九天玄(xuan)女的原始形(xing)象是(shi)玄(xuan)鳥,傳說她是(shi)古(gu)代王(wang)朝商(shang)(shang)朝的始祖(zu)(zu)。《詩經(jing)·商(shang)(shang)頌·玄(xuan)鳥》說:“天命(ming)玄(xuan)鳥,降而生(sheng)商(shang)(shang)”這是(shi)殷商(shang)(shang)后(hou)代祭祀(si)祖(zu)(zu)先(xian)的詩歌(ge)。意思是(shi)說天帝(di)命(ming)令玄(xuan)鳥生(sheng)下商(shang)(shang)的始祖(zu)(zu)契。玄(xuan)鳥就是(shi)商(shang)(shang)的始祖(zu)(zu)。目前(qian)所知最早(zao)述(shu)及玄(xuan)女的文獻漢代緯書《龍(long)魚(yu)河圖(tu)》載(zai):
黃(huang)帝攝(she)政(zheng)時(shi),有(you)蚩尤(you)兄弟八十(shi)一人,并獸身(shen)人語(yu),銅(tong)頭(tou)鐵額,食砂石(shi)子(zi),造立兵仗刀(dao)戟大弩,威振天(tian)下(xia)(xia),誅殺無道,不仁(ren)慈(ci)。萬(wan)民欲(yu)令黃(huang)帝行天(tian)子(zi)事,黃(huang)帝仁(ren)義,不能禁止蚩尤(you),遂不敵(di)。黃(huang)帝仰天(tian)而(er)嘆。天(tian)遣玄(xuan)女下(xia)(xia)授(shou)黃(huang)帝兵信神(shen)符,制(zhi)伏蚩尤(you)。
此(ci)處玄(xuan)女乃上天之神,雖未具體說明(ming)是否人(ren)形(xing),但從整段文字看,若非人(ren)形(xing),當有(you)特別說明(ming),如對蚩尤兄弟之“獸身人(ren)語(yu)”,便專(zhuan)門予(yu)以描述。由此(ci)可知,玄(xuan)女應(ying)為(wei)“人(ren)首人(ren)形(xing)”之神,與玄(xuan)鳥之“鳥形(xing)”無(wu)任何關系。
“九(jiu)天玄(xuan)女(nv)(nv)”應為“九(jiu)天壬女(nv)(nv)”,該系(xi)傳(chuan)抄筆誤,又因“壬”,天干第九(jiu)位(wei),玄(xuan)色,故名九(jiu)天壬(玄(xuan))女(nv)(nv)。壬女(nv)(nv),即炎帝(di)生(sheng)(sheng)母,任(ren)姒(名女(nv)(nv)登),任(ren)氏之(zhi)女(nv)(nv)。炎帝(di)因任(ren)女(nv)(nv)所(suo)(suo)生(sheng)(sheng),故姓(xing)“姜(jiang)(jiang)”。姜(jiang)(jiang)姓(xing)本意為任(ren)女(nv)(nv)所(suo)(suo)生(sheng)(sheng)之(zhi)意。所(suo)(suo)以,九(jiu)天玄(xuan)女(nv)(nv)就是九(jiu)天壬女(nv)(nv)。炎帝(di)之(zhi)母任(ren)姒,感神龍首而生(sheng)(sheng)炎帝(di),有蟜(jiao)氏之(zhi)女(nv)(nv),任(ren)姓(xing)。
上古時(shi)期的(de)母(mu)(mu)(mu)系社(she)會只(zhi)知其母(mu)(mu)(mu),不(bu)知其父,乃(nai)從女(nv)姓(xing)。炎帝(di)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)母(mu)(mu)(mu),乃(nai)是任(ren)姒(si),名女(nv)登,任(ren)氏(shi)(shi)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)女(nv)(有蟜氏(shi)(shi)、摯任(ren)氏(shi)(shi))。炎帝(di)因(yin)相貌(mao)不(bu)美,其父少(shao)典(dian)不(bu)悅,將炎帝(di)放(fang)于(yu)東(dong)方之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)地。是炎帝(di)母(mu)(mu)(mu)親(qin)任(ren)姒(si)親(qin)手養育炎帝(di)成人。因(yin)為他母(mu)(mu)(mu)親(qin)姓(xing)任(ren),故首先她生(sheng)出的(de)兒(er)子,從母(mu)(mu)(mu)姓(xing)任(ren),炎帝(di)在姜(jiang)水成就,故自姓(xing)姜(jiang)(任(ren)女(nv)所生(sheng)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)意)。自伊(任(ren))徙耆(姜(jiang))合稱任(ren)姜(jiang)氏(shi)(shi),堯之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)母(mu)(mu)(mu)也是任(ren)女(nv)。
據(ju)甲(jia)骨文(wen)字(zi)義,姜是(shi)壬女(妊(ren))所生(sheng)(sheng)之意,一舉破解了“姜”字(zi)本(ben)意,而任(ren)姓初(chu)文(wen)正是(shi)壬(妊(ren)),故炎帝(di)姜姓必(bi)為(wei)任(ren)姒所生(sheng)(sheng)。“姜”字(zi)的本(ben)意就是(shi)“任(ren)(玄(xuan))女所生(sheng)(sheng)”的合(he)文(wen)。故九(jiu)天玄(xuan)女,實乃九(jiu)天壬女。
《古(gu)文龍虎(hu)經注疏·卷(juan)上(shang)》:玄女演其序章注:玄女乃天地之精神,陰(yin)陽之靈氣。神無所(suo)不通,形無所(suo)不類。知萬物之情,曉(xiao)眾變(bian)之狀。為道敖之主也。玄女亦上(shang)古(gu)神仙,為眾真之長(chang)。
