{"id":5303,"date":"2026-04-27T10:36:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T10:36:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/jade-emperor\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:32:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:32:33","slug":"jade-emperor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/jade-emperor\/","title":{"rendered":"Jade Emperor"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"5303\" class=\"elementor elementor-5303 elementor-2014 elementor-bc-flex-widget\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10fdade e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"10fdade\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herohlft0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herohlft0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3ceb64 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c3ceb64\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96ae5e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"96ae5e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Yuhuang, god of the Chinese tradition<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e45238a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e45238a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yuhuang is a god of the Chinese <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The passing on of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span>.<\/p><p><strong>The Jade Emperor, lord of heaven and earth, cosmic administrator.<\/strong><\/p><p>In <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Chinese religious and philosophical tradition oriented toward the Dao, the Way.\" tabindex=\"0\">Daoism<\/span>, Yuhuang Shangdi is the Jade Emperor and supreme <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klsbdg01 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"klsbdg01\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klshtm01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"klshtm01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwg-pill-row\"><span class=\"iwg-klasse-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"God \/ goddess: personified supreme power in the pantheon of a culture, with clear responsibilities, forces of nature, fate, war, fertility. Venerated through cults, sacrifices and temple institutions.\">God<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/china\/\" class=\"iwg-kultur-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Chinese religion of gods, spirits and folk belief, Daoist, Buddhist, Confucian.\">China<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/high-deities\/\" class=\"iwg-tradition-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Supreme gods of a pantheon, cosmic sovereignty, creator or ruler aspect.\">High deity<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f74855 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3f74855\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c30362 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"1c30362\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;Es wurden keine \\u00dcberschriften auf dieser Seite gefunden.&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-circle&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;,&quot;rendered_tag&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-circle\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 512 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;},&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of contents\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herorght0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herorght0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-heroimg00 iwg-hero-image elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"heroimg00\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_china_jade-kaiser-683x1024.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4558\" alt=\"Jade Emperor - gods from the Chinese tradition, historical and illustrative\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_china_jade-kaiser-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_china_jade-kaiser-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_china_jade-kaiser-768x1152.webp 768w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_china_jade-kaiser.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32917199 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"32917199\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26e916cb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"26e916cb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-253a40d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"253a40d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1200c304 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1200c304\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Yuhuang<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-159dcf9a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"159dcf9a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48cee66f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"48cee66f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Brief profile: Yuhuang<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f50d82c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f50d82c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Type:<\/strong> Chinese principal deity, supreme lord of heaven (<span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Chinese religious and philosophical tradition oriented toward the Dao, the Way.\" tabindex=\"0\">Daoism<\/span>, folk <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The academic discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">religion<\/span>)<br><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">Pantheon<\/span>: <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Chinese religious and philosophical tradition oriented toward the Dao, the Way.\" tabindex=\"0\">Daoism<\/span>, Chinese folk religion<br>Function: supreme ruler of heaven, highest official of the heavenly court, administrator of fate<br>Main attributes: Mian crown with strings of jade pearls, yellow dragon robe, jade sceptre<br>Main <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> sites: in every Chinese <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Chinese religious and philosophical tradition oriented toward the Dao, the Way.