九天玄女(nv)(nv)的(de)原始形象是玄鳥(niao)(niao),傳說(shuo)她是古代(dai)王朝商(shang)(shang)朝的(de)始祖(zu)。《詩經·商(shang)(shang)頌·玄鳥(niao)(niao)》說(shuo):“天命玄鳥(niao)(niao),降而生商(shang)(shang)”這是殷商(shang)(shang)后代(dai)祭祀祖(zu)先的(de)詩歌。意思是說(shuo)天帝命令玄鳥(niao)(niao)生下商(shang)(shang)的(de)始祖(zu)契(qi)。玄鳥(niao)(niao)就是商(shang)(shang)的(de)始祖(zu)。目前所(suo)知最早述及玄女(nv)(nv)的(de)文獻漢代(dai)緯書《龍魚河圖》載(zai):
黃(huang)帝(di)攝政時,有蚩(chi)尤(you)兄弟(di)八十一(yi)人,并獸身人語(yu),銅(tong)頭(tou)鐵額,食砂石子(zi),造立(li)兵仗刀(dao)戟大弩,威振天下(xia)(xia),誅殺無道,不(bu)仁慈(ci)。萬(wan)民欲令黃(huang)帝(di)行天子(zi)事,黃(huang)帝(di)仁義(yi),不(bu)能(neng)禁止蚩(chi)尤(you),遂不(bu)敵。黃(huang)帝(di)仰天而嘆。天遣玄女下(xia)(xia)授黃(huang)帝(di)兵信神符,制伏蚩(chi)尤(you)。
此處玄(xuan)女乃上天(tian)之(zhi)神,雖(sui)未具體(ti)說明是否人(ren)形(xing)(xing),但從(cong)整(zheng)段(duan)文(wen)字看,若非人(ren)形(xing)(xing),當有特別說明,如對蚩尤兄弟之(zhi)“獸身(shen)人(ren)語”,便專(zhuan)門予以描述。由此可知,玄(xuan)女應(ying)為(wei)“人(ren)首人(ren)形(xing)(xing)”之(zhi)神,與(yu)玄(xuan)鳥(niao)之(zhi)“鳥(niao)形(xing)(xing)”無任何(he)關系。
“九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)玄女”應為“九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)壬(ren)女”,該(gai)系傳抄筆誤,又因(yin)“壬(ren)”,天(tian)(tian)干第九(jiu)位(wei),玄色,故名九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)壬(ren)(玄)女。壬(ren)女,即炎(yan)帝(di)生母,任姒(名女登),任氏(shi)之(zhi)女。炎(yan)帝(di)因(yin)任女所(suo)(suo)生,故姓(xing)“姜”。姜姓(xing)本意(yi)為任女所(suo)(suo)生之(zhi)意(yi)。所(suo)(suo)以,九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)玄女就(jiu)是九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)壬(ren)女。炎(yan)帝(di)之(zhi)母任姒,感神龍(long)首而生炎(yan)帝(di),有蟜氏(shi)之(zhi)女,任姓(xing)。
上古(gu)時期的(de)(de)母系社(she)會只知其母,不(bu)(bu)知其父,乃從女(nv)(nv)姓。炎(yan)帝之母,乃是(shi)(shi)任姒,名女(nv)(nv)登,任氏(shi)(shi)之女(nv)(nv)(有蟜氏(shi)(shi)、摯(zhi)任氏(shi)(shi))。炎(yan)帝因(yin)相貌不(bu)(bu)美,其父少典不(bu)(bu)悅,將炎(yan)帝放(fang)于東方之地。是(shi)(shi)炎(yan)帝母親(qin)任姒親(qin)手(shou)養育炎(yan)帝成人。因(yin)為他母親(qin)姓任,故(gu)首先她(ta)生(sheng)出的(de)(de)兒子(zi),從母姓任,炎(yan)帝在姜(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)水(shui)成就,故(gu)自姓姜(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)(任女(nv)(nv)所(suo)生(sheng)之意(yi))。自伊(yi)(任)徙耆(姜(jiang)(jiang)(jiang))合稱任姜(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)氏(shi)(shi),堯之母也(ye)是(shi)(shi)任女(nv)(nv)。
據甲骨文字(zi)(zi)義,姜(jiang)是(shi)(shi)壬女(nv)(nv)(妊)所生(sheng)之(zhi)意,一舉(ju)破(po)解了(le)“姜(jiang)”字(zi)(zi)本意,而任姓(xing)初文正(zheng)是(shi)(shi)壬(妊),故炎帝姜(jiang)姓(xing)必(bi)為任姒所生(sheng)。“姜(jiang)”字(zi)(zi)的(de)本意就是(shi)(shi)“任(玄)女(nv)(nv)所生(sheng)”的(de)合文。故九天玄女(nv)(nv),實乃九天壬女(nv)(nv)。
《古文龍(long)虎經注(zhu)疏·卷上(shang)》:玄女演(yan)其(qi)序章注(zhu):玄女乃天地之(zhi)(zhi)精神,陰陽之(zhi)(zhi)靈氣。神無所不(bu)通,形(xing)無所不(bu)類。知萬(wan)物之(zhi)(zhi)情,曉眾變之(zhi)(zhi)狀。為道敖之(zhi)(zhi)主也。玄女亦上(shang)古神仙,為眾真之(zhi)(zhi)長。