《紫(zi)府玄(xuan)祖(zu)法懺》:全稱“太上(shang)無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)極(ji)九天(tian)紫(zi)府玄(xuan)祖(zu)至尊法懺”經文中,對于(yu)九天(tian)玄(xuan)女的贊頌辭非(fei)常殊圣。摘錄部份如下:上(shang)極(ji)無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)上(shang),乃(nai)為最上(shang)之尊,玄(xuan)之又玄(xuan),斯號開玄(xuan)之祖(zu),自昔乾坤未(wei)辟(pi)之前,猶是(shi)(shi)混t沌元苞之致,無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)氣無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)象,無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)色無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)名(ming),當(dang)是(shi)(shi)時也(ye),蓋(gai)有(you)玄(xuan)祖(zu)....玄(xuan)祖(zu)至尊,結梵氣于(yu)太初之年,舒至精于(yu)太始之分,無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)而(er)有(you),有(you)而(er)無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu),釋宗無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)以名(ming)空(kong),實(shi)而(er)虛(xu),虛(xu)而(er)實(shi),儒踐實(shi)以成治,是(shi)(shi)為道法之宗。
從以上經文記載,九天(tian)(tian)玄(xuan)女實(shi)乃(nai)先(xian)天(tian)(tian)女仙(xian),是至真天(tian)(tian)仙(xian),乃(nai)大道衍化(hua),南方離火炁所化(hua)生先(xian)天(tian)(tian)神(shen)仙(xian)。道教最高尊神(shen)“三清(qing)(qing)天(tian)(tian)尊”玉清(qing)(qing)、上清(qing)(qing)、太清(qing)(qing),乃(nai)是“大道之祖氣(qi)(qi)、元始(shi)祖氣(qi)(qi)、先(xian)天(tian)(tian)元始(shi)一(yi)氣(qi)(qi)”變化(hua)三氣(qi)(qi)為三清(qing)(qing)天(tian)(tian)尊。
道經《九天生神章(zhang)經解》所言:“以陽精之(zhi)氣化生上圣高真(zhen),以沖靜(jing)之(zhi)氣化生元君圣母,剛烈之(zhi)氣化生天丁力士(shi),馀氣化育萬靈 … ” 。
《仙術(shu)秘庫·卷一》玉樞真人說:天(tian)仙者:功成于三(san)乘之(zhi)中,跡超(chao)乎三(san)乘之(zhi)外,不(bu)為法拘(ju),不(bu)為道(dao)泥,于天(tian)地有(you)大功,于今古(gu)有(you)大行(xing), … 而返三(san)清虛無(wu)自然之(zhi)界(jie)。 … 傳道(dao)人間,道(dao)上(shang)有(you)功,人間有(you)行(xing),與造(zao)物而同(tong)慘(can),經萬古(gu)而不(bu)朽, … 乃為仙乘中之(zhi)無(wu)上(shang)上(shang)乘。
九(jiu)(jiu)天(tian)玄女為道(dao)教所信奉,在(zai)道(dao)教地位(wei)是崇高的(de),是九(jiu)(jiu)天(tian)道(dao)法(fa)之祖(zu),是符籙法(fa)咒之宗,成(cheng)為名符其實(shi)的(de)符咒祭壇神(shen)(shen),是女仙(xian)神(shen)(shen)系(xi)中位(wei)階僅次于(yu)西王母的(de)女天(tian)仙(xian),九(jiu)(jiu)天(tian)玄女是一位(wei)深諳道(dao)法(fa)、軍事的(de)女神(shen)(shen)仙(xian),但她的(de)莊嚴妙相(xiang)卻像是一位(wei)雍容華貴的(de)后妃(fei)。
按《天壇玉格》云(yun):行六丁法合(he)受九天玄女箓。
《太上(shang)正一諸品籙》曰:《太上(shang)九(jiu)天玄(xuan)女(nv)斬邪(xie)秘箓》一階(jie)。此箓恭(gong)行天律,部領雷兵。如有下界精邪(xie),北陰(yin)午(wu)酉,出(chu)沒巖穴,蟠踞(ju)山林,窺闞家庭,損傷人命,神威所到,一切掃(sao)除(chu),福佑生人,肅清魔魅,至心佩(pei)奉,感(gan)應無方。
《墉城集仙錄》記載:
正(zheng)統道藏洞神部譜箓(lu)類(lei)-墉城集仙錄-前(qian)蜀-杜光庭(ting)撰卷六
九天玄(xuan)女(nv)(nv)者,黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)師(黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)曾訪拜(bai)(bai)七十(shi)(shi)二位師傅(fu)先(xian)生學(xue)問(wen)(wen)大(da)道),圣母元君弟子也。黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)世為(wei)(wei)有熊(xiong)國(guo)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)君,佐神(shen)農為(wei)(wei)理。