Английская Википедия:Chinese gods and immortals

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Файл:Buddhist, Daoist, and Folk Deities from the Water-Land Ritual.jpg

Qing dynasty Water and Land Ritual painting (Шаблон:Lang) of Buddhist, Daoist, and Folk Deities.

Файл:成山头 - altar-fountain complex with statues of various Chinese gods in Weihai, Shandong.jpg

A complex of deities at an outdoor fountain-altar with incense burners at a pilgrimage area in Weihai, Shandong. At the centre stands Mazu, surrounded by the four Dragon Gods (Шаблон:Lang) and various lesser deities. Distant behind Mazu stands the Sun Goddess (Шаблон:Lang).

Шаблон:Chinese folk religion Chinese gods and immortals are beings in various Chinese religions seen in a variety of ways and mythological contexts.

Many are worshiped as deities because traditional Chinese religion is polytheistic, stemming from a pantheistic view that divinity is inherent in the world.Шаблон:Sfnb

The gods are energies or principles revealing, imitating, and propagating the way of heaven (Шаблон:Lang, Tian), which is the supreme godhead manifesting in the northern culmen of the starry vault of the skies and its order.Шаблон:Citation needed Many gods are ancestors or men who became deities for their heavenly achievements. Most gods are also identified with stars and constellations.Шаблон:Sfnb Ancestors are regarded as the equivalent of Heaven within human society,Шаблон:Sfnb and therefore, as the means of connecting back to Heaven, which is the "utmost ancestral father" (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang).Шаблон:Sfnb

There are a variety of immortals in Chinese thought, and one major type is the xian, which is thought in some religious Taoism movements to be a human given long or infinite life. Gods are innumerable, as every phenomenon has or is one or more gods, and they are organised in a complex celestial hierarchy. Besides the traditional worship of these entities, Chinese folk religion, Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and formal thinkers in general give theological interpretations affirming a monistic essence of divinity.Шаблон:Sfnb

Overview

"Polytheism" and "monotheism" are categories derived from Western religion and do not fit Chinese religion, which has never conceived the two things as opposites.Шаблон:Sfnb Tian bridges the gap between supernatural phenomena and many kinds of beings, giving them a single source from spiritual energy in some Chinese belief systems. However, there is a significant belief in Taoism which differentiates tian from the forces of earth and water, which are held to be equally powerful.

Since all gods are considered manifestations of qì (Шаблон:Lang), the "power" or pneuma of Heaven, in some views of tian, some scholars have employed the term "polypneumatism" or "(poly)pneumatolatry", first coined by Walter Medhurst (1796–1857), to describe the practice of Chinese polytheism.Шаблон:Sfnb Some Taoists consider deities the manifestation of the Tao.Шаблон:Citation needed

In the theology of the classic texts and Confucianism, "Heaven is the lord of the hundreds of deities".Шаблон:Sfnb

Modern Confucian theology sometimes compares them to substantial forms or entelechies (inner purposes) as described by Leibniz as a force that generates all types of beings, so that "even mountains and rivers are worshipped as something capable of enjoying sacrificial offerings".Шаблон:Sfnb

Unlike in Hinduism, the deification of historical persons and ancestors is not traditionally the duty of Confucians or Taoists.Шаблон:Clarification needed Rather, it depends on the choices of common people; persons are deified when they have made extraordinary deeds and have left an efficacious legacy. Yet, Confucians and Taoists traditionally may demand that state honours be granted to a particular deity. Each deity has a cult centre and ancestral temple where he or she, or the parents, lived their mortal life. There are frequently disputes over which is the original place and source temple of the cult of a deity.Шаблон:Sfnb

God of Heaven

Файл:Precessional north pole (Běijí 北极) in α Ursae Minoris, drawing a wàn 卍 in the four phases of time.svg

Like other symbols such as the sauwastika,Шаблон:Sfnb Шаблон:Zhi in Chinese, the Mesopotamian dingir or anu Шаблон:Lang-akk, and also the Chinese Шаблон:Zhi (in Shang script represented by a graph resembling the cross potent ☩),Шаблон:Sfnb Tian refers to the northern celestial pole (Шаблон:Zhi), the pivot and the vault of the sky with its spinning constellations.Шаблон:Sfnb Here is an approximate representation of the Шаблон:Zhp. or Шаблон:Zhp as the precessional north celestial pole, with α Ursae Minoris as the pole star, with the spinning Chariot constellations in the four phases of time. According to Reza Assasi's theories, the Шаблон:Lang may not only be centred in the current precessional pole at α Ursae Minoris, but also very near to the north ecliptic pole if Draco (Шаблон:Zhi) is conceived as one of its two beams.Шаблон:Refn

