Three Pure Ones

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Part of a series on Taoism

Fundamentals Tao · De · Xiulian

Prominent Taoists Laozi · Zhuangzi Zhang Daoling · Zhang Jiao Ge Hong · Chen Tuan Wang Chongyang

Deities and Immortals Three Pure Ones Jade Emperor · Xi Wangmu Eight Immortals

Main Sects Quanzhen School Tianshi Dao Zhengyi Dao Shangqing School Lingbao School

Taoist Texts Tao Te Ching · Zhuangzi Daozang

Sacred Sites Shizhou Sandao Grotto-heavens Sanshiliu Xiaodongtian Qishi'er Fudi

Portal:Taoism

The Three Pure Ones (Chinese: 三清; pinyin: Sān Qīng; Wade-Giles: San-ch'ing) are the three highest Taoist deities. They are:

• the Jade Pure (玉清; pinyin: Yù Qīng; Wade-Giles: Yu-ch'ing), also known as the "Heavenly Worthy of the Primordial Beginning" (元始天尊, Yuanshi Tianzun).
• the Upper Pure (上清; pinyin: Shàng Qīng; Wade-Giles: Shang-ch'ing), also known as the "Heavenly Worthy of the Numinous Treasure" (靈寶天尊, Lingbao tianzun).
• the Great Pure (太清; pinyin: Tài Qīng; Wade-Giles: T'ai-ch'ing), also known as the "Heavenly Worthy of the Way and its Virtue" (道德天尊, Daode tianzun) or the "Exalted Supreme Lord Lao" (太上老君, Taishang Laojun).

In some Taoist systems, they are said to be the first-generation students of the Hong-jun lao-zu (鴻鈞老祖, The Great Primal Originator).

[edit] See also

• Chinese mythology
• Religion in China
• Taoism