Taiyin Xingjun

Taiyin Xingjun () is the Chinese goddess of the moon. While often intertwined with the legend of Chang'e, Taiyin Xingjun is the original guardian of the moon. Chinese folk religion also uses Chang'e as the incarnation of Taiyin Xingjun. Taiyin Xingjun is believed to be the Taoist counterpart of the Buddhist bodhisattva Candraprabha, also known as the Moonlight Bodhisattva.

Origin and legends

The emergence of Taiyin Xingjun can be traced back to ancient Chinese lunar worship practices. Referred to by various names such as the Moonlight Goddess, Taiyin Xingjun, Moon Maiden, and Moonlight Bodhisattva, her worship has deep historical roots in China.

According to legend, the origins of Taiyin Xingjun in Taoism are linked to the "Four Symbols" (Si Xiang) concept derived from Taiji yin-yang philosophy. In this concept, "Taiyin" (Supreme Yin) is also known as "Lao Yin" (Old Yin). Other mythological tales suggest that (the Sun Star Lord) and Taiyin Xingjun were formed from the two eyes of the ancient god Pangu, with the right eye transforming into Taiyin Xingjun.

During the Qing dynasty, the customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival changed. What began as Taoist worship of Chang'e evolved to include both Buddhist and Taoist traditions, featuring the Moonlight Bodhisattva and the Jade Rabbit. The depictions of the Moon God were mostly inscribed by Taoist temples, titled "Yuefu Suyao Taiyin Xingjun" (月府素曜太阴星君, lit. 'the moon palace of Taiyin Xingjun').

The earliest recorded worship of the moon in ancient times can be found in the ''Book of Documents: Canon of Yao'', which states: "The sun, moon, and stars are celestial deities, and Mount Tai, the Yellow River, and the sea are terrestrial deities. The celestial and terrestrial deities together form the six gods". This indicates that the moon had long been worshipped as a god by the people before this period. In fact, when the ancients sacrificed to the moon, they often did so in conjunction with the sun. They would worship the sun in the east and the moon in the west, distinguishing between the internal and external and establishing their respective positions. This phenomenon sufficiently demonstrates the ancient practice of "worshipping the sun as the main deity and the moon as a supplementary deity."

In Qing dynasty Taoist Wugou's ''The Legend of the Eight Immortals'', he annotated the origin of Taiyin Xingjun, stating,

In Taiwanese folk beliefs, people believe that the deity who governs the moon is Taiyin Xingjun. Taiyin Xingjun originated from natural worship in animistic beliefs and originally did not have an image. For example, in the Tiantan Temple, known as the first temple in Taiwan, there is only a wooden plaque inscribed with the words "Taiyin Xingjun." However, with the spread of the myth of Chang'e flying to the moon, the connection between the pure white moon and Chang'e's beautiful and gentle image was formed, leading many to believe that Taiyin Xingjun is the incarnation of Chang'e. Most of the images of Taiyin Xingjun that we see today depict a woman dressed in palace attire, holding the moon high in her hand; she is also known as ''Taiyin Niangniang''.

Sometimes, Taiyin Xingjun is also seen as another aspect of the Queen Mother of the West. The ''Yúnjí Qīqiān'' states:

According to some traditions, although Chang’e is also considered to be an accidental resident of the moon, she is not the moon's rightful owner. Instead, Taiyin Xingjun, the moon goddess herself, graces the night sky with her luminous presence. Taiyin Xingjun is also known as Jielin, which means "the immortal who races to the moon."

''The Seven Sage Chronicles'' states: "The Yu Hua (red text) dwells with the sun; the Jie Lin (yellow text) dwells with the moon. The Yu Hua is the essence of the sun; the Jie Lin is the essence of the moon."

According to the poem ''Two Ghosts'' (二鬼) by Ming dynasty poet Liu Ji (刘基) offers a creation myth for the balance of labor and rest, impacting health and well-being. The Jade Emperor, concerned about the uneven distribution of these elements leading to illness, appoints two guardian spirits: Jielin and Yuhua.

Taiyin Xingjun holds a position akin to the Chinese goddess of the moon, similar to Selene in Greek mythology. With the Mid-Autumn Festival's focus on lunar veneration, homage naturally gravitates toward Taiyin Xingjun. On the 15th day of the eighth Chinese lunar month, throughout China, people erect incense altars, light crimson candles, offer fresh fruits in four vibrant hues, burn incense, and pay homage beneath the gleaming moonlight. This ritual intertwines reverence with leisure, as the moon's radiance bestows a mystical aura, evoking myriad enchanting narratives and profound contemplations. Among these tales, "Chang'e Flies to the Moon" remains one of the most revered.

In ''Journey to the West'', when Tang Sanzang passes through India on his journey, a demoness wants to marry him so that she can absorb his yang essence and increase her powers and life. Sun Wukong sees through her disguise and fights with her. Just as Sun Wukong is about to defeat the demoness, accompanied by the fairy Chang'e, Taiyin Xingjun descends on a colored cloud. Sun Wukong hastily puts away his iron rod, saying, Taiyin replies, Sun Wukong reluctantly agrees, and Taiyin Xingjun takes the Jade Rabbit to the Moon and assigns her some duties.

In ''Fengshen Yanyi'', when Jiang Ziya was naming gods, Queen Jiang was appointed as Taiyin Xingjun.

Worship

Taiyin Xingjun is rarely worshipped in mainland China, but there are some temples in Taiwan dedicated to Taiyin Xingjun. The oldest one is the Guan Shengdijun Temple in Daxi, which has a history of over a hundred years and does enshrine her.

According to Taiwanese media reports, Taiyin Xingjun and Taiyang Xingjun, who is the embodiment of the sun, are often worshipped as the companion gods of the Jade Emperor. As the celestial embodiments of the moon and the sun, Taiyin Xingjun is considered to be the consort of Taiyang Xingjun.

According to Wu Yingtao's ''Taiwanese Folklore'' (臺灣民俗), during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan, people offer mooncakes, sacrificial offerings, and rice vermicelli and taro to their ancestors and the land god. There is also a tradition of "worshipping the moon goddess": after nightfall, an incense table is set up in the courtyard of one's home, and a pair of red candles, mooncakes, fresh fruits, and four other offerings are placed on it. The incense is burned, and the moon is worshipped under the night sky.

In folk beliefs, Taiyin Xingjun is the guardian deity of women and children. Yue Lao

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