Who are the four commanders of the Divine Empyrean Thunder?

The commanders of the Divine Empyrean Thunder are namely the four great marshals, Tianpeng, Tianyou, Yisheng, and Xuanwu, collectively known as the Four Saints of the North Pole.

According to Volume 169 of "The Collection of Daoist Rituals," it is said, "The four great marshals are of wonderful virtue penetrating the three realms and of majestic power established in the eight extremities. They are the great commanders of the Big Dipper's battle formation and truly the heroic deities of the Northern Emperor. They command the heavenly soldiers of the four heavens and examine and summon all kinds of demons."

The "Supreme Celestial Scripture on Prolonging Auspiciousness and Dispelling Calamities of the Four Saints" states, "The four great marshals always guard beneath the throne of the Jade Emperor. They command and control all demons and evil spirits in the three realms. Every year, they often descend to the mortal world to observe people's good deeds and bestow prosperity and good fortune. They maintain the imperial fortune, cover and guide the multitude, cut off the roots of evil, and increase people's lifespan and fortune."

Its "Invocation Incantation" says, "I look up and invoke the four great marshals of the north. The great sages who bind the demons. With disheveled hair and holding a sword, they have a majestic appearance. A million heavenly soldiers always protect them. Tianpeng and Tianyou eliminate evil. Yisheng and Zhenwu bestow good fortune. I now humbly pray for their descent to the spiritual altar. All disasters and calamities will naturally dissipate." And it describes their respective images.

1. Marshal Tianpeng

The first is the Great Marshal Tianpeng of the North Pole. According to "The Collection of Daoist Rituals," the heroic appearance of Marshal Tianpeng is described as follows:

"Marshal Tianpeng has three heads and six arms. He has red hair, scarlet clothes, red armor, and is barefoot. In his left hand, he forms the Tianpeng seal. In his right hand, he shakes the imperial bell. Again, in his left hand, he holds an axe and halberd. In his right hand, he forms a seal and holds up the seven stars. In his left hand, he holds a rope. In his right hand, he wields a sword. He leads 360,000 cavalry of soldiers. Thunder gods, lightning mothers, wind lords, and rain masters, as well as fairy boys and jade maidens, are resplendent in feathered clothes. Each holds a golden sword. Riding the black qi and evil qi of the Great Profoundness of the North, there are five-colored qi within the qi. They descend from the sky and arrive at the altar."

The name "Tianpeng" was originally the title of a star deity. Tianpeng is the chief assistant of the Big Dipper's nine celestial palaces and is in charge of the governance of the four seasons, eight festivals, and the creation of yin and yang. Later, it evolved into a body deity for Daoist contemplation.

Marshal Tianpeng is not only the guardian of the body and mind but also a valiant general who expels ghosts and evil spirits. He gradually evolved from being a star deity of the Big Dipper and a body deity in the Niwan Palace and became the leading protector in the Daoist pantheon, and his influence is expanding day by day. The Tianpeng incantation, Tianpeng talisman, Tianpeng seal, Tianpeng bell, Tianpeng divine ruler, and the great method of Tianpeng have been passed down for thousands of years, and their power is incomparable.

With the rise of the Divine Empyrean sect, many deities centered around the Purple Star Emperor of the North Pole were absorbed into this pantheon. Marshal Tianpeng was even promoted to the commander of the Thunder Department and showed various majestic and valiant images: "He is a thousand feet tall. His face is square. He has four heads and eight arms. His divine light shines brightly. He holds a golden ruler and shakes the imperial bell. With copper teeth and iron claws, he is extremely powerful. He controls thunderbolts and dominates the cauldron of boiling water. Thunder and lightning flash. The celestial light shines. Before him, plants wither and mountains collapse and bridges break. He can overturn rivers and seas, subvert heaven and earth, subdue hordes of ghosts, and suppress the powerful. When capturing evil spirits and cutting off disasters, no one dares to resist the divine sword in his hand."

Under Marshal Tianpeng's command, there are a group of brave and battle-hardened generals. Among them, the Great Sage of Tiangang, Wang Yu, the great general who unifies the primordial qi, and General Tao, the great general of thunder and slaughter with four eyes and an old man, are all important generals. In addition, there are thirty-six generals, such as the Great General of Slaughtering Children of the Nine Heavens, the Divine General of Gaodiao and the Old Man of the North, the Great General of the Long-Skulled Giant Beast, and the Great General of the Mighty Sword God King. Each of them commands one area and awes the four directions. In addition, there are many deities such as the Nine Yuan Demon Child, the Director of the Five Departments of Labor, the Seven Stars and Eight Spirits, the General of the Straight Moon, and the Twelve Straight Symbols of the Branches. Together, they form a庞大 celestial pantheon centered around Marshal Tianpeng and execute the orders of the Purple Star Emperor and the True King of the Divine Empyrean to maintain the peace and order of the heavenly court.

2. Marshal Tianyou

The second of the Four Saints of the North Pole is Marshal Tianyou. According to the "Supreme Celestial Scripture on Prolonging Auspiciousness and Dispelling Calamities of the Four Saints," he is located "on the right side of the Bright Hall in the Wonderful Existence Heaven. He leads the secondary commanders of the Tiangang and is listed as the feudal lord of the lower realms."

