Taoist Finger Gestures - 道法指印

The TAO Gesture (道指)
The TAO Gesture (道指) is the most important Taoist Hand Sign / Finger Gesture in Taoism. It represents the TAO. It is most widely used finger gestures during all kinds of Taoist Rituals.

While conducting Taoist Ritual / Sorcery, Taoist Priests /Masters / Sorcerers often recite incantations with his mouth, making Hand Gestures with his hands and fingers, and Pacing the Big Dipper (步罡踏斗) with his feet.

Taoist Priests /Masters / Sorcerers make appropriate Finger Gestures when they hold the following rituals:
  • Reading Daoist scriptures
  • Reciting Incantations
  • Drawing and Empowering Talismans
  • Exorcism
  • Sorcery 
  • Taoist Rituals
  • Spirit Medium Possessions
  • Consecrating Deity Statues
  • Pacing the Big Dipper
  • Setting Up Altars
  • Invoking The Divine Generals
In the course of the development of Taoism, Taoists changed and corrected the original Finger Gestures, basing themselves on the Daoist Pantheon ( 神譜 - Shen Pu ) and theories of Taoist skills, so that finger gesture making became a comprehensive system. 

Taoist Finger Gestures have single hand patterns and also double hands patterns. The number of Finger Gestures designed for different objectives and for different rituals is hard to calculate, because there are so many kinds of magical skills for refinement and salvation as well as for curing illness, dispelling evil, and praying for avoiding disasters.

There are many sects / lineages of Taoism / Chinese Sorcery. Many of these Sects / Lineages share the same  Finger Gestures  but have different names, and have same names but different Finger Gestures.



The Sword Gesture (剑指)
Sword Gesture is used for casting spells, draw talismans on the air and water, consecrating / empowering talismans



The San Qing Gesture (三清指)
San Qing Gesture is used to hold a cup of water, holding Taoist Stamping Seals, pressing on the head of a victim during exorcism , etc.


The 5 Thunders Gesture (五雷指)
Five Thunders Gesture is often used during exorcism, getting rid of evils


The Jin Gang Gesture (金刚指)
Jin Gang Gesture is often used for consecrating / empowering Taoist Talismans

Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars) Talisman - 太上玄靈北斗七星符


In the Daoist scripture - 五斗經 (Wudou Jing) - The Scripture of the Five Dippers, it collects:
  1. The Mysterious and Numinous Big Dipper's Supreme Perfect Book for Prolonging One's Fundamental Destiny - (太上玄靈北斗本命延生真經 Taoshang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing)
  2. The Sublime Book of the Southern Dipper's Six Offices for Prolonging Life and Salvation Revealed by the Supreme Venerable Sovereign (太上說南斗六司延壽度人妙經 Taishang Shuo Nandou Liusi Yanshou Duren Miaojing)
  3. The Sublime Book of the Eastern Dipper's Governing and Guarding Life Revealed by the Supreme Venerable Sovereign (太上東斗主算護名妙經 Taishang Shou Dongdou Zhusuan Huming Miaojing)
  4. The Sublime Book of the Western Dipper's Register of Names and Guarding of the Body Revealed by the Supreme Venerable Sovereign (太上西斗記名護身妙經 Taishang Shuo Xidou Jiming Hushen Miaojing)
  5. The Sublime Book of the Protection of Life by the Kui Star in the Middle Dipper Revealed by the Supreme Venerable Sovereign ( 太上說中斗大魁保命妙經 Taishang Shuo Zhongdou Dakui Baoming Miaojing)

  6. The Scripture of the Five Dippers is related to the Daoist worship of the constellation spirits.

This article will be focusing on the "Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars)" Talisman (太上玄靈北斗七星符), which are  pure, authentic Taoist Talismans based on The Taoist Scripture of   Tai Shang Xuan Ling Bei Dou Ben Ming Yan Sheng Zhen Jing- 太上玄靈北斗本命延生真經 (The Mysterious and Numinous Big Dipper's Supreme Perfect Book for Prolonging One's Fundamental Destiny).

The reason is because The Big Dipper - Lord Bei Dou (北斗) was one group of the important Heavenly Spirits that Taoists must pay respect to. In the "PURE" form of Taoism, it is a Religion & a form of Teaching that greatly depended on the movement of Stars. Lord Bei Dou is highly respected by All Schools, Sects and Taoists (due to the Centered Position of where Lord Bei Dou was being located).