Chinese traditional theology, which comes in different interpretations according to the classic texts, and specifically Confucian, Taoist, and other philosophical formulations,Шаблон:Sfnb is fundamentally monistic, that is to say, it sees the world and the gods who produce it as an organic whole, or cosmos.Шаблон:Sfnb The universal principle that gives origin to the world is conceived as transcendent and immanent to creation, at the same time.Шаблон:Sfnb The Chinese idea of the universal God is expressed in different ways. There are many names of God from the different sources of Chinese tradition.Шаблон:Sfnb

The radical Chinese terms for the universal God are Tian (Шаблон:Lang) and Shangdi (Шаблон:Lang, "Highest Deity") or simply, Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang, "Deity").Шаблон:SfnbШаблон:Sfnb There is also the concept of Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang, "Great Deity"). Шаблон:Transliteration is a title expressing dominance over the all-under-Heaven, that is, all things generated by Heaven and ordered by its cycles and by the stars.Шаблон:Sfnb Tian is usually translated as "Heaven", but by graphical etymology, it means "Great One" and a number of scholars relate it to the same Шаблон:Transliteration through phonetic etymology and trace their common root, through their archaic forms, respectively *Teeŋ and *Tees, to the symbols of the squared north celestial pole godhead (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Transliteration).Шаблон:SfnbШаблон:Sfnb These names are combined in different ways in Chinese theological literature, often interchanged in the same paragraph, if not in the same sentence.Шаблон:Sfnb

Names of the God of Heaven

Besides Шаблон:Transliteration and Шаблон:Transliteration, other names include Yudi ("Jade Deity") and Шаблон:Transliteration ("Great Oneness") who, in mythical imagery, holds the ladle of the Big Dipper (Great Chariot), providing the movement of life to the world.Шаблон:Sfnb As the hub of the skies, the north celestial pole constellations are known, among various names, as Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang, "Gate of Heaven") and Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang, "Pivot of Heaven").

Other names of the God of Heaven are attested in the vast Chinese religio-philosophical literary tradition:

• Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), "Deity of Heaven" or "Emperor of Heaven":Шаблон:Sfnb "On Rectification" (Шаблон:Transliteration) of the Xunzi uses this term to refer to the active God of Heaven setting creation in motion.Шаблон:Sfnb
• Tianzhu (Шаблон:Lang), the "Lord of Heaven": In "The Document of Offering Sacrifices to Heaven and Earth on the Mountain Tai" (Fengshan shu) of the Records of the Grand Historian, it is used as the title of the first God from whom all the other gods derive.Шаблон:Sfnb
• Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), the "August Personage of Heaven": In the "Poem of Fathoming Profundity" (Шаблон:Transliteration), transcribed in "The History of the Later Han Dynasty" (Шаблон:Transliteration), Zhang Heng ornately writes: «I ask the superintendent of the Heavenly Gate to open the door and let me visit the King of Heaven at the Jade Palace».Шаблон:Sfnb
• Tianwang (Шаблон:Lang), the "King of Heaven" or "Monarch of Heaven".
• Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), the "Duke of Heaven" or "General of Heaven".Шаблон:Sfnb
• Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), the "Prince of Heaven" or "Lord of Heaven".Шаблон:Sfnb
• Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), the "Heavenly Venerable", also a title for high gods in Taoist theologies.Шаблон:Sfnb
• Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), the "God of Heaven", interpreted in the Shuowen Jiezi as "the being that gives birth to all things".Шаблон:Sfnb
• Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), "God the August", attested in Taihong ("The Origin of Vital Breath").Шаблон:Sfnb
• Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), the "Olden Heavenly Father".Шаблон:Sfnb

Tian is both transcendent and immanent, manifesting in the three forms of dominance, destiny, and nature of things. In the Wujing yiyi (Шаблон:Lang, "Different Meanings in the Five Classics"), Xu Shen explains that the designation of Heaven is quintuple:Шаблон:Sfnb

• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), "August Heaven" or "Imperial Heaven", when it is venerated as the lord of creation.
• Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), "Vast Heaven", with regard to the vastness of its vital breath (qi).
• Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), "Compassionate Heaven", for it hears and corresponds with justice to the all-under-Heaven.
• Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), "Highest Heaven" or "First Heaven", for it is the primordial being supervising all-under-Heaven.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), "Deep-Green Heaven", for it being unfathomably deep.

