As one of the "three clean-ups" of Taoism, Taishang Laojun is the recognized ancestor of Taoism, also known as "Taiqing Moral Heavenly Zun". Taoism believes that the old gentleman in Taishang is "the respect of all things, the respect of all saints in the holy, the teacher of all kings in the earth, the supreme king in the law, and the ancestor of all religions in the religion."
It is also believed that Taishang Laojun "taught the world, experienced robbing teachers, opened up heaven and earth, judged Yin and Yang, robbed the world, and educated people, but things were hidden." Since the "Hongyuan" in the first century of Taoist genesis, Taishang Laojun has taught the world many times in the next life. For example, in the Fuxi era, the old gentleman incarnated as "Wuhuazi" and "Yuhuazi" and taught Fuxi the deductive method, "playing Yin and Yang, being positive on all sides, and deciding gossip". When the Yellow Emperor was a Emperor of Light, etc. Laozi, who wrote the Tao Te Ching to enlighten the world, is only the eighteenth incarnation of the old gentleman on the throne. From these two points, we can see the respect of Taishang Laojun's position in Taoism.
The Jade Emperor appeared relatively late in Taoism. The God of Heaven worshipped by early Taoism is the "God of Heaven" or "East Emperor Taiyi" handed down from ancient times. At the same time, Taoism is also constantly evolving and developing the image of Heaven Emperor, and finally matured in the Northern Song Dynasty and formed the image of "Jade Emperor". Song Zhenzong ordered it to join the national sacrificial system.
According to Taoist classics, the Jade Emperor was secretly given a deficit decree by the Yuan God, which opened the world to hold the symbol. He is the Dharma Master of Infinite Avenue, bearing the true imperial calendar, supported by the Palace of the Four Emperors of the Golden Que, supported by the Four Saints of the Arctic, and guarded by Chen Shen, who commands the heavens and all the saints. Therefore, it is also called "Li Yu, the symbol of Tai Shang Huang Tian Kai, contains the true body of Hao Tao Tian Yu Emperor God"
It can be seen that the reason why the Jade Emperor became the Jade Emperor is because "he was endowed with red jade articles by God at the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty and inherited the law of Wuji Avenue", that is to say, he was recognized by the "Sanqing". Only in this way can we "rule the heavens and command all saints."
However, due to the great influence of the Jade Emperor on the people, and the fact that the old gentleman on the throne in the Warring States period was basically Lao Zi, and the writing needs of the old gentleman in Wu Cheng'en mentioned at the beginning, readers can also regard the old gentleman on the throne in The Journey to the West as Lao Zi, the eighteenth incarnation of the moral Buddha. It is easy to understand that the old man's position in The Journey to the West is slightly lower than that of the Jade Emperor.
As one of the three emotions, Taishang Laojun is the originator of Taoism, and his qualifications are not detailed here. The Jade Emperor is not the emperor among the immortals, but one of the four emperors, assisting Sanqing. The Jade Emperor commands the Heaven and commands the heavenly soldiers and generals. On the qualification slightly lower than Sanqing. However, the old gentleman and the Jade Emperor are both Taoist figures.
The old gentleman in the sky bowed to the jade emperor, or the jade emperor should listen to the old gentleman, and there has been a constant debate. Still no answer. In fact, the original Journey to the West classifies the composition of the buddhas and immortals in the sky. The buddhas and immortals in the sky are divided into three systems: the paradise in the western world, the mainstream world in the sky, and the carefree immortals.
This is the same as the background at that time. The Buddhist paradise belongs to the Tathagata, the gods in the sky, and all beings in the three realms are under the jurisdiction of the Jade Emperor. Immortals are at ease. In ancient China, the schools of cultivating immortals were mostly Taoism, mainly Taoism, and Taishang Laojun was the supreme commander and founder of Taoism.
These three aspects have their own functions and uses, do not interfere with each other, but are closely linked. For example, Purdue, all systems should obey the western paradise, with Tathagata as the head. Taoism, led by Taishang Laojun, has to abide by the three systems of celestial practice, immortal cultivation and preaching, and alchemy. There's only one left, heaven. The establishment of heaven is similar to an administrative center, which arranges personnel changes, administrative management, the balance of the three realms of the Holy Spirit, and personnel dispatch. , are under the management of the jade emperor. After all, the number of people in heaven is beyond that of Buddhism and Taoism.
Therefore, although the old gentleman in Taishang is the ancestor of Taoism and occupies a very high position in cultivating immortals, he still has to obey the jade emperor administratively.
However, this does not mean that the old gentleman on the throne is bent down and wronged. Because any system, in order to achieve balance, needs a system to manage, otherwise it will fall into chaos. Although Tathagata and Taishang Laojun are powerful, they may not be competent in management. They are outstanding in one respect. Therefore, the old gentleman only respects the jade emperor in administration, but in personal cultivation, the jade emperor respects him instead.
Similarly, Tathagata, Grand Priest and the Jade Emperor are the same. In the personnel arrangement, we have to listen to the Buddha, and the three systems restrict and complement each other. No one absolutely has to bow to anyone, just for the sake of better exhibition and mutual respect to achieve their ruling purpose.