Four heavenly ministers

The Four Heavenly Ministers (Chinese: 四御; pinyin: Sì yù), also translated as the Four Sovereigns, are four of the highest sky deities of Taoism and subordinate only to the Three Pure Ones (Chinese: 三清; pinyin: Sān qīng). They assist the Three Pure Ones in administering all phenomenon of the universe.[1][2]

The Four Heavenly Ministers are: The Great Jade Emperor (Chinese: 玉皇大帝; pinyin: yù huáng dà dì), the Great Emperor of Middle Heaven North Star (Chinese: 中天紫微北極大帝; pinyin: Zhōngtiān Zǐwēi Běijí Dàdì), the Great Emperor of Polaris (Chinese: 勾陳大帝; pinyin: gōuchén shàng dàdì), and the Imperial God of Earth (Chinese: 后土皇地祇; pinyin: hòutǔ huáng dìqí).[3]

The Great Jade Emperor is the head of all sky deities and presides over the heaven. The Great Emperor of Middle Heaven North Star assists the Jade Emperor in managing the sun, the moon, stars, and the climate of the four seasons. The Great Emperor of Polaris oversees all matters in heaven, earth, and the human world. The Imperial God of Earth is in charge of fertility, land, rivers, and mountains.[4]

The four heavenly ministers are often worshiped in Taoist temples.

See also

References
  1. 《道法會元卷之三》
  2. Richard Wolff (2007). The Popular Encyclopedia of World Religions. Harvest House Publishers. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-7369-2007-0.
  3. 《三教源流搜神大全》
  4. 《文獻通考_(四庫全書本)》  (in Chinese) – via Wikisource.
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