五(wu)(wu)方(fang)(fang)(fang)五(wu)(wu)老(lao)天(tian)(tian)君,為(wei)東南西北(bei)中(zhong)(zhong)五(wu)(wu)方(fang)(fang)(fang)之天(tian)(tian)神(shen),一說(shuo)為(wei)元始(shi)天(tian)(tian)王所化。中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)個道派以三清為(wei)始(shi),比如(ru)全真(zhen)道以太上老(lao)君為(wei)主,五(wu)(wu)方(fang)(fang)(fang)五(wu)(wu)老(lao)為(wei)元始(shi)天(tian)(tian)尊為(wei)主。五(wu)(wu)方(fang)(fang)(fang)五(wu)(wu)老(lao)的(de)名號(hao)分別(bie)為(wei)東方(fang)(fang)(fang)青帝青靈(ling)始(shi)老(lao)九炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君、南方(fang)(fang)(fang)赤帝丹靈(ling)真(zhen)老(lao)三炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君、中(zhong)(zhong)央黃帝玄靈(ling)黃老(lao)一炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君、西方(fang)(fang)(fang)白(bai)帝皓靈(ling)皇老(lao)七(qi)炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君、北(bei)方(fang)(fang)(fang)黑帝五(wu)(wu)靈(ling)玄老(lao)五(wu)(wu)炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君。
五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)君(jun)是道教初期的五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方神(shen)靈,亦(yi)稱(cheng)(cheng)“五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝”。 五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)君(jun)是歷代(dai)帝王(wang)祭祀(si)的對象,“在天(tian)(tian)中則稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)上帝,在天(tian)(tian)文則稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝座及五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)星,在神(shen)靈則稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝,在山(shan)岳則稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)岳圣帝,在人身(shen)則稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)臟(zang)神(shen)君(jun)”。他們(men)與元(yuan)始天(tian)(tian)尊一樣,非后天(tian)(tian)學而得真者,為天(tian)(tian)地開辟之(zhi)前的先天(tian)(tian)神(shen)靈,所以又稱(cheng)(cheng)元(yuan)始五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao),五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)行之(zhi)始、五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)氣之(zhi)祖。在道教神(shen)仙體(ti)(ti)系中,五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老(lao)君(jun)沒有具體(ti)(ti)職司,但地位崇尊。
以下五老對應泰(tai)山、衡山、嵩山、華山、恒(heng)山。
東方青靈始(shi)老(lao)天君,號稱東方木(mu)德青帝(di)太昊伏羲,木(mu)帝(di)也,其精星。下應泰山神仙;
南方丹(dan)靈真老(lao)天君,號稱南方火(huo)德赤帝(di)炎帝(di)神(shen)農,火(huo)帝(di)也,其精熒屏,下應衡山神(shen)仙;
元靈元老君,中央土德黃帝(di)軒轅(yuan),土帝(di)也,其精鎮星,下(xia)應嵩山神仙;
西(xi)方(fang)豪靈皇(huang)帝(di)老天君(jun),號稱(cheng)西(xi)方(fang)金(jin)(jin)德白帝(di)金(jin)(jin)天少昊(hao),金(jin)(jin)帝(di)也,其精華(hua)太(tai)白,下應華(hua)山神仙(xian);
北方五(wu)靈玄(xuan)老天君,號稱北方水(shui)德黑帝(di)朱旭,水(shui)帝(di)也,其(qi)精星(xing),下應恒山神仙。
此(ci)外(wai),還有五老監真之稱:綿山是(shi)五方神會群仙(xian)之所(suo),因(yin)此(ci)善男信(xin)女建此(ci)殿供奉。
【東方青(qing)帝(di)青(qing)靈(ling)始老(lao)九(jiu)炁天(tian)君】號曰(yue)青(qing)帝(di)。頭戴(dai)青(qing)精玉冠,衣九(jiu)氣(qi)青(qing)羽衣。常駕(jia)蒼龍(long),建鶉旗,從神甲(jia)乙,官將九(jiu)十萬人(ren)。上導九(jiu)天(tian)之(zhi)和氣(qi),下(xia)引九(jiu)泉之(zhi)流芳,養(yang)二(er)儀(yi)以長存,護陰陽以永昌(chang)。
【南(nan)方赤帝丹靈真老三(san)炁天君】號曰赤帝。頭戴赤精玉冠,衣三(san)氣丹羽飛(fei)衣。常(chang)駕(jia)丹龍,建朱旗,從神丙丁,官將三(san)十(shi)萬人。上導泰清玄元之(zhi)靈化,下和三(san)氣之(zhi)陶镕,令萬物之(zhi)永存(cun),運(yun)天精之(zhi)南(nan)夏。
【中(zhong)央黃帝玄(xuan)靈黃老一炁天君】號(hao)曰(yue)黃帝。頭(tou)戴黃精玉冠(guan),衣五色飛衣。常駕(jia)黃龍,建黃旗,從神戊己,官將十二萬人。上等(deng)自然之和,下旋五土之靈,天地(di)守(shou)以不虧,陰陽用之不傾(qing)。
【西方白(bai)(bai)帝(di)皓靈皇(huang)老七炁天(tian)君】號曰白(bai)(bai)帝(di)。頭戴白(bai)(bai)精(jing)玉冠,衣(yi)白(bai)(bai)羽飛衣(yi)。常(chang)駕(jia)白(bai)(bai)龍,建素旗,從(cong)神庚辛,官(guan)將七十萬人。上導洪精(jing)于上天(tian),下和眾生于靈衢(qu)。
【北方黑帝(di)五(wu)靈(ling)玄老五(wu)炁(qi)天君】號(hao)曰黑帝(di)。頭戴玄精玉(yu)冠,衣玄羽飛(fei)衣。 常駕黑龍,建皂(zao)旗,從神(shen)壬癸,官將五(wu)十萬人。上導(dao)五(wu)帝(di)之流氣,下拯生生之眾(zhong)和,護二(er)儀而不傾,保群命(ming)以永安。