All these designations reflect a hierarchical, multiperspective experience of divinity.Шаблон:Sfnb

Lists of gods, deities and immortals

Файл:Doumu altar and statue at the Doumugong of Butterworth, Penang.jpg

Main altar and statue of Doumu inside the Temple of Doumu in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia.

Файл:竹南五穀王.JPG

A temple dedicated to Pangu in Zhunan, Miaoli.

Many classical books have lists and hierarchies of gods and immortals, among which are the "Completed Record of Deities and Immortals" (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang) of the Ming dynasty,Шаблон:Sfnb and the Biographies of the Deities and Immortals (Shenxian Zhuan) by Ge Hong (284–343).Шаблон:Sfnb The older Collected Biographies of the Immortals (Liexian Zhuan) also serves the same purpose.

Couplets or polarities, such as Fuxi and Nuwa, Xiwangmu and Dongwanggong, and the highest couple of Heaven and Earth, all embody yin and yang and are at once the originators and maintainers of the ordering process of space and time.Шаблон:Sfnb

Immortals, or xian, are seen as a variety of different types of beings, including the souls of virtuous Taoists, gods, zhenren, and/or a type of supernatural spiritual being who understood heaven. Taoists historically worshiped them the most and Chinese folk religion practitioners during the Tang dynasty also worshiped them, although there was more skepticism about the goodness, and even the existence, of xian among them.

Chinese folk religion that incorporates elements of the three teachings in modern times and prior eras sometimes viewed Confucius and the Buddha as immortals or beings synonymous to them.

In Taoism and Chinese folk religion, gods and xian are often seen as embodiments of water. Water gods and xian were often thought to ensure good grain harvests, mild weather and seas, and rivers with abundant water. Some xian were thought to be humans who gained power by drinking "charmed water".

Some gods were based on previously existing Taoist immortals, bodhisattvas, or historical figures.

Файл:Stoneware figure of a Daoist deity.From China, Ming Dynasty, 16th century CE. The British Museum.jpg

Stoneware figure of a Daoist (Taoist) deity. From China, Ming Dynasty, 16th century CE. The British Museum

Cosmic gods

• Yudi (Шаблон:Lang, "Jade Deity") or Yuhuang (Шаблон:Lang, "Jade Emperor" or "Jade King"), is the popular human-like representation of the God of Heaven.Шаблон:Sfnb Jade traditionally represents purity, so it is a metaphor for the unfathomable source of creation.
• Doumu (Шаблон:Lang, "Mother of the Great Chariot"), often entitled with the honorific Tianhou (Шаблон:Lang, "Queen of Heaven")Шаблон:Efn-lr is the heavenly goddess portrayed as the mother of the Big Dipper (Great Chariot), whose seven stars, in addition to two invisible ones, are conceived as her sons, the Jiuhuangshen (Шаблон:Lang, "Nine God-Kings"), themselves regarded as the ninefold manifestation of Jiuhuangdadi (Шаблон:Lang, "Great Deity of the Nine Kings") or Doufu Шаблон:Lang, "Father of the Great Chariot"), another name of the God of Heaven. She is, therefore, both wife and mother of the God of Heaven.
• Pangu (Шаблон:Lang), a macranthropic metaphor of the cosmos. He separated yin and yang, creating the earth (murky yin) and the sky (clear yang). All things were made from his body after he died.Шаблон:Sfnb
• Xiwangmu (Шаблон:Lang, "Queen Mother of the West"),Шаблон:Efn-lr identified with the Kunlun Mountain, shamanic inspiration, death, and immortality.Шаблон:Sfnb She is the dark, chthonic goddess, pure yin, at the same time terrifying and benign, both creation and destruction, associated with the tiger and weaving.Шаблон:Sfnb Her male counterpart is Dongwanggong (Шаблон:Lang, "King Duke of the East";Шаблон:Efn-lr also called Mugong, Шаблон:Lang "Duke of the Woods"),Шаблон:Sfnb who represents the yang principle.Шаблон:Sfnb
  • Hòuyì (Шаблон:Lang, "Yi the Archer"), was a man who sought for immortality, reaching Xiwangmu on her mountain, Kunlun.
• Yanwang (Шаблон:Lang, "Purgatory King")Шаблон:Efn-lr the ruler of the underworld, assisted by the Heibai Wuchang (Шаблон:Lang, "Black and White Impermanence"), representing the alternation of yin and yang principles, alongside Ox-Head and Horse-Face, who escort spirits to his realm.
• Yinyanggong (Шаблон:Lang, "Yinyang Duke"Шаблон:Efn-lr) or Yinyangsi (Шаблон:Lang, "Yinyang Controller"), the personification of the union of yin and yang.

