San-ch’ing Chin. , lit. “the three pure ones”; the three Taoist heavens (t’ien) and the three deities inhabiting them. The first of these is yü-ch’ing, the Heaven of Jade Purity, inhabited by Yüan-shih t’ien-tsun, the Celestial Venerable of the Primordial Beginning. He is also known as T’ien-pao-chün or Lord of the Heavenly Jewel. According to some sources this first and highest heaven also is ruled by Yü-huang, the Jade Emperor. In popular belief Yi.i-huang is considered the ruler of Heaven and Earth and thus ranks higher than Yüan-shih t’ien-tsun.
The second heaven shang-ch’ing is the Heaven of Great Purity and is reserved for Ling-pao t’ien-tsun, the Heavenly Venerable of the Magic Jewel. He is sometimes called Tao-chün, Lord of the Tao, and considered to be the guardian of magical writings (Ling-pao ching). He has existed since the beginning of the world and it is his task to calculate time, allocate it to the various epochs, and to regulate yin and yang (yin-yang).
The third heaven t’ai-ch’ing is the Heaven of Highest Purity, ruled by Tao-te t’ien-tsun, the Heavenly Venerable of the Tao and the te. He is identical with T’ai-shang lao-chün, Supreme Master Lao, i.e., Lao-tzu (also Lao-chün). This heavenly venerable reveals the Taoist teachings contained in the writings guarded by the Heavenly Venerable of the Magic Jewel. He will assume a great variety of forms e.g., that of Lao-tzu to bring the people of the “world of dust” closer to the teachings of the Tao.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
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