* Nian
* Yeren
* Fox spirit
* Four Perils (Four Evildoers)

Places|

* Fusang
* Penglai
* Diyu
* Kunlun Mountain
* Youdu

Popular literary works|

* Classic of Mountains and Seas
* Shi Yi Ji
* The Peach Blossom Spring
* The Four Journeys
* Investiture of the Gods
* Legend of the White Snake
* The Sorcerer's Revolt
* Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio
* Journey to the West
* In Search of the Supernatural
* Tian Xian Pei
* What the Master Would Not Discuss
* Heavenly Questions (Chu Ci)
* Huainanzi
* Records of the Grand Historian

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