Three Patrons and Five Deities

Файл:Wufang Shangdi---Five Forms of the Supreme Deity color.svg

Wufang Shangdi (Шаблон:Lang), the order of Heaven inscribing worlds as Шаблон:Lang Шаблон:Lang, "altar", the Chinese concept equivalent to the Indian mandala. The supreme God conceptualised as the Yellow Deity, and Xuanyuan as its human form, is the heart of the universe and the other Four Deities are his emanations. The diagram is based on the Huainanzi.Шаблон:Sfnb

Файл:炎黄二帝巨型塑像正面视角.JPG

Statue and ceremonial complex of the Yellow and Red Gods in Zhengzhou, Henan.

Файл:Chiling - Sanguan Dadi Miao - P1260456.JPG

Temple of the Three Officials of Heaven in Chiling, Zhangpu, Fujian.

Файл:Tai'an Dai Miao 2015.08.13 10-17-53.jpg

Temple of the Great Deity of the Eastern Peak at Mount Tai, Tai'an, Shandong.

• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Three Patrons or Augusts") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Three Potencies"); they are the "vertical" manifestation of Heaven, spatially corresponding to the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Three Realms"), representing the yin and yang and the medium between them, that is the human being:
  • Fuxi (Шаблон:Lang) , the patron of heaven (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang), also called Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Venerable Inventor of the Bagua") by the Taoists, is a divine man reputed to have taught to humanity writing, fishing, and hunting.
  • Nüwa (Шаблон:Lang), the patron of earth (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang), is a goddess attributed for the creation of mankind and mending the order of the world when it was broken.
  • Shennong (Шаблон:Lang), "Peasant God", the patron of humanity (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang), identified as Yandi (Шаблон:Lang, "Flame Deity" or "Fiery Deity"), a divine man said to have taught the techniques of farming, herbal medicine, and marketing. He is often represented as a human with horns and other features of an ox.Шаблон:Sfnb
• Wǔdì (Шаблон:Lang, "Five Deities"),Шаблон:Sfnb also Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Five Manifestations of the Highest Deity"), Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Five Manifestations of the Heavenly God"), Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Five Forms Deity"), Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Five Heavenly Deities"), Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Five Ancient Lords"), Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Five Ways God[s]"); they are the five main "horizontal" manifestations of Heaven, and along with the Three Potencies, they have a celestial, a terrestrial, and a chthonic form. They correspond to the five phases of creation, the five constellations rotating around the celestial pole and five planets, the five sacred mountains and five directions of space (their terrestrial form), and the five Dragon Gods which represent their mounts, that is to say, the material forces they preside over (their chthonic form).Шаблон:SfnbШаблон:Sfnb
  • Huangdi (Шаблон:Lang, "Yellow Emperor" or "Yellow Deity"); or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Yellow God"), also known as Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Yellow Deity of the Chariot Shaft"), is the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Great Deity of the Central Peak"): he represents the essence of earth and the Yellow Dragon,Шаблон:Sfnb and is associated with Saturn.Шаблон:Sfnb The character Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "yellow"), by homophony and shared etymology with Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), also means "august", "creator", and "radiant", identifying the Yellow Emperor with Shangdi ("Highest Deity").Шаблон:Sfnb Huangdi represents the heart of creation, the axis mundi (Kunlun) that is the manifestation of the divine order in physical reality, opening the way to immortality.Шаблон:Sfnb As the deity of the centre, intersecting the Three Patrons and the Five Deities, in the Shizi he is described as "Yellow Emperor with Four Faces" (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang).Шаблон:Sfnb As a human, he is said to have been the fruit of a virginal birth, as his mother Fubao conceived him as she was aroused, while walking in the country, by a lightning from the Big Dipper (Great Chariot). She delivered her son after twenty-four months on the mount of Shou (Longevity) or mount Xuanyuan (Chariot Shaft), after which he was named. He is reputed to be the founder of the Huaxia civilisation, and the Han Chinese identify themselves as the descendants of Yandi and Huangdi.
  • Cangdi (Шаблон:Lang, "Green Deity); or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Blue Deity" or "Bluegreen Deity", the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "East Deity") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Great Deity of the Eastern Peak"): he is Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), associated with the essence of wood and with Jupiter, and is the god of fertility and spring. The Bluegreen Dragon is both his animal form and constellation.Шаблон:SfnbШаблон:Sfnb His female consort is the goddess of fertility, Bixia.
  • Heidi (Шаблон:Lang, "Black Deity), the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "North Deity") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Great Deity of the Northern Peak"): he is Zhuanxu (Шаблон:Lang), today frequently worshiped as Xuanwu (Шаблон:Lang, "Dark Warrior") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), and is associated with the essence of water and winter, and with Mercury. His animal form is the Black Dragon and his stellar animal is the tortoise-snake.Шаблон:SfnbШаблон:Sfnb
  • Chidi (Шаблон:Lang, "Red Deity"), the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "South Deity") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Great Deity of the Southern Peak"): he is Shennong (the "Divine Farmer"), the Yandi ("Fiery Deity"), associated with the essence of fire and summer, and with Mars. His animal form is the Red Dragon and his stellar animal is the phoenix. He is the god of agriculture, animal husbandry, medicinal plants, and market.Шаблон:SfnbШаблон:Sfnb
  • Baidi (Шаблон:Lang, "White Deity"), the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "West Deity") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Great Deity of the Western Peak"): he is Shaohao (Шаблон:Lang), and is the god of the essence of metal and autumn, associated with Venus. His animal form is the White Dragon and his stellar animal is the tiger.Шаблон:Sfnb
• The Three Great Emperor-Officials: the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Official of Heaven"), the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Official of Earth"), and the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Official of Water").

