九天玄(xuan)(xuan)女的原始(shi)形象是(shi)玄(xuan)(xuan)鳥,傳(chuan)說(shuo)她是(shi)古(gu)代(dai)(dai)王朝(chao)商朝(chao)的始(shi)祖(zu)。《詩(shi)(shi)經(jing)·商頌(song)·玄(xuan)(xuan)鳥》說(shuo):“天命玄(xuan)(xuan)鳥,降(jiang)而生商”這是(shi)殷商后代(dai)(dai)祭祀(si)祖(zu)先的詩(shi)(shi)歌。意(yi)思是(shi)說(shuo)天帝命令(ling)玄(xuan)(xuan)鳥生下商的始(shi)祖(zu)契。玄(xuan)(xuan)鳥就是(shi)商的始(shi)祖(zu)。目前(qian)所知(zhi)最早述及玄(xuan)(xuan)女的文獻漢代(dai)(dai)緯書《龍魚(yu)河圖》載(zai):
黃帝(di)攝政時,有蚩(chi)尤兄弟八十(shi)一人,并獸(shou)身人語,銅頭(tou)鐵額,食(shi)砂(sha)石子(zi),造立(li)兵仗刀戟大(da)弩,威振天(tian)下,誅殺無道,不(bu)(bu)仁慈。萬民欲令黃帝(di)行天(tian)子(zi)事,黃帝(di)仁義,不(bu)(bu)能禁止(zhi)蚩(chi)尤,遂不(bu)(bu)敵。黃帝(di)仰天(tian)而嘆。天(tian)遣玄女下授(shou)黃帝(di)兵信神符,制伏(fu)蚩(chi)尤。
此(ci)處玄女(nv)乃上(shang)天之(zhi)神,雖(sui)未具體說(shuo)明是否(fou)人(ren)形,但從整(zheng)段文字看,若非人(ren)形,當有特(te)別說(shuo)明,如對蚩(chi)尤兄弟(di)之(zhi)“獸身人(ren)語”,便專門予以描(miao)述。由(you)此(ci)可知(zhi),玄女(nv)應為“人(ren)首人(ren)形”之(zhi)神,與玄鳥(niao)之(zhi)“鳥(niao)形”無任(ren)何關系。
“九(jiu)天玄(xuan)(xuan)女(nv)”應(ying)為(wei)“九(jiu)天壬(ren)(ren)女(nv)”,該系傳抄筆誤(wu),又因(yin)“壬(ren)(ren)”,天干第九(jiu)位,玄(xuan)(xuan)色,故(gu)名(ming)九(jiu)天壬(ren)(ren)(玄(xuan)(xuan))女(nv)。壬(ren)(ren)女(nv),即炎(yan)帝(di)生(sheng)母,任姒(名(ming)女(nv)登(deng)),任氏之女(nv)。炎(yan)帝(di)因(yin)任女(nv)所(suo)生(sheng),故(gu)姓“姜”。姜姓本意(yi)為(wei)任女(nv)所(suo)生(sheng)之意(yi)。所(suo)以,九(jiu)天玄(xuan)(xuan)女(nv)就是九(jiu)天壬(ren)(ren)女(nv)。炎(yan)帝(di)之母任姒,感神龍首(shou)而生(sheng)炎(yan)帝(di),有蟜氏之女(nv),任姓。
上古時期的母(mu)系社會只知(zhi)其母(mu),不(bu)知(zhi)其父(fu),乃(nai)從女(nv)(nv)姓(xing)。炎(yan)(yan)帝(di)(di)(di)之母(mu),乃(nai)是(shi)任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)姒,名女(nv)(nv)登(deng),任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)氏之女(nv)(nv)(有蟜氏、摯任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)氏)。炎(yan)(yan)帝(di)(di)(di)因(yin)相貌不(bu)美,其父(fu)少典(dian)不(bu)悅,將炎(yan)(yan)帝(di)(di)(di)放(fang)于東(dong)方之地。是(shi)炎(yan)(yan)帝(di)(di)(di)母(mu)親任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)姒親手養(yang)育炎(yan)(yan)帝(di)(di)(di)成人(ren)。因(yin)為他(ta)母(mu)親姓(xing)任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren),故(gu)(gu)首先(xian)她生(sheng)出的兒子,從母(mu)姓(xing)任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren),炎(yan)(yan)帝(di)(di)(di)在(zai)姜水成就,故(gu)(gu)自(zi)姓(xing)姜(任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)女(nv)(nv)所生(sheng)之意(yi))。自(zi)伊(任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren))徙耆(qi)(姜)合稱任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)姜氏,堯之母(mu)也是(shi)任(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)女(nv)(nv)。
據甲骨文(wen)字義,姜是(shi)壬(ren)(ren)女(妊(ren))所(suo)生(sheng)之意(yi),一(yi)舉(ju)破(po)解了“姜”字本(ben)意(yi),而任(ren)姓初文(wen)正是(shi)壬(ren)(ren)(妊(ren)),故炎(yan)帝姜姓必為任(ren)姒所(suo)生(sheng)。“姜”字的(de)(de)本(ben)意(yi)就是(shi)“任(ren)(玄)女所(suo)生(sheng)”的(de)(de)合文(wen)。故九天(tian)(tian)玄女,實(shi)乃九天(tian)(tian)壬(ren)(ren)女。
