The Stellar Sovereign of the Five Planets and Seven Stars
Origin of the Stellar Sovereigns of the Five Planets and Seven Stars
The Stellar Sovereigns of the Five Planets and Seven Stars are seven Taoist deities. The Five Planets are the Year Star (Jupiter), the Sparkling Deluder (Mars), the Grand White Star (Venus), the Chronographic Star (Mercury), and the Quelling Star (Saturn).
Together with the sun and moon, they are called the Seven Stars. Taoism worships the Seven Stars as divines and calls them Stellar Sovereigns. In early ancient times, people began to worship the sun, moon and stars. In the Han Dynasties, Esoteric Speculations used to foretell the outcomes of human affairs. Taoism regards the sun as Essence of Yang and calls it, in a male image, 'Bright, Red and Glorious Supreme Yang Sovereign of the Sun Palace', or 'Immortal King of Filial Piety and Supreme Yang Sovereign of the Sun Palace"9. Daoism regards the moon as Essence of Yin, and calls it, in a female image, 'Supreme Yin Primordial Sovereign and Holy Queen of the Yellow Colour, White Light and Original Essence of the Moon Palace", or 'Bright Queen of Filial Piety and Supreme Yin Sovereign of the Moon Palace".
According to Taoist scriptures, each of the Five Planets has its own name and style: in the East, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Year Star (or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Wood) is named Chenglan and styled Qingning.
In the South, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Sparkling Deluder (or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Fire)is named Haokong Weichun and styled Sanrong.
In the West, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Grand White Star(or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Metal) is named Haokong Debiao.
In the North, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Chronographic Star20(or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Water) is named Qiyuan and styled Jiyuan. In the Centre, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Quelling Star(or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Earth) is named Cangmu and styled Danyan.
Nourishing All Things
According to Taoist scriptures, the "Essence of Yang is the sun, and Yin the moon. Sharing the essence of the sun and moon are the stars. Together, they nourish the twelve thousand things by the perfect Tao. Even the beasts and grass are also nourished by their Secret Tao and Essential Virtue." This means that the Five Planets and Seven Stars are the embodiment of Tao. Heaven and Earth depend on the Perfect Vital Breath of the sun, moon and stars to nourish all things.
Individual Functions of Each Star
The Secretly Transmitted Supreme Pervasive Perfect Book of the Five Planets expounds in detail the functions of the Five Planets. In the East, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Wood "is in charge of the birth of all things. It changes depression into stimulation. People who are fortunate and lucky should promote kindness and entice it."
To the South, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Fire "is in charge of the growth of all things. It lightens the dark and obscure. People who are unfortunate and unlucky or suffering from illness and troubles should promote kindness and entice it."
To the West, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Metal "is in charge of the ending of all things. It reaps the fruits. People involved in many legal cases should promote kindness and entice it."
To the North, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Water "is in charge of the moistening and dredging of all things. People suffering from many robberies by bad luck should promote kindness and entice it."
In the Centre, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Earth "is in charge of the breeding of all things in the four seasons. It reaps the fruits. People suffering from legal cases and worries due to bad luck should promote kindness and entice it."
As for the sun and moon, according to the Supreme Pervasive Divine Book of the Sun, Moon and Five Planets in Chaos and Eternity, whoever meets the Sun Sovereign will "obtain the Herb of Immortality"; and whoever meets the Moon Sovereign will "obtain whatever he wants and acquire the arts of immortality".