Taiyi Zhenren

Taiyi Zhenren (Chinese: 太ふと乙おつ真人しんじん; pinyin: Tàiyǐ Zhēnrén) is a Daoist deity in Chinese religion and Taoism. Taiyi (lit. 'great 2nd Celestial stem') means "primordial unity of yin and yang" and Zhenren (lit. 'true person') is a Daoist term for "Perfected Person". According to the opening of the classical novel Fengshen Bang, he is the reincarnation of the first emperor of the Shang dynasty, Tang of Shang.

Taiyi Zhenren also appears in Qing dynasty novels such as The Story of the Fox (狐狸こり缘全传), The Story of Ji Gong (济公全ぜん传), and the storytelling The Immortals Break Through the Heavenly Gate (群ぐん仙せん破やぶ天てん门). He is one of the Twelve Golden Immortals under Yuanshi Tianzun. Ranked fifth among the Twelve Golden Immortals, the character is based on Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, the Lord of Suffering, who practices in the Golden Light Cave of Qianyuan Mountain. Taiyi Zhenren is the leader of the Qingwei Sect, and master of Nezha and Jinxia Tong'er.

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun

Taiyi Zhenren is what the Investiture of the Gods calls him, and he is based on the deity Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun (太ふと乙おつ救すくい苦く天てん尊みこと).^[1] In orthodox Taoism, he is the deity of salvation for all sentient beings in the 10 directions, with a different incarnation for each direction, and can transform into other incarnations for any purpose. He was invoked at funerals and other rituals to send the dead to the Eastern Heavenly Pure land Chang Le, where he lives, and also during the Ghost Festival to save suffering souls from Diyu (hell).

It is generally believed that the Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun is an incarnation of Yuanshi Tianzun. Yuanshi Tianzun used his own Nine-Yang essence to transform into Taiyi Tianzun to save all living beings. Another interpretation suggests that this deity is the same as the King Father of the East (東ひがし王公おうこう), born from the essence of the sun.

As a historical figure

Taiyi Zhenren, believed to be a historical figure named Yang Su, was born in Shuitou, Nan'an County. He was a renowned physician and Taoist during the late Tang dynasty, well-versed in the techniques of Qihuang (岐黄), a form of traditional Chinese medicine. He famously used "silk pulse diagnosis" to cure Ren Neiming, the wife of the contemporary ruler Wang Shenzhi. In recognition of this, Wang Shenzhi honored him with the title "Taiyi Zhenren".

The benevolent actions of Taiyi Zhenren, providing medical help in Fujian, continue to benefit the people of Nan'an. Therefore, he is also known as the "True Physician Immortal". During the Song dynasty, the Neo-Confucian scholar Zhu Xi is said to have composed a couplet in his honor while lecturing in Nan'an. The couplet, inscribed on the Yang Clan Ancestral Hall in Guanqiao and the Zhenren Temple in Putou, praised Yang Su's virtue, talent, and outstanding medical skills, as well as his contributions to flood control and dam construction for the welfare of the people.^[2]

In Fengshen Yanyi

According to Fengshen Yanyi, Taiyi Zhenren is the renowned teacher of Nezha, the celestial being destined to bring peace back to the Zhou dynasty. Taiyi Zhenren is stationed atop Mount Champion and instructed Nezha to stay at Old Pond Pass – the place he had been born. After Nezha experienced great trouble with Ao Guang and went fleeing back to him, Taiyi Zhenren would at first be seen in deep thought; Zhenren would soon draw an "invisible juju" along his back however—as to give him a safe passage to heaven through invisibility.^[3]

After Nezha created further issues with stone spirit Shiji Niangniang, Taiyi Zhenren would soon be seen face to face with her in front of Taiyi Zhenren's cave which Nezha retreated into for protection. After having no choice but to be rid of Shiji Niangniang, he would start off by disabling the silk scarf which she stole from Nezha, and then trap her within his Nine-dragon-fire-net. While trapped in this net, Taiyi Zhenren summoned several dragons which unleashed a large volley of fire into the net; instantly killing Shiji and turning her back into her original form as a molten rock.