《紫府玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)祖(zu)法懺(chan)(chan)》:全稱“太(tai)上(shang)無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)極(ji)九天(tian)紫府玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)祖(zu)至尊(zun)(zun)法懺(chan)(chan)”經文中,對于(yu)九天(tian)玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)女的贊頌辭(ci)非常殊圣(sheng)。摘錄(lu)部份如下:上(shang)極(ji)無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)上(shang),乃為(wei)最上(shang)之(zhi)尊(zun)(zun),玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)之(zhi)又玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan),斯號開玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)之(zhi)祖(zu),自昔乾坤未辟(pi)之(zhi)前(qian),猶是混t沌元苞之(zhi)致,無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)氣無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)象(xiang),無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)色無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)名,當是時也,蓋有玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)祖(zu)....玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)祖(zu)至尊(zun)(zun),結梵氣于(yu)太(tai)初之(zhi)年,舒(shu)至精(jing)于(yu)太(tai)始之(zhi)分(fen),無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)而(er)有,有而(er)無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu),釋宗(zong)(zong)無(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)以(yi)(yi)名空(kong),實而(er)虛,虛而(er)實,儒(ru)踐實以(yi)(yi)成治,是為(wei)道法之(zhi)宗(zong)(zong)。
從以(yi)上(shang)經(jing)文記載,九天(tian)玄女實乃先天(tian)女仙(xian)(xian),是至真天(tian)仙(xian)(xian),乃大道(dao)(dao)(dao)衍化(hua),南方離火炁(qi)所化(hua)生(sheng)先天(tian)神仙(xian)(xian)。道(dao)(dao)(dao)教最高尊神“三(san)(san)(san)清天(tian)尊”玉(yu)清、上(shang)清、太清,乃是“大道(dao)(dao)(dao)之祖氣(qi)、元(yuan)始祖氣(qi)、先天(tian)元(yuan)始一氣(qi)”變化(hua)三(san)(san)(san)氣(qi)為三(san)(san)(san)清天(tian)尊。
道經《九天(tian)(tian)生神章經解》所(suo)言:“以陽精之(zhi)氣(qi)(qi)化(hua)生上(shang)圣高(gao)真(zhen),以沖靜(jing)之(zhi)氣(qi)(qi)化(hua)生元君(jun)圣母,剛烈之(zhi)氣(qi)(qi)化(hua)生天(tian)(tian)丁(ding)力士,馀氣(qi)(qi)化(hua)育萬(wan)靈(ling) … ” 。
《仙(xian)(xian)(xian)術秘庫·卷(juan)一》玉樞(shu)真人說:天(tian)仙(xian)(xian)(xian)者(zhe):功成于三乘(cheng)(cheng)之(zhi)中,跡超乎三乘(cheng)(cheng)之(zhi)外,不為(wei)法拘,不為(wei)道(dao)泥(ni),于天(tian)地有(you)大(da)功,于今古有(you)大(da)行, … 而返三清虛無(wu)自然之(zhi)界。 … 傳道(dao)人間(jian),道(dao)上有(you)功,人間(jian)有(you)行,與(yu)造物(wu)而同慘,經萬(wan)古而不朽, … 乃(nai)為(wei)仙(xian)(xian)(xian)乘(cheng)(cheng)中之(zhi)無(wu)上上乘(cheng)(cheng)。
