Religion

Religious Taoism came in time to have its own chapel of Taoist gods who are worshipped to this day in temples by the various Taoist faiths. These gods may be described as correlatives of human and natural attributes and there are various different rituals and ceremonies attached to the different goddess. Many of these goddess and rituals attached to them are also linked to the group religions and practices of China with a chapel of group goddess of their own.

Some of the major goddess in religious Taoism include Yu-huang, or the Jade Emperor, who is considered to be the great High God of the Taoists. Yu-huang is marked as the ruler of Heaven. He is also considered to be the ruler of all the other gods who in turn must report to him.

The Taoist pantheon also includes gods who seem to come in hand with the Three Pure Ones, the Three Official Gods, and the Eight Immortals come easily to mind. Three Pure Ones include Yu-ch'ing or Pure Jade, Shang-ching, the Most Pure, and T'ai-ching, the Great Pure One.

The Three Official Gods are T'ien-kuan, the ruler of heaven, Ti-kuan, Ruler of the earth, and Shui-kuan who rules the water. Each of the three have, in addition certain roles to play in the lives of humans. T'ien-kuan grants happiness and prosperity, Ti-kuan forgives humans of their sins, and Shui-kuan grants protection from evil.

The most popular Taoist goddess are the pa-hsien or Eight Immortals who were once historical human characters who became gods. The only feminine goddess among the eight is Ho-hsien ku the patron saint of women.