In Journey to the West

Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun rides on the Nine-Headed Lion

In the Ming dynasty novel Journey to the West, the powerful demon known as the Grand Saint of Nine Spirits (九きゅう靈れい元もと聖きよし) is actually the Nine-Headed Lion that Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun rides on. The boy in charge of looking after the lion once secretly drank a special potion and fell asleep for three days in Heaven (equivalent to three years in the human world). The lion seizes the opportunity to escape. He builds his base at the Jiuqu Panhuan Cave (九きゅう曲きょく盤ばん桓洞) at Bamboo Links Mountain (竹節たけふし山やま) near the Kingdom of Yuhua (玉たま華はな國こく). The clan of lion demons living around that area revere him as their grand spiritual ancestor. The Nine-Headed Lion differs from most other demons in the novel in that he neither harms humans nor seeks to taste Tang Sanzang's flesh. He becomes angered when he learns that his god-grandson, the Tawny Lion Demon, has been killed by Sun Wukong and seeks revenge. He captures Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the royal family of Yuhua, subjecting them all to whippings. Eventually, he is subdued by his master, Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, and taken back to Heaven.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]

Temple

There are many temples dedicated to Taiyi Zhenren as the main deity in China.

Fujian Taiyi Temple is located in Puqi Village, Shuitou Town, Nan'an City, Fujian Province.

The Taiyi Cave Scenic Area is located in Jiangjiadong Village, 5 kilometers south of the hot springs at 106 Chang'an Avenue, Xian'an District, Xianning City, Hubei Province. The cave is believed to have been excavated by Taiyi Zhenren for the welfare of the people and control floods.

Located in the southwestern suburb of Chengdu, Sanqing Hall within Qingyang Palace is a temple dedicated to the supreme Taoist god Sanqing. In the center of the hall sits a statue of Sanqing, and on both sides of the hall are the disciples of Sanqing, including the Twelve Golden Immortals, including Yuding Zhenren. This historical temple traces its origins back to the Tang dynasty and underwent significant reconstruction during the Kangxi period of the Qing dynasty. The foundation of Sanqing Hall takes the form of a square, covering a total area of 1,600 square meters.^[8]

Leshan Zixia Palace, the ancestral temple of the Western Daoist tradition in China, is located at 717 Bishan Road, 130 kilometers southwest of Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. It is 30 kilometers away from Mount Emei. In the Sanqing Hall of Zixia Palace, there are also statues of the Twelve Golden Immortals arranged on both sides.^[9]

In popular culture

The character increased in popularity in 2019 with the stereoscopic, computer-animated feature film, Ne Zha, was more successful, setting numerous all-time records for box-office grosses, including third-highest-grossing of all films in China and highest-grossing animated film from outside the United States.^[10]

References

^ "太ふと乙おつ真人しんじん和かず太ふとし乙おつ救すくい苦く天てん尊みこと有ゆう没ぼつ有ゆう关系？" (in Simplified Chinese). 2 August 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
^ 国家こっか文物ぶんぶつ局きょく, China (1989). Zhongguo wen wu di tu ji: 福建ふっけん分册ぶんさつ (in Chinese). Guangdong sheng di tu chu ban she.
^ 香港ほんこん諸しょ神かみ：起源きげん、廟びょう宇與崇拜すうはい（全ぜん彩いろどり修訂しゅうてい版ばん） (in Chinese). 中華ちゅうか書しょ局きょく（香港ほんこん）有限ゆうげん公司こうし,聯合れんごう電子でんし出版しゅっぱん有限ゆうげん公司こうし（代理だいり）. 23 June 2021. ISBN 978-988-8758-16-6.
^ 西遊せいゆう妖物志こころざし [Journey to the West Monster Chronicles] (in Chinese). 時報じほう文化ぶんか出版しゅっぱん. 11 August 2023. ISBN 978-626-374-172-0.
^ 降魔ごうま修おさむ心こころ：彩繪さえ西遊せいゆう記き (in Chinese (Taiwan)). eCrowd Media Inc. 群ぐん傳でん媒なかだち股また份有限げん公司こうし. ISBN 978-986-5506-30-8.
^ "太ふと乙おつ救すくい苦く天てん尊みこと的てき坐すわ騎き「九きゅう靈れい元もと聖きよし @ 北極ほっきょく玄げん元宮もとみや真しん武たけ大だい帝廟ていびょう道どう觀かん :: 痞客邦くに ::". 北極ほっきょく玄げん元宮もとみや真しん武たけ大だい帝廟ていびょう道どう觀かん (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 14 December 2017.
^ "九灵元圣是何来头，太ふと乙おつ天てん尊称そんしょう元もと圣儿？洞ほら府ふ10字じ写うつし的てき啥，果然かぜん霸气". 娱乐 (in Chinese). 29 April 2022.
^ 老成ろうせい都と记忆 (in Chinese). Beijing Book Co. Inc. 1 March 2017. ISBN 978-7-5090-1171-3.
^ "紫むらさき霞かすみ宮みや位い四川しせん樂山らくざん，道家みちや西にし派は修おさむ真地まじ，國家こっか級きゅう的てき文化ぶんか！". 個人こじん新聞しんぶん台だい (in Chinese).
^ Amidi, Amid (August 16, 2019). "American Audiences Don't Have To Wait Long To See The Chinese Blockbuster Ne Zha In Theaters". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 27 August 2019. Some of the records it has already set: the highest-grossing Chinese animated feature of all-time, the highest-grossing non-U.S. animated feature of all-time, the third-highest grossing Chinese film of all-time, the highest-grossing animated IMAX feature in China, and the second highest-grossing local language IMAX feature in China.