\" tabindex=\"0\">Daoism<\/span> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span>, Yuhuang Ge in Pingyao, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">Temple<\/span> of Heaven in Beijing<br>Synonym: Jade Emperor (see separate page jade-kaiser)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18613602 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"18613602\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-262b8a9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"262b8a9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Historical context<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46dcb7d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"46dcb7d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61d3ab3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"61d3ab3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-117c166 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"117c166\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Period of the texts<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73997a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73997a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yuhuang (Chinese <em>Y\u00f9 Hu\u00e1ng D\u00e0d\u00ec<\/em>, &#8220;Jade Emperor Grand Ruler&#8221;) develops during the Tang dynasty (7th to 10th century CE) and receives his <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to the authoritatively recognized body of scriptures of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">canonical<\/span> status under Emperor Zhenzong of the Song dynasty (early 11th century).<\/p><p>The Yuhuang <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> is a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The academic study of God and the doctrines of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theological<\/span> consolidation of the Chinese pantheon: all other deities are subordinate to him as heavenly officials.<\/p><p>The main flourishing period of Yuhuang veneration runs from the Song to the Qing dynasty. Today he remains central in every <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Chinese religious and philosophical tradition oriented toward the Dao, the Way.\" tabindex=\"0\">Daoism<\/span> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> and in Chinese folk religion; his birthday festival on the 9th day of the Chinese New Year is one of the largest Daoist festivals.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d47b156 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d47b156\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff38c2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff38c2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Area of distribution<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e49fcc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e49fcc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Main cult sites: present in every larger Daoist <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span>. Special <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sacred place dedicated to the veneration of a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">sanctuaries<\/span>: <strong>Yuhuang Ge<\/strong> in Pingyao (Shanxi), <strong>Yuhuang Miao<\/strong> on Mount Tai (one of the five <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to the divine and thereby withdrawn from everyday use.\" tabindex=\"0\">sacred<\/span> mountains of China), Yuhuang <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temples<\/span> in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore.<\/p><p>In imperial China the <strong><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">Temple<\/span> of Heaven<\/strong> in Beijing (built in 1420) was the highest <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> site; only the emperor was permitted to <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An offering to a deity to express thanks, request, or veneration.\" tabindex=\"0\">sacrifice<\/span> there to the highest heaven. Internationally present in every Chinese diaspora community with a Daoist <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db03c39 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"db03c39\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229a87b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"229a87b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f471fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f471fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Source situation<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36b1201 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36b1201\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Central sources: <em>Y\u00f9 Hu\u00e1ng B\u011bny\u00ec J\u012bng<\/em> (<span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"In Hinduism and Buddhism a doctrinal text in concise form.\" tabindex=\"0\">sutra<\/span> of the Jade Emperor, canonical text), the Daozang collection (the Daoist <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The collection of the sacred scriptures of a religion recognised as authoritative.\" tabindex=\"0\">canon<\/span>), imperial edicts of the Song dynasty. Secondary literature: Werner, <em>Myths and Legends of China<\/em>; Kohn, <em>Daoism Handbook<\/em>; Schipper, <em>The Taoist Body<\/em>; Bokenkamp, <em>Early Daoist Scriptures<\/em>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ae0637c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3ae0637c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31d07739 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"31d07739\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Designation and spellings<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7642947 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b7642947\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a086266 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a086266\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yuhuang Shangdi is depicted as a dignified, middle-aged to elderly man, clothed in imperial red or golden silk robes, with a pearl crown and sceptre. His face is just, not angry but authoritative.