神(shen)農之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)孫榆(yu)岡(gang)(榆(yu)罔)既衰,諸侯相伐,干戈(ge)日尋,各據方(fang)色(se),自(zi)(zi)稱五(wu)(wu)行之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)號(hao)(hao)(hao)。太(tai)(tai)(tai)嗥之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后自(zi)(zi)為(wei)(wei)青帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di),榆(yu)岡(gang)神(shen)農之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后自(zi)(zi)號(hao)(hao)(hao)赤帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di),共工之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)族(zu)自(zi)(zi)號(hao)(hao)(hao)白帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di),葛天之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后自(zi)(zi)號(hao)(hao)(hao)黑帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di),帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)起有熊(xiong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)墟自(zi)(zi)號(hao)(hao)(hao)黃(huang)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)。乃恭已下(xia)士側身修德,在位二十(shi)(shi)二年(nian),而(er)蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)尤(you)(you)(you)肆孽,弟兄八十(shi)(shi)一人(ren),獸身人(ren)語,銅頭(tou)鐵額,瞰砂(sha)吞石,不(bu)食五(wu)(wu)谷。作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)五(wu)(wu)虎(hu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)形以(yi)(yi)(yi)害黎(li)庶,鑄(zhu)兵(bing)於葛爐之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)山不(bu)察(cha)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)命(ming)。帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)欲征之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),博(bo)求(qiu)賢能(neng)以(yi)(yi)(yi)為(wei)(wei)己助,得風后於海(hai)隅,得力(li)(li)牧(mu)於大(da)澤,以(yi)(yi)(yi)大(da)鴻為(wei)(wei)佐,天老為(wei)(wei)師,署三(san)公以(yi)(yi)(yi)象三(san)臺(tai),風后為(wei)(wei)上(shang)臺(tai),天老為(wei)(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)臺(tai),五(wu)(wu)圣為(wei)(wei)下(xia)臺(tai)。始獲寶鼎(ding)不(bu)爨而(er)熟,迎日推莢(jia),以(yi)(yi)(yi)封胡(hu)為(wei)(wei)將,以(yi)(yi)(yi)夫人(ren)費修之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)子為(wei)(wei)太(tai)(tai)(tai)子,用張若(ruo)、堤朋(peng)、力(li)(li)牧(mu)、容光、龍(long)紆、倉頡、容成、大(da)撓、屠龍(long)眾臣以(yi)(yi)(yi)為(wei)(wei)翼輔,戰(zhan)蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)尤(you)(you)(you)於涿鹿。帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)師不(bu)勝,蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)尤(you)(you)(you)作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)大(da)霧(wu)三(san)日內外皆迷(mi)。風后法斗機作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)大(da)車,以(yi)(yi)(yi)杓指南以(yi)(yi)(yi)正(zheng)四(si)(si)方(fang),帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)用憂憤(fen)齋于(yu)(yu)太(tai)(tai)(tai)山之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)下(xia);王母遣(qian)使披玄(xuan)狐之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)衣以(yi)(yi)(yi)符(fu)授帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di),曰:精思告天必(bi)有太(tai)(tai)(tai)上(shang)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)應。