| This is the central deity of the Three Purities, the Celestial
Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Tiancun Yuanshi). As his name implies, he
is believed to have spontaneously formed from pure energy at the beginning
of the world. According to legend, he observed the shifting patterns of
energy and created the first writing system from them by casting the patterns
in gold onto jade tablets. Consequently, he is seen as both the source of
all learning and the first author of Taoist scriptures. The first and loftiest
section of the Taoist Canon is dedicated to him. Here, he is shown seated
on an elaborate throne that hovers in the cloudlike energy of his celestial
realm. He is dressed in the manner of a Taoist priest, with his hands in
a magical gesture that imitates a Buddhist mudra. His spiritual energy radiates
outward in a mandorla of swirling colors.
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This painting shows the second of the Three Purities, the
Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure (Tiancun Lingbao). His name comes
from the scriptures written in response to the growing influence of Buddhism
in the early fifth century. These writings eventually formed the basis for
the second section of the Taoist Canon, which is dedicated to the Celestial
Worthy of Numinous Treasure. Like the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning,
he is considered a source of Taoist knowledge and scripture. He is often
described as the attendant of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning,
who gives him the task of revealing the scriptures to lesser gods and humans.
As such, he is the principal disseminator of Taoist teachings. He is depicted
here sitting on a throne in his celestial realm and holding his identifying
attribute, a scepter in the shape of a mushroom—called a ruyi. The hierarchic
scale of his two attendants emphasizes the superiority of this lofty god.
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This is the Celestial Worthy of the Way and Its Power (Tiancun
Daode), or Laozi. The god's identity is indicated by the presence of his
defining attribute, a fan with fly-whisk. His divine title was derived from
the name of the text attributed to him: the Classic of the Way and Its Power
(Daode jing). Since the name Laozi literally means "elder master,"
he is shown with white hair and an aged face, unlike the other two Celestial
Worthies. Laozi also differs from the others in that he played an active
role in the development of Chinese civilization, often appearing to reveal
divine teachings to humanity.
Here, he sits on a throne in his celestial kingdom, attended by two figures
whose lesser stature serves to emphasize his magnificence. The figure on
the right is Zhang Daoling, the first Celestial Master and the founder of
the Way of the Celestial Masters, which formed the foundation for religious
Taoism. Zhang accompanies Laozi because he was supposedly inspired by a
vision of the sage master. The other figure may represent Yin Xi, the man
to whom Laozi first revealed the Classic of the Way and Its Power. The artist's
choice of these two attendants—the most important representatives of Laozi
on earth—highlights Laozi's active participation in the human realm. |