Lord Bei Dou was also being appointed by the San Qing (三清道祖) aka The Three Pure One to assist Jade Emperor (玉皇大天尊) in controlling the movements of the Sun, Moon and the Five Important Planets in the Universe (Pluto, Mercury, Mars, Venus & Saturn) – these 7 Planets are being addressed as Qi Zheng (七政) in Religious Contexts.

In Taoist Rituals/Ceremonies, Li Dou (禮斗) or Bai Dou (拜斗) is one of the many Rituals/Ceremonies that is being dedicated to Lord Bei Dou and the other Star Lord Groups.

During the Li Dou or Bai Dou Ritual/Ceremony, the Leading Priest will evoke the energies from Dou Mu Yuan Jun, Lord Emperor Zi Wei (北極紫微大帝), Lord Emperor Tian Huang (西極天皇大帝) and the Nine Stars to be emitted in-order to bless onto the devotees who joined in the Rituals/Ceremonies.

To increase one's life span, a person can do a Petition Report to Lord Bei Dou and by placing the 7-Stars Lamp Formation (七星延生燈法).

In the folk level and sorcery level of Taoism (Chinese Folk Religion), during the ritual of "Enhancing Luck" (补运), the Taoist Spirit Medium, Taoist Master or Taoist Sorcerer will guide the Folks to walk across the Big Dipper (7 stars) Bridge (七星桥).

Hand Drawn & Spiritually Empowered Version of 
"Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars)" Talisman

The 7 Lords of the Big Dipper can ward off / protect You from the following issues:
  • Three Disasters (三灾厄) - Sky disaster (天灾), Earth Disaster (地灾), Water Disaster (水灾)
  • Four Killings (四煞厄) - Sicknesses of the 4 Seasons
  • Five Elements (五行厄) - Five viscera (五脏) of TCM - Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung & Kidney
  • Six Killings (六害厄) - Eyes,Ears, Nose, Tongue, Body and Mind - Contact with the outside world,
  • contaminated with evil influences, greed, or ignorant
  • Seven Hurts (七伤厄) - Happiness, Anger, Sorrow, Joy, Love, Hate, Desire (喜,怒,哀,乐,爱,恶,欲) - extreme feeling cause harm to body
  • Eight Difficulties (八难厄) - eight types of unpleasant ailment, paralysis, epilepsy, mental illness, tuberculosis, insects / parasites , skin diseases
  • Nine Stars (九星厄) - meaning 7 Stars of Big Dipper and other 2 stars - zuo fu (左辅),you bi (右弼) , which can affect good luck ans disasters. Humans have nine orifices, if not in control will cause excessive desire
  • Husband & Wife Problems (夫妻厄) - Relationship problems between husband and wife
  • Male & Female Problems (男女厄) - Without male succession, Birth (生产厄) - Difficulty in giving birth
  • Fu Lian (复连厄) - Ancestors chouldn't transcend worldliness. Can reborn on earth as a healthy person.
  • Yi Li (疫疠厄) - Plague infection
  • Diseases (疾病厄) - Different diseases
  • Evil Spirits (精邪厄) - Harbouring evil thoughts, one will be easily attacked by evil spirits.
  • Tigers & Wolves (虎狼厄) - Attack by Tigers & Wolves
  • Worms & Snakes (虫蛇厄) - Attack by Poisonous insects & snakes
  • Thieves & Robbery (劫贼厄) - Being robbed or things stolen
  • Jia Bang (枷棒厄) - accuse falsely into prison
  • violent sudden death (横死厄) - die at an early age due to accident / mishap
  • Zhou Shi (咒誓厄) - Being hexed by evil sorcerers with black magic spells
  • Tian Luo (天罗厄) - Against the natural order of things / heaven's laws, will bring disasters
  • Di Wang (地纲厄) - without Proper Human Relationships will cause suffering
  • Knives & Soldiers (刀兵厄) - Chaos of Wars bring causing many deaths
  • Water & Fire (水火厄) - Disasters of Water and Fire
The "Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars)" Talisman (太上玄靈北斗七星符) are also known as the 7 talismans of Protecting Star Spirits of the 12 Lunar Zodiacs:
  • Lord Tan Lang (陽明貪狼太星君) governs the luck and protects the people of Chinese Zodiac - Rat.
  • Lord Ju Men (陰精巨門元星君) governs the luck and protects the people of Chinese Zodiac – Cow & Pig.
  • Lord Lu Cun (真人祿存貞星君) governs the luck and protects the people of Chinese Zodiac – Tiger & Dog.
  • Lord Wen Qu (玄冥文曲紐星君) governs the luck and protects the people of Chinese Zodiac – Rabbit & Rooster.
  • Lord Lian Zhen (丹元簾貞罡星君) governs the luck and protect the people of Chinese Zodiac – Dragon & Monkey.
  • Lord Wu Qu (北極武曲紀星君 ) governs the luck and protect the people of Chinese Zodiac – Snake & Goat.
  • Lord Po Jun (天衝破軍關星君) governs the luck and protect the people of Chinese Zodiac – Horse.
  • "Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars)" Talisman contains 7 talismans into 1 , to have an individual, regardless of his /her Chinese Zodiac, to be protected by all 7 Protecting Star Lords.
Video Of "Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars)" Talisman