居數日,大(da)霧(wu)冥冥晝晦(hui),玄(xuan)女(nv)(nv)降(jiang)焉。乘丹鳳(feng)御景云服九色(se)彩翠之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)衣集于(yu)(yu)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)前,帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)再(zai)拜(bai)(bai)受命(ming)。玄(xuan)女(nv)(nv)曰:吾以(yi)(yi)(yi)太(tai)(tai)(tai)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)教,有疑(yi)可問(wen)(wen)也。帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)稽首頓首曰:蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)尤(you)(you)(you)暴橫毒害需黎(li),四(si)(si)海(hai)嗷嗷莫保性命(ming),欲萬戰(zhan)萬勝之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)術,與人(ren)除害可乎(hu)?玄(xuan)女(nv)(nv)即授六甲六壬兵(bing)信之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)符(fu),靈(ling)寶五(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)策使鬼神(shen)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)書,制妖通靈(ling)五(wu)(wu)明(ming)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)印,五(wu)(wu)陰五(wu)(wu)陽(yang)遁(dun)元之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)式(shi),太(tai)(tai)(tai)一十(shi)(shi)精四(si)(si)神(shen)勝負握機之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)圖(tu),五(wu)(wu)兵(bing)河(he)圖(tu)策精之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)訣。復率諸侯再(zai)戰(zhan)蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)尤(you)(you)(you)于(yu)(yu)冀(ji)州,蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)尤(you)(you)(you)驅(qu)魑魅雜妖以(yi)(yi)(yi)為(wei)(wei)陣,雨(yu)師風伯(bo)以(yi)(yi)(yi)為(wei)(wei)衛,應龍(long)蓄(xu)水以(yi)(yi)(yi)征於帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)。帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)畫之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)遂滅蚩(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)尤(you)(you)(you)于(yu)(yu)絕(jue)轡之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)野中(zhong)(zhong)冀(ji)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)鄉,分四(si)(si)冢以(yi)(yi)(yi)葬之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。由是(shi)榆(yu)岡(gang)拒命(ming),又誅之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)阪泉之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)野,北(bei)逐塤(xun)齋,大(da)定四(si)(si)方(fang)。步(bu)四(si)(si)極(ji)凡二萬八千里,乃鑄(zhu)鼎(ding)立九州,置五(wu)(wu)行九德之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)臣以(yi)(yi)(yi)觀天地,祠萬靈(ling)垂法設教,然后采首山之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)銅鑄(zhu)鼎(ding)於荊(jing)山之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)下(xia),黃(huang)龍(long)來迎乘龍(long)升天。