Sources

Fengshen Yanyi chapter 12

[1] "太ふと乙おつ真人しんじん和かず太ふとし乙おつ救すくい苦く天てん尊みこと有ゆう没ぼつ有ゆう关系？" (in Simplified Chinese). 2 August 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2020.

[2] 国家こっか文物ぶんぶつ局きょく, China (1989). Zhongguo wen wu di tu ji: 福建ふっけん分册ぶんさつ (in Chinese). Guangdong sheng di tu chu ban she.

[3] 香港ほんこん諸しょ神かみ：起源きげん、廟びょう宇與崇拜すうはい（全ぜん彩いろどり修訂しゅうてい版ばん） (in Chinese). 中華ちゅうか書しょ局きょく（香港ほんこん）有限ゆうげん公司こうし,聯合れんごう電子でんし出版しゅっぱん有限ゆうげん公司こうし（代理だいり）. 23 June 2021. ISBN 978-988-8758-16-6.

[4] 西遊せいゆう妖物志こころざし [Journey to the West Monster Chronicles] (in Chinese). 時報じほう文化ぶんか出版しゅっぱん. 11 August 2023. ISBN 978-626-374-172-0.

[5] 降魔ごうま修おさむ心こころ：彩繪さえ西遊せいゆう記き (in Chinese (Taiwan)). eCrowd Media Inc. 群ぐん傳でん媒なかだち股また份有限げん公司こうし. ISBN 978-986-5506-30-8.

[6] "太ふと乙おつ救すくい苦く天てん尊みこと的てき坐すわ騎き「九きゅう靈れい元もと聖きよし @ 北極ほっきょく玄げん元宮もとみや真しん武たけ大だい帝廟ていびょう道どう觀かん :: 痞客邦くに ::". 北極ほっきょく玄げん元宮もとみや真しん武たけ大だい帝廟ていびょう道どう觀かん (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 14 December 2017.

[7] "九灵元圣是何来头，太ふと乙おつ天てん尊称そんしょう元もと圣儿？洞ほら府ふ10字じ写うつし的てき啥，果然かぜん霸气". 娱乐 (in Chinese). 29 April 2022.

[8] 老成ろうせい都と记忆 (in Chinese). Beijing Book Co. Inc. 1 March 2017. ISBN 978-7-5090-1171-3.

[9] "紫むらさき霞かすみ宮みや位い四川しせん樂山らくざん，道家みちや西にし派は修おさむ真地まじ，國家こっか級きゅう的てき文化ぶんか！". 個人こじん新聞しんぶん台だい (in Chinese).

[Amidi-10] Amidi, Amid (August 16, 2019). "American Audiences Don't Have To Wait Long To See The Chinese Blockbuster Ne Zha In Theaters". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 27 August 2019. Some of the records it has already set: the highest-grossing Chinese animated feature of all-time, the highest-grossing non-U.S. animated feature of all-time, the third-highest grossing Chinese film of all-time, the highest-grossing animated IMAX feature in China, and the second highest-grossing local language IMAX feature in China.

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