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Hou Tu
Hòutǔ () or Hòutǔshén (), also known as Hòutǔ Niángniáng (in Chinese either or ), otherwise called Dimǔ () or Dimǔ Niángniáng (), is the deity of all land and earth in Chinese religion and mythology. Houtu is the overlord of all the Tudigongs ("Lord of Local Land"), Sheji ("the State"), Shan Shen ("God of Mountains"), City Gods ("God of Local City"), and landlord gods worldwide. In Taoism, Houtu is one of the Four Heavenly Ministers, which are four of the highest-ranking gods in Taoism. Role Houtu was originally the god of all land and earth in early Chinese mythology, before being absorbed into Taoism as one of the Four Heavenly Ministers. In early mythology According to early Chinese classics ''Zuo Zhuan'' (late 4th century BC), ''Book of Rites'' and ''Classic of Mountains and Seas'', Houtu is the son of Gonggong, being able to control the flood by installing mountains of Earth. She is also the assistant god to one of the Great Five Emperors, the Huang Di, ...
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Cult Image
In the practice of religion, a cult image is a Cultural artifact, human-made object that is venerated or worshipped for the deity, Spirit (supernatural entity), spirit or Daimon, daemon that it embodies or represents. In several traditions, including the ancient religions of Ancient Egypt, Egypt, Ancient Greece, Greece and Rome, and Hinduism, cult images in a temple may undergo a daily routine of being washed, dressed, and having food left for them. Processions outside the temple on special feast days are often a feature. Religious images cover a wider range of all types of images made with a religious purpose, subject, or connection. In many contexts "cult image" specifically means the most important image in a temple, kept in an inner space, as opposed to what may be many other images decorating the temple. The term idol is an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship, while idolatry is the worship of an "idol" as though it were God. Ancient Near East and E ...
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Book Of Rites
The ''Book of Rites'', also known as the ''Liji'', is a collection of texts describing the social forms, administration, and ceremonial rites of the Zhou dynasty as they were understood in the Warring States and the early Han periods. The ''Book of Rites'', along with the '' Rites of Zhou'' () and the '' Book of Etiquette and Rites'' (), which are together known as the "Three Li ()," constitute the ritual () section of the Five Classics which lay at the core of the traditional Confucian canon (each of the "five" classics is a group of works rather than a single text). As a core text of the Confucian canon, it is also known as the ''Classic of Rites'' or ''Lijing'', which some scholars believe was the original title before it was changed by Dai Sheng. History The ''Book of Rites'' is a diverse collection of texts of uncertain origin and date that lacks the overall structure found in the other "rites" texts (the '' Rites of Zhou'' and the '' Etiquette and Ceremonial''). S ...
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Mount Jiuhua
Mount Jiuhua () located in Chizhou, Anhui Province in China is an important Buddhist site and natural scenic spot. It is one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China, one of the first batch of 5A level scenic spots in China, one of the first batch of natural and cultural heritage sites in China, and the main scenic spot of "two mountains and one lake" (Jiuhua Mountain, Taiping Lake, Huangshan) tourism development strategy in Anhui Province. The planned area of the scenic spot is 120 square kilometers, and the protected area is 174 square kilometers, which is composed of 11 scenic spots. History Mount Jiuhua was called Mount Lingyang during the time of the Han dynasty. It was called Mount Jiuzi (九子山) during the Liang and Chen dynasties of the South Dynasties period. A legend says that the great poet Li Bai of the Tang dynasty travelled here and wrote "Magic is divided to two branches, sacred mountain generates nine glories." (), giving rise to its name Mount Jiuh ...
