(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/)
Jade Emperor - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to content

Jade Emperor

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jade Emperor
Jade Emperor in a Ming Dynasty ink and color painting on silk, 16th century
Chineseたますめらぎ
Literal meaningJade Emperor
Second alternative Chinese name
Chineseてんこう
Literal meaningHeavenly Grandfather
Third alternative Chinese name
Chineseたますめらぎ大帝たいてい
Literal meaningAugust Emperor of Jade

The Jade Emperor (Chinese: たますめらぎ; pinyin: Yù Huáng or たまみかど, Yù Dì) is one of the representations of the first god (ふとしみかど tài dì) in Chinese mythology and religion. In Daoist theology, he is associated with Yuanshi Tianzun, one of the Three Pure Ones. He is also the Cao Đài ("Highest Power") of Caodaism. He is often identified with Śakra in Chinese Buddhist cosmology.[1][2][3][4] In Korean mythology, he is known as Haneullim.[1][5][6]

The Jade Emperor is known by many names. Some names include (1) the Heavenly Grandfather (てんこう, Tiān Gōng), which originally meant "Heavenly Duke", (2) the Jade Lord; (3) the Highest Emperor; (4) Great Emperor of Jade (たますめらぎ上帝じょうてい, Yu Huang Shangdi or たますめらぎ大帝たいてい, Yu Huang Dadi).[1][6]

Mythology[change | change source]

The Jade Emperor was originally the assistant of the Divine Master of the Heavenly Origin, Yuanshi Tianzun. Yuanshi Tianzun is the supreme beginning, the limitless and eternal creator of Heaven and Earth. He picked Yu-huang, or the Jade Emperor, as his personal successor.[1][6]

The Jade Emperor will later be succeeded by the Heavenly Master of the Dawn of Jade of the Golden Door (きむ闕玉晨天みこと).[7] The characters for both are shown on the front of the arms of his throne.[1][6]

In two traditional writing texts produced in 1925 and 1972, Guan Yu became the 18th Jade Emperor in about 1840 AD.[8][9] However, some have disagreed that Guan Yu has succeeded. And thus the Jade Emperor and Guan Yu are often worshiped separately.[10] In Tienti teaching, the ruling Jade Emperor has 55 predecessors.[11] However, this is from the opinion of the Chinese folk religion. Many Taoists do not believe these claims to be true.[1][6]

Festivals[change | change source]

The Jade Emperor's Birthday (てんこう) falls on the ninth day of the first lunar month.[12] On this day, Taoist temples perform a Jade Emperor ritual (はいてんこう, bài Tiān Gōng, literally "heaven worship"). In this, priests and common people lie straight on the ground, burn incenses and make food offerings.[1][6]

References[change | change source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Living in the Chinese Cosmos | Asia for Educators". afe.easia.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  2. "Yudi | Chinese deity | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  3. Stevens, Keith (1989). "The Jade Emperor and His Family だますめらぎ大帝たいてい Yu Huang Ta Ti". Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 29: 18–33. JSTOR 23890811.
  4. Eng, Khoo Boo (2014-04-01). A Simple Approach To Taoism. Partridge Singapore. ISBN 978-1-4828-9530-8.
  5. The Annals of King T'aejo: Founder of Korea's Chosŏn Dynasty. Harvard University Press. 2014-06-09. ISBN 978-0-674-28130-1.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "Jade Emperor". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  7. 道教どうきょうてきかみ Archived 2010-05-19 at the Wayback Machine
  8. せき聖帝せいていくん受禪じゅぜんだまみかど經略けいりゃく Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "よういけきよし 目錄もくろく". www.boder.idv.tw. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  10. "うつしきゅう天道てんとうどうおやてきいちふうしん". Archived from the original on 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  11. きょうげん──道統どうとう衍流 天帝てんてい立教りっきょう道統どうとう衍流 Archived 2008-08-21 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Lin Meirong (2011). "Jade Emperor". Encyclopedia of Taiwan. Council for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2012.