Baidi (god)
| Baidi | |
|---|---|
 Diagram of the Wufang Shangdi | |
| Major cult centre | Mount Hua |
| Predecessor | Huangdi Wuxing cycle and political |
| Successor | Heidi (Wuxing cycle, also political with Zhuanxu) |
| Planet | Venus |
| Personal information | |
| Children | Taibai Jinxing |
Baidi (White Emperor) is one of the five manifestations of Shangdi.
He is associated with metal, west, and Autumn[1]
Uprising of the White Serpent[change | change source]
The Uprising of the White Serpent (Chinese: 斬白蛇起義) is a famous story from China. It is said that a man named Liu became a leader after he killed a giant white serpent that was harming people. Liu was an outlaw at the time, but he had a special destiny. Later, when some of his followers saw an old woman crying, she told them that Liu was destined to be a great ruler. This made his followers believe even more in his leadership.[2]
After Liu became a successful leader, he was declared Emperor Gaozu, first Emperor of the Han dynasty.[2]
Great Deity of the Western Peak[change | change source]
Baidi is also known as the Great Deity of the Western Peak and is associated with Mount Hua, one of the five great mountains.[3] Long ago, people in China believed in worshipping mountains and rivers. Mount Hua was important because it was close to the capital city during the Han and Tang Dynasties. Emperor Wudi built a temple for Baidi at the bottom of Mount Hua. It was originally called Jilinggong Palace but later changed to Xiyue Temple.[4] Baidi is also the father of two other gods named Huayue Sanniang and Huashan Sanlang. According to a book called Li Shi, Baidi is believed to be able to control the clouds and rain, create everything in the world, and help people.
Sources[change | change source]
- ↑ Sun, Xiaochun; Kistemaker, Jacob (1997). The Chinese Sky During the Han: Constellating Stars and Society. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-10737-3.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 (高祖被酒，夜径泽中，令一人行前。行前者还报曰：“前有大蛇当径，愿还。”高祖醉，曰：“壮士行，何畏！”乃前，拔剑击斩蛇。蛇遂分为两，径开。行数里，醉，因卧。后人来至蛇所，有一老妪夜哭。人问何哭，妪曰：“人杀吾子，故哭之。”人曰：“妪子何为见杀？”妪曰：“吾，白帝子也，化为蛇，当道，今为赤帝子斩之，故哭。”人乃以妪为不诚，欲告之，妪因忽不见。后人至，高祖觉。后人告高祖，高祖乃心独喜，自负。诸从者日益畏之。) Shiji, vol.08
- ↑ Sun, Xiaochun; Kistemaker, Jacob (1997). The Chinese Sky During the Han: Constellating Stars and Society. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-10737-3.
- ↑ Palmer, David A.; Siegler, Elijah (2017-11-27). Dream Trippers: Global Daoism and the Predicament of Modern Spirituality. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-48484-6.