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Bodhimaṇḍa
Bodhimaṇḍa (Sanskrit and Pali) or daochang (; J. dōjō; T. byang chub snying po) is a term used in Buddhism meaning the "seat of awakening" or "platform of enlightenment". According to Haribhadra (Buddhist philosopher), Haribhadra, it is "a place used as a seat, where the essence of enlightenment is present". In our world, this refers to the specific spot in Bodh Gaya under the Bodhi Tree, bodhi tree, where The Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment, but technically, it can be used to refer to the place of awakening of any Buddha or bodhisattva.Buswell, Robert E; Lopez, Donald S. The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, p. 132. Princeton University Press, Nov 24, 2013. In Buddhist cosmology, the bodhimaṇḍa is also said to be the center or navel of the world, i.e. an axis mundi which connects the divine and profane worlds. Bodhimaṇḍas are regularly visited by Buddhist pilgrims, and some have gone on to become popular secular tourism, tourist destinations as ...
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Old Man Of The South Pole
The Old Man of the South Pole ( Chinese & ), also called the Old Immortal of the South Pole (), Xian of Longevity (), or Star of Longevity (), is the Taoist deification of Canopus, the brightest star of the constellation Carina. He is typically portrayed with long white hair and beard, a protruding forehead and a healthy pink complexion. His right hand often holds a peach and left hand a walking staff with a calabash gourd, which is said to contain the elixir of life. He can also be portrayed as riding a crane or a deer, often accompanied by disciples. He is one of the symbols of happiness and longevity in Far Eastern culture. Description The Old Man of the South Pole is often depicted in Chinese pictures as an old man with a long white beard with a deer by his side. This style of picture is related to the story of an emperor of the Northern Song dynasty, who had invited such an old man from the street and later considered the old man as the sign of his longevity. In certain ...
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Ziwei Emperor
The Great Emperor of the North Star,). also called the Ziwei Emperor. and the Beiji Emperor,; full title: Lord of the Polaris, North Pole at the center of Heaven ( zh, c=北極中天星主, p=Běijí Zhōngtiān Xingzhu). is one of the highest sky deities and one of the Four heavenly ministers, Four Sovereigns (; ) of Taoism. Chinese mythology The Ziwei Emperor resides in the middle of Heaven and assists the Jade Emperor in administrative duties of Heaven and Earth; Sun and Moon; four seasons and weather. He commands all deities of constellations, mountains, and rivers. He is the highest deity in charge of all the natural phenomena in the universe. In Chinese culture and Chinese theology, the Ziwei Emperor is also the symbol of the emperor in the human world. Notes References External links 道教文化资料库 星座探奇 神祇列傳-紫微大帝
Four heavenly ministers Chinese gods Sky and weather gods Taoist deities Twenty-Four Protective Deities { ...
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Tianhuang Emperor
The Great Emperor of the Curved Array). ( zh, c=勾陳大帝, p= gōuchén dàdì), also called the Gouchen Emperor and Tianhuang Emperor, is one of the highest sky deities of Taoism. He is one of the Four Sovereigns (; ) and is in charge of heaven, earth, and human and of wars in the human world. Chinese mythology The "Curved Array" is a constellation in the Purple Forbidden enclosure, equivalent to the European constellation called ''Ursa Minor'' or the ''Little Dipper''. In Taoism, the Great Emperor of Curved Array is the eldest son of Doumu and the brother of the Ziwei Emperor. History Emperor Gaozong of Tang was called by the title Emperor Tianhuang as his Posthumous name given by Wu Zetian. Liu Yan was also given the posthumous name. Constellation There is a constellation named after the Tianhuang Emperor. See also * North Star * Myōken * Wufang Shangdi The Wǔfāng Shàngdì ( "Five Regions' Highest Deities" or "Highest Deities of the Five Regions"), ...
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Jade Emperor
In the Chinese mythology, myths and Chinese folk religion, folk religion of Chinese culture, the Jade Emperor or Yudi is one of the representations of the Primordial Divinity (Tai Di), primordial god. In Taoist theology, he is the assistant of Yuanshi Tianzun, who is one of the Three Pure Ones, the three primordial emanations of the Tao. However, some Taoists in history were skeptical of his benevolence because his buildings and infrastructure in heaven and earth were sometimes seen as interfering with the many natural laws or Tao, dao. He is often identified with Śakra (Buddhism), Śakra in Chinese Buddhist cosmology and identified with Yu the Great in Chinese mythology. The Jade Emperor is known by many names, including Yu, Heavenly Grandfather (, '), which originally meant "Heavenly Duke", which is used by commoners; the Jade Lord; the Highest Emperor; Great Emperor of Jade ( , or ). Chinese mythology There are many stories in Chinese mythology involving the Jade Empe ...