In mythology, Huangdi and Yandi fought a battle against each other, and Huang finally defeated Yan with the help of the Dragon (the controller of water, who is Huangdi himself). This myth symbolizes the equipoise of yin and yang, here the fire of knowledge (reason and craft) and earthly stability.

Yan (Шаблон:Lang) is flame, scorching fire, or an excess of it (it is important to note that graphically, it is a double Шаблон:Lang (huo, "fire"). As an excess of fire brings destruction to the earth, it has to be controlled by a ruling principle. Nothing is good in itself, without limits; good outcomes depend on the proportion in the composition of things and their interactions, never on extremes in absolute terms. Huangdi and Yandi are complementary opposites, necessary for the existence of one another, and they are powers that exist together within the human being.

Gods of celestial and terrestrial phenomena

Файл:台南市風神廟.jpg

Temple of the Wind God in Tainan.

• Longshen (Шаблон:Lang, "Dragon Gods") or Шаблон:Lang, (Шаблон:Lang, "Dragon Kings"), also Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Dragon Kings of the Four Seas"), are gods of watery sources, usually reduced to four, patrons of the Four Seas (Шаблон:Lang, sihai) and the four cardinal directions. They are the White Dragon (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang), the Black Dragon (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang), the Red Dragon (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang), and the Bluegreen Dragon (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang). Corresponding with the Five Deities as the chthonic forces that they sublimate (the Dragon Gods are often represented as the "mount" of the Five Deities), they inscribe the land of China into an ideal sacred squared boundary. The fifth dragon, the Yellow Dragon (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang), is the dragon of the centre, representing the Yellow God.
  • In Taiyuan, Liu Heng, the fifth emperor of the Western Han dynasty, is worshiped as the Dragon King. This is because Liu Heng once served as the Prince of Dai of the area and was welcomed by the local people. Every year, local villagers hold a sacrifice to him on the Longtaitou Festival.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Hail God")Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Insect God") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Insect King"): the gods of insects.Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Landlord God").
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Smallpox God").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Fei Lian (Шаблон:Lang), the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Wind God").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Sea God"); also Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Sea Lord").
• Hebo (Шаблон:Lang, "River Lord") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "River God"): any watercourse god, among which, one of the most revered is the god of the Yellow River.Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Valley God"): in the Daodejing, a name used to refer to the WayШаблон:Sfnb
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Fire God"), often personified as Zhurong (Шаблон:Lang)Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Lake God")
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Soil God")
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Grain God")
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Gold God"), often identified as the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Autumn God") and personified as Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang)
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Waterspring God").Шаблон:Sfnb
• Leishen (Шаблон:Lang, "Thunder God") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Thunder Duke");Шаблон:Efn-lr his consort is Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Lightning Mother").
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Woodland God"), usually the same as the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Spring God"), and as Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang).
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Mountain God")
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Water God")
• Tudishen (Шаблон:Lang, "God of the Local Land"), also Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Earth God"), or Tudigong (Шаблон:Lang, "Duke of the Local Land"):Шаблон:Efn-lr the tutelary deity of any locality. Their Overlord is Houtu (Шаблон:Lang, "Queen of the Earth").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Wen Shen (Шаблон:Lang, "Plague God")Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Xiangshuishen (Шаблон:Lang, "Xiang Waters' Goddesses"): the patrons of the Xiang River.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Snow God")
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Rain God")Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Xihe (Шаблон:Lang), the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Great Sun Goddess") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Mother of the Ten Suns").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Moon Goddesses"): Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang) or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Mother of the Twelve Moons"), and Chang'e (Шаблон:Lang).

Gods of human virtues and crafts

Файл:Altar at the Temple of Guandi (a Chinese temple) in Osaka.jpg

Guan Yu (middle), Guan Ping (his right) and Zhou Cang (his left) at a Chinese folk religious temple in Osaka, Japan. Guandi is one of the most revered gods among Han Chinese.

Файл:Waterside Dame and attendants at the Temple in Harmony with Heaven in Luodong, Yilan, Taiwan.jpg

The Waterside Dame and her two attendants, Lin Jiuniang and Li Sanniang, at the Temple of Heavenly Harmony of the Lushan school of Red Taoism in Luodong, Yilan, Taiwan.

Файл:Deqing Yuecheng Longmu Zumiao 2013.11.16 16-15-25.jpg

Temple of the Dragon Mother in Deqing, Guangdong.

Файл:Tian Hou Temple in Qingdao.JPG

Temple of the Ancestral Mother the Queen of HeavenШаблон:Efn-lr in Qingdao, Shandong.

Some Taoist gods were thought to affect human morality and the consequences of it in certain traditions. Some Taoists beseeched gods, multiple gods, and/or pantheons to aid them in life and/or abolish their sins.

