Zhongdu Sanxingjun is the core hub of the Taoist system of the Five-Dou Star Deities. Along with Dongdu, Xidu, Nandu and Beidu, they are collectively known as the “Five-Dou Destiny-Assigning” deities. This originated from ancient star worship and the “harmony between heaven and humanity” cosmology. They were commanded by the Jade Emperor to oversee all the spirits in the three realms and control the five-dou fortune. They are the supreme celestial deities maintaining the order of heaven, earth and humanity and protecting the happiness and blessings of all beings. The three star deities are the Great Chuixingjun, the Second Chuixingjun and the Third Chuixingjun, collectively known as “Zhongdu Sanhua”.
Each holds a core religious duty and works in harmony with one another: The Great Chuixingjun leads the five-dou million stars and oversees human fate records, determining life, happiness, longevity, death and rewards and punishments, and is the highest leader of the five-dou system; The Second Chuixingjun governs the balance of yin and yang and purifies the energy field, protecting the well-being of people’s bodies and homes, resolving the disasters caused by imbalance of the five elements; The Third Chuixingjun specializes in fortune enhancement and opportunity convergence, helping people overcome obstacles and achieve prosperity, gathering the blessings from all directions and the power of influential figures. In Taoist beliefs, Zhongdu Sanxingjun are revered as “the master of all stars”. The “Sayings of the Supreme Laojun on the True Teachings of the Five-Dou” states that they “are in charge of all the spirits in the three realms, control the five-dou star deities, determine people’s status, wealth, poverty, and fortune and misfortune, and manage life and death and disasters”, and their core function is “to oversee the hub”. They ascend the celestial laws and govern the four-dou fortune, coordinating the functions of Dongdu “in charge of calculation”, Xidu “in charge of recording”, Nandu “in charge of ascending to the afterlife”, and Beidu “in charge of falling into death”, forming a complete system for regulating fate and fortune.
The core of the Zhongdu belief is “to balance and harmonize, and to bring all deities under one’s jurisdiction”. It symbolizes balance, authority and ultimate protection. People pray for a stable fate record, protection from disasters, and long-lasting happiness and blessings. Especially, they can harmonize the body and energy field and resolve the obstruction of fortune. It is an important deity in Taoist blessing culture that combines commanding power and protective power. As the “master of the five-dou”, Zhongdu Sanxingjun carry people’s longing for a smooth life, a stable foundation and deep blessings. Their characteristic of “overseeing all deities and protecting comprehensively” has become an important cultural symbol for conveying ultimate protection and auspicious meanings.