《古文龍虎(hu)經注(zhu)疏·卷上》:玄(xuan)女演其序章注(zhu):玄(xuan)女乃天(tian)地之(zhi)精(jing)神(shen),陰陽(yang)之(zhi)靈氣。神(shen)無(wu)所(suo)不(bu)(bu)通,形無(wu)所(suo)不(bu)(bu)類(lei)。知(zhi)萬物(wu)之(zhi)情(qing),曉眾(zhong)變之(zhi)狀。為道敖之(zhi)主也。玄(xuan)女亦上古神(shen)仙,為眾(zhong)真之(zhi)長。
《紫府玄(xuan)祖(zu)法(fa)(fa)懺》:全稱“太(tai)上(shang)(shang)(shang)無極(ji)九(jiu)天(tian)紫府玄(xuan)祖(zu)至尊法(fa)(fa)懺”經文中,對于(yu)九(jiu)天(tian)玄(xuan)女(nv)的贊頌辭(ci)非常殊圣。摘錄部份如下:上(shang)(shang)(shang)極(ji)無上(shang)(shang)(shang),乃為(wei)最上(shang)(shang)(shang)之(zhi)尊,玄(xuan)之(zhi)又玄(xuan),斯號開(kai)玄(xuan)之(zhi)祖(zu),自昔(xi)乾坤(kun)未(wei)辟之(zhi)前,猶是(shi)混t沌元苞之(zhi)致,無氣(qi)無象,無色無名,當是(shi)時(shi)也,蓋有(you)玄(xuan)祖(zu)....玄(xuan)祖(zu)至尊,結(jie)梵氣(qi)于(yu)太(tai)初之(zhi)年,舒至精于(yu)太(tai)始之(zhi)分,無而(er)有(you),有(you)而(er)無,釋宗無以(yi)名空,實而(er)虛(xu),虛(xu)而(er)實,儒踐(jian)實以(yi)成(cheng)治,是(shi)為(wei)道法(fa)(fa)之(zhi)宗。
從以上經文(wen)記載(zai),九天(tian)(tian)(tian)玄(xuan)女實乃(nai)(nai)先天(tian)(tian)(tian)女仙(xian),是(shi)至(zhi)真天(tian)(tian)(tian)仙(xian),乃(nai)(nai)大(da)道衍化,南方(fang)離火炁(qi)所化生先天(tian)(tian)(tian)神(shen)仙(xian)。道教最高(gao)尊神(shen)“三清(qing)(qing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊”玉清(qing)(qing)、上清(qing)(qing)、太(tai)清(qing)(qing),乃(nai)(nai)是(shi)“大(da)道之祖氣(qi)(qi)、元(yuan)始祖氣(qi)(qi)、先天(tian)(tian)(tian)元(yuan)始一氣(qi)(qi)”變化三氣(qi)(qi)為三清(qing)(qing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊。
道(dao)經(jing)《九天生神(shen)章(zhang)經(jing)解(jie)》所言(yan):“以陽(yang)精之(zhi)(zhi)氣(qi)化(hua)生上圣(sheng)高(gao)真,以沖(chong)靜之(zhi)(zhi)氣(qi)化(hua)生元君圣(sheng)母,剛烈之(zhi)(zhi)氣(qi)化(hua)生天丁力士,馀(yu)氣(qi)化(hua)育萬靈 … ” 。
《仙術秘(mi)庫·卷(juan)一》玉樞(shu)真人說:天(tian)仙者(zhe):功成于(yu)三(san)乘之中,跡超乎三(san)乘之外,不為法(fa)拘,不為道(dao)泥,于(yu)天(tian)地有大(da)功,于(yu)今古有大(da)行, … 而(er)返三(san)清(qing)虛無(wu)自然之界(jie)。 … 傳(chuan)道(dao)人間,道(dao)上有功,人間有行,與造(zao)物而(er)同慘,經萬古而(er)不朽, … 乃為仙乘中之無(wu)上上乘。
九(jiu)(jiu)天(tian)玄女(nv)為(wei)道(dao)(dao)教所信(xin)奉,在道(dao)(dao)教地(di)位(wei)是崇高的(de),是九(jiu)(jiu)天(tian)道(dao)(dao)法之祖,是符籙法咒之宗,成為(wei)名符其實的(de)符咒祭(ji)壇神,是女(nv)仙神系中(zhong)位(wei)階(jie)僅次于西王母的(de)女(nv)天(tian)仙,九(jiu)(jiu)天(tian)玄女(nv)是一(yi)位(wei)深諳(an)道(dao)(dao)法、軍事(shi)的(de)女(nv)神仙,但她的(de)莊(zhuang)嚴妙(miao)相卻像(xiang)是一(yi)位(wei)雍容華貴的(de)后妃。
按《天壇玉格》云:行六丁法合受九天玄女(nv)箓(lu)。
《太(tai)上正一(yi)(yi)諸品(pin)籙》曰:《太(tai)上九天玄女斬邪秘箓》一(yi)(yi)階。此箓恭行天律,部(bu)領雷兵。如有下界精邪,北陰午酉,出沒巖穴,蟠踞山林,窺闞家庭,損傷人命(ming),神威所到,一(yi)(yi)切掃除,福佑生人,肅清魔(mo)魅,至心(xin)佩奉,感應無(wu)方。
《墉(yong)城集(ji)仙錄》記(ji)載:
正統(tong)道藏洞神部譜箓類-墉城集(ji)仙錄-前蜀-杜光庭(ting)撰卷六
