五方五老(lao)(lao)(lao)天君(jun)(jun),為東南(nan)西(xi)北中五方之天神,一說為元始天王所化。中國個(ge)道(dao)派以三(san)(san)清為始,比如全(quan)真道(dao)以太上(shang)老(lao)(lao)(lao)君(jun)(jun)為主,五方五老(lao)(lao)(lao)為元始天尊為主。五方五老(lao)(lao)(lao)的(de)名號分別(bie)為東方青(qing)帝(di)(di)(di)青(qing)靈(ling)始老(lao)(lao)(lao)九炁(qi)天君(jun)(jun)、南(nan)方赤帝(di)(di)(di)丹(dan)靈(ling)真老(lao)(lao)(lao)三(san)(san)炁(qi)天君(jun)(jun)、中央黃帝(di)(di)(di)玄靈(ling)黃老(lao)(lao)(lao)一炁(qi)天君(jun)(jun)、西(xi)方白帝(di)(di)(di)皓靈(ling)皇老(lao)(lao)(lao)七(qi)炁(qi)天君(jun)(jun)、北方黑(hei)帝(di)(di)(di)五靈(ling)玄老(lao)(lao)(lao)五炁(qi)天君(jun)(jun)。
五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)君(jun)是道(dao)教(jiao)(jiao)初(chu)期的(de)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方神靈(ling),亦稱(cheng)(cheng)“五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)”。 五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)君(jun)是歷代帝(di)(di)王祭(ji)祀的(de)對(dui)象,“在(zai)天(tian)(tian)中則(ze)(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)上(shang)帝(di)(di),在(zai)天(tian)(tian)文則(ze)(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)座及五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)星,在(zai)神靈(ling)則(ze)(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di),在(zai)山岳則(ze)(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)岳圣帝(di)(di),在(zai)人身(shen)則(ze)(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)臟神君(jun)”。他們與元(yuan)始(shi)天(tian)(tian)尊(zun)(zun)一樣,非后(hou)天(tian)(tian)學而得真者,為天(tian)(tian)地開辟之(zhi)前的(de)先天(tian)(tian)神靈(ling),所以又稱(cheng)(cheng)元(yuan)始(shi)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao),五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)行(xing)之(zhi)始(shi)、五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)氣之(zhi)祖。在(zai)道(dao)教(jiao)(jiao)神仙體系中,五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)君(jun)沒有具體職司,但地位(wei)崇尊(zun)(zun)。
以下五老對應泰山(shan)(shan)、衡山(shan)(shan)、嵩山(shan)(shan)、華山(shan)(shan)、恒山(shan)(shan)。
東方青(qing)靈始老天(tian)君,號(hao)稱東方木德青(qing)帝太昊伏羲(xi),木帝也,其精星。下應泰山神仙(xian);
南(nan)方(fang)丹(dan)靈真(zhen)老天君,號稱南(nan)方(fang)火(huo)德赤帝(di)炎帝(di)神(shen)農,火(huo)帝(di)也(ye),其精熒屏,下應衡(heng)山(shan)神(shen)仙;
元(yuan)靈元(yuan)老君,中央土(tu)德黃帝軒轅,土(tu)帝也,其精鎮星,下應嵩山神仙(xian);
西方(fang)豪靈皇帝老(lao)天(tian)君(jun),號稱西方(fang)金德白帝金天(tian)少昊,金帝也,其精華太白,下應華山神仙;
北方(fang)五靈玄(xuan)老天君(jun),號稱(cheng)北方(fang)水(shui)德黑(hei)帝朱旭,水(shui)帝也,其精星,下應恒山(shan)神仙。
此外,還(huan)有(you)五老監真之稱:綿山是五方神會群仙(xian)之所(suo),因(yin)此善男(nan)信女建此殿供(gong)奉。
【東方青(qing)(qing)帝(di)(di)青(qing)(qing)靈始老九(jiu)炁天君】號曰(yue)青(qing)(qing)帝(di)(di)。頭戴(dai)青(qing)(qing)精玉冠,衣九(jiu)氣(qi)青(qing)(qing)羽衣。常駕蒼(cang)龍,建(jian)鶉旗,從神(shen)甲乙,官將九(jiu)十萬人。上導九(jiu)天之和(he)氣(qi),下(xia)引九(jiu)泉之流芳,養二儀以(yi)長(chang)存,護陰陽以(yi)永昌。
【南方赤(chi)帝(di)丹靈(ling)真老三(san)(san)炁天君(jun)】號曰赤(chi)帝(di)。頭戴(dai)赤(chi)精玉冠,衣(yi)三(san)(san)氣(qi)丹羽飛衣(yi)。常駕丹龍(long),建朱旗,從神丙丁,官將(jiang)三(san)(san)十萬人。上(shang)導泰清(qing)玄元之靈(ling)化,下和三(san)(san)氣(qi)之陶(tao)镕,令萬物之永存(cun),運天精之南夏。
【中(zhong)央黃帝(di)玄(xuan)靈(ling)黃老一炁天君】號曰黃帝(di)。頭戴黃精玉冠,衣五(wu)色飛衣。常(chang)駕黃龍(long),建黃旗,從(cong)神戊己,官將十二萬人。上(shang)等自然之和,下旋五(wu)土之靈(ling),天地守以不虧,陰(yin)陽(yang)用(yong)之不傾。
【西方白(bai)帝皓靈皇老七炁天君(jun)】號曰白(bai)帝。頭戴白(bai)精玉冠(guan),衣白(bai)羽飛(fei)衣。常駕白(bai)龍,建素旗,從(cong)神庚辛(xin),官將七十萬人。上導洪精于上天,下和(he)眾生于靈衢(qu)。
【北方黑(hei)帝五靈(ling)玄(xuan)老(lao)五炁天(tian)君】號曰黑(hei)帝。頭戴玄(xuan)精玉冠(guan),衣(yi)玄(xuan)羽飛衣(yi)。 常駕黑(hei)龍,建皂旗,從神壬癸(gui),官(guan)將五十萬人。上導五帝之流(liu)氣(qi),下拯生生之眾和,護二儀而不傾,保群命以永安。