Wenchang vs Wenqu: Key Differences in Daoist Star Gods

Lord Wenqu and Star Wenchang are often confused by people, but in reality, there are significant differences between them, and they are not the same concept. The following will analyze their differences in detail from multiple dimensions.

I Origin of Deity: Anthropomorphic Forms from Different Constellations

Lord Wenqu: Its deity image is an anthropomorphic form evolved from the Wenqu Star. The Wenqu Star is the fourth star of the Big Dipper among the Nine Sovereigns of the Big Dipper, named Tianquan, and is an important part of the Nine Stars of the Big Dipper. Yunji Qiqian (a classic Taoist text), Volume 24 General Discussion on Stars, clearly records: "The fourth star is named Tianquan, with the essence of soul moving in sequence with the Dipper", which clearly points out the constellation to which the Wenqu Star belongs.
Emperor Wenchang: Its deity image originates from the Wenchang Constellation. The Wenchang Constellation is one of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions and consists of six stars. The Book of Jin - Treatise on Astronomy describes it in detail: "The six stars of Wenchang are in front of the head of the Big Dipper. They are the six official residences of Heaven and are in charge of calculating the principles of Heaven", which accurately explains the composition, position and function of the Wenchang Constellation.

II Scope of Duties: Both Governing Wisdom but with Different Focuses

Although both Star Wenchang and Lord Wenqu dominate people's intelligence and wisdom, their directions of duties are quite different.

Emperor Wenchang: Mainly responsible for etiquette - related affairs, and its functions are more inclined to the fields of academics and theory. It governs areas such as official careers gained through writing, laws and regulations, and literary contracts. These fields mostly belong to the category of rational occupations for practical use. Therefore, Emperor Wenchang's blessing is more beneficial for people engaged in business, officialdom, workplace work and scientific research.
Lord Wenqu: Its core function lies in debating wisdom, focusing on the display of talents and skills. Its influence is commonly seen in literary creation, literary fortune in writing, poetry and songs, calligraphy, painting, qin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) and chess, eloquence, and liberal arts imperial examinations. For those taking liberal arts exams, engaging in literary creation and working in the entertainment and art industries, Lord Wenqu's support is more significant.

III Attributes and Identity Symbols: Each with Unique Marks

Summary and Review

Lord Wenqu
- Lord Wenqu belongs to the Gui Water in the Five Elements (Wu Xing). It not only governs imperial examinations and official careers but also takes charge of matters related to reputation, literary affairs and officialdom. It is also the natal deity of people born in the Year of the Rabbit (Mao Year) and the Year of the Rooster (You Year).
- As a constellation in charge of literary fortune, in ancient times, most people who wrote excellent articles and were employed by the imperial court as high - ranking officials were regarded as the reincarnation of Lord Wenqu. Examples include Fan Zhongyan, Bao Zheng, Wen Tianxiang and Xu Shilin, the son of Xu Xian.
- Lord Wenqu is also the Faxing (Star of Punishment) of Tianquan in the Big Dipper. It governs ghosts and gods in the Nine Heavens at the top, leads the Three Officers of the Northern Emperor in the middle, and supervises all things in the world at the bottom. It specially punishes traitors and those who are not loyal. All ferocious and violent people are under its jurisdiction. The Xuanming Wenqu is in charge of guerrilla warfare, with its light flickering on and off. It leads the three palaces of the Big Dipper, takes charge of rewarding the good and punishing the evil, and absorbs the five qi of black spirits.
- In Taoism, when there is a need to subdue ghosts and gods, punish evil traitors, and eliminate hidden and obvious evil forces, people usually pray to Lord Wenqu for help.
- The Sutra of the Twenty - Eight Chapters of the Big Dipper describes Lord Wenqu in detail:
  
  "On the fourth night of the ninth lunar month, at midnight, worship the Lord Wenqu, the deity of the fourth palace of the Big Dipper, who records the success and failure of human beings. Under his jurisdiction, there are 360 star officials, 360 departments and 3,600 official offices. The deity wears a black crown, a black robe, holds a black document and steps on red shoes. There are also 3,600 boys wearing black clothes and holding black banners, corresponding to the Ren and Gui Water in the north, serving on the right side." It also mentions that "those who worship Lord Wenqu will obtain 3,300 merits and virtues, and their sins will be eliminated."