• Civil and military (wen and wu) deities:
  • Wendi (Шаблон:Lang, "Culture Deity"), also Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Deity who Makes Culture Thrive") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "King who Makes Culture Thrive"): in southern provinces, this deity takes the identity of various historical persons, while in the north, he is more frequently identified as being the same as Confucius (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang)
    • Kuixing (Шаблон:Lang, "Chief Star"): another god of culture and literature, but specifically, examination, is a personification of the man who awakens to the order of the Great Chariot.
  • Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Military Deity"): Guandì (Шаблон:Lang, "Divus Guan"), also called Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Duke Guan"),Шаблон:Efn-lr and popularly Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang).Шаблон:Efn-lr
    • Another class is the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Fight God"), who may be personified by Chiyou (Шаблон:Lang) or Xingtian (Шаблон:Lang), who was decapitated for fighting against Tian.
• Baoshengdadi (Шаблон:Lang, "Great Deity who Protects Life").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Baxian (Шаблон:Lang, "Eight Immortals").
• Canshen (Шаблон:Lang, "Silkworm God"), who may be:
  • Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Silkworm Mother"), also called Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Silkworm Maiden"), who is identified as Leizu (Шаблон:Lang), the wife of the Yellow Emperor: the invention of sericulture is attributed primarily to her.
  • Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Bluegreen-Clad God"): his name as a human was Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Silkworm Twig"), and he is the first ruler and ancestor of the Shu state and promoter of sericulture among his people.
• Caishen (Шаблон:Lang, "Wealth God").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Cangjie (Шаблон:Lang), the four-eyed inventor of the Chinese characters.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Granary God").
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Lord of Sichuan")
• Chenghuangshen (Шаблон:Lang, "Moat and Walls God", or "Boundary God"): the god of the sacred boundaries of a human agglomeration, he is often personified by founding fathers or noble personalities from each city or town.Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Chen Jinggu (Шаблон:Lang, "Old Quiet Lady"), also called Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Waterside Dame").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Gate God").
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Vehicle God")Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Erlangshen (Шаблон:Lang, "Twice Young God"), the god of engineering.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Honorific King of Great Compassion").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Guanyin (Шаблон:Lang, "She who Hears the Cries of the World"), the goddess of mercy.Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Huang Daxian (Шаблон:Lang, "Great Immortal Huang").
• Jigong (Шаблон:Lang, "Help Lord").
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Wine God"), personified as Yidi (Шаблон:Lang).Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Jiutian Xuannü (Шаблон:Lang, "Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens"), a disciple of Xiwangmu and initiator of Huangdi.
• Longmu (Шаблон:Lang, "Dragon Mother").
• Lu Ban (Шаблон:Lang), the god of carpentry.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Road God").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Walking God").
• Mazu (Шаблон:Lang, "Ancestral Mother"), often entitled the "Queen of Heaven".Шаблон:Efn-lrШаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Judging Official").
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Peace God"), an embodiment of whom is considered to have been Mao Zedong.
• Qingshui Zushi (Шаблон:Lang, "Venerable Patriarch of the Clear Stream")Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Pottery God")Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Tuershen (Шаблон:Lang, "Leveret God"), the god of love among males.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King"), also known as Li Jing (Шаблон:Lang). He has three sons, the warlike protector deities Jinzha (Шаблон:Lang), Muzha (Шаблон:Lang), and Nezha (Шаблон:Lang).
