CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Yuanshi Tianzun元始天尊
Leader of the Chan Sect, residing in the Jade Void Palace on Mount Kunlun, in charge of the Investiture of the Gods and the great cause of the Chan Sect.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 21
- RELATION RECORDS
- 30
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Yuanshi Tianzun, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01MENTORSHIPMentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
6 figures · 6 records+
Mentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
Yuanshi TianzunisJiang Ziya’s teacher
Yuanshi TianzunisGuangchengzi’s teacher
Yuanshi TianzunisNanji Xianweng’s teacher
Source record
02KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
2 figures · 3 records+
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Yuanshi Tianzun—Tongtian Jiaozhufellow disciple
Taishang Laojun—Yuanshi Tianzunfellow disciple
03ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
3 figures · 4 records+
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Yuanshi Tianzun→Jiang Ziyacommand
Yuanshi Tianzun→Si Jie Di Shencommand
Yuanshi Tianzun→Four Jiedi Godscommand
Source record
04CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
4 figures · 4 records+
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Yuanshi Tianzun→Shen Gongbaocapture
Yuanshi Tianzun→Bixiaoslay
05THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
13 figures · 13 records+
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Yuanshi Tianzun→Jiang Ziyagrant mount
Yuanshi Tianzun→Guanyininstruct
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In fiction · Investiture of the Gods · Journey to the West
Leader of the Chan Sect at the Jade Void Palace on Mount Kunlun, ordered Jiang Ziya to descend the mountain to confer the gods, bestowed the Four Unlike and the God-Beater Whip, broke the Yellow River Formation and the Immortal Killing Formation, and presided over the Investiture of the Gods.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend18 profile notes
Investiture of the Gods
30 relations34 verified quotations- Yuanshi Tianzun→ grant mount →Jiang Ziya
- Yuanshi Tianzun→ master-disciple →Jiang Ziya
- Yuanshi Tianzun→ command →Jiang Ziya
- Jiang Ziya→ offer sword →Yuanshi Tianzun
Verified original text · 34
今把此兽与你骑往西岐
grant mount · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 38
打神鞭乃玉虚宫元始所赐
grant treasure · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 42
32 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend1 profile notes
Journey to the West
0 relations0 verified quotations
History vs. fiction
The descent of the highest deity in Taoism in the novel
The Investiture of the Gods constructs a grand celestial system, concretizing Yuanshi Tianzun, one of the Three Pure Ones in Taoism, as the 'leader of the Chan sect' residing in the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain, and it is he who orchestrates the entire enterprise of the Investiture. As the highest deity in the Taoist pantheon, the belief in Yuanshi Tianzun took shape during the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, a thousand years after the Shang and Zhou eras. The Records of the Grand Historian records the Battle of Muye without any conflict between the Chan and Jie sects, and the plot of Yuanshi Tianzun manipulating the change of dynasties is purely a fictional setting of the novel.
Relationship network
- grant mountYuanshi Tianzun → Jiang ZiyalitInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 38Investiture of the Gods, ch. 42Investiture of the Gods, ch. 51Investiture of the Gods, ch. 67
Original text (5)
今把此兽与你骑往西岐
打神鞭乃玉虚宫元始所赐
Original relation: grant treasure · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 42
再赐尔等纵地金光法
Original relation: teach method · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 51
元始天尊驾临
Original relation: send off · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 67
你谨记一偈
Original relation: 赐偈 · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 67
- master-discipleYuanshi Tianzun → Jiang ZiyalitInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 15Investiture of the Gods, ch. 37Investiture of the Gods, ch. 40Investiture of the Gods, ch. 99
Original text (4)
请你师叔姜尚来
玉虚宫元始天尊知西岐事体,把琉璃瓶中静水望西岐一泼
弟子姜尚愿老师父圣寿无疆
弟子姜尚愿老师圣寿无疆
Original text (1)
元始随命姜尚过来
Original text (1)
子牙随取出四口剑献上元始
Original text (1)
元始见金光仙出得四象阵来……忙分付慈航道人
Original text (1)
你三人乃是混元大罗金仙……为三教元首
Original text (1)
老子乘牛从空而降,元始远迓
Original text (1)
元始问广成子曰:“这事如何说?”
Original text (1)
元始乃命广成子、赤精子、玉鼎真人、道行天尊四位过来
- fellow discipleYuanshi Tianzun → Tongtian JiaozhulitInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 77Investiture of the Gods, ch. 84
Original text (2)
元始曰:“贤弟为何设此恶阵?
你三人乃是混元大罗金仙……为三教元首
Original text (1)
通天教主见元始天尊,打稽首曰:“道兄请了!”
Original text (1)
元始命黄巾力士……将我的蒲团卷起他来,拿去塞了北海眼
Original text (1)
命黄巾力士:“揭起麒麟崖,将这业障压在此间
Original text (1)
你叫赤精子可去八景宫见大老爷
Original text (1)
三位设此阵,乃我门下该当如此。只是一件,你师尚不敢妄为
Original text (1)
元始天尊递一旛与文殊
Original text (1)
燃灯彼时离了西岐,驾土遁而行,霎时来至昆仑山麒麟崖
Original text (1)
元始用手一指,金箍随脱
Original text (1)
遂将太极符印付与普贤真人
Original text (1)
把碧霄连人带鸟装在盒内;不一会化为血水
Original text (1)
正中琼霄顶上,打开天灵
Original text (1)
那珠未到天尊跟前,已化作灰尘飞去
Original text (1)
彩云仙子将戳目珠从后面打来
Original text (1)
就命广法天尊坐骑
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
老子已知老师来至,忙起身谓元始曰
Original text (1)
又命四偈谛神……把西岐城护定