The Great Emperor Qinghua, also known as "Eastern Dongji Qinghua Great Emperor", "Dongji Qinghua Great Emperor", "Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun" (Taiyi the Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Suffering), "Xunsheng Jiuku Tianzun" (the Heavenly Lord of Answering Cries and Saving from Suffering), "Shifang Jiuku Tianzun" (the Heavenly Lord of Saving from Suffering in All Directions), etc., is one of the "Six Imperial Sovereigns".
In Taoism, the Great Emperor Qinghua was deified from the Qingxuan Shangdi (Supreme Emperor of Azure Mystery). He made a vow to save all living beings, so he transformed into the Jiuku Tianzun (Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Suffering) through qi (vital energy) to redeem the world. According to
The Wonderful Scripture of Taiyi Saving from Suffering and Protecting the Body: "In the Eastern Paradise of Eternal Bliss, there is a great compassionate and benevolent one, Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, whose incarnations are as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges. He responds to all things with their sounds. He may reside in the heavenly palace, descend to the human world, dwell in hell, subdue evil spirits, appear as a fairy boy or jade maiden, as an emperor or sage, as a celestial lord or true man, as a vajra or divine king, as a demon king or warrior, as a
celestial master or
Taoist priest, as a royal man or Laojun (
Lord Laozi), as a heavenly doctor or merit official, as a man or woman, as a civil or military official, as a grand marshal, or as a teacher or Zen master, as a wind god or rain god. His supernatural powers are boundless, and his meritorious deeds are infinite. He seeks out the sounds of suffering to save, and responds to all things according to circumstances."
Taoism holds that if one encounters difficulties, as long as they pray to the Great Emperor Qinghua or "recite his sacred title", they can "relieve worries and resolve difficulties, turn misfortune into good luck", and even "achieve perfect merits and ascend to heaven".
The image of the Great Emperor Qinghua is described in Records of Taoist Miracles: He sits upright on a nine-colored lotus throne, surrounded by nine-headed lions spitting flames, which surround and support the throne. Nine-colored divine light encircles his head, emitting rays of ten thousand zhang (a unit of length, about 3.3 meters). Numerous true men, warriors, vajra divine kings, and golden boys and jade maidens stand guard beside him. His divine birthday is the 11th day of the 11th lunar month.
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