Wudao Jiangjun
Wudao Jiangjun (五道将军; Wǔdào Jiāngjūn, lit. 'the Five Paths Generals') are underworld deities in Chinese folk religion and Taoism. They are responsible for escorting spirits of the dead to the afterlife, maintaining order among ghosts, and assisting in karmic judgment. They are subordinate deities of the Dongyue Dadi in Taoist belief.[1]
Five Paths
The "Five Paths" refer to five destinations associated with the afterlife: the Heavenly Path (天道), Human Path (人道), Animal Path (畜生道), Hungry Ghost Path (饿鬼道), and Hell Path (地狱道).[2] The Five Paths Generals are described as officials who deal with these five paths and are often depicted as armed figures.[3] In some traditions, they are associated with Fengdu Ghost City (酆都鬼城) and with the administration of the underworld alongside deities such as Fengdu Dadi (酆都大帝) and the Ten Kings of Hell (十殿阎王).[4] The Five Paths Generals also appear in Chinese literary works. In Stories to Awaken the World: The Affectionate Zhou Shengxian at Fanlou (醒世恒言·闹樊楼多情周胜仙), a character says that the Five Paths General took him away but later allowed him three days of leave. In Water Margin, Chapter 15, the Five Paths is used in a comparison with Yama. They are also mentioned in Ancient and Modern Stories: Shi Hongzhao, the Dragon and Tiger, and the Lord-Servant Meeting (古今小说·史弘肇龙虎君臣会).[5]
Worship
Near Hufangqiao in the southern part of Beijing, there is a street called Wudao Street (五道街). In the past, this street was known as Wudao Temple (五道庙) because it was home to a temple of the same name. The Wudao Temple was dedicated to the worship of the Five Path Generals.[6]
References
- ↑ "五道之神". National Taiwan Museum of History (in Traditional Chinese).
- ↑ 趣谈中国神仙 (in Chinese). 百花文艺出版社. 2006. ISBN 978-7-5306-4394-5.
- ↑ "历史与形象：道教神明中的"五道将军"_国学网-国学经典-国学大师-国学常识-中国传统文化网-汉学研究". sino.newdu.com.
- ↑ "与阎罗王齐名的"五道将军"究竟是谁：是盗神，还是佛教神兽？_吴道子". 杯酒品历史.
- ↑ 華夏諸神: 鬼神卷 (in Chinese). 知書房出版集團. 1993. p. 98. ISBN 978-957-9086-55-4.
- ↑ "文化部-典藏網". Ministry of Culture, Taiwan (in Chinese (Taiwan)).