The Stellar Sovereign of the Five Planets and Seven
Stars
Origin of the Stellar Sovereigns of the Five Planets and Seven
Stars
The Stellar Sovereigns of the Five Planets and Seven Stars are
seven Taoist deities. The Five Planets are the Year Star (Jupiter),
the Sparkling Deluder (Mars), the Grand White Star (Venus), the
Chronographic Star (Mercury), and the Quelling Star (Saturn).
Together with the sun and moon, they are called the Seven Stars.
Taoism worships the Seven Stars as divines and calls them Stellar
Sovereigns. In early ancient times, people began to worship the
sun, moon and stars. In the Han Dynasties, Esoteric Speculations
used to foretell the outcomes of human affairs. Taoism regards the
sun as Essence of Yang and calls it, in a male image, 'Bright, Red
and Glorious Supreme Yang Sovereign of the Sun Palace', or
'Immortal King of Filial Piety and Supreme Yang Sovereign of the
Sun Palace"9. Daoism regards the moon as Essence of Yin, and calls
it, in a female image, 'Supreme Yin Primordial Sovereign and Holy
Queen of the Yellow Colour, White Light and Original Essence of the
Moon Palace", or 'Bright Queen of Filial Piety and Supreme Yin
Sovereign of the Moon Palace".
According to Taoist scriptures, each of the Five Planets has its
own name and style: in the East, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of
the Year Star (or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Wood) is named
Chenglan and styled Qingning.
In the South, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Sparkling
Deluder (or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Fire)is named
Haokong Weichun and styled Sanrong.
In the West, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Grand White
Star(or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Metal) is named Haokong
Debiao.
In the North, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Chronographic
Star20(or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Water) is named Qiyuan
and styled Jiyuan. In the Centre, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of
the Quelling Star(or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Earth) is
named Cangmu and styled Danyan.
Nourishing All Things
According to Taoist scriptures, the "Essence of Yang is the sun,
and Yin the moon. Sharing the essence of the sun and moon are the
stars. Together, they nourish the twelve thousand things by the
perfect Tao. Even the beasts and grass are also nourished by their
Secret Tao and Essential Virtue." This means that the Five Planets
and Seven Stars are the embodiment of Tao. Heaven and Earth depend
on the Perfect Vital Breath of the sun, moon and stars to nourish
all things.
Individual Functions of Each Star
The Secretly Transmitted Supreme Pervasive Perfect Book of the Five
Planets expounds in detail the functions of the Five Planets. In
the East, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Wood "is in charge
of the birth of all things. It changes depression into stimulation.
People who are fortunate and lucky should promote kindness and
entice it."
To the South, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Fire "is in
charge of the growth of all things. It lightens the dark and
obscure. People who are unfortunate and unlucky or suffering from
illness and troubles should promote kindness and entice it."
To the West, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Metal "is in
charge of the ending of all things. It reaps the fruits. People
involved in many legal cases should promote kindness and entice
it."
To the North, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Water "is in
charge of the moistening and dredging of all things. People
suffering from many robberies by bad luck should promote kindness
and entice it."
In the Centre, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Earth "is in
charge of the breeding of all things in the four seasons. It reaps
the fruits. People suffering from legal cases and worries due to
bad luck should promote kindness and entice it."
As for the sun and moon, according to the Supreme Pervasive Divine
Book of the Sun, Moon and Five Planets in Chaos and Eternity,
whoever meets the Sun Sovereign will "obtain the Herb of
Immortality"; and whoever meets the Moon Sovereign will "obtain
whatever he wants and acquire the arts of immortality".