五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)(lao)(lao)天(tian)(tian)君(jun),為(wei)(wei)(wei)東(dong)南西北中(zhong)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)之天(tian)(tian)神,一說為(wei)(wei)(wei)元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)王所化。中(zhong)國個道(dao)派以(yi)三(san)清為(wei)(wei)(wei)始(shi)(shi),比如全真(zhen)道(dao)以(yi)太(tai)上(shang)老(lao)(lao)(lao)(lao)君(jun)為(wei)(wei)(wei)主(zhu),五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)(lao)(lao)為(wei)(wei)(wei)元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)尊(zun)為(wei)(wei)(wei)主(zhu)。五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)(lao)(lao)的名號分別為(wei)(wei)(wei)東(dong)方(fang)青帝(di)(di)青靈(ling)始(shi)(shi)老(lao)(lao)(lao)(lao)九炁天(tian)(tian)君(jun)、南方(fang)赤(chi)帝(di)(di)丹靈(ling)真(zhen)老(lao)(lao)(lao)(lao)三(san)炁天(tian)(tian)君(jun)、中(zhong)央黃帝(di)(di)玄靈(ling)黃老(lao)(lao)(lao)(lao)一炁天(tian)(tian)君(jun)、西方(fang)白帝(di)(di)皓(hao)靈(ling)皇老(lao)(lao)(lao)(lao)七炁天(tian)(tian)君(jun)、北方(fang)黑帝(di)(di)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)靈(ling)玄老(lao)(lao)(lao)(lao)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)炁天(tian)(tian)君(jun)。
五(wu)(wu)老(lao)君是道(dao)教初期的(de)五(wu)(wu)方神(shen)(shen)靈,亦稱(cheng)“五(wu)(wu)帝”。 五(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)老(lao)君是歷代帝王祭祀的(de)對象(xiang),“在天(tian)(tian)中(zhong)則(ze)稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)老(lao)上帝,在天(tian)(tian)文則(ze)稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)帝座及五(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)星,在神(shen)(shen)靈則(ze)稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)帝,在山岳則(ze)稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)岳圣(sheng)帝,在人身則(ze)稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)臟神(shen)(shen)君”。他(ta)們與元(yuan)始(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)尊(zun)一(yi)樣,非(fei)后(hou)天(tian)(tian)學而得真(zhen)者,為(wei)天(tian)(tian)地開辟(pi)之前(qian)的(de)先天(tian)(tian)神(shen)(shen)靈,所以又稱(cheng)元(yuan)始(shi)(shi)五(wu)(wu)老(lao),五(wu)(wu)行之始(shi)(shi)、五(wu)(wu)氣之祖(zu)。在道(dao)教神(shen)(shen)仙體系中(zhong),五(wu)(wu)老(lao)君沒有(you)具體職司,但(dan)地位崇尊(zun)。
以下五老對應泰山(shan)(shan)、衡山(shan)(shan)、嵩山(shan)(shan)、華(hua)山(shan)(shan)、恒山(shan)(shan)。
東(dong)方(fang)青(qing)靈始老天君(jun),號稱東(dong)方(fang)木(mu)德(de)青(qing)帝太昊伏羲,木(mu)帝也,其(qi)精(jing)星。下應泰山(shan)神仙;
南(nan)方丹靈真(zhen)老天君,號(hao)稱(cheng)南(nan)方火德赤帝炎(yan)帝神農,火帝也,其(qi)精熒屏,下應(ying)衡山神仙(xian);
元(yuan)靈元(yuan)老君(jun),中央(yang)土德黃帝軒轅,土帝也(ye),其(qi)精鎮(zhen)星,下(xia)應嵩(song)山神仙;
西(xi)方(fang)豪(hao)靈皇帝(di)老天君,號稱西(xi)方(fang)金德(de)白(bai)帝(di)金天少昊,金帝(di)也,其(qi)精華太白(bai),下應華山(shan)神(shen)仙(xian);
北方五靈玄老天君,號稱北方水(shui)德黑帝朱旭(xu),水(shui)帝也(ye),其精星,下應恒山神仙。
此(ci)外(wai),還有五(wu)老監真之(zhi)稱:綿山是(shi)五(wu)方(fang)神(shen)會群仙之(zhi)所,因此(ci)善男(nan)信女建此(ci)殿供奉。
【東(dong)方青(qing)(qing)帝青(qing)(qing)靈始老九炁天君(jun)】號曰青(qing)(qing)帝。頭戴青(qing)(qing)精玉(yu)冠,衣九氣青(qing)(qing)羽衣。常駕(jia)蒼龍,建鶉旗,從神甲乙,官將九十萬人。上導九天之和氣,下引九泉之流芳,養二儀以長存,護(hu)陰陽(yang)以永(yong)昌。
【南方赤帝(di)丹(dan)靈(ling)真老三(san)炁天君】號曰(yue)赤帝(di)。頭(tou)戴赤精(jing)玉冠,衣三(san)氣丹(dan)羽飛衣。常駕丹(dan)龍,建朱旗,從神丙丁,官將三(san)十萬(wan)人。上導泰(tai)清玄元之靈(ling)化,下(xia)和三(san)氣之陶镕,令萬(wan)物之永(yong)存(cun),運天精(jing)之南夏。
【中央黃(huang)(huang)(huang)帝玄靈(ling)黃(huang)(huang)(huang)老一炁天(tian)君】號曰黃(huang)(huang)(huang)帝。頭戴黃(huang)(huang)(huang)精玉冠(guan),衣五色飛(fei)衣。常駕黃(huang)(huang)(huang)龍,建黃(huang)(huang)(huang)旗,從神(shen)戊己,官將十二萬人(ren)。上等(deng)自然之(zhi)和(he),下旋五土之(zhi)靈(ling),天(tian)地守以不虧,陰陽(yang)用之(zhi)不傾。
【西(xi)方(fang)白(bai)(bai)帝皓靈(ling)皇老七炁天君】號曰(yue)白(bai)(bai)帝。頭戴白(bai)(bai)精玉冠(guan),衣(yi)白(bai)(bai)羽飛(fei)衣(yi)。常駕白(bai)(bai)龍,建(jian)素旗(qi),從神庚辛,官(guan)將七十(shi)萬人(ren)。上(shang)導洪(hong)精于(yu)上(shang)天,下和眾生于(yu)靈(ling)衢。
【北方黑帝(di)五靈玄老五炁(qi)天君】號曰黑帝(di)。頭戴玄精玉冠(guan),衣(yi)玄羽飛(fei)衣(yi)。 常駕黑龍(long),建皂(zao)旗,從神壬癸,官將五十萬人。上導五帝(di)之流(liu)氣(qi),下(xia)拯生生之眾(zhong)和,護二儀而(er)不傾,保(bao)群命(ming)以永安。