九(jiu)天(tian)玄(xuan)女(nv)為道(dao)教所信奉,在道(dao)教地位(wei)是(shi)崇(chong)高的(de)(de),是(shi)九(jiu)天(tian)道(dao)法(fa)之(zhi)祖,是(shi)符(fu)籙法(fa)咒之(zhi)宗(zong),成(cheng)為名(ming)符(fu)其實(shi)的(de)(de)符(fu)咒祭壇神(shen),是(shi)女(nv)仙(xian)神(shen)系中位(wei)階(jie)僅次于西王母的(de)(de)女(nv)天(tian)仙(xian),九(jiu)天(tian)玄(xuan)女(nv)是(shi)一(yi)位(wei)深(shen)諳道(dao)法(fa)、軍事的(de)(de)女(nv)神(shen)仙(xian),但她的(de)(de)莊嚴妙相(xiang)卻像是(shi)一(yi)位(wei)雍容(rong)華貴的(de)(de)后妃。
按《天壇玉格》云:行六丁法合受九天玄女箓。
《太(tai)上正一(yi)(yi)諸品籙(lu)》曰:《太(tai)上九天玄女斬邪(xie)秘(mi)箓(lu)》一(yi)(yi)階。此箓(lu)恭行天律,部領雷兵(bing)。如有(you)下界精(jing)邪(xie),北陰午酉,出沒巖穴,蟠踞山(shan)林,窺(kui)闞家庭,損傷人命(ming),神威所(suo)到(dao),一(yi)(yi)切掃除,福(fu)佑生人,肅清魔(mo)魅,至(zhi)心佩奉,感應無方。
《墉城(cheng)集仙錄》記載(zai):
正(zheng)統道(dao)藏洞神部譜箓類-墉城(cheng)集仙錄-前蜀-杜光庭撰(zhuan)卷六
九(jiu)天(tian)玄(xuan)女者,黃帝(di)(di)(di)(di)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)師(shi)(shi)(黃帝(di)(di)(di)(di)曾訪拜七(qi)十二(er)(er)位師(shi)(shi)傅先生學(xue)問大道),圣(sheng)母(mu)元君弟(di)子(zi)也(ye)。黃帝(di)(di)(di)(di)世為(wei)有(you)熊(xiong)國之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)君,佐神農(nong)為(wei)理(li)。神農(nong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)孫榆(yu)岡(榆(yu)罔)既衰,諸侯(hou)相伐(fa),干戈日(ri)尋(xun),各據方色,自(zi)稱五(wu)行之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)號(hao)(hao)。太(tai)(tai)嗥之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)自(zi)為(wei)青(qing)帝(di)(di)(di)(di),榆(yu)岡神農(nong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)自(zi)號(hao)(hao)赤帝(di)(di)(di)(di),共工之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)族自(zi)號(hao)(hao)白帝(di)(di)(di)(di),葛(ge)天(tian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)自(zi)號(hao)(hao)黑帝(di)(di)(di)(di),帝(di)(di)(di)(di)起有(you)熊(xiong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)墟自(zi)號(hao)(hao)黃帝(di)(di)(di)(di)。乃恭(gong)已下士側(ce)身修德,在位二(er)(er)十二(er)(er)年,而蚩尤(you)(you)肆(si)孽(nie),弟(di)兄八(ba)十一(yi)人(ren)(ren),獸身人(ren)(ren)語(yu),銅(tong)頭鐵額,瞰砂吞石(shi),不(bu)食(shi)五(wu)谷。作五(wu)虎之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)形以(yi)害黎庶,鑄(zhu)兵(bing)(bing)於(wu)葛(ge)爐(lu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)山不(bu)察帝(di)(di)(di)(di)命。帝(di)(di)(di)(di)欲征之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),博求賢(xian)能以(yi)為(wei)己(ji)助,得風(feng)(feng)后(hou)於(wu)海隅,得力(li)牧(mu)(mu)於(wu)大澤,以(yi)大鴻為(wei)佐,天(tian)老(lao)為(wei)師(shi)(shi),署三(san)(san)公(gong)以(yi)象(xiang)三(san)(san)臺,風(feng)(feng)后(hou)為(wei)上臺,天(tian)老(lao)為(wei)中(zhong)臺,五(wu)圣(sheng)為(wei)下臺。始獲寶(bao)(bao)鼎不(bu)爨而熟,迎日(ri)推莢,以(yi)封胡(hu)為(wei)將(jiang),以(yi)夫(fu)人(ren)(ren)費修之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)子(zi)為(wei)太(tai)(tai)子(zi),用張若、堤朋、力(li)牧(mu)(mu)、容光、龍(long)(long)(long)紆、倉頡、容成、大撓、屠龍(long)(long)(long)眾臣以(yi)為(wei)翼輔(fu),戰(zhan)蚩尤(you)(you)於(wu)涿鹿。