[Chinese] The "Jade Emperor" of Chinese mythology. He is one of the most important deities of folk religion and religious Taoism. He personally determines all that happens in Heaven and on Earth, and for this purpose he has an enormous celestial administration at his disposal. This administration is a faithful replica of the administration of the Chinese empire. At the beginning of each new year, his subordinates ascend to his palace in Heaven and report to him. Depending on how well those deities have lived up to their responsibilities, the Jade Emperor may promote them to higher positions or transfer them to other departments. His earthly representatives are the city deities Cheng-huang, the local deities Tu-di, and Tai-yue da-di, the deity of Mount Tai. These ministries are also responsible for various natural phenomena and aspects of human existence, such as thunder, wind, water, fire, time, sacred mountains, war, literature, etc. In the Taoist celestial hierarchy he originally the assist...
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