《洞真(zhen)九真(zhen)中(zhong)經》云:中(zhong)央黃老君(jun)者,太上太微(wei)天(tian)帝君(jun)之(zhi)(zhi)弟子(zi)也,以混皇二年(nian)始生焉。年(nian)七歲,乃知長(chang)生之(zhi)(zhi)要,天(tian)仙之(zhi)(zhi)法。仍眇(miao)綸上思,欽納(na)真(zhen)玄(xuan),蕭條(tiao)靈(ling)想,棲(qi)心神(shen)源。解脫于(yu)文(wen)蔚之(zhi)(zhi)羅(luo),披素于(yu)空任之(zhi)(zhi)肆。于(yu)是太上授《九真(zhen)之(zhi)(zhi)訣》、《八道秘(mi)言》,施修道成(cheng),受書為太極真(zhen)人。
五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)(lao)天(tian)君(jun),為(wei)(wei)(wei)東(dong)南西北中(zhong)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)(fang)之(zhi)天(tian)神,一說(shuo)為(wei)(wei)(wei)元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)王所化。中(zhong)國(guo)個道派以三(san)清為(wei)(wei)(wei)始(shi)(shi),比(bi)如全真(zhen)道以太上老(lao)(lao)(lao)君(jun)為(wei)(wei)(wei)主,五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)(lao)為(wei)(wei)(wei)元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)尊為(wei)(wei)(wei)主。五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)(lao)的(de)名號(hao)分別為(wei)(wei)(wei)東(dong)方(fang)(fang)青(qing)(qing)帝(di)(di)青(qing)(qing)靈(ling)(ling)始(shi)(shi)老(lao)(lao)(lao)九炁天(tian)君(jun)、南方(fang)(fang)赤帝(di)(di)丹靈(ling)(ling)真(zhen)老(lao)(lao)(lao)三(san)炁天(tian)君(jun)、中(zhong)央黃帝(di)(di)玄靈(ling)(ling)黃老(lao)(lao)(lao)一炁天(tian)君(jun)、西方(fang)(fang)白帝(di)(di)皓靈(ling)(ling)皇老(lao)(lao)(lao)七(qi)炁天(tian)君(jun)、北方(fang)(fang)黑(hei)帝(di)(di)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)靈(ling)(ling)玄老(lao)(lao)(lao)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)炁天(tian)君(jun)。
五(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)君是道教初(chu)期的五(wu)(wu)(wu)方神(shen)靈,亦稱(cheng)(cheng)“五(wu)(wu)(wu)帝”。 五(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)君是歷代帝王祭祀的對象(xiang),“在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)天(tian)(tian)中(zhong)則(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)上帝,在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)天(tian)(tian)文則(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)帝座及五(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)星,在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)神(shen)靈則(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)帝,在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)山岳則(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)岳圣帝,在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)人(ren)身則(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)臟(zang)神(shen)君”。他(ta)們(men)與元始天(tian)(tian)尊(zun)一樣,非后天(tian)(tian)學而得真者,為天(tian)(tian)地開辟之前的先天(tian)(tian)神(shen)靈,所以又稱(cheng)(cheng)元始五(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao),五(wu)(wu)(wu)行之始、五(wu)(wu)(wu)氣之祖。在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)道教神(shen)仙體系(xi)中(zhong),五(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)君沒有具(ju)體職司,但地位崇尊(zun)。
以(yi)下五(wu)老(lao)對(dui)應泰山(shan)、衡(heng)山(shan)、嵩山(shan)、華(hua)山(shan)、恒山(shan)。
東(dong)方(fang)青(qing)靈始老(lao)天君,號稱東(dong)方(fang)木德青(qing)帝太昊伏羲,木帝也,其精星。下應泰(tai)山神(shen)仙;
南方丹靈真老天君,號稱(cheng)南方火(huo)德赤帝炎帝神(shen)農,火(huo)帝也,其精熒屏,下應(ying)衡山神(shen)仙;
元靈(ling)元老君,中央土德黃帝軒(xuan)轅,土帝也(ye),其(qi)精(jing)鎮(zhen)星,下應嵩(song)山神(shen)仙;
西方豪靈皇(huang)帝(di)(di)老天君,號稱西方金(jin)(jin)德白帝(di)(di)金(jin)(jin)天少昊,金(jin)(jin)帝(di)(di)也,其(qi)精華太(tai)白,下應華山神仙;
北方五靈玄老天君,號稱北方水(shui)德黑(hei)帝(di)(di)朱旭,水(shui)帝(di)(di)也,其精(jing)星,下應恒山神(shen)仙。
此外,還有(you)五(wu)老監真之(zhi)(zhi)稱(cheng):綿(mian)山(shan)是五(wu)方神(shen)會群仙之(zhi)(zhi)所,因此善男信女建(jian)此殿供(gong)奉(feng)。
【東(dong)方青(qing)(qing)帝(di)青(qing)(qing)靈始老九(jiu)炁天君】號曰青(qing)(qing)帝(di)。頭(tou)戴青(qing)(qing)精(jing)玉(yu)冠(guan),衣九(jiu)氣青(qing)(qing)羽衣。常(chang)駕蒼龍,建(jian)鶉(chun)旗,從神甲(jia)乙,官將(jiang)九(jiu)十萬人。上導九(jiu)天之和氣,下引九(jiu)泉(quan)之流芳,養二(er)儀以長存,護陰(yin)陽以永昌。
【南(nan)方赤帝(di)丹(dan)靈真(zhen)老三(san)炁(qi)天(tian)君】號曰赤帝(di)。頭(tou)戴(dai)赤精玉(yu)冠,衣三(san)氣丹(dan)羽飛衣。常駕(jia)丹(dan)龍(long),建(jian)朱(zhu)旗,從神(shen)丙(bing)丁,官將三(san)十(shi)萬人。上(shang)導(dao)泰清玄元之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)靈化,下和三(san)氣之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)陶镕,令萬物之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)永存(cun),運天(tian)精之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)南(nan)夏(xia)。
【中央黃帝玄靈黃老一炁天君】號(hao)曰黃帝。頭戴黃精(jing)玉冠,衣(yi)(yi)五(wu)色飛衣(yi)(yi)。常駕黃龍,建黃旗,從神戊(wu)己,官將十(shi)二萬人。上等自然之和(he),下旋五(wu)土(tu)之靈,天地守(shou)以(yi)不虧(kui),陰陽(yang)用之不傾。
【西方(fang)白帝皓靈(ling)皇老七炁天(tian)君】號曰白帝。頭(tou)戴白精玉冠,衣(yi)白羽飛衣(yi)。常(chang)駕白龍(long),建素(su)旗,從神庚辛(xin),官將七十萬人(ren)。上導洪精于上天(tian),下和眾生于靈(ling)衢。
【北方(fang)黑(hei)(hei)帝(di)五靈玄(xuan)老(lao)五炁(qi)天君】號曰黑(hei)(hei)帝(di)。頭戴玄(xuan)精玉(yu)冠,衣玄(xuan)羽飛衣。 常駕黑(hei)(hei)龍,建皂旗,從神壬癸,官將五十萬人(ren)。上(shang)導五帝(di)之流氣,下拯生生之眾和,護二(er)儀而(er)不(bu)傾,保群命以永安。