The Changsheng Dadi 长生大帝 Great Emperor of Eternal Life

The Changsheng Dadi (Great Emperor of Eternal Life), also known as "Nanfang Nanji Changsheng Dadi" (Great Emperor of Eternal Life of the Southern Pole), "Nanji Xianweng" (Wise Elder of the Southern Pole), or "Nanji Zhenjun" (True Lord of the Southern Pole), resides in the Gao Shang Shenxiao Yuqing Mansion and is one of the "Six Imperial Gods" (Liuyu).

Regarding the origin of Changsheng Dadi, Taoism has two theories:

First, he is said to be the eldest son of Yuanshi Tianzun (Celestial Venerable of Primordial Beginning). According to the Preface to the Purple Script of the Supreme Divine Thunder Jade Pure True King (a Taoist scripture): "In ancient times, when the universe was unformed and primordial qi had not yet arisen, Yuanshi Tianwang (Primordial Heavenly King) was the ancestor of the vast and boundless great Brahma. He concentrated his spirit to form a fetus, named Chaos. When Chaos split apart, heaven and earth came into being. The qi inside and outside was then called Hunxu (Mixed Emptiness). Yuanshi Tianwang, operating transformation and unfolding the cosmic diagram, had a golden countenance like a blazing sun and a jade-like appearance like heaven. He nurtured wonderful essence and separated heaven and earth. Then he traveled from the Jade Capital, moving up and down the mountains. He encountered the Ancestor of Myriad Qis, Taixuan Yuji Yuanjing Ziran Jiutian Shangxuan Yuqing Shenmu (Divine Mother of the Highest Jade Purity of the Nine Heavens, Natural Primordial Scene of the Jade Pole of Great Mystery), who practiced the Supreme Clear Great Cavern Male-Female Three-in-One Mixed Transformation Dao. They had eight sons, the eldest being Nanji Changsheng Dadi, also known as the Nine-Dragon Fusang Sun Palace Great Emperor and the Gao Shang Shenxiao Yuqing King. Though he has three names, his holiness is one."

Second, he is said to be the ninth son of Yuanshi Tianwang. According to the Supreme Nine Heavens Jade Pure Great Brahma Purple Weft Mysterious Capital Thunderbolt Jade Scripture (another Taoist text), Yuanshi Tianwang's "ninth son holds the position of Gao Shang Shenxiao Jade Pure True King Changsheng Dadi, exclusively governing the Nine Heavens and the thirty-six heavens, commanded by the thirty-six Heavenly Venerables."

Changsheng Dadi is a celestial deity in charge of human lifespan. It is said that regularly worshipping this immortal can bring people health and longevity. Because he presides over longevity, he is also called the "Star of Longevity" or "Old Man Star".

Changsheng Dadi assists the Jade Emperor in managing human lifespan, fortune, and misfortune. His birthday is the 8th day of the fifth lunar month.