During the yearly "Luck Enhancing" Ritual, Taoist Priests / Masters will on the behalf of devotees, do prayer rituals to the Big Dipper Star Lords, reciting Taoist Scriptures Of Big Dipper , walking across the "7 Stars" Bridge.

Whether You are a Western Folk or a Chinese, who miss the chance , or no chance to do the Yearly "Luck Enhancing" Ritual.

If possible, Chinese Folks should join the Tang-Ki Worship (Taoist Spirit Mediums) for the yearly "Luck Enhancing" Ritual, as their service will be cheap and only pay for the prayer materials.

If You order the "Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars)" Talisman from me (Taoist Sorcery Master) or have a " Luck Enhancing" Ritual done for You by a Taoist Master / Sorcerer, it will be very expensive.

However, sometime You have no choice as Your life is going up-side down, everything is not sooth - money problems, love problems, family problems, social problems etc , then it is wiser to spend money to quickly eliminate Your BAD LUCK and straighten Your well-being, through Taoist Ritual and Talismans.

Anyone, who is "Cultivating The Tao" (Taoist Immortality Training / Meditation) by practicing the "Pure" Form Of Taoism, can keep the "Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars)" Talisman (太上玄靈北斗七星符) and meditate on it, to have a close connection with the 7 Lords (Heavenly Spirits) of  Bei Dou (Big Dipper).

In the layman method, for the folk level practice, keeping  the "Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars)" Talisman (太上玄靈北斗七星符)  is a protection of all mishaps and enhancing luck everyday. Don't have to wait until the beginning of a new year then seek for "Luck Enhancing" Ritual Service to walk the "7 Stars" Bridge.

The "Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars)" Talisman (太上玄靈北斗七星符) is also suitable to be placed on an altar of the high level ranking Taoist Deities.

Take Note: This is special request talisman and is very expensive. Anyone one interested to order, should allow at least 7 days or more, to create and go through ritual invocations to spiritually empower the  "Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars)" Talisman.

Big Dipper Related Posts:

Bu Gang Ta Dou (步罡踏斗) - Pacing The Big Dipper

While conducting Taoist Magical Skills, Taoist Priests /Masters / Sorcerers often recite incantations with his mouth, making Hand Gestures with his hands and fingers, and Pacing the Big Dipper (步罡踏斗) with his feet. Bu Gang Ta Dou is also known as Walking The "7 Stars" Pattern.

Taoist Priests can be seen Pacing the Big Dipper during Taoist Ritual Ceremonies. Taoist Masters / Sorcerers may apply hand gestures and pace the big dipper to activate / empower certain talismans, during Taoist Sorcery, and also while performing exorcism.

Taoist Spirit Mediums are seen walking in zit-zag manner, which is the "7 stars" movement (七星步). "7 stars" movement (七星步) have the Yang Pattern and Yin Pattern.