<\/p><p>He sits on a throne in his heavenly office, surrounded by scrolls and instruments of administration, not weapons or works of art, but ledger-like documents concerning <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, the law of cause and effect of action: every deed acts back upon subsequent existences.\" tabindex=\"0\">karma<\/span> and fate.<\/p><p>The jade <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of a concept or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span> refers to a metaphysical quality: in China, jade is a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of a concept or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span> of life, purity and indestructibility. His emblems are the imperial dragon, the Persian pattern and heavenly insignia. In art he is often shown with an entourage of government, subordinate gods, secretaries and scribes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-709a44a8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"709a44a8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f585873 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2f585873\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Characteristics<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70621c12 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"70621c12\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4296eb49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4296eb49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yuhuang Shangdi rules over all deities, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A bodiless being to which agency in the world is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">spirits<\/span> and administrative heavens. Beneath him are specialised gods, a god of moisture, a god of the forest, a god of every village.<\/p><p>The earthly emperor rules through his mandate (<em>Tianming<\/em>). People may pray to the Jade Emperor for a change of fate, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The pronouncement of salvation and protection, often in a fixed verbal form.\" tabindex=\"0\">blessing<\/span> for harvests or for the family, but not as to other gods, not intimately but formally.<\/p><p>The Jade Emperor birthday festival on the eighth day of the first lunar month is one of the largest folk festivals of China: fireworks, processions, altars with red paper money.<\/p><p>The Jade Emperor is treated with respect, much as one is humble before an earthly emperor. His decisions are the most central for human life: when you are reborn, with which karma, under which constellation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44e71476 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"44e71476\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c1fc3f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3c1fc3f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Profile: Yuhuang<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84f33b8e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"84f33b8e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-hqkdc67p elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"hqkdc67p\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The most important aspects of Yuhuang at a glance. The following fields summarise origin, function, appearance, veneration, symbols and cultural parallels.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-qh9oavvu iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"qh9oavvu\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-awzx8k2k elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"awzx8k2k\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Origin<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-x6rowhv0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"x6rowhv0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yuhuang arises in the Tang dynasty as a theological consolidation of the Chinese pantheon.<\/p><p>In the mythological tradition: son of the realm&#8217;s tutelary <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An incorporeal being to which effects in the world are attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">spirit<\/span> and of Bao Yue Guang Wang Mu (mother of creation); he incarnated in an early dynasty as Prince Yu, gave up his kingdom to become an ascetic, and after millions of years of meditation attained the highest heavenly status.<\/p><p>Consort: Wang Mu Niang Niang (Queen Mother of the West). Father of Yang Jian and many further demigods.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e3o4kxs iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8e3o4kxs\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08rkdgov elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"08rkdgov\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related to<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-uwjelx8s elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"uwjelx8s\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Supreme ruler of heaven and highest administrator of the cosmic apparatus of officials. All gods and <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effect is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">demons<\/span> are subordinate to him. He grants and withdraws divine offices, convenes assemblies and observes the human world through his officials.<\/p><p>In the folk cult he is the recipient of petitions of all kinds, but typically through lower local gods (for example the city god, the earth god) as intermediaries. He is called upon directly in person only in the greatest emergencies.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-jm2n74ec iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"jm2n74ec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8vufse4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8vufse4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Form<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-mwb9u015 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"mwb9u015\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yuhuang as an imperial court ruler in <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Epoch of Greek and Roman culture, roughly 800 BC to 600 AD.\" tabindex=\"0\">ancient<\/span> Chinese dress: <em>Mian crown<\/em> (a high rectangular crown with hanging strings of jade pearls), a yellow or golden-yellow <em>dragon robe<\/em> (imperial <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of a concept or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span>), a <em>jade sceptre<\/em> (gui), a beard, mild yet stern features.