Donghuang Taiyi is the highest god in ancient Chinese mythology. He has an unlimited lifespan and cannot die. Donghuang Taiyi is a god in ancient legends. Donghuang Taiyi's "Donghuang" is not a surname. The east of Donghuang here does not refer to the geographical direction, but the degree of nobility. East is the first of the five directions. In China, the emperor was enshrined in Mount Tai, Dongyue. The sun and moon rise in the east and shine brightly.
Originally recorded in the poem "Nine Songs" of Chu written by Qu Yuan, it was a god believed in and worshiped by the people of the Chu State (or the South) during the Spring and Autumn Period and even the Warring States Period. Donghuang Taiyi is the supreme god of Chu, or may be related to Taiyi God and Emperor Taiyi.
Tai Yi and the Jade Emperor: Many people think that the Jade Emperor is more noble than the Eastern Emperor, but this is actually wrong. Donghuang's east here does not refer to the geographical direction, but the degree of nobility. East is the first of the five directions. In China, the emperor was enshrined in Mount Tai, Dongyue. The sun and moon rise in the east and shine brightly. The jade of the Jade Emperor also means the degree of nobility. In Chinese tradition, gold is the most important and carries everything, while jade is the most valuable and clean.
Eastern Emperor and Jade Emperor, these two titles both mean extremely noble. The only difference is that one is directional extension and the other is material extension. Donghuang, which extends in the direction, first came from the Spring and Autumn Period. "Chu Ci·Nine Songs·Donghuang Taiyi" notes: "Taiyi, the name of the star, the god of heaven, the word is in the east of Chu, to match the East Emperor, so it is called Donghuang ""Historical Records·Fengchan Book" says: Taiyi is the noble god, and Taiyi is called the Five Emperors. In ancient times, the emperor worshiped Taiyi in the southeastern suburbs in the Spring and Autumn Period.
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