There are different sets of walking patterns of Bu Gang Ta Dou, depend on the Taoist Sects and the applications. Bu Gang Ta Dou can be often seen in varieties of 2 formations:

1) Walk along the seven stars of the Big Dipper - Qi Xing Bu (七星步)



 




2) Walk the eight trigrams arranged in the Luo Shu (洛書) Magic Square




Video Of Taoist Priest performing Bu Gang Ta Dou (步罡踏斗)



Video Of Taoist Masters Performing Qi Xing Bu (七星步) During Spirit Medium Rituals



Big Dipper Related Posts:
Dou Mu (斗姆) , Nine God Emporers (九皇大帝) & The Big Dipper
Nine Emperor Gods Festival (九皇爷诞)
Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars) Talisman - 太上玄靈北斗七星符

Nine Emperor Gods Festival (九皇爷诞)

The Nine Emperor Gods (九皇星君/九皇大帝) are the nine sons manifested by Father Emperor (斗父周御國王天尊 - Zhou Yu Dou Fu Yuan Jun) and Mother of the Big Dipper (斗母元君 - Dou Mu Yuan Jun) who holds the Registrar of Life and Death.

The Nine Emperor Gods (九皇爷), as patrons of prosperity, wealth and good health on their own right, are worshipped especially in Fujian and Guangdong Provinces in southern China, a region also known for its ancient sacred rites of spirit mediums.

Southern China was once the land of the Min and Yue tribal kingdoms, whose inhabitants were experts in magic, spells, and the art of communication with the dead, spirits and Gods. Fujian and Guangdong were incorporated into the Chinese Empire during the Qin and Han dynasties 2000 years ago, and in the following millennia, its indigenous culture combined with that of the Taoist Han Chinese settlers from the North. The result is a hybrid, exuberant mix with a rich spiritual as well as architectural and gastronomical heritage that is evident in southern China today. With the emigration of the Fujian (or Hokkien) and Guangdong (also known as Cantonese) peoples to Southeast Asia and the rest of the world during the last three hundred years, these mystical manifestation of communication between the man and the mysterious divine spread with the Diaspora to other parts of the world.

When the Southern Chinese migrated to South East Asia, this event became popular in countries like Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and also the Riau Islands.

The Nine Emperor Gods Festival (九皇诞) is a nine days Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which is observed primarily in Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and also the Riau Islands.



Vegetarian Ritual
The festival begins on the last day of the eighth lunar month with the raising of the Jiu Qu Deng (九曲灯), which refers to the “nine wicks in oil lamp”. The lamp is raised to invite divinities to the temple grounds in celebration of the festival. It has to stay lighted throughout the nine days as it is a sign of continuous divine presence. The vegetarian ritual starts on the same day, in which Jiu Huang Ye followers are expected to abstain from meat in order to purify their bodies. This is believed to relieve them of sins they have committed.

Welcome Ritual
The welcome ritual is typically held the following day, which is also the first day of the ninth lunar month. A street procession starts from the temple and proceeds to a nearby river or sea where the gods are to be invited. The procession consists of lion and dragon dance troupes and devotees following behind sedan chairs carrying statues of accompanying gods and the sacred urn. The bearers of the sedan chairs are dressed in white and cause the chairs to sway violently to symbolise the presence of divine forces. A spirit medium may accompany the procession, and points out places where evil spirits lurk. The Taoist priest will then purify the indicated spots.

At the river, the priest invokes the spirits of the Nine Emperor Gods and invites them to descend into the urn. When the sacred ashes in the urn burn vigorously, it is a sign that the gods have arrived. The urn is then carried back to the temple and kept from public view.

During the nine days, worshippers visit the temple with offerings to ask for the blessing of the Jiu Huang Ye. One of the activities during this period is the bridge-crossing purification ritual, in which participants receive charms, yellow threads or a Jiu Huang Ye seal stamped on their clothing to ward off the evils of the past year.

Spirit medium possessions and the fire-walking purification ritual are associated with the celebration of this festival as well. However, fire-walking is no longer commonly seen in Singapore, although they can still be found in Ampang in Penang, Malaysia. The fire-walking ceremony was discontinued in Singapore before 1978 for safety reasons.

The procession aspect is practised in both Chinese Folk Religion and Pure Taoism; only the folk religion practitioners believe that the Nine Emperors can manifest through spirit mediums. In other words, folk religion and Taoism occasionally overlap, and worship the same gods; however, Chinese Folks worship them in different, unique ways.

Sending Off Ritual
The ninth day of the festival is its climax. A procession which draws scores of devotees sends the deities back home.

The ritual to send off the gods starts on the ninth day with the transfer of the sacred urn to the sedan chair, and a procession to a River. The procession is accompanied by lion dancers, stilt walkers and musicians playing drums, cymbals and gongs. Devotees follow in trucks, buses, cars and taxis. At the river, the Taoist priest conducts the ceremony to send off the gods. Selected temple committee members climb into a wooden boat with the flaming urn and travel towards the river centre to symbolise the departure of the gods. The festival officially ends with the lowering of the Jiu Qu Den (九曲灯) on the tenth day. This is followed by the ending of the vegetarian ritual when meat dishes are laid out to thank the heaven guards. These dishes are later shared among worshippers to signify the ending of the fast.

