《洞真(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)九真(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)中(zhong)經》云:中(zhong)央黃老君者,太上太微天帝君之(zhi)弟(di)子也,以混(hun)皇二年始(shi)生焉(yan)。年七歲,乃知長(chang)生之(zhi)要(yao),天仙之(zhi)法。仍眇(miao)綸(lun)上思,欽納真(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)玄,蕭條(tiao)靈想,棲心(xin)神(shen)源。解(jie)脫于文蔚(yu)之(zhi)羅,披素于空任之(zhi)肆。于是(shi)太上授《九真(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)之(zhi)訣(jue)》、《八道秘言》,施修(xiu)道成,受書為太極(ji)真(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)人。
五方(fang)五老(lao)(lao)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)(jun)(jun),為(wei)東(dong)(dong)南(nan)西(xi)(xi)北中(zhong)五方(fang)之(zhi)天(tian)(tian)神(shen),一說為(wei)元(yuan)(yuan)始(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)王所化(hua)。中(zhong)國個道派(pai)以(yi)三(san)清為(wei)始(shi)(shi),比(bi)如全(quan)真(zhen)道以(yi)太上老(lao)(lao)君(jun)(jun)(jun)為(wei)主,五方(fang)五老(lao)(lao)為(wei)元(yuan)(yuan)始(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)尊(zun)為(wei)主。五方(fang)五老(lao)(lao)的名(ming)號分別為(wei)東(dong)(dong)方(fang)青帝青靈(ling)(ling)始(shi)(shi)老(lao)(lao)九炁(qi)(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)(jun)(jun)、南(nan)方(fang)赤(chi)帝丹靈(ling)(ling)真(zhen)老(lao)(lao)三(san)炁(qi)(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)(jun)(jun)、中(zhong)央黃帝玄(xuan)靈(ling)(ling)黃老(lao)(lao)一炁(qi)(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)(jun)(jun)、西(xi)(xi)方(fang)白帝皓靈(ling)(ling)皇老(lao)(lao)七炁(qi)(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)(jun)(jun)、北方(fang)黑帝五靈(ling)(ling)玄(xuan)老(lao)(lao)五炁(qi)(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)(jun)(jun)。
五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老君(jun)是(shi)道教(jiao)初期的五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)(fang)神靈(ling),亦(yi)稱“五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)”。 五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老君(jun)是(shi)歷(li)代帝(di)(di)(di)王(wang)祭祀的對象(xiang),“在(zai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)中則(ze)(ze)(ze)稱五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老上帝(di)(di)(di),在(zai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)文(wen)則(ze)(ze)(ze)稱五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)座及五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)星,在(zai)神靈(ling)則(ze)(ze)(ze)稱五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di),在(zai)山岳則(ze)(ze)(ze)稱五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)岳圣(sheng)帝(di)(di)(di),在(zai)人身則(ze)(ze)(ze)稱五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)臟神君(jun)”。他們(men)與(yu)元始天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)尊一樣,非后天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)學而得真者,為天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)地開辟(pi)之(zhi)前的先天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)神靈(ling),所以又稱元始五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老,五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)行之(zhi)始、五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)氣之(zhi)祖。在(zai)道教(jiao)神仙體系中,五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老君(jun)沒(mei)有具體職司(si),但地位崇(chong)尊。
以(yi)下五老對(dui)應泰山(shan)、衡(heng)山(shan)、嵩山(shan)、華山(shan)、恒山(shan)。
東(dong)方青靈始老(lao)天君,號稱東(dong)方木(mu)德青帝太昊伏(fu)羲,木(mu)帝也,其精星。下(xia)應泰(tai)山神仙;
南方丹靈(ling)真老天君,號稱南方火(huo)德赤(chi)帝炎(yan)帝神農,火(huo)帝也,其精(jing)熒(ying)屏,下(xia)應(ying)衡山(shan)神仙;
元(yuan)靈元(yuan)老君,中(zhong)央土(tu)德黃(huang)帝(di)軒轅,土(tu)帝(di)也,其精(jing)鎮星,下應嵩山神仙;
西方豪靈皇帝(di)老(lao)天君,號稱(cheng)西方金德白帝(di)金天少昊(hao),金帝(di)也,其精(jing)華太白,下應華山神仙;
北方五靈玄老天君,號稱(cheng)北方水德(de)黑帝朱旭,水帝也,其(qi)精星,下應恒山神(shen)仙。
此外,還(huan)有五老監真之(zhi)稱(cheng):綿山是五方神會群仙之(zhi)所(suo),因(yin)此善男信女建此殿供奉。
【東方青(qing)帝(di)青(qing)靈(ling)始老九(jiu)炁天君】號(hao)曰青(qing)帝(di)。頭戴(dai)青(qing)精玉冠,衣(yi)九(jiu)氣青(qing)羽衣(yi)。常(chang)駕蒼龍(long),建鶉旗(qi),從神(shen)甲乙,官將九(jiu)十萬(wan)人。上導九(jiu)天之(zhi)和氣,下(xia)引(yin)九(jiu)泉之(zhi)流(liu)芳(fang),養二儀以長存(cun),護陰(yin)陽(yang)以永昌。
【南(nan)方(fang)赤(chi)(chi)帝(di)(di)丹靈(ling)真(zhen)老三炁天(tian)(tian)君(jun)】號曰(yue)赤(chi)(chi)帝(di)(di)。頭戴赤(chi)(chi)精(jing)玉冠,衣三氣丹羽飛(fei)衣。常駕丹龍,建朱旗,從神丙丁,官將三十萬人。上導泰清玄元之靈(ling)化,下和三氣之陶镕,令萬物之永存,運天(tian)(tian)精(jing)之南(nan)夏。
【中央黃(huang)(huang)帝玄靈黃(huang)(huang)老一炁天(tian)(tian)君(jun)】號(hao)曰黃(huang)(huang)帝。頭戴黃(huang)(huang)精(jing)玉冠,衣(yi)五色(se)飛(fei)衣(yi)。常駕黃(huang)(huang)龍,建黃(huang)(huang)旗,從神戊己(ji),官將十二萬人。上等自(zi)然之(zhi)和,下旋(xuan)五土之(zhi)靈,天(tian)(tian)地(di)守以不虧(kui),陰陽用之(zhi)不傾。
【西方白(bai)帝皓(hao)靈皇(huang)老七炁天君】號曰白(bai)帝。頭(tou)戴(dai)白(bai)精玉冠(guan),衣(yi)白(bai)羽飛(fei)衣(yi)。常駕白(bai)龍(long),建素旗,從神庚辛,官(guan)將(jiang)七十萬人。上導洪精于上天,下和眾生于靈衢。
【北方黑(hei)帝五(wu)靈玄老五(wu)炁天君】號(hao)曰黑(hei)帝。頭(tou)戴玄精玉冠,衣(yi)玄羽飛衣(yi)。 常駕黑(hei)龍,建皂(zao)旗(qi),從神(shen)壬癸,官將五(wu)十萬人。上導五(wu)帝之流氣,下拯生生之眾和,護二儀而(er)不傾(qing),保群命以(yi)永安。