《洞真(zhen)(zhen)九(jiu)真(zhen)(zhen)中經》云:中央黃老君(jun)者,太(tai)上(shang)(shang)太(tai)微天帝君(jun)之(zhi)弟子(zi)也(ye),以混皇二年(nian)始生(sheng)焉。年(nian)七歲,乃知長(chang)生(sheng)之(zhi)要(yao),天仙之(zhi)法。仍(reng)眇綸上(shang)(shang)思,欽納真(zhen)(zhen)玄,蕭條(tiao)靈想,棲心神源。解(jie)脫于文蔚之(zhi)羅,披素于空(kong)任之(zhi)肆(si)。于是太(tai)上(shang)(shang)授《九(jiu)真(zhen)(zhen)之(zhi)訣》、《八道秘言》,施修道成(cheng),受(shou)書為太(tai)極真(zhen)(zhen)人。
五(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)(jun),為(wei)東南(nan)西北(bei)中(zhong)五(wu)(wu)方之天(tian)(tian)神,一(yi)說(shuo)為(wei)元(yuan)始(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)王所化(hua)。中(zhong)國(guo)個(ge)道派以三(san)清為(wei)始(shi)(shi),比(bi)如全真道以太上老(lao)(lao)君(jun)(jun)為(wei)主,五(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)為(wei)元(yuan)始(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)尊為(wei)主。五(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)的名(ming)號分別為(wei)東方青帝(di)(di)(di)青靈(ling)(ling)始(shi)(shi)老(lao)(lao)九炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)(jun)、南(nan)方赤(chi)帝(di)(di)(di)丹靈(ling)(ling)真老(lao)(lao)三(san)炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)(jun)、中(zhong)央黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)玄靈(ling)(ling)黃(huang)老(lao)(lao)一(yi)炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)(jun)、西方白(bai)帝(di)(di)(di)皓靈(ling)(ling)皇(huang)老(lao)(lao)七(qi)炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)(jun)、北(bei)方黑帝(di)(di)(di)五(wu)(wu)靈(ling)(ling)玄老(lao)(lao)五(wu)(wu)炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)(jun)。
五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)君是道教(jiao)初期的五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方神(shen)(shen)(shen)靈,亦稱(cheng)“五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝(di)”。 五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)君是歷代(dai)帝(di)王祭祀的對象,“在(zai)天(tian)(tian)中則(ze)稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)上(shang)帝(di),在(zai)天(tian)(tian)文則(ze)稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝(di)座(zuo)及五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)星,在(zai)神(shen)(shen)(shen)靈則(ze)稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝(di),在(zai)山岳(yue)則(ze)稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)岳(yue)圣帝(di),在(zai)人身則(ze)稱(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)臟神(shen)(shen)(shen)君”。他(ta)們與元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)(tian)尊一樣,非后天(tian)(tian)學而得真(zhen)者,為(wei)天(tian)(tian)地開辟之前的先天(tian)(tian)神(shen)(shen)(shen)靈,所(suo)以又稱(cheng)元始(shi)(shi)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao),五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)行之始(shi)(shi)、五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)氣之祖(zu)。在(zai)道教(jiao)神(shen)(shen)(shen)仙體系中,五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)(lao)君沒有(you)具體職司,但地位崇尊。
以(yi)下五老對應泰山(shan)、衡山(shan)、嵩(song)山(shan)、華山(shan)、恒山(shan)。
東方青靈始老天君,號稱東方木德青帝(di)太昊伏羲,木帝(di)也,其(qi)精星。下應泰山神仙(xian);
南方丹靈真(zhen)老(lao)天君,號(hao)稱南方火德赤(chi)帝炎帝神農,火帝也(ye),其精熒(ying)屏,下應衡山神仙(xian);
元(yuan)靈元(yuan)老君,中央土(tu)德黃(huang)帝軒(xuan)轅,土(tu)帝也,其精(jing)鎮星,下應嵩山神仙(xian);
西(xi)方豪靈皇帝(di)老(lao)天君(jun),號稱西(xi)方金(jin)德(de)白帝(di)金(jin)天少昊,金(jin)帝(di)也,其精華太白,下應華山神仙;
北(bei)方五靈玄老天君,號稱北(bei)方水德(de)黑帝(di)朱旭,水帝(di)也,其精星,下應恒山神仙。
此外,還有五(wu)老(lao)監(jian)真(zhen)之(zhi)稱:綿山是五(wu)方神會群仙(xian)之(zhi)所(suo),因此善男(nan)信女建(jian)此殿(dian)供奉。
【東方青(qing)(qing)帝青(qing)(qing)靈始老九炁天君】號曰青(qing)(qing)帝。頭戴青(qing)(qing)精玉冠,衣(yi)九氣(qi)青(qing)(qing)羽衣(yi)。常駕(jia)蒼龍,建鶉旗(qi),從神甲乙,官將九十萬人。上導九天之(zhi)和(he)氣(qi),下(xia)引(yin)九泉之(zhi)流(liu)芳(fang),養二儀以(yi)長存,護(hu)陰陽以(yi)永昌。
【南(nan)方赤(chi)帝丹(dan)靈(ling)真老三炁天(tian)君】號曰(yue)赤(chi)帝。頭戴赤(chi)精玉(yu)冠,衣(yi)三氣丹(dan)羽飛衣(yi)。常駕丹(dan)龍(long),建朱旗,從神丙丁,官將三十(shi)萬(wan)人。上導泰清玄元之(zhi)靈(ling)化,下(xia)和三氣之(zhi)陶镕(rong),令萬(wan)物(wu)之(zhi)永存,運(yun)天(tian)精之(zhi)南(nan)夏。
【中央(yang)黃(huang)帝玄(xuan)靈黃(huang)老(lao)一炁天(tian)君】號曰黃(huang)帝。頭(tou)戴黃(huang)精(jing)玉冠,衣(yi)(yi)五色飛(fei)衣(yi)(yi)。常駕(jia)黃(huang)龍(long),建黃(huang)旗,從神(shen)戊己,官將十二萬人。上等自然之(zhi)(zhi)和,下(xia)旋(xuan)五土(tu)之(zhi)(zhi)靈,天(tian)地守(shou)以不虧(kui),陰陽用之(zhi)(zhi)不傾。
【西方白(bai)帝皓靈皇老七炁(qi)天君】號曰白(bai)帝。頭戴(dai)白(bai)精玉冠,衣(yi)白(bai)羽飛衣(yi)。常駕白(bai)龍(long),建(jian)素旗,從神庚(geng)辛,官將七十(shi)萬(wan)人。上導洪精于上天,下和眾生于靈衢。
【北(bei)方黑帝五靈玄(xuan)(xuan)老五炁天君】號曰(yue)黑帝。頭戴玄(xuan)(xuan)精(jing)玉冠,衣玄(xuan)(xuan)羽飛衣。 常駕黑龍,建(jian)皂旗(qi),從神(shen)壬癸(gui),官將五十萬人。上導(dao)五帝之(zhi)流氣,下拯生(sheng)生(sheng)之(zhi)眾(zhong)和,護(hu)二儀而不(bu)傾,保群命以永安。