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Five Shining Ones"), possibly a popular form of the cosmological Five Deities.Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Joy God").
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Medicine God") or frequently Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Medicine King").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Yuexia Laoren (Шаблон:Lang, "Old Man Under the Moon"), the matchmaker who pairs lovers together.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Jail-Purgatory God")Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Zaoshen (Шаблон:Lang, "Hearth God"), the master of the household deities, including the "Bed God" (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang), the "Gate Gods" (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang), and the "Toilet god" (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang), often personified as Zigu.
• Zhong Kui (Шаблон:Lang), the vanquisher of ghosts and evil beings.
• Sanxing (Шаблон:Lang, "Three Stars"), a cluster of three astral gods of well-being:
  • Fuxing (Шаблон:Lang, "Prosperity Star"), god of happiness.
  • Luxing (Шаблон:Lang, "Firmness Star"), god of firmness and success in life and examinations.
  • Shouxing (Шаблон:Lang, "Longevity Star"), who stands for a healthy and long life.

Gods of animal and vegetal life

• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Flower Goddess").
• Huxian (Шаблон:Lang, "Fox God[dess]") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Fox Immortal"), also called Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Fox Immortal Lady").Шаблон:Efn-lr
  • Two other great fox deities, peculiar to northeast China, are the "Great Lord of the Three Foxes" (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang) and the "Great Lady of the Three Foxes" (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang), representing the yin and yang.Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Horse God") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Horse King").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Cattle God" or "Ox God"), also called Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Cattle King").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Wolf God").Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Tree God[s]").
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Five Cereals God"),Шаблон:Efn-lr another name for Shennong.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Monkey God") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Monkey King"), who is identified as Sun Wukong (Шаблон:Lang).Шаблон:Efn-lr
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Sesame God")Шаблон:Efn-lr

Bixia mother goddess worship

Файл:Demu Niangniang (Lady Mother Earth).jpg

Taiwanese wooden icon of the Queen of the Earth (Houtu).

The worship of mother goddesses for the cultivation of offspring is present all over China, but predominantly in northern provinces. There are nine main goddesses, and all of them tend to be considered as manifestations or attendant forces of a singular goddess identified variously as Bixia Yuanjun (Шаблон:Lang, "Lady of the Blue Dawn"), also known as the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Heavenly Immortal Lady") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Lady of Mount Tai"),Шаблон:Efn-lr or also Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang,Шаблон:Sfnb "Holy Mother of the Nine Skies"Шаблон:Efn-lr)Шаблон:Rp or Houtu, the goddess of the earth.Шаблон:Sfnb

Bixia herself is identified by Taoists as the more ancient goddess Xiwangmu. The general Chinese term for "goddess" is Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), and goddesses may receive many qualifying titles, including Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "mother"), Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "old mother"), Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "holy mother"), Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "lady"), Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "granny").