The legend of the 9 rebellious righteous heroes in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand:

The legend goes that during the Qing dynasty, nine righteous persons were in rebellion against the Qing government (another verson has it that they were 9 sea bandits who robbed the rich and helped the poor). Unfortunately, they were caught by the Qing army and later got beheaded by the river side on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. After death, their spirits lingered around the vicinity and caused havoc. The Imperial Court thereafter conferred the spirits with the title of the "9-Emperor Gods" and sent the spirits off to sea in royal boat and out of China. Where-ever the boat sailed by in the South-East region, the country folks set up shrines to venerates the spirits. Therefore, in mainland China there is no faith venerating the 9-Emperor Gods in the way they do in South-East Asia.

The legend continues by saying that the heads of the 9 beheaded heroes were hung on a coconut tree. The 9 oil lamps that are lighted at the festival on top of bamboo pole were originated from there. Ushering and sending off the 9-Emperor Gods by the sea or riverside was the location where they were beheaded. The walking over the burning coals is to commemorate the burning of the "Dou Mu Gong"- the residence of the 9-Emperor Gods on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. Not enshrining the image of the 9-Emperor Gods is because there is no image to adapt. The wearing of the mourning clothes signifies the mourning for them.

Major Nine Emperor Gods Temples in Singapore:
  • Bukit Batok Doumu Gong Jiuhuang Wudi (Blk 503 Bukit Batok East Avenue 2)
  • Choa Chu Kang Doumu Gong (No. 2 Teck Whye Lane)
  • Cong Mao Yuan Jiuhuang Gong (28 Arumugam Road)
  • Fengshan Gong (49 Defu Lane 12)
  • Hong Shui Gang Doumu Gong Fengshan Shi (Yishun Ring Road, opposite Blk 123)
  • Hougang Doumu Gong (779A Upper Serangoon Road)
  • Jin Shan Shi (25 Jalan Ulu Singlap)
  • Longnan Shi (Blk 283 Bukit Batok Avenue 3)
  • Longnan Dian (Sims Avenue, opposite Malay Village)
  • Nan Shan Hai Miao (Blk 701 Bedok Reservoir Road)
  • Shen Xian Gong (Blk 39A Margaret Drive)
  • Xuan Wu Shan Han Lin Yuan (Blk 236 Jurong East Street 21)

Celebration in Thailand

In Thailand, this festival is called Tesagan Gin Je เทศกาลกินเจ, the Vegetarian Festival. It is celebrated throughout the entire country, but the festivities are at their height in Phuket.

In 1825, when a traveling Chinese opera company visited Phuket, the largest of the islands in Thailand, to entertain the Chinese who were working in the tin mines there, a terrible epidemic of malaria broke out, and many people lost their lives.

They decided to adhere to a strict vegetarian diet and pray to the Nine Emperor Gods to ensure purification of the mind and body. To everyone's amazement the opera group made a complete recovery. The people celebrated by holding a festival that was meant to honour the gods as well as express the people's happiness at surviving what was, in the 19th century, a fatal illness. Subsequently the festival has grown and developed into a spectacular yearly event that is attended by thousands with participants flying in from China and other Asian destinations.



Mah song ม้าทรง are the people who invite the spirits of gods to possess their bodies. Mah ม้า is the word for horse in Thai, and the name mah song refers to how the spirits of the gods use the bodies of these people as a vehicle, as one rides a horse. Only pure, unmarried men or women without families of their own can become mah song. At the temple they undergo a series of rituals to protect them for the duration of the festival, during which flagellation and self-mutilation is practiced.

The festivities in Phuket include a procession of mah song wearing elaborate costumes who pierce their cheeks and tongues with all manner of things, including swords, banners, machine guns, table lamps, and flowers. While the face is the most common area pierced, some also pierce their arms with pins and fishhooks. While they are possessed the mah song will not feel any pain. They can also be seen shaking their heads back and forth continually. At the temple during the festival there is also firewalking and blade-ladder climbing. While large crowds of people gather to watch, the entranced mah song distribute blessed candy and pieces of orange cloth with Chinese characters printed on them yang ยังต์ for good luck.

