《初(chu)學記》中曾解釋道:“無(wu)宗無(wu)上,而獨能為萬物之始,故名(ming)元始。
昆(kun)侖山(shan)被譽為“萬(wan)山(shan)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)祖”,也是(shi)“萬(wan)神之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)鄉(xiang)”,是(shi)中國第一神山(shan)。事實上(shang),關于(yu)昆(kun)侖山(shan)的(de)真實地理位(wei)置,目前(qian)都還沒有(you)定論,只知道(dao)《山(shan)海(hai)經·大荒西經第十六》說:“西海(hai)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)南,流(liu)沙之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)濱,赤水之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后,黑水之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)前(qian),有(you)大山(shan),有(you)曰昆(kun)侖之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)丘(qiu)。
而(er)昆侖山上,最神秘的就是玉虛(xu)宮,傳說昆侖山玉虛(xu)宮乃是元始天尊(zun)的道場(在(zai)封神原文(wen)中明確寫出始天尊(zun)的道場是玉虛(xu)宮)。與碧游宮,八(ba)景宮并列(lie)的道教圣地。
陶弘景編定之(zhi)《真靈位業圖》稱元始(shi)天尊(zun)位居(ju)三十六天的最(zui)上(shang)層“大羅天”中,所(suo)居(ju)仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)府稱為(wei)“玄(xuan)都(dou)玉京”。玉京之(zhi)中,黃金鋪地,玉石(shi)為(wei)階,宮中有七寶、珍玉,仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)王、仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)公、仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)卿、仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)伯、仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)大夫等居(ju)于中央和兩旁的仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)殿(dian)中,眾神仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)都(dou)要(yao)按時上(shang)玉清境朝拜元始(shi)天尊(zun)。
據《歷(li)代神仙通鑒(jian)》記載,元始(shi)天尊(zun)“頂負圓光(guang),身披七(qi)十(shi)二色”,故(gu)供奉在道教三(san)清大殿中的元始(shi)天尊(zun)一(yi)般(ban)都頭(tou)罩神光(guang),手執黍(shu)珠(zhu),或者左手虛(xu)拈,右手虛(xu)捧,象(xiang)征“天地未(wei)形,混沌未(wei)開,萬物(wu)未(wei)生”時(shi)的“無(wu)極狀態(tai)”和(he)“混沌之時(shi),陰(yin)陽未(wei)判”的第一(yi)大世(shi)紀(ji),故(gu)以陽生陰(yin)降、晝短(duan)夜長的冬至日(ri)為元始(shi)天尊(zun)的圣誕(dan)。
上(shang)(shang)(shang)清(qing)派認為太上(shang)(shang)(shang)老君(jun)、靈寶天尊(zun)、天真皇(huang)人(ren)、五方天帝等神仙皆(jie)是元始(shi)(shi)天尊(zun)所度。上(shang)(shang)(shang)清(qing)派宗師陶弘景所著《真靈位(wei)業圖》將(jiang)天地宇(yu)宙中的(de)神靈共分七階,第(di)一階玉清(qing)境(jing)的(de)中位(wei)即(ji)最(zui)高位(wei):“上(shang)(shang)(shang)合虛皇(huang)道君(jun),應號元始(shi)(shi)天尊(zun)”,從而正式(shi)確立(li)了元始(shi)(shi)天尊(zun)在茅(mao)山上(shang)(shang)(shang)清(qing)派乃至整個道教體系中的(de)獨(du)尊(zun)地位(wei),又通過稱元始(shi)(shi)天尊(zun)“上(shang)(shang)(shang)合虛皇(huang)道君(jun)”,使得早期上(shang)(shang)(shang)清(qing)尊(zun)神高上(shang)(shang)(shang)虛皇(huang)道君(jun)等的(de)地位(wei)得到保證。