Introduction to the Deities and Route for Pilgrimage

♦Sacred birth celebrated on the ninth day of the first lunar month♦

The Jade Emperor is the first deity incarnated from the Sanqing (Three Pures) in the Ultimate Realm (Taijijie). The most complete description of the origins of Jade Emperor is found in The Collected Scripture on The Deeds of The Jade Emperor from the Song Dynasty. The Jade Emperor was the son of the King Pure Felicity and Majestic Heavenly Lights and Ornaments and the Queen of the Jeweled Moonlight. At birth, his whole body radiated with light, his perfect countenance delighted all who beheld him. He was intelligent and benevolent from a young age, and gave away all wealth in the nation to those who were suffering and isolated. He dedicated his throne to the people and practiced medicine to save the masses, and practiced in this way for 3200 kalpas before becoming the Jade Emperor. 

♦Sacred birth celebrated on the 19th day of the 3rd lunar month♦

The Daoist God of the Sun holds dominion over the sun. His full Daoist honorific title is “Sun Palace Bright Light Lord of the Sun”, and is often referred to as “The God of Clarity”, “Lord of the Sun,” “Sun God.” The Lord of the Sun is a masculine god, He oversees the movement of the sun, and controls the intensity of flames. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, light shines upon the earth, blessing the masses; hence generations of mortals have worshipped him. 

♦Sacred birth celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month♦

Taiyin Xingjun, also referred to as “Moon Mother” or “Lady Taiying” in Taiwan, was known as “God of the Moon” or “God of Night Illumination” in ancient times. Just as the God of the Sun was worshipped and revered, she was held in high regard by both officials and members of the public. In addition to official records, the “Sutra of Taiyin Xinjun” has circulated among the people. 

♦Sacred birth celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month♦

The highest official in the legendary City of Xuandu, he resides in the Purple Star Palace with dominion over the good and evil of all sentient beings, and dictates the ascension of all immortals. His full title is “Heavenly Official of Higher Origin and First-Rank Who Bestows Blessings, Emperor of the Dazzling Spirit of the Sun, Lord of the Purple Star.”

♦Sacred birth celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month♦

As a second highest official in Qingling Dongyang, he presides over the Three Realms, Ten Directions, and Nine Lands, administers the Eight Extremes, Four Dimensions, and Five Mountain Peaks. He examines the opportunities and misfortunes of all sentient beings and audits the book of good and evil in men and women. He is addressed as: “Earthly Official of Middle Origin and Second-Rank Who Absolve Sins (zhōngyuán èrpǐn shèzuì dìguān), “The Great Emperor of Pristine Emptiness” (Dongling qīnɡxū dàdì), and “Lord of Pure Souls” (qingling dijun).

♦Sacred birth celebrated on the 15th day of the 10th Lunar Month♦

The third-ranked official of Yanggu Dongyuan oversees all sentient beings in the waters of the rivers, streams, and seas. He is in charge of the book of the dead, spirits, ghouls, and gods, and records the merits of all sentient beings. He is addressed as “Water Official of Lower Origin and Five Senses Who Eliminate Misfortunes (xiàyuán wuqi jiě è shuǐguān), Great Emperor of Golden Soul Pervasive Yin (jinling dòngyin dàdì ), Lord of the Sun Valley (Yanggu Dijun”.

♦Sacred birth celebrated on the 6th day of the second lunar month ♦



Lord of the East (dongwang gong), also known as Eastern Floriate Emperor (donghua dadi), is the incarnation of the original king Fenzhen Huagang. A true immortal of the heavenly ancestors, he was born at the beginning of the chaos. As documented by In Search of the Sacred, he was complete in the Dao, with qi, form, and quality, yet was considered chaos without yin or yang, nor heaven and earth. The original true qi transformed the East to the Lord of the East, and gave rise to the queen mother using the mysterious qi, thereby possessing both the yin and the yang. The Five elements were born, eventually begetting humans, objects, quality, and categories. Hence, the Lord of the East has been assigned to the East, as the essence of d to the East, as the qi essence of yang that oversees the male faithful of the Dao in the Three Realms and Ten Directions. 

♦Sacred birth celebrated on the 18th day of the 7th lunar month♦

Golden Queen Mother of the West is a Heavenly Immortal of the Infinite Realm of the Original King, assigned to the west. Extremely reveared in Dongyin, she is also referred to as the Golden Mother. Her immortal rank is second only to the Three Pures, and very noble. She is colloquially referred to as “Lady Queen Mother” (wangmu niangniang), and "Golden Mother of the Jade Pond" (Yaochi Jinmu), or honorifically addressed as “The Original Lord Great Holy Golden Western Queen Mother of the Infinite Jade Pond. She is solemn, graceful, and elegant in appearance, her body is soft. She is the essence of extreme yin. She mothers and nurtures female immortals who have attained Dao in the Three Realms and Ten Directions, whose names are all under her jurisdiction. 

♦Sacred birth celebrated on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month♦

Also known as Doumu, she is a Daoist goddess as well as the mother of the stars that comprise the Big Dipper constellation. She was originally worshipped as the Buddhist goddess Marici, and was introduced to China with Buddhist beliefs during the Tang Dynasty, where she gained Daoist worshippers, and was revered as Doumu. The worship of Doumu is prevalent among Daoists. She is characterized by her four heads and eight arms. In her hands, she holds the sun, the moon, the treasured bell, the golden seal, a curved bow, a spear, and the halberd combat weapon. 

♦Sacred birth celebrated on the same day as Mother of the Great Chariot (Doumu) ♦

Two protector assistants flank Doumou (Mother of the Great Chariot): to her left is Zuo Fu Dong Ming Xing Jun and to her right is You Bi Yin Guang Shen Jun; both are expert practitioners of everchanging magical powers.

♦Sacred birth celebrated on the same day as Mother of the Great Chariot (Doumu)♦

Two protector assistants flank Doumou (Mother of the Great Chariot): to her left is Zuo Fu Dong Ming Xing Jun and to her right is You Bi Yin Guang Shen Jun, both are expert practitioners of everchanging magical powers.

♦Sacred birth celebrated on the same day as Mother of the Great Chariot (Doumu) ♦

Jiazi Taisui (Those born 1924, 1984)