Four heavenly ministers
Group of four important Daoist deities
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The Four Heavenly Ministers (Chinese: 四御; pinyin: Sì yù), also translated as the Four Sovereigns, are four of the highest sky deities of Daoism and subordinate only to The Great Jade Emperor (Chinese: 玉皇上帝; pinyin: Yù huáng shàngdì). They assist the Jade Emperor in administering all phenomenon of the universe.[1][2][full citation needed] The Four Heavenly Ministers (四御 Si Yu) are four deputies assisting the Heavenly Jade Emperor in governing the heaven and earth. They are highly revered in Taoism and positioned just after the Heavenly Jade Emperor.
Four Sovereigns
The Four Heavenly Ministers are:[3][full citation needed]
- the Southern Apex Longevity Great Emperor[a]
- the Great Emperor of the North Star (Polaris) in the Purple Forbidden enclosure at the center of Heaven (Tian)[b]
- the Great Heavenly Emperor of the Highest Palace of the Curved Array (Little Dipper)[c]
- the Empress of the Earth[d] (Houtu)
Southern Apex Longevity Great Emperor (南極長生大帝 Nan Ji Chang Sheng Da Di) is in charge of all spirits. He oversees the destiny and fate of humanity, commands over the various thunder spirits and bestow blessings and guidance to all sentient beings. The Great Emperor of the North Star assists the Jade Emperor in managing the sun, the moon, stars, and the climate of the four seasons. The Great Emperor of the Curved Array/Little Dipper oversees all matters in heaven, earth, and the human world. The Empress of the Earth is in charge of fertility, land, rivers, and mountains.[4] The four heavenly ministers are often worshiped in Daoist temples.
Six Sovereigns
In some later Daoist accounts, this group is extended to six. The Six Heavenly Ministers (Chinese: 六御; pinyin: liù yù) include, in addition to the prior four:[5][6]
- the King Father of the East,[e] also called the Sovereign of the Eastern Florescence[f]
- the Queen Mother of the West,[g] also called the Primordial Lady Golden Mother[h]
Other accounts instead add:
- the Old Man of the South Pole[i]
- the Heavenly Lord of Supreme Oneness and Salvation from Misery,[j] also called the East Pole Emperor of Blue Essence[k]
