《洞真(zhen)九真(zhen)中經(jing)》云:中央黃老君者,太上太微天(tian)帝君之(zhi)弟子也,以混皇二(er)年(nian)始生(sheng)焉。年(nian)七歲,乃知長生(sheng)之(zhi)要,天(tian)仙之(zhi)法。仍眇綸上思,欽納真(zhen)玄,蕭條靈想,棲心神源。解(jie)脫于(yu)文蔚之(zhi)羅(luo),披素于(yu)空任之(zhi)肆(si)。于(yu)是太上授(shou)《九真(zhen)之(zhi)訣(jue)》、《八道秘言》,施修道成,受書為太極真(zhen)人(ren)。
五方五老(lao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)君,為(wei)東南(nan)(nan)西北(bei)中(zhong)五方之天(tian)(tian)(tian)神,一說為(wei)元始天(tian)(tian)(tian)王所化。中(zhong)國(guo)個道(dao)派以(yi)三清為(wei)始,比如全(quan)真道(dao)以(yi)太上老(lao)君為(wei)主(zhu),五方五老(lao)為(wei)元始天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊為(wei)主(zhu)。五方五老(lao)的(de)名號分別(bie)為(wei)東方青帝(di)(di)青靈(ling)始老(lao)九(jiu)炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)君、南(nan)(nan)方赤帝(di)(di)丹靈(ling)真老(lao)三炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)君、中(zhong)央(yang)黃帝(di)(di)玄靈(ling)黃老(lao)一炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)君、西方白(bai)帝(di)(di)皓(hao)靈(ling)皇老(lao)七炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)君、北(bei)方黑帝(di)(di)五靈(ling)玄老(lao)五炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)君。
五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)君是道(dao)教初期的(de)(de)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方神(shen)靈,亦稱(cheng)“五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝”。 五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)君是歷代(dai)帝王祭祀的(de)(de)對(dui)象,“在(zai)天中(zhong)則稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)上帝,在(zai)天文則稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝座及(ji)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)星,在(zai)神(shen)靈則稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝,在(zai)山岳(yue)則稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)岳(yue)圣(sheng)帝,在(zai)人(ren)身則稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)臟神(shen)君”。他們與元始天尊(zun)一樣,非后天學(xue)而得真者,為天地開辟(pi)之(zhi)前的(de)(de)先天神(shen)靈,所以(yi)又稱(cheng)元始五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao),五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)行之(zhi)始、五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)氣之(zhi)祖。在(zai)道(dao)教神(shen)仙體系中(zhong),五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)君沒有具體職司,但地位(wei)崇尊(zun)。
以(yi)下(xia)五(wu)老對應(ying)泰山(shan)(shan)、衡山(shan)(shan)、嵩山(shan)(shan)、華山(shan)(shan)、恒山(shan)(shan)。
東(dong)方青(qing)靈始老天君,號稱東(dong)方木德青(qing)帝(di)太(tai)昊伏羲,木帝(di)也,其精星(xing)。下(xia)應泰山神仙;
南方丹(dan)靈(ling)真老天君,號稱(cheng)南方火德赤帝炎帝神(shen)農(nong),火帝也,其精(jing)熒屏,下(xia)應衡山神(shen)仙;
元靈元老君(jun),中央土德黃帝軒(xuan)轅,土帝也,其精(jing)鎮星,下(xia)應嵩山(shan)神仙;
西方豪(hao)靈皇(huang)帝老天(tian)君,號(hao)稱(cheng)西方金德白(bai)帝金天(tian)少(shao)昊,金帝也,其(qi)精華太白(bai),下(xia)應華山神仙;
北(bei)方五靈玄老天君,號稱(cheng)北(bei)方水德黑帝(di)(di)朱旭,水帝(di)(di)也,其精星,下應恒山神仙。
此外,還(huan)有五(wu)老監真之稱:綿山(shan)是五(wu)方神會群(qun)仙之所,因此善(shan)男信女建此殿供奉。
【東方青帝青靈始老九(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)炁(qi)天君】號曰青帝。頭(tou)戴青精玉冠,衣九(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)氣青羽衣。常駕蒼龍(long),建鶉旗,從神甲乙,官將(jiang)九(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)十萬人。上導九(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)天之和氣,下引九(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)泉之流芳,養二儀(yi)以(yi)長存,護陰陽以(yi)永(yong)昌。
【南(nan)方赤帝丹(dan)靈(ling)真老三(san)(san)炁天君】號曰赤帝。頭(tou)戴(dai)赤精(jing)(jing)玉冠,衣三(san)(san)氣(qi)(qi)丹(dan)羽飛衣。常駕丹(dan)龍(long),建朱(zhu)旗,從神丙丁,官將(jiang)三(san)(san)十萬(wan)人。上導泰清(qing)玄(xuan)元之靈(ling)化,下和三(san)(san)氣(qi)(qi)之陶(tao)镕,令萬(wan)物之永存,運天精(jing)(jing)之南(nan)夏(xia)。
【中央黃(huang)帝玄靈(ling)黃(huang)老一炁天(tian)君】號(hao)曰黃(huang)帝。頭(tou)戴黃(huang)精(jing)玉冠,衣五(wu)(wu)色飛衣。常駕黃(huang)龍(long),建黃(huang)旗,從神戊己,官將十二萬人。上(shang)等自然之和(he),下旋五(wu)(wu)土之靈(ling),天(tian)地守以不虧,陰陽用之不傾。
【西方(fang)白帝皓靈(ling)皇老七炁天(tian)君】號曰白帝。頭戴白精玉冠,衣(yi)白羽飛衣(yi)。常駕白龍,建素旗,從神庚辛,官將七十萬人。上導洪精于上天(tian),下(xia)和(he)眾生于靈(ling)衢(qu)。
【北方(fang)黑(hei)(hei)帝(di)(di)五(wu)靈玄老五(wu)炁天(tian)君】號曰黑(hei)(hei)帝(di)(di)。頭戴玄精玉冠,衣玄羽(yu)飛衣。 常駕黑(hei)(hei)龍,建皂旗,從神壬癸,官(guan)將五(wu)十萬人。上導五(wu)帝(di)(di)之(zhi)流氣,下拯生生之(zhi)眾和,護二(er)儀(yi)而不(bu)傾,保群命(ming)以永安。