九天(tian)(tian)玄(xuan)女者,黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)師(shi)(黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)曾訪拜七十二(er)位(wei)(wei)師(shi)傅先(xian)生(sheng)學問(wen)大(da)(da)道),圣母(mu)元(yuan)君弟子也。黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)世為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)有熊(xiong)國之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)君,佐神農(nong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)理。神農(nong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)孫榆(yu)岡(gang)(榆(yu)罔)既衰,諸(zhu)侯(hou)相伐,干戈日(ri)(ri)尋,各據方(fang)色(se),自稱五(wu)(wu)行(xing)(xing)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)號(hao)。太(tai)嗥(hao)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)自為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)青帝(di)(di)(di)(di),榆(yu)岡(gang)神農(nong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)自號(hao)赤帝(di)(di)(di)(di),共工之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)族自號(hao)白帝(di)(di)(di)(di),葛天(tian)(tian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)自號(hao)黑(hei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di),帝(di)(di)(di)(di)起有熊(xiong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)墟自號(hao)黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)。乃(nai)恭已下士側身(shen)修(xiu)德,在位(wei)(wei)二(er)十二(er)年,而(er)蚩(chi)尤(you)(you)肆孽(nie),弟兄八(ba)(ba)十一人,獸身(shen)人語,銅頭鐵額,瞰(kan)砂(sha)吞石,不食五(wu)(wu)谷。作(zuo)五(wu)(wu)虎之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)形以(yi)(yi)(yi)害(hai)黎(li)庶,鑄(zhu)兵於葛爐之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)山不察帝(di)(di)(di)(di)命(ming)(ming)。帝(di)(di)(di)(di)欲(yu)(yu)征(zheng)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),博求(qiu)賢能(neng)以(yi)(yi)(yi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)己助,得(de)風后(hou)於海隅,得(de)力牧於大(da)(da)澤,以(yi)(yi)(yi)大(da)(da)鴻為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)佐,天(tian)(tian)老為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)師(shi),署三(san)公(gong)以(yi)(yi)(yi)象三(san)臺(tai),風后(hou)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)上臺(tai),天(tian)(tian)老為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)中臺(tai),五(wu)(wu)圣為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)下臺(tai)。始(shi)獲寶鼎(ding)不爨而(er)熟,迎日(ri)(ri)推莢,以(yi)(yi)(yi)封胡為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)將,以(yi)(yi)(yi)夫人費(fei)修(xiu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)子為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)太(tai)子,用張若、堤朋、力牧、容(rong)光、龍(long)紆、倉頡、容(rong)成、大(da)(da)撓、屠龍(long)眾臣以(yi)(yi)(yi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)翼輔,戰(zhan)蚩(chi)尤(you)(you)於涿鹿。帝(di)(di)(di)(di)師(shi)不勝,蚩(chi)尤(you)(you)作(zuo)大(da)(da)霧三(san)日(ri)(ri)內外(wai)皆迷。