帝(di)(di)(di)(di)師(shi)(shi)不(bu)勝,蚩尤(you)(you)作大霧(wu)三(san)(san)日(ri)內外皆(jie)迷。風(feng)(feng)后(hou)法斗機作大車,以(yi)杓指南以(yi)正四(si)(si)方,帝(di)(di)(di)(di)用憂憤齋于(yu)太(tai)(tai)山之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)下;王母(mu)遣使披玄(xuan)狐之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)衣(yi)以(yi)符授帝(di)(di)(di)(di),曰:精思(si)告天(tian)必有(you)太(tai)(tai)上之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)應(ying)。居數日(ri),大霧(wu)冥冥晝晦,玄(xuan)女降(jiang)焉。乘(cheng)丹鳳(feng)御景云服(fu)九(jiu)色彩翠(cui)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)衣(yi)集于(yu)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)前,帝(di)(di)(di)(di)再(zai)拜受命。玄(xuan)女曰:吾以(yi)太(tai)(tai)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)教,有(you)疑可(ke)問也(ye)。帝(di)(di)(di)(di)稽(ji)首頓(dun)首曰:蚩尤(you)(you)暴(bao)橫毒(du)害需黎,四(si)(si)海嗷嗷莫保性命,欲萬(wan)戰(zhan)萬(wan)勝之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)術(shu),與人(ren)(ren)除害可(ke)乎?玄(xuan)女即授六甲六壬兵(bing)(bing)信之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)符,靈寶(bao)(bao)五(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)策使鬼神之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)書,制(zhi)妖通靈五(wu)明(ming)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)印,五(wu)陰五(wu)陽遁元之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)式(shi),太(tai)(tai)一(yi)十精四(si)(si)神勝負握機之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)圖,五(wu)兵(bing)(bing)河圖策精之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)訣。復率諸侯(hou)再(zai)戰(zhan)蚩尤(you)(you)于(yu)冀州(zhou),蚩尤(you)(you)驅(qu)魑魅雜(za)妖以(yi)為(wei)陣(zhen),雨師(shi)(shi)風(feng)(feng)伯(bo)以(yi)為(wei)衛(wei),應(ying)龍(long)(long)(long)蓄水以(yi)征於(wu)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)。帝(di)(di)(di)(di)畫之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)遂滅(mie)蚩尤(you)(you)于(yu)絕(jue)轡之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)野中(zhong)冀之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)鄉(xiang),分四(si)(si)冢以(yi)葬之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。由(you)是榆(yu)岡拒命,又誅之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)阪泉之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)野,北逐塤(xun)齋,大定四(si)(si)方。步四(si)(si)極凡二(er)(er)萬(wan)八(ba)千里(li),乃鑄(zhu)鼎立(li)九(jiu)州(zhou),置(zhi)五(wu)行九(jiu)德之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)臣以(yi)觀天(tian)地,祠萬(wan)靈垂法設教,然后(hou)采首山之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)銅(tong)鑄(zhu)鼎於(wu)荊山之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)下,黃龍(long)(long)(long)來迎乘(cheng)龍(long)(long)(long)升天(tian)。