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Zhuanxu
Zhuanxu (), also known as Gaoyang (), was a mythological emperor of ancient China. In the traditional account recorded by Sima Qian, Zhuanxu was a grandson of the Yellow Emperor. Association with Four Barbarians At the age of ten with Shaohao, he was said to have led the Shi clan in an eastward migration to present-day Shandong, where intermarriages with the Dongyi clan enlarged and augmented their tribal influences. He also was associated with a religious reform of the Jiuli (九黎) people, banishing witchcraft practised by the people. Family Zhuanxu was the grandson of the Yellow Emperor and his wife Leizu by way of his father Changyi (). His mother was named Changpu () from the Shushan clan (), according to Sima Qian, and Niuqu () according to the '' Bamboo Annals''. Zhuanxu is also alternatively said to be the son of Hanliu () in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. However, it is recorded in suspicious part Haineijing () that was written last. Zhuanxu was cla ...
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Wuxing (Chinese Philosophy)
( zh, c=五行, p=wǔxíng), usually translated as Five Phases or Five Agents, is a fivefold conceptual scheme used in many traditional Chinese fields of study to explain a wide array of phenomena, including terrestrial and celestial relationships, influences, and cycles, that characterise the interactions and relationships within Science and technology in China, science, Traditional Chinese medicine, medicine, Confucianism, politics, Taoism, religion and social relationships and education within Chinese culture. The five agents are traditionally associated with the classical planets Mars, Mercury (planet), Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn as depicted in the #Etymology, etymological section below. In ancient Chinese astronomy and Chinese astrology, astrology, that spread throughout East Asia, was a reflection of the seven-day planetary order of Fire (wuxing), Fire, Water (wuxing), Water, Wood (wuxing), Wood, Metal (wuxing), Metal, Earth (wuxing), Earth.), they are Wood, Fir ...
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Earth (wuxing)
In Chinese philosophy, earth or soil () is one of the five concepts that conform the ''wuxing''. Earth is the Qi balance of both yin and yang in the Wuxing philosophy, as well as the changing or central point of physical matter or a subject. Its motion is centralising, and its energy is stabilizing and conserving. Earth is associated with the colour yellow or ochre and the planet Saturn (not to be confused with planet Earth), and it lies at the centre of the four directions of the compass in Chinese cosmology. It is associated with late summer and the turn of each of the four seasons, as Earth is prone to being over burdened. Its climate is that of dampness causing the mind to be clouded through a deficiency of yang qi. In traditional Chinese medicine, earth governs the yin, Zang organ the spleen, and the yang, Fu organ stomach, mouth and muscles. Its Primal Spirit is the Yi, and emotion of happiness and is represented by the Yellow Dragon or Qilin, color yellow and Golden ( S ...
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Yellow Emperor
The Yellow Emperor, also known as the Yellow Thearch, or Huangdi ( zh, t=黃帝, s=黄帝, first=t) in Chinese, is a mythical Chinese sovereign and culture hero included among the legendary Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. He is revered as a deity individually or as part of the Wufang Shangdi, Five Regions Highest Deities () in Chinese folk religion. Regarded as the initiator of Chinese culture, he is traditionally credited with numerous innovations – including the traditional Chinese calendar, Taoism, wooden houses, boats, carts, the compass needle, "the earliest forms of writing", and cuju, ''cuju'', a ball game. Calculated by Jesuits in China, Jesuit missionaries, as based on various Chinese chronicles, Huangdi's traditional reign dates begin in either 2698 or 2697 BC, spanning one hundred years exactly, later accepted by the twentieth-century promoters of a universal calendar starting with the Yellow Emperor. Huangdi's cult is first attested in the Warring States peri ...
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