Emperor Wenchang
- The full name of Emperor Wenchang is "Jiutian Dingyuan Baosheng Fujiao Kaihua Zhuzai Changle Yongyou Lingying Dadi" (Great Emperor of Nine Heavens, Stabilizing the Origin, Protecting Life, Assisting Education, Developing Civilization, Ruling, Eternal Joy, Eternal Blessing, and Responsive Spirit). In addition, he has many other titles such as "Wenchang Zitong Emperor", "Zitong Emperor", "Wenchang Jun", "Gengsheng Yongming Tianzun", "Leiying Emperor", "Qiqu Lingying Tianzun", "Baode Hongren Dadi" and "Baoguang Chunyi Tianzun".
- He is a deity worshipped by Taoism who is in charge of scholars' academic achievements and official positions. He has a high status among students and is deeply respected and worshipped by the majority of students.
- According to legend, Emperor Wenchang had seventy - three incarnations and had different identities in different dynasties. In the Zhou Dynasty, he was Zhang Zhong; in the Han Dynasty, he was Zhang Liang; in the Jin Dynasty, he was Lü Guang, the King of Liang; in the Five Dynasties, he was Meng Chang, the King of Shu; and in the Later Qin Dynasty, he was Zhang Yazi. He was naturally firm and resolute, could see things clearly, and at the same time, he was kind - hearted and loved the people as his own children. These characteristics also made him widely recognized and respected by people.

IV The Fourth Day of the Ninth Lunar Month is the Birthday and Incarnation Day of Lord Wenqu of the Big Dipper

Worship piously, and you will obtain immeasurable blessings!

The Wenqu Star is also known as the Tianquan Star. It governs ghosts and gods in the Nine Heavens at the top, leads the Three Officers of the Northern Emperor in the middle, and supervises all people in the world to punish traitors and those who are not loyal. In Taoism, when there is a need to subdue ghosts and gods, punish evil traitors, and eliminate hidden and obvious evil forces, people usually pray to Lord Wenqu. All living things, whether moving or stationary, are naturally generated. Clean the altar and venue, remove dust and dirt, and sincerely submit to Lord Wenqu of Xuanming. This can eliminate sins and mistakes, remove one's name from the ghost register of the Nine Yin; control the soul and spirit, and obtain the immortal formula of seven returns.

Lord Wenqu is the deity image of Tianquan in the Big Dipper when it transforms into a human form. He lives in the due east of Xuanming, wearing a black crown, a black robe, red shoes, and holding a black document, looking solemn and dignified.

People usually worship Lord Wenqu of the Big Dipper piously on the fourth day of the Nine Sovereigns Festival:

"On the fourth night of the ninth lunar month, at midnight, worship the Lord Wenqu, the deity of the fourth palace of the Big Dipper, who records the success and failure of human beings. Under his jurisdiction, there are 360 star officials, 360 departments and 3,600 official offices. The deity wears a black crown, a black robe, holds a black document and steps on red shoes. There are also 3,600 boys wearing black clothes and holding black banners, corresponding to the Ren and Gui Water in the north, serving on the right side.

Lord Wenqu judges the yang world and the nether world. I, your subject, present a petition to Lord Wenqu of the Big Dipper. You properly record the life and death of human beings, and treat other matters fairly. May we be free from seeing the success and failure caused by lewdness and chaos, and the extinction of prisoners and the dead. May we not lose our Taoist heart, and may the pure qi exist forever. All things follow nature. Those who worship you will obtain 3,300 merits and virtues, and their sins will be eliminated. Act quickly in accordance with the law!"

The Eulogy to Lord Wenqu

With sincere devotion, I pay homage. In the Ziwei Yuan (Purple Forbidden Enclosure), in the Yuanyue Palace. You are a sage deity with both literary and martial virtues, consolidating the foundation of the Heavenly state. You are intelligent and wise, expanding the framework of Huang - Lao (the thought of Huangdi and Laozi) philosophy. You develop the territory and promote the growth of talents. You have great compassion and great vows, great holiness and great kindness. You are the Great Sage of the Middle Heaven, the Great Dao Deity of Xuanming Wenqu, the fourth of the Big Dipper.

Sincerely chanting your name brings incomparable merits and virtues.