<\/p><p>He is enthroned on a magnificent dragon throne in the hall of the highest heaven, surrounded by official gods. In pictorial <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> depictions he is often monumental in the central cella.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37ss2yr6 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"37ss2yr6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3v0wp3wx elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3v0wp3wx\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sphere of influence<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w3247g2m elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w3247g2m\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Sphere of influence:<\/strong> Yuhuang is venerated in every Chinese <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Chinese religious and philosophical tradition oriented toward the Dao, the Way.\" tabindex=\"0\">Daoism<\/span> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span>. His birthday on the 9th day of the Chinese New Year (mid to late January\/February) is one of the largest Daoist festivals, with dramatic petition processions and <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An offering to a deity to express gratitude, petition, or veneration.\" tabindex=\"0\">offerings<\/span>.<\/p><p>In personal household worship, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The petitioning or invoking address to a deity or power.\" tabindex=\"0\">invocation<\/span> is typical at New Year and on his birthday. Kings of the traditional Chinese world (also in Korea and Vietnam) saw themselves as his representative on earth, a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The scholarly doctrine of God and of the faith of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theology<\/span> that found political expression in the Mandate of Heaven (<em>Tianming<\/em>).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0qpjal9w iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0qpjal9w\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ndoih0o elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6ndoih0o\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Means of protection<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6684tyh9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6684tyh9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Mian crown with strings of jade pearls, yellow dragon robe, jade sceptre (gui), dragon throne, beard, imperial insignia. Sacred animals: dragon (especially the yellow dragon), phoenix. Sacred plants: peach (the peach of immortality of his consort), peony. Sacred number: 9 (the imperial number).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3lfi7x32 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3lfi7x32\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0kg99ga1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0kg99ga1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related beings<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-n0fum6kp elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"n0fum6kp\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Jade Emperor<\/em> (Chinese, separate page), <em>Tian \/ Shangdi<\/em> (an earlier Chinese supreme-god concept), <em><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"In Hinduism the absolute, formless, attributeless being; reflected in the Upanishads as the ground of all appearances.\" tabindex=\"0\">Brahman<\/span><\/em> (Hinduism, highest being), <em>Anu<\/em> (Mesopotamia, sky god), <em>Ouranos<\/em> (Greece, primordial sky), <em>Tian-Hou<\/em> (Mazu, &#8220;Queen of Heaven&#8221;), <em>Mahabrahma<\/em> (Buddhism, highest official of the worlds).<\/p><p>Functionally: every supreme god who leads a cosmic hierarchy of officials shares Yuhuang aspects. The imperial <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The scholarly doctrine of God and of the faith of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theology<\/span> makes Yuhuang unique, he is the heavenly mirror of the Chinese imperial system.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7533bc7a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7533bc7a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2447d18d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2447d18d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Warding off in everyday life<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5d0260c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d5d0260c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-341be2ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"341be2ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Rituals for warding off<\/strong><\/p><p>In Chinese folk religion, the Jade Emperor is not regarded as a figure to be warded off but as the supreme guarantor of the heavenly order. Dealings with him therefore follow the logic of veneration: on the ninth day of the first lunar month, temples and households celebrate his birthday with incense, offerings, and prayers. Those who respect his authority thereby also seek protection from lesser spirits, which are subject to his heavenly administration.<\/p><p><strong>Invocations<\/strong><\/p><p>In everyday life, people encounter the Jade Emperor mainly through household altars and temple visits, where incense sticks are lit and fruit or tea is offered. In parts of southern China and in the Hokkien tradition of Taiwan and Southeast Asia, his birthday festival, the Bai Tian Gong, counts among the most important dates of the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An ordered sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritual<\/span> year. Such rites serve less to ward off the god himself than to maintain an orderly relationship with Heaven.<\/p><p><strong><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A worn object to which a protective, misfortune-averting effect is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">Amulets<\/span> and protective symbols<\/strong><\/p><p>An expanded text with further source material will follow in a later update.