The additional eight main goddesses of fertility, reproduction, and growth are:Шаблон:Rp

• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), the goddess who protects children from illness.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), the goddess who gives swift childbirth and protects midwives.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), the goddess who presides over maternal milk and protects nursing.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), the goddess who cultivates children.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), the goddess who protects the upbringing of children.
• Songzi Niangniang (Шаблон:Lang) or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), the goddess who presides over offspring.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), the goddess who protects eyesight.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang), the goddess who guides young children.

Altars of goddess worship are usually arranged with Bixia at the center and two goddesses at her sides, most frequently the "Lady of Eyesight" and the "Lady of Offspring".Шаблон:Rp A different figure, but with the same astral connections as Bixia is the "Goddess of the Seven Stars" (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang).Шаблон:Efn-lr

There is also the cluster of the "Holy Mothers of the Three Skies" (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang; or Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang, "Ladies of the Three Stars"), composed of Yunxiao Guniang, Qiongxiao Guniang, and Bixiao Guniang.Шаблон:Sfnb The cult of Chenjinggu, present in southeast China, is identified by some scholars as an emanation of the northern cult of Bixia.

Other goddesses worshipped in China include Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Silkworm Mother") or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Silkworm Maiden"),Шаблон:Sfnb identified with Leizu (Шаблон:Lang, the wife of the Yellow Emperor), Magu (Шаблон:Lang, "Hemp Maiden"), Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Goddess who Sweeps Clean"),Шаблон:Efn-lrШаблон:Sfnb Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Goddess of the Three Isles"),Шаблон:Sfnb and Wusheng Laomu. The mother goddess is central in the theology of many folk religious sects.Шаблон:Sfnb

Gods of northeast China

Шаблон:See also Northeast China has clusters of deities which are peculiar to the area, deriving from the Manchu and broader Tungusic substratum of the local population. Animal deities related to shamanic practices are characteristic of the area and reflect wider Chinese cosmology. Besides the aforementioned Fox Gods (Шаблон:Lang, Húxiān), they include:Шаблон:Citation needed

• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Yellow Immortal", the Weasel God.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Snake Immortal"), also variously called Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Immortal Liu"), or Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Viper Immortal") or also Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Python or Boa Immortal").
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "White Immortal"), the Hedgehog God.
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Black Immortal"), who may be the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Crow Immortal"), or the Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Rat Immortal"), with the latter considered a misinterpretation of the former.

Gods of Indian origin

Файл:Ch-brahma-temple.jpg

Temple of the Four-Faced God in Changhua, Taiwan.

Gods who have been adopted into Chinese religion but who have their origins in the Indian subcontinent or Hinduism:

• Guanin (Шаблон:Lang, "She who Hears the Cries of the World"), a Chinese goddess of mercy modeled after the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Four-Faced God"), but also a metaphor for "Ubiquitous God": The recent cult has its origin in the Thai transmission of the Hindu god Brahma, but it is important to note that it is also an epithet of the indigenous Chinese god Huangdi who, as the deity of the centre of the cosmos, is described in the Shizi as "Yellow Emperor with Four Faces" (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang).Шаблон:Sfnb
• Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Elephant-Head God"), is the Indian god Ganesha.

Gods of North China and Mongolia

• Genghis Khan (Шаблон:Lang, Шаблон:Lang), worshipped by Mongols and Chinese under a variety of divinity titles, including Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Holy Military Sovereign Deity"), Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Starter of the Transmission of the Law of Heaven"), and Шаблон:Lang (Шаблон:Lang, "Great Ancestor") of the Yuan and the Mongols.

Gods of Folk and Local

• Heng and Ha (Шаблон:Lang), two generals of the Shang dynasty, guards of Buddhist temples in East Asia.Шаблон:Sfnb
• Menshen (Шаблон:Lang, "Door Gods"), divine guardians of doors and gates.
• Shentu and Yulü (Шаблон:Lang), a pair of deities who punished evil spirits.

See also

• Chinese folk religion
• Chinese temple
• Jiutian Xuannü, Powerful female Deity in Chinese folk religion
• Mongolian shamanism
• Shen
• Shi Gandang, protector of home
• Xian, a commonly used Chinese word to refer to what are called "Taoist immortals" in English
• Zhenren

Notes

Notes about the deities and their names

References

Sources

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