風后(hou)法(fa)斗機作(zuo)大(da)(da)車,以(yi)(yi)(yi)杓(shao)指南以(yi)(yi)(yi)正(zheng)四方(fang),帝(di)(di)(di)(di)用憂(you)憤齋于(yu)(yu)太(tai)山之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)下;王母(mu)遣使披玄(xuan)狐之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)衣以(yi)(yi)(yi)符授帝(di)(di)(di)(di),曰(yue):精思告天(tian)(tian)必(bi)有太(tai)上之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)應。居數日(ri)(ri),大(da)(da)霧冥冥晝晦,玄(xuan)女降(jiang)焉。乘丹鳳御景云(yun)服九色(se)彩翠之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)衣集于(yu)(yu)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)前,帝(di)(di)(di)(di)再拜受命(ming)(ming)。玄(xuan)女曰(yue):吾以(yi)(yi)(yi)太(tai)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)教(jiao),有疑可問(wen)也。帝(di)(di)(di)(di)稽(ji)首頓首曰(yue):蚩(chi)尤(you)(you)暴(bao)橫毒(du)害(hai)需黎(li),四海嗷嗷莫(mo)保性命(ming)(ming),欲(yu)(yu)萬(wan)戰(zhan)萬(wan)勝之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)術,與人除害(hai)可乎(hu)?玄(xuan)女即授六甲六壬兵信之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)符,靈(ling)寶五(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)策使鬼神之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)書,制(zhi)妖通靈(ling)五(wu)(wu)明之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)印(yin),五(wu)(wu)陰五(wu)(wu)陽遁(dun)元(yuan)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)式(shi),太(tai)一十精四神勝負握機之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)圖,五(wu)(wu)兵河圖策精之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)訣。復率諸(zhu)侯(hou)再戰(zhan)蚩(chi)尤(you)(you)于(yu)(yu)冀(ji)州,蚩(chi)尤(you)(you)驅魑魅雜妖以(yi)(yi)(yi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)陣,雨師(shi)風伯以(yi)(yi)(yi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)衛,應龍(long)蓄(xu)水以(yi)(yi)(yi)征(zheng)於帝(di)(di)(di)(di)。帝(di)(di)(di)(di)畫之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)遂滅蚩(chi)尤(you)(you)于(yu)(yu)絕(jue)轡之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)野中冀(ji)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)鄉(xiang),分四冢以(yi)(yi)(yi)葬(zang)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。由是榆(yu)岡(gang)拒(ju)命(ming)(ming),又誅之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)阪泉之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)野,北逐塤齋,大(da)(da)定四方(fang)。步四極(ji)凡(fan)二(er)萬(wan)八(ba)(ba)千里,乃(nai)鑄(zhu)鼎(ding)立九州,置(zhi)五(wu)(wu)行(xing)(xing)九德之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)臣以(yi)(yi)(yi)觀天(tian)(tian)地(di),祠萬(wan)靈(ling)垂(chui)法(fa)設教(jiao),然后(hou)采首山之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)銅鑄(zhu)鼎(ding)於荊山之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)下,黃(huang)龍(long)來迎乘龍(long)升天(tian)(tian)。