Big Dipper Related Posts:  
Dou Mu (斗姆) , Nine God Emporers (九皇大帝) & The Big Dipper 
Bu Gang Ta Dou (步罡踏斗) - Pacing The Big Dipper
Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars) Talisman - 太上玄靈北斗七星符 
 

Dou Mu (斗姆) , Nine God Emperors (九皇大帝) & The Big Dipper


Dou Mu (斗姆) is the mother of the stars of the Big Dipper. She is usually simply called the 'Big Dipper", or 'Primordial Sovereign of the Big Dipper" ( 斗母元君 Dou Mu Yuan Jun ). As the governor of the Pavilion of Heavenly Treasure ( 天宝阁 - Tian Bao Ge ), the Big Dipper, "as the mother of the Dipper Stars, produces the brilliant eyes of all the heavens. She, with the Dipper as her terrestrial spirit and water celestial spirit, is in charge of life."

In Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, Dou Mu (斗姆) is Marici, who is a deva or bodhisattva associated with light and the sun. She is known as Molizhitian (摩利支天) or Molizhitian Pusa (摩利支天菩萨) in China and Marishi-ten (摩利支天) in Japan and in Tibetan as 'Odzer Canma', "Woman Endowed with Rays of Light").

Her complete name is 'Nine-Spirited Supreme Subtle Grandma Primordial Sovereign of the Night Rays and Golden Essence of the White Jade Tortoise Platform" ( 九灵太妙白玉龟台夜光金精祖母元君 - Jiu Ling Tai Miao Bai Yu Gui Tai Ye Guang Jin Jing ).

She is also called 'Pure Vital Breath Sovereign of the Big Dipper of Middle Heaven" ( 中天梵气斗姆元君 Zhong Tian Fan Qi Dou Mu Yuan Jun ), 'Primordial Queen of Supreme Simplicity, Purple Rays, Bright Wisdom and Kind Benevolence, and Heavenly Lord of Golden Perfected Holy Virtue" ( 中天梵气斗姆元君紫光明哲太素元后金真圣德天尊 - Zhong Tian Fan Qi Dou Mu Yuan Jun Zi Guang Ming Zhe Ci Hui Tai Su Yuan Hou Jin Zhen Sheng De Tian Zun ).

She is also called 'Great Perfect Queen of Moonlight" ( 大圆满月光王 - Da Yuan Man Yue Guang Wang ) and 'Great Heavenly Healer Sage and Eastern Imperial Sovereign of Benevolent Salvation" ( 东华慈救皇君天医大圣 - Dong Hua Ci Jiu Huang Jun Tian Yi Da Sheng ).

According to the Fundamental Destiny Life-Prolonging Heart Scripture of the Great Sagely Primordial Sovereign of the Supreme, Mysterious and Numinous Big Dipper ( 《太上玄灵斗姆大圣元君本命延生心经》 Taishang Xuanling doumu dasheng Yuanjun Benming Yansheng Xinjing ), the Big Dipper, "with her great merit of medicine and healing, manages and harmonizes the five agents, balances the Vital Breaths ( 气 Qi ) of Yin and Yang, dissolves the stagnant and eliminates the evil and dark.

Under her mercy, those who miss the time of salvation catch up with the time of salvation. In charge of the safety of pregnancy and birth, as well as the healing of diseases, she takes the important role of Heavenly Healer ( 天医 Tianyi ) ". "Seated on her precious throne, the Big Dipper peacefully cultivates divine perfection, refines celestial and terrestrial spirits, concentrates Vital Breath with an empty mind, and enters the Mystery of Mysteries.

Breathing the numinous wind, gathering the purple void energy, she has attained the mysterious and numinous Sublime Dao, and releases infinite subtle rays penetrating the Pool of Essence ( 华池 - Hua Chi ). Nine golden lotuses, as incarnations of the rays, give out greater and greater light after seven days in the pood. The light rises to the Nine-Essence Heavens ( 九华天 Jiu Hua Tian ) and transforms into the Nine Great Treasure Pavilions."

