Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun
Taoist form of Manjusri
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Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun (simplified Chinese: 文殊广法天尊; traditional Chinese: 文殊廣法天尊; pinyin: Wénshū Guǎngfǎ Tiānzūn) is a Taoist deity and character in the classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods (more commonly known as Fengshen Yanyi). He is a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun and one of the Three Great Immortals, holding the fifth position among the Twelve Golden Immortals.[1]
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The character is believed to be derived from the bodhisattva Manjusri.[2][3] The books Qunxian Xianpo Tianmen and Western Tang Dynasty Biography states Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun and Manjusri Bodhisattva are not the same person.[4][5][6] It is believed that Manjusri Bodhisattva transformed into Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun, one of the protectors in Taoism, helping to resolve religious conflicts common in the Western regions.[7]
In Fengshen Yanyi
Guangfa Tianzun is the immortal who resides at Five Dragons Mountain's Cloud Top Cave and is the teacher of Jinzha, the eldest son of Li Jing. He is ranked among the senior immortals of the Chan Sect and is portrayed as being of higher status than Taiyi Zhenren, the teacher of Nezha.[8]
After the conflict between Muzha and Nezha and Li Jing's attempt to take his own life, Guangfa Tianzun appeared and brought Li Jing into his cave for safety. He then confronted Nezha, who attacked him with his spear. Guangfa Tianzun defeated Nezha by using his Seven Treasure Golden Lotus, rendering him unconscious and restraining him with golden rings. He then ordered his disciple Jinzha to punish Nezha. After Taiyi Zhenren arrived, it was revealed that the conflict between Li Jing and Nezha had been arranged by Taiyi Zhenren as a lesson for Nezha. After Nezha paid respects to Guangfa Tianzun and Taiyi Zhenren, who was seated beside him, he remained dissatisfied with Guangfa Tianzun over the punishment he had received.[9]
After Nezha and Li Jing departed on the orders of Guangfa Tianzun, he was absent from the story for some time. During the Battle of the Myriad Immortal Array (万仙阵), Guangfa Tianzun fought alongside Puxian Zhenren and Cihang Daoren against Jinling Shengmu, a leading disciple of the Jie Sect. He also broke the Tianjue Formation (天绝阵), the first of the Ten Jue Formations (十绝阵) created by the Jie Sect, and killed Qinwan Tianjun. Later, Guangfa Tianzun was captured by Yunxiao Niangniang, Qiongxiao Niangniang, and Bixiao Niangniang—using the Chaos-Origin Gold Gourd and was imprisoned within the Grand Nine-Curves Yellow River Formation (九曲黄河阵). The formation weakened his powers, but he later recovered his cultivation.[10]
In the end, among the disciples of the Chan Sect and Jie Sect, those with the highest levels of cultivation were granted divine positions through the Register of Deities (封神榜). Those with lower levels of cultivation received lesser divine ranks, while others were reincarnated. Some disciples later joined the Western Sect (西方教), including Chan Sect immortals such as Cihang Zhenren (later identified with Guanyin), Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun (later identified with Manjushri), and Puxian Zhenren (later identified with Samantabhadra).[11]
Temple
At the Qingyang Palace (青羊宫), one of the oldest Taoist temples in Chengdu, Sichuan, Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun is enshrined in the Sanqing Hall (三清殿). The hall's main altar is dedicated to the Three Pure Ones and is flanked by statues of the Twelve Golden Immortals, including Qingxu Daode Zhenjun.[12]