The Supreme Lord Lao (Tàishàng Lǎojūn 太上老君), also known as the Heavenly Honored of Dao and Virtue (Dàodé Tiānzùn 道德天尊), with his full title being the “Heavenly Honored of Dao and Virtue of the Supreme Clarity” (Tàiqīng Dàodé Tiānzùn 太清道德天尊), is one of the Three Pure Ones (Sānqīng 三清), the highest deities in Daoism. Although he ranks last among the Three Pure Ones, his significance is immense, as he represents the ultimate manifestation of the Dao (Dào 道), and thus, he is venerated as the Patriarch of Dao (Dàozu 道祖).
He is the personification of the Dao, serving as both a philosophical symbol of the cosmic origin and a spiritual guide for cultivators, holding a central position in the Daoist belief system.
The Connection Between Laozi and the Supreme Lord Lao
When discussing the Supreme Lord Lao, it is impossible to avoid his deep connection with Laozi (Lǎozǐ 老子).
According to the Records of the Grand Historian (Shǐjì 史记) in the Biography of Laozi (Lǎozǐ Lièzhuàn 老子列传), Laozi “wrote a book in two parts, expressing the meaning of Dao and Virtue in over five thousand characters.” This work, the Classic of Dao and Virtue (Dàodé Jīng 道德經), despite its brevity of just over five thousand characters, contains profound insights and reflections on the universe, life, and society. Laozi’s deep philosophy elucidates the mysteries of the Dao, laying a solid theoretical foundation for the later development of Daoism.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty (Dōnghàn 东汉), Zhang Daoling (Zhāng Dàolíng 张道陵) founded the Way of the Celestial Masters (Tiānshī Dào 天师道), a milestone in the history of Daoist development. This event radically changed the status of Laozi in religious belief. Zhang Daoling honored Laozi as the Supreme Lord Lao, elevating him from a great philosopher to the divine embodiment of the Dao itself. From then on, Laozi was no longer merely a sage but a transcendent, sacred being who embodied the ultimate truth of the cosmos.
In the Annotations on Laozi’s Thoughts (Lǎozǐ Xiǎngěr Zhù 老子想爾注), it is explicitly stated: “The One is the Dao… The One, when dispersed, takes the form of qi (气 qì), and when gathered, it takes the form of the Supreme Lord Lao.” This deeply reveals the close connection between the Supreme Lord Lao and the Dao. The Dao, as the root of all things in the universe, transforms in a mysterious and wondrous manner into the form of the Supreme Lord Lao. This concretization of the abstract Dao allows Daoist believers to perceive the presence of the Dao more intuitively, making the Supreme Lord Lao the supreme deity in Daoist faith.
Deriving from the Dao, Establishing a Vast Divine Hierarchy
The Daoist theological system has built a grand and intricate framework of deities and philosophy. It takes the Dao as its core, which is the origin, essence, and operational principle of all things in the universe. It precedes heaven and earth and exists as an absolute entity beyond matter and spirit, time and space. From the belief in the Dao, numerous divine beings arise.
The highest rank of gods is the Three Pure Ones:
- Heavenly Honored of the Primordial Beginning (Yuánshǐ Tiānzùn 元始天尊), of the Jade Clarity (Yùqīng 玉清): Represents the primordial, undivided state of the cosmos, symbolizing the Dao in its original form.
- Heavenly Honored of the Numinous Treasure (Língbǎo Tiānzùn 灵宝天尊), of the Upper Clarity (Shàngqīng 上清): Governs the generation and transformation of all things, symbolizing the evolution of the Dao.
- Heavenly Honored of Dao and Virtue (Dàodé Tiānzùn 道德天尊), of the Supreme Clarity (Tàiqīng 太清): Manifests the Dao in the human world, representing the ultimate embodiment of the Dao.
The concept of the “Three-in-One” among the Three Pure Ones is a key aspect of Daoist theology.
Though they are three separate deities, their essence is the same—the different manifestations of the Dao. The Heavenly Honored of the Primordial Beginning represents the Dao’s fundamental essence, the Heavenly Honored of the Numinous Treasure symbolizes its transformation, and the Heavenly Honored of Dao and Virtue embodies its realization in the human world. These three are interrelated and inseparable, forming a complete representation of the Dao, symbolizing the entire process of the cosmos from its origin to its evolution and finally to its guidance of humanity.
Below the Three Pure Ones, there are the Four Sovereigns (Sìyù 四御), who assist in governing the cosmos:
- The Jade Emperor (Yùhuáng Dàdì 玉皇大帝)
- The Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity (Zǐwěi Dàdì 紫微大帝)
- The Great Emperor of the Curved Array (Gōuchén Dàdì 勾陈大帝)
- The Empress of Earth and Sovereign of the Soil (Hòutǒ Huáng Dìqí 后土皇地祇)
They oversee the heavens, celestial constellations, warfare, and the earth, maintaining the order of the cosmos.
Additionally, numerous deities, star gods, celestial generals, and earth spirits form a complete and complex divine system, each corresponding to different aspects of nature and human society, reflecting Daoism’s comprehensive recognition and reverence for the universe and human existence.
The Yu Zhen Guan Dao-Temple hosting regular ceremonies to worship Tai Shang Lao Jun. The next ceremony will be on 14th March 2025, the birthday of Lao Zi.
Follow the link for more information and registration to the ceremony.