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a584676 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5a584676\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d0757bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d0757bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Yuhuang, parallels in other cultures<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60563f68 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"60563f68\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a93fdd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a93fdd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yuhuang Shangdi resembles the Western God (cosmic administrative authority), the Ptolemaic cosmos-ordering Zeus and the Indian Brahma (creator-administrator, not the highest). In contrast to God or Brahma, Yuhuang is not the absolute final instance but stands beneath the Sanqing. With the Japanese Amaterasu, Yuhuang shares the imperial role of legitimation and centrality.<\/p><p>With the Roman Jupiter, the rule of heaven. What is unique is the administrative character: he is not primarily a god of thunder or of love but a god of cosmic bureaucracy. This is typically Daoist: spirituality through order, not <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A religious current with an emphasis on direct experience of God.\" tabindex=\"0\">mysticism<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp5c25837 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp5c25837\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp642e179 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp642e179\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The rise to Jade Emperor: a late career in the pantheon<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpa7175be e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cpa7175be\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp33693d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp33693d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Jade Emperor (<em>Yuhuang Dadi<\/em>, &#8220;Exalted Jade Emperor&#8221;), despite his present pre-eminence, belongs to the comparatively young figures of the Chinese heaven of gods.<\/p><p>He is still absent from the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The era of Greek and Roman culture, roughly 800 BCE to 600 CE.\" tabindex=\"0\">classical<\/span> texts of the Han period; the older layer of the Daoist supreme gods is formed by figures such as <em>Yuanshi Tianzun<\/em> (&#8220;the Heavenly Venerable of the Primordial Beginning&#8221;) and the trinity of the <em>Sanqing<\/em>.<\/p><p>The Jade Emperor emerges clearly only in the Tang and above all in the Song period.<\/p><p>Imperial patronage was decisive. Emperor Zhenzong of the Song dynasty conferred official titles on the Jade Emperor in 1012 and again in 1015, thereby binding him into the state <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span>. Emperor Huizong continued this policy.<\/p><p>Scholarship sees in this a process whereby the earthly imperial court created a heavenly mirror image of its own order: the Jade Emperor governs the cosmos as the Son of Heaven is meant to govern the realm, with an apparatus of officials, audiences and petitions.<\/p><p>This fusion of folk religion, Daoist <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The scholarly doctrine of God and of the faith of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theology<\/span> and state cult explains the dual nature of the figure. For the Daoist schools, the Jade Emperor remained subordinate to the highest <em>Sanqing<\/em>, an exalted but not primordial god.<\/p><p>In <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Religiosity as lived in everyday life, often alongside the official doctrine.\" tabindex=\"0\">popular piety<\/span>, by contrast, he became the actual ruler of heaven, earth and the underworld, to whom all other deities owe account. This tension between learned and popular classification persists into the present and is one reason why descriptions of his standing differ considerably from source to source.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp43a3714 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp43a3714\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpd85b912 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cpd85b912\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The heavenly bureaucratic state: cosmology and administrative model<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp3056a25 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp3056a25\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp95b9f42 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp95b9f42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The world of ideas surrounding the Jade Emperor is permeated by the bureaucratic order of the Chinese empire. Heaven appears not as an abstract place but as an administration with ministries, registers and careers. The Jade Emperor sits at the top, surrounded by court officials, and receives at fixed times the reports of subordinate deities.<\/p><p>Particularly close is the connection to the <a href=\"\/en\/kitchen-god-zao-jun-household-deity-of-the-hearth-in-china\/\">kitchen god<\/a> (<em>Zaojun<\/em>), who resides in every household and once a year, shortly before the New Year festival, ascends to the Jade Emperor to report on the conduct of the family.<\/p><p>The city god (<em>Chenghuang<\/em>) and the earth deities (<em>Tudigong<\/em>) are also bound into this hierarchy: they function like local officials who report upward and receive directives from above.<\/p><p>The lifespan and fate of human beings are recorded in heavenly registers. Deities such as the Southern and the Northern Star Lord administer birth and death.<\/p><p>According to some texts, whoever acquires merit can rise within the apparatus of the beyond; deified human beings receive offices. This model of the religious career mirrors the social reality of the official examinations.<\/p><p>From the perspective of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">religious studies<\/span>, this complex, termed the &#8220;celestial bureaucracy&#8221;, has been much examined, among others in the works of C. K. Yang and later Stephan Feuchtwang.