Associated with primordial beginnings and Jade Clarity; often depicted with a pearl.

Associated with sacred teaching and Highest Clarity; a ruyi or scripture may appear in images.

Also called Taishang Laojun, the deified Laozi; often represented as a white-bearded elder.

A major celestial sovereign, depicted in imperial dress with a beaded crown.

Associated with the northern celestial pole and the ordering of the stars.

A celestial sovereign associated with cosmic order and martial authority.

The earth sovereign, honoured in connection with the land and its sustaining presence.

The Mother of the Dipper, commonly shown with multiple arms and stellar symbolism.

A celestial figure associated with longevity and the southern heavens.

Honoured for compassionate rescue; the nine-headed lion is a distinctive traditional companion.

Associated with scholarship, writing and learning; often shown as a refined official.

A northern guardian, recognised by loose hair, bare feet, a sword, tortoise and snake.

Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun is a central figure in Taoist thunder traditions.

Associated with blessings and the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Associated with pardon and the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month.

Associated with relief from difficulty and the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month.

The Queen Mother of the West; peaches and an elaborate crown feature in her imagery.

The King Father of the East, associated with eastern and yang symbolism.

A group of legendary immortals, each recognised through a distinctive attribute and story.

Also honoured as Tianhou, a protective figure especially associated with seafarers and coastal communities.

The birth-year Tai Sui and the Tai Sui associated with the current year have different roles in this tradition.

A Tai Sui offering expresses an intention for a peaceful year. It does not predict or guarantee misfortune.

Calendar boundaries matter. A Gregorian birth year alone may not identify the appropriate traditional year near its beginning.

A temple guardian commonly shown with a third eye and a ritual whip.

The deified Guan Yu, associated with loyalty and righteousness; recognised by his red face and long beard.

A martial wealth deity; a tiger, whip and ingot appear in his traditional imagery.

The City God, honoured as a spiritual protector and magistrate of a local community.

A local earth deity associated with neighbourhoods, fields and the wellbeing of communities.

The Kitchen God, associated with the household, its hearth and moral conduct.

Revered as the first Celestial Master.

Traditionally associated with the Cantong qi.

Author of the Baopuzi.

Reformer of northern Celestial Master traditions.

Known for scripture classification and ritual organisation.

An important scholar of the Shangqing tradition.

Associated with the meditation text Zuowang lun.

A revered immortal and alchemical patriarch; biography includes legend.

Remembered for cultivation traditions and cosmological diagrams.

Author of the inner-alchemical Wuzhen pian.

Founder of the Quanzhen movement.

A leading Quanzhen master, honoured in Longmen tradition.