The Seven Lords of the Big Dipper 北斗七星君

The Seven Lords of the Big Dipper are seven star deities in Taoism, and their names are as follows: the first is the Yangming 贪狼 (Tanlang) Star Lord of the Celestial Pivot (Tian Shu), the second is the Yinjing 巨门 (Jumen) Star Lord of the Celestial Rotation (Tian Xuan), the third is the Zhenren 禄存 (Lucun) Star Lord of the Celestial Machine (Tian Ji), the fourth is the Xuanming 文曲 (Wenqu) Star Lord of the Celestial Power (Tian Quan), the fifth is the Danyuan 廉贞 (Lianzhen) Star Lord of the Jade Sway (Yu Heng), the sixth is the Beiji 武曲 (Wuqu) Star Lord of Kaiyang (Kai Yang), and the seventh is the Tianguan 破军 (Pojun) Star Lord of Yaoguang (Yao Guang).

Shangqing Jing (The Scripture of Highest Clarity) states: "The seven stars of the Big Dipper are, the first, the Tanlang Star Lord of the Tian Shu Palace; the second, the Jumen Star Lord of the Tian Xuan Palace; the third, the Lucun Star Lord of the Tian Ji Palace; the fourth, the Wenqu Star Lord of the Tian Quan Palace; the fifth, the Lianzhen Star Lord of the Yu Heng Palace; the sixth, the Wuqu Star Lord of the Kaiyang Palace; the seventh, the Pojun Star Lord of the Yaoguang Palace. Collectively, they are called the Seven Division Star Lords."

Huanglao Jing (The Scripture of Huangdi and Laozi) says: "The first star of the Big Dipper, Tian Shu, is the soul and spirit of the Yangming Star; the second star, Tian Xuan, is the soul and spirit of the Yinjing Star; the third star, Tian Ji, is the essence of the soul of the Zhenren Star; the fourth star, Tian Quan, is the essence of the soul of the Xuanming Star; the fifth star, Yu Heng, is the spiritual essence of the soul of the Danyuan Star; the sixth star, Kaiyang, is the spiritual essence of the soul of the Beiji Star; the seventh star, Yaoguang, is the great brightness of the soul of the Tianguan Star."

Taoist books also mention that, according to the time of a person's birth, their life is under the charge of one of the seven star lords: "The Tanlang Star Lord of the Tian Shu Palace, the Great Lord of Life, is in charge of those born in the hour of Zi (11 p.m.-1 a.m.); the Jumen Star Lord of the Tian Xuan Palace, the Prime Lord of Official Fortune, is in charge of those born in the hours of Chou (1 a.m.-3 a.m.) and Hai (9 p.m.-11 p.m.); the Lucun True Star Lord of the Tian Ji Palace is in charge of those born in the hours of Yin (3 a.m.-5 a.m.) and Xu (7 p.m.-9 p.m.); the Wenqu Star Lord of the Tian Quan Palace, the Link Lord of Longevity, is in charge of those born in the hours of Mao (5 a.m.-7 a.m.) and You (5 p.m.-7 p.m.); the Lianzhen Star Lord of the Yu Heng Palace, the Key Lord of Increasing Fortune, is in charge of those born in the hours of Chen (7 a.m.-9 a.m.) and Shen (3 p.m.-5 p.m.); the Wuqu Star Lord of the Kaiyang Palace, the Record Lord of Overcoming Calamities, is in charge of those born in the hours of Si (9 a.m.-11 a.m.) and Wei (1 p.m.-3 p.m.); the Pojun Star Lord of the Yaoguang Palace, the Pass Lord of the Loving Mother, is in charge of those born in the hour of Wu (11 a.m.-1 p.m.)."

Each person can find their own ruling star based on their birth time. It is said that "the life, fate, and five body parts of all people are all under the charge of their 本命 (Benming, natal) star official"; "All men and women, on their natal birth dates and various fasting days, should purify their body and mind, burn incense, hold this true text, recognize their own star lord belonging to the North Pole natal star, and pray as they wish. All good deeds will be responded to, and disasters and sins will be eliminated."