"He assists the Northern Emperor on high and oversees the nine states below. He has four arms on his shoulders and three heads on his neck. Wearing golden armor and holding a halberd and spear. Clouds follow his steps and the sea flows with his body. Red light is faint and purple qi is long. His majestic aura is fierce and the thick fog is swishing. His true qi is circling. The stars and constellations revolve around. A thousand deities come to pay homage. He tours the five mountains. Golden boys play music and jade maidens sing praises. His name is listed in the golden palace and his position guards Fengyou. Blue birds and lions, giant sea serpents and dragons. Three hundred thousand soldiers follow me and travel around. When encountering demons, he cuts them down. When encountering ghosts, he captures them. When people encounter disasters, he is especially kind. When evil spirits encounter him, there is no end. He bestows blessings and dispels worries."

According to Volume 174 of "The Collection of Daoist Rituals," it is said that he is in charge of the Yuanjing Dan Tianfu. He leads thousands of messengers of the golden dragons and flood dragons of the Mysterious Capital. By holding seals and applying talismans, he rescues the common people. "For those with turbid qi, he seals it. For those with scattered spirits, he helps them with talismans. He can also suppress places where demons gather in large numbers in mountains and great lakes."

3. Marshal Yisheng

The third of the Four Saints is Marshal Yisheng, also known as Marshal Heisha.

According to the "Supreme Celestial Scripture on Prolonging Auspiciousness and Dispelling Calamities of the Four Saints," the Great Marshal Yisheng Heisha of the North Pole is said to be "listed in the celestial court. He commands the orders of the three caves and five thunders. He holds the balance of the eight heavens and nine earths. He pities the pivot of creation. He leads the generals and officials of the true immortals. Where there is no evil that is not cut off, which ghost dares to oppose? He captures powerful demons and chases away the strange monsters of meteors. His radiance shines on the sun and moon and his might shakes heaven and earth."

His "Heisha Incantation" says, "Walking with talismans and capturing records, cutting off the ghostly gates. Dispensing divine qi and expelling the five plagues. Left and right officials and soldiers, generals of the three and five. Thunder gods and lightning bolts, electricity surges and wind rushes. Swords are like rain and troops are like clouds. Holding the imperial bell in hand and wearing Mount Kunlun on the head. Walking around the world and searching for and capturing ghosts and spirits. The earth deities and soldiers who eat blood sacrifices are not allowed to resist."

According to "The Collection of Daoist Rituals," Marshal Yisheng is in charge of the Yuanzhao Lingxu Mansion. There are the seal of the Yuanzhao Lingxu Mansion, the Dingjia contract seal, and the talismans of the Six Ding and Six Jia and the Three Heavens and Five Dou that have been passed down.

Volume 1 of "The Correct Dharma of Returning to Perfection at the Celestial Axis Court" contains the talisman of the Supreme Black Deity. It is said that this talisman can protect one from water disasters when crossing rivers and seas. It can greatly dispel water monsters and can also protect houses and eliminate disasters and drive away monsters.

This Marshal Yisheng was highly respected by the royal family of the Northern Song Dynasty. As early as the beginning of the Northern Song Dynasty, he became a great deity protecting the Song dynasty. According to Wang Qinruo's "Biography of Yisheng Protecting Virtue," in the early years of Jianlong (960 A.D.), Emperor Taizong ordered the construction of the Shangqing Taiping Palace in the Zhongnan Mountains. On the three Yuan festivals and various Christmas festivals, offerings and sacrifices were made to the deities. Therefore, the True Lord Yisheng often descended. He eliminated disasters and drove away monsters for people. The spiritual efficacies were countless and he was deeply believed in and worshipped by people both in and out of the court.

4. Marshal Zhenwu

The last of the Four Saints of the North Pole is Marshal Zhenwu. According to the "Supreme Celestial Scripture on Prolonging Auspiciousness and Dispelling Calamities of the Four Saints," he is "divided by the constellations of Xu and Wei. Born of the spiritual energy of Ren and Gui. Transformed from the dignity of the golden palace. Residing in the profound mystery of the Jade Void. His profound mystery is extremely great. It is not only for assisting the right and eliminating evil. Born from the unity of the Dao, it is not only for dispelling demons and protecting the country. He protects the end of calamities and controls the beginning of calamities. He guards all living beings and commands all immortals. He is brave, resolute, and complete in talent. He is majestic and complete in virtue."

His "Zhenwu Incantation" says, "There is a general in Qianyuan. Wearing three celestial platforms on his head. With disheveled hair and a round image. Truly majestic and powerful. Aid me in the great Dao. The turtle and snake form an image together. His body is like a mountain. The four qi are clear and bright. The golden light is shining brightly. His glaring eyes are bright. His teeth are like a forest of swords. Holding the seven stars in hand. Demons and heretics outside the heavenly way, ghosts and goblins. When they see me, they turn into blood and become purple dust. The upright qi of Kuigang is my true self. The celestial talisman appears and greatly protects heaven and earth."

With the increasing popularity and enthusiasm of people's worship of Zhenwu, Marshal Zhenwu later was promoted to the Emperor of Xuanwu and the Celestial Emperor of Xuantian and became a great deity on the same level as the Purple Star Emperor.