<\/p><p>The central insight: the Chinese heaven of gods is not an arbitrary <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">pantheon<\/span> but a system ordered by responsibilities, in which the Jade Emperor takes the role of supreme sovereign without intervening in every detail.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpa42b1fd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cpa42b1fd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp2c8af1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp2c8af1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Temples, images and the festival on the ninth day<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp467d4b3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp467d4b3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpfc06af4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cpfc06af4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The study of pictorial content and its meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">iconography<\/span>, the Jade Emperor is almost always depicted as an enthroned ruler in imperial dress. He wears the <em>mianfu<\/em>, the ceremonial robe, and on his head the <em>mianguan<\/em>, the flat crown with hanging strings of pearls, as it was reserved for the Chinese emperor.<\/p><p>In his hands he often holds an audience tablet (<em>hu<\/em>). This depiction visually underscores his identification with the earthly sovereign.<\/p><p><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">Temples<\/span> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Handed over to the sacred through a religious act and thereby raised out of the everyday.\" tabindex=\"0\">consecrated<\/span> to the Jade Emperor often bear names such as <em>Yuhuang Gong<\/em> or <em>Tiangong<\/em> (&#8220;Heavenly Palace&#8221;). Well-known sites are found in Taiwan, for example the Tiangong <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> in Tainan, and on the Chinese mainland.<\/p><p>In addition, the Jade Emperor possesses in many larger temple complexes his own <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A small sacred place of safekeeping or devotion.\" tabindex=\"0\">shrine<\/span> or his own hall, even when the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> is <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Handed over to the sacred through a religious act and thereby set apart from the everyday.\" tabindex=\"0\">dedicated<\/span> to other deities.<\/p><p>The most important festival day is the ninth day of the first lunar month, which is regarded as the birthday of the Jade Emperor. In Hokkien communities, especially in Taiwan and Southeast Asia, it is observed as <em>Pai Ti Kong<\/em>.<\/p><p>Veneration begins on the preceding night: families erect altars, offer sugar cane, which in a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An edifying narrative, usually about the lives of saints.\" tabindex=\"0\">legend<\/span> once gave the Hokkien protection from their pursuers, and present tea, fruit and incense. Since the Jade Emperor is considered too exalted to be honoured directly with animal flesh, vegetarian offerings and <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands representatively for a concept or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbolic<\/span> paper offerings predominate.<\/p><p>The straw mats on which one kneels and the ritual order of the bows are codified differently from region to region. Ethnographic studies of these festivals, for example from Singapore and Penang, show how strongly the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> is bound to concrete histories of migration.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp33506fa e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp33506fa\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp008cad0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp008cad0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Jade Emperor in novel, opera and modern entertainment<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpfbc1a9c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cpfbc1a9c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpdd86d3b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cpdd86d3b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Beyond religious practice, the Jade Emperor is a fixed literary figure. In the novel <em>Journey to the West<\/em> (<em>Xiyou ji<\/em>, 16th century) he appears as the supreme ruler of heaven, whose court is thrown into uproar by the Monkey King <a href=\"\/en\/sun-wukong-the-monkey-king-from-journey-to-the-west\/\">Sun Wukong<\/a>.<\/p><p>It is notable that the novel does not portray the Jade Emperor as omnipotent: he must call upon the Buddha for help to subdue the monkey. This half-satirical portrayal shapes the popular image to this day.<\/p><p>In classical Chinese theatre and in Beijing opera, the Jade Emperor regularly appears in plays that dramatise episodes from <em>Xiyou ji<\/em> or from the <em>Investiture of the Gods<\/em> (<em>Fengshen yanyi<\/em>). His stage role is that of the dignified, somewhat distant sovereign.<\/p><p>In the modern era this tradition has continued. The Jade Emperor appears in animated films, television series, comics and computer games, in the People&#8217;s Republic of China as well as in Western popular culture that draws on the <em>Journey to the West<\/em>.<\/p><p>In doing so, the figure is often reduced to the powerless bureaucrat who stands in the way of the rebellious hero.<\/p><p>For <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The discipline that studies religions comparatively and without commitment to belief.\" tabindex=\"0\">religious studies<\/span> this finding is instructive: the literary <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The passing on of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">transmission<\/span> and the living <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> run alongside each other.<\/p><p>Whoever <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An offering to a deity to express gratitude, petition, or veneration.\" tabindex=\"0\">sacrifices<\/span> to the Heavenly Palace on the ninth day of the first month venerates an exalted sovereign; whoever reads the novel encounters an ironically broken figure. Both images belong to the history of reception and should not be played off against each other.