《初(chu)學記》中(zhong)曾解釋道:“無宗(zong)無上,而(er)獨能(neng)為萬物之始(shi),故名元始(shi)。
昆(kun)侖(lun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)被譽(yu)為“萬山(shan)(shan)(shan)之(zhi)(zhi)祖(zu)”,也是“萬神之(zhi)(zhi)鄉(xiang)”,是中國第一神山(shan)(shan)(shan)。事實(shi)上(shang),關(guan)于(yu)昆(kun)侖(lun)山(shan)(shan)(shan)的(de)真(zhen)實(shi)地理(li)位置(zhi),目(mu)前(qian)(qian)都還沒(mei)有(you)定(ding)論,只知(zhi)道《山(shan)(shan)(shan)海經·大荒西(xi)經第十六(liu)》說(shuo):“西(xi)海之(zhi)(zhi)南,流(liu)沙之(zhi)(zhi)濱,赤(chi)水之(zhi)(zhi)后,黑(hei)水之(zhi)(zhi)前(qian)(qian),有(you)大山(shan)(shan)(shan),有(you)曰昆(kun)侖(lun)之(zhi)(zhi)丘。
而昆侖山上(shang),最神秘的(de)就是(shi)玉(yu)虛宮,傳(chuan)說(shuo)昆侖山玉(yu)虛宮乃是(shi)元(yuan)始天(tian)(tian)尊的(de)道(dao)場(在封神原文中(zhong)明確寫(xie)出始天(tian)(tian)尊的(de)道(dao)場是(shi)玉(yu)虛宮)。與碧游宮,八景宮并列的(de)道(dao)教圣地(di)。
陶弘(hong)景(jing)編定之《真靈位(wei)業圖》稱元始天尊(zun)位(wei)居(ju)三(san)十六(liu)天的最上(shang)層“大羅天”中,所(suo)居(ju)仙(xian)(xian)府(fu)稱為(wei)“玄都玉(yu)(yu)京”。玉(yu)(yu)京之中,黃金(jin)鋪(pu)地,玉(yu)(yu)石(shi)為(wei)階,宮(gong)中有七(qi)寶、珍玉(yu)(yu),仙(xian)(xian)王、仙(xian)(xian)公、仙(xian)(xian)卿、仙(xian)(xian)伯、仙(xian)(xian)大夫(fu)等居(ju)于中央和兩(liang)旁(pang)的仙(xian)(xian)殿中,眾神仙(xian)(xian)都要按時上(shang)玉(yu)(yu)清境朝拜元始天尊(zun)。
據《歷代神仙通鑒》記載,元始(shi)天(tian)尊“頂負圓(yuan)光,身披七十二色”,故(gu)供(gong)奉在道教(jiao)三清(qing)大(da)(da)殿中的(de)(de)元始(shi)天(tian)尊一(yi)般都頭罩(zhao)神光,手執黍珠,或者左手虛拈,右手虛捧,象征(zheng)“天(tian)地(di)未(wei)(wei)形,混沌未(wei)(wei)開,萬物未(wei)(wei)生”時的(de)(de)“無極狀態”和“混沌之時,陰陽(yang)未(wei)(wei)判(pan)”的(de)(de)第一(yi)大(da)(da)世(shi)紀,故(gu)以陽(yang)生陰降(jiang)、晝(zhou)短夜(ye)長(chang)的(de)(de)冬(dong)至(zhi)日為元始(shi)天(tian)尊的(de)(de)圣誕。
上(shang)(shang)(shang)清派(pai)認為太(tai)上(shang)(shang)(shang)老君(jun)(jun)、靈(ling)寶(bao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)、天(tian)(tian)(tian)真(zhen)皇人、五方天(tian)(tian)(tian)帝等神(shen)(shen)仙皆(jie)是元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)所(suo)度(du)。上(shang)(shang)(shang)清派(pai)宗師陶弘景所(suo)著《真(zhen)靈(ling)位(wei)業圖》將(jiang)天(tian)(tian)(tian)地(di)(di)宇(yu)宙中的(de)(de)神(shen)(shen)靈(ling)共(gong)分七階,第一階玉清境(jing)的(de)(de)中位(wei)即最高位(wei):“上(shang)(shang)(shang)合虛(xu)皇道君(jun)(jun),應(ying)號(hao)元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)”,從而正(zheng)式確立了(le)元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)在茅山上(shang)(shang)(shang)清派(pai)乃至整個(ge)道教(jiao)體系中的(de)(de)獨尊(zun)地(di)(di)位(wei),又通(tong)過稱元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)“上(shang)(shang)(shang)合虛(xu)皇道君(jun)(jun)”,使得早期上(shang)(shang)(shang)清尊(zun)神(shen)(shen)高上(shang)(shang)(shang)虛(xu)皇道君(jun)(jun)等的(de)(de)地(di)(di)位(wei)得到(dao)保證。