五(wu)方五(wu)老(lao)天(tian)(tian)君(jun),為(wei)(wei)東南(nan)西(xi)北中(zhong)五(wu)方之天(tian)(tian)神,一說(shuo)為(wei)(wei)元始(shi)天(tian)(tian)王所化。中(zhong)國個道(dao)派以(yi)三清(qing)為(wei)(wei)始(shi),比如全(quan)真道(dao)以(yi)太(tai)上老(lao)君(jun)為(wei)(wei)主(zhu),五(wu)方五(wu)老(lao)為(wei)(wei)元始(shi)天(tian)(tian)尊為(wei)(wei)主(zhu)。五(wu)方五(wu)老(lao)的名號分別為(wei)(wei)東方青帝青靈(ling)始(shi)老(lao)九炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)、南(nan)方赤帝丹靈(ling)真老(lao)三炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)、中(zhong)央(yang)黃帝玄靈(ling)黃老(lao)一炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)、西(xi)方白帝皓靈(ling)皇老(lao)七炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)、北方黑帝五(wu)靈(ling)玄老(lao)五(wu)炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君(jun)。
五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)君是道(dao)教初期的五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)神(shen)(shen)(shen)靈,亦稱“五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝”。 五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)君是歷代帝王祭祀的對象,“在天(tian)中則稱五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)上(shang)帝,在天(tian)文則稱五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝座及(ji)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)星,在神(shen)(shen)(shen)靈則稱五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝,在山(shan)岳則稱五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)岳圣帝,在人身則稱五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)臟神(shen)(shen)(shen)君”。他們與元始天(tian)尊(zun)一樣,非(fei)后(hou)天(tian)學而得真者,為(wei)天(tian)地(di)開辟之(zhi)前的先(xian)天(tian)神(shen)(shen)(shen)靈,所以(yi)又稱元始五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao),五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)行(xing)之(zhi)始、五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)氣之(zhi)祖。在道(dao)教神(shen)(shen)(shen)仙體系中,五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)君沒有(you)具體職司,但(dan)地(di)位崇(chong)尊(zun)。
以下五老對應泰山(shan)、衡(heng)山(shan)、嵩山(shan)、華山(shan)、恒山(shan)。
東方(fang)青靈始老天君,號稱(cheng)東方(fang)木德(de)青帝太昊伏羲,木帝也(ye),其精(jing)星。下(xia)應泰山神(shen)仙;
南(nan)方(fang)丹靈真(zhen)老天(tian)君,號稱南(nan)方(fang)火德赤(chi)帝(di)炎(yan)帝(di)神(shen)農,火帝(di)也,其精(jing)熒屏(ping),下應衡山神(shen)仙;
元靈元老君,中央土德黃帝軒轅,土帝也(ye),其精(jing)鎮星,下應嵩山神(shen)仙;
西方(fang)豪靈皇帝老天君,號稱西方(fang)金(jin)德白帝金(jin)天少昊,金(jin)帝也,其精華太(tai)白,下應華山神(shen)仙;
北(bei)方五靈玄老天君,號稱北(bei)方水(shui)德黑帝朱(zhu)旭,水(shui)帝也,其精星,下應恒山神仙。
此(ci)外,還有五(wu)老監真(zhen)之稱:綿山是五(wu)方神會群仙之所,因此(ci)善男信(xin)女建此(ci)殿(dian)供奉。
【東(dong)方(fang)青(qing)帝青(qing)靈始老(lao)九(jiu)炁天君】號曰青(qing)帝。頭戴(dai)青(qing)精(jing)玉(yu)冠,衣九(jiu)氣青(qing)羽衣。常駕(jia)蒼龍(long),建鶉旗,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)泉之流芳,養二(er)儀(yi)以(yi)長存,護陰(yin)陽(yang)以(yi)永(yong)昌。
【南(nan)方赤(chi)(chi)帝(di)丹靈(ling)真老三炁天(tian)君(jun)】號(hao)曰赤(chi)(chi)帝(di)。頭(tou)戴(dai)赤(chi)(chi)精(jing)玉冠,衣三氣(qi)丹羽飛衣。常駕(jia)丹龍(long),建朱旗(qi),從神丙丁,官(guan)將三十萬人(ren)。上導泰清玄元(yuan)之(zhi)靈(ling)化,下(xia)和三氣(qi)之(zhi)陶镕,令(ling)萬物之(zhi)永存,運(yun)天(tian)精(jing)之(zhi)南(nan)夏。
【中央黃(huang)帝玄靈黃(huang)老一(yi)炁天君(jun)】號曰(yue)黃(huang)帝。頭戴黃(huang)精玉冠,衣(yi)五色(se)飛衣(yi)。常駕黃(huang)龍,建黃(huang)旗,從(cong)神(shen)戊(wu)己,官將(jiang)十二萬(wan)人(ren)。上(shang)等自然之和,下旋(xuan)五土之靈,天地守以不(bu)虧,陰陽用(yong)之不(bu)傾。
【西(xi)方白帝皓靈皇老(lao)七炁天君】號曰白帝。頭戴白精(jing)玉冠(guan),衣白羽(yu)飛衣。常駕白龍(long),建素旗,從神庚辛,官將(jiang)七十萬(wan)人。上導洪精(jing)于(yu)上天,下(xia)和眾(zhong)生于(yu)靈衢。
【北(bei)方黑帝(di)五(wu)靈玄(xuan)老五(wu)炁天君】號曰黑帝(di)。頭戴(dai)玄(xuan)精(jing)玉冠,衣玄(xuan)羽飛衣。 常(chang)駕黑龍(long),建皂旗,從神壬癸,官(guan)將五(wu)十萬人。上導五(wu)帝(di)之流氣,下拯生生之眾和(he),護二儀而不傾,保群命以永安。