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpf23c7e9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cpf23c7e9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp38c99b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp38c99b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Source situation: where our knowledge comes from<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp0970a29 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp0970a29\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp6ce3203 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp6ce3203\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Anyone who wishes to grasp the Jade Emperor historically must distinguish between several layers of text. The oldest evidence for an exalted ruler of heaven of this name comes from Daoist writings of the Tang period.<\/p><p>The decisive impetus comes from the Song-period court documents that <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The transmission of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">record<\/span> the conferrals of titles by Emperor Zhenzong; these are transmitted in the dynastic historical works.<\/p><p>Alongside this stands the Daoist body of writings collected in the <em>Daozang<\/em>, the Daoist <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The collection of the sacred scriptures of a religion recognised as authoritative.\" tabindex=\"0\">canon<\/span>. Here are found liturgies, invocations and theological classifications that fit the Jade Emperor into the system of the supreme gods. These texts are often difficult to date and presuppose specialised liturgical knowledge.<\/p><p>A third layer is formed by the narrative literature of the Ming period, above all <em>Xiyou ji<\/em> and <em>Fengshen yanyi<\/em>, which strongly shaped the popular image but are not theological sources in the narrower sense. Finally, modern ethnography, for example the fieldwork on Taiwanese and Southeast Asian folk Daoism, provides material on lived practice.<\/p><p>Scholarship urges caution: much of what is presented in popular accounts as ancient <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the transmitted divine narratives of a culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">mythology<\/span>, for example detailed birth legends of the Jade Emperor, is literarily late or regionally limited.<\/p><p>The sober statement is that the Jade Emperor is a figure consolidated over the course of the Middle Ages, whose profile results from the interplay of state cult, Daoist scholarship and <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Religiosity as lived in everyday life, often alongside the official doctrine.\" tabindex=\"0\">popular piety<\/span>. Where older myths are asserted, the source basis must be critically examined.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36dd7469 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"36dd7469\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13760ab4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"13760ab4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Further links<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28c87796 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"28c87796\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d6538df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d6538df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/yanluo\/\">Yanluo, the official of the dead subordinate to him<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/zhong-kui\/\">Zhong Kui, demon slayer under his command<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/mazu\/\">Mazu, a related folk deity<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/china\/\">China, pantheon overview<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/high-deities\/\">High deities, sub-category<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/gods\/\">Gods, class overview<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-grl4kl40 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"grl4kl40\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bzsbfrmh elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bzsbfrmh\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Literature (selection)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c13224a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2c13224a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0eymh9ub elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0eymh9ub\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<footer class=\"iwg-literatur\" data-nosnippet=\"true\"><ul><li><span data-nosnippet>Kohn, Livia (ed.): <em>Daoism Handbook<\/em>. Leiden 2000.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Schipper, Kristofer: <em>The Taoist Body<\/em>. Berkeley 1993.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Bokenkamp, Stephen R.: <em>Early Daoist Scriptures<\/em>. Berkeley 1997.<\/span><\/li><li>Walde, Christine (ed.): <em>Der Neue Pauly<\/em> (entry &#8220;Yu Huang&#8221;).<\/li><\/ul><\/footer>\n<p class=\"iwg-bib-more\"><span data-nosnippet>Further standard works in the <a href=\"\/en\/literature\/\">literature index<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yuhuang, god of the Chinese tradition Yuhuang is a god of the Chinese tradition. The Jade Emperor, lord of heaven and earth, cosmic administrator. In Daoism, Yuhuang Shangdi is the Jade Emperor and supreme deity. GodChinaHigh deity Table of contents Yuhuang Brief profile: Yuhuang Type: Chinese principal deity, supreme lord of heaven (Daoism, folk religion)Pantheon: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4558,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Yuhuang Shangdi","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Yuhuang Shangdi: Jade Emperor of Daoism","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Cosmic administrator, regulator of fate and supreme effective power in the Daoist folk tradition of China.","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_angie_page":false,"gefaehrdungsstufe":"","wesen_kultur":"","wesen_klasse":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[112,79,86],"class_list":["post-5303","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-china","category-cultures","category-gods"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 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