In the pavilions, the Nine Perfect Vital Breaths concentrate and manifest themselves as the Nine Emperors of the Dao Body:

The 1st is the Heavenly Emperor ( 天皇 - Tian Huang ) - Vega Star
The 2nd is Purple Subtlety ( 紫微 - Zi Wei ) - Polaris Star

The 7 Northern Constellation Stars (called “Bei Dou Qi Xing 北斗七星”):

The 3rd is the Lusty Wolf ( 贪狼 - Tan Lang ) - Dubhe - α UMa
The 4th is the Giant Gate ( 巨门 - Ju Men ) - Merak - β UMa
The 5th is the Store of Wealth ( 禄存 - Lu Cun ) - Phecda - γ UMa
The 6th is the Civil Chief ( 文曲 - Wen Qu ) - Megrez - δ UMa
The 7th is the Pure and Chaste ( 廉贞 - Lian Zhen ) - Alioth - ε UMa
The 8th is the Military Chief ( 武曲 - Wu Qu ) - Mizar - ζ UMa
The 9th is the Troop Destroyer ( 破军 - Po Jun ) - Alkaid - η UMa

Full Name of The Nine Emperor Gods:

九皇大玉皇君 - 勾陈上宫太极天皇大帝
九皇二玉皇君 - 紫薇垣宫北极紫薇大帝
九皇三玉皇君 - 天枢宫阳明贪狼太星君
九皇四玉皇君 - 天漩宫阴精巨门元星君
九皇五玉皇君 - 天玑宫真人禄存贞星君
九皇六玉皇君 - 天权宫玄冥文曲纽星君
九皇七玉皇君 - 玉衡宫丹元廉贞纲星君
九皇八玉皇君 - 闓阳宫北极武曲纪星君
九皇九玉皇君 - 瑶光宫天冲破军关星君

Another group of Nine Stars of Big Dipper more popular in Chinese Folk Religion & Chinese Metaphysical Studies / Feng Shui:



  • 1st Star - Tan Lang Tai Xing Jun (贪狼太星君) - Dubhe - α UMa
  • 2nd Star - Ju Men Yuan Xing Jun (巨门元星君) - Merak - β UMa
  • 3rd Star - Lu Cun Zhen Xing Jun (禄存贞星君) - Phecda - γ UMa
  • 4th Star - Wen Qu Niu Xing Jun (文曲纽星君) - Megrez - δ UMa
  • 5th Star - Lian Zhen Gang Xing Jun (玉廉贞纲星君) - Alioth - ε UMa
  • 6th Star - Wu Qu Ji Xing Jun (武曲紀星君) - Mizar - ζ UMa
  • 7th Star  - Po Jun Guan Xing Jun (破军关星君) - Alkaid - η UMa
  • 8th Star - Zuo Fu Da Dao Xing Jun (左辅大道星君) - Alcor A (Invisible Star)
  • 9th Star - You Bi Da Dao Xing Jun (右弼大道星君)  - Alcor B (Invisible Star)

In 2009, it was independently reported by two groups of astronomers (Eric Mamajek et al., and Zimmerman et al.) that Alcor actually is itself a binary, consisting of Alcor A and Alcor B (a red dwarf star), and that this binary system is most likely gravitationally bound to Mizar. Few thousand years ago, Anicent  Taoist Texts already recorded there were 2 invisible stars  near  Wu Qu Xing (武曲星) - Mizar, which together, consist of 9 stars in Big Dipper.



The Nine Emperors of the Dao Body ( 九皇道体 Jiu Huang Dao Ti ) are the Nine Stellar Sovereigns of the Dipper. According to the Seven Slips of a Cloudy Satchel, "the Nine Stars are the numinous root of the Nine Heavens, the bright bridge of the sun and moon, and the ancestral abyss of all things. Therefore, Heaven has nine Vital Breaths corresponding with the Nine Stars as their numinous pivot; the Earth has Nine Prefectures with the Nine Stars as their spiritual master; Man has Nine Apertures with the Nine Stars as their Mansion of Destiny.

The Nine Palaces of Yin and Yang refer to the Nine Stars for their doors; the Five Sacred Mountains and Four Holy Rivers ( 四渎 Si Du ) correspond with the Nine Stars as their abyss and mansion." The Big Dipper, as the mother of nine stars, is in charge of the production and life of Heaven, Earth and all things.



Big Dipper Related Posts: 
Nine Emperor Gods Festival (九皇爷诞)
Bu Gang Ta Dou (步罡踏斗) - Pacing The Big Dipper
Taoist Big Dipper (7 Stars) Talisman - 太上玄靈北斗七星符