The Stellar Sovereign of the Five Planets and Seven Stars

Origin of the Stellar Sovereigns of the Five Planets and Seven Stars
The Stellar Sovereigns of the Five Planets and Seven Stars ( 五星七曜星君 Wuxing Qiyao Xingjun ) are seven Daoist deities. The Five Planets are the Year Star (Jupiter) ( 歲星 Sui Xing ), the Sparkling Deluder (Mars) ( 熒惑星 Yinghuo Xing ), the Grand White Star (Venus) ( 太白星 Taibai Xing ), the Chronographic Star (Mercury) ( 辰星 Chen Xing ), and the Quelling Star (Saturn) ( 鎮星 Zhen Xing ). Together with the sun and moon, they are called the Seven Stars. Daoism worships the Seven Stars as spirits and calls them Stellar Sovereigns. In early ancient times, people began to worship the sun, moon and stars. In the Han Dynasties, Esoteric Speculations6 used to foretell the outcomes of human affairs. Daoism regards the sun as Essence of Yang ( 陽精 Yangjing ) and calls it, in a male image, 'Bright, Red and Glorious Supreme Yang Sovereign of the Sun Palace', or 'Immortal King of Filial Piety and Supreme Yang Sovereign of the Sun Palace" ( 日宮太陽帝君孝道仙王 Rigong Taiyang Dijun Xiaodao XianWang ). Daoism regards the moon as Essence of Yin ( 日光太丹炎光郁明太陽帝君 Riguang taidan Yanguang Yuming Taiyang Dijun ), and calls it, in a female image, 'Supreme Yin Primordial Sovereign and Holy Queen of the Yellow Colour, White Light and Original Essence of the Moon Palace" ( 月宮黃華素曜元精聖后 Yuegong Huahua Suyao Yuanjing Shenghou ), or 'Bright Queen of Filial Piety and Supreme Yin Sovereign of the Moon Palace" ( 月宮太陰帝君孝道明王 Yuegong Taiyin Dijun Xiaodao Mingwang ). According to the section 'On Stars'of the Seven Slips of a Cloudy Satchel ( 《雲笈七籤》 Yunji Qiqian ), each of the Five Planets has its own name and style: in the East, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Year Star ( 歲星真皇君 Suixing Zhen Huangjun ) (or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Wood) ( 木德真君 Mude Zhenjun ) is named Chenglan and styled Qingning. In the South, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Sparkling Deluder ( 熒惑真皇君 Yinghuo Xing Zhen Huangjun ) (or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Fire) ( 火德真君 Huode Zhenjun ) is named Haokong Weichun and styled Sanrong. In the West, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Grand White Star ( 太白真皇君 Taibai Xing Zhen Huangjun ) (or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Metal) ( 金德真君 Jinde Zhenjun ) is named Haokong Debiao. In the North, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Chronographic Star ( 辰星真皇君 Chen Xing Zhen Huangjun ) (or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Water) ( 水德真君 Shuide Zhenjun ) is named Qiyuan and styled Jiyuan. In the Centre, the Perfect Imperial Sovereign of the Quelling Star ( 鎮星真皇君 Zhen Xing Zhen Huangjun ) (or Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Earth) ( 土德真君 Tude Zhenjun ) is named Cangmu and styled Danyan.

Nourishing All Things
According to the Book of the Mysterious Gate and Precious Sea ( 玄門寶海經 Xuanmen Baohai Jing ), the "Essence of Yang is the sun, and Yin the moon. Sharing the essence of the sun and moon are the stars. Together, they nourish the twelve thousand things by the perfect Dao. Even the beasts and grass are also nourished by their Secret Dao and Essential Virtue." This means that the Five Planets and Seven Stars are the embodiment of Dao. Heaven and Earth depend on the Perfect Vital Breath of the sun, moon and stars to nourish all things.

Individual Functions of Each Star
The Secretly Transmitted Supreme Pervasive Perfect Book of the Five Planets ( 《太上洞真五星秘授經》 Taishang Dongzhen Wuxing Mishao Jing ) expounds in detail the functions of the Five Planets. In the East, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Wood "is in charge of the birth of all things. It changes depression into stimulation. People who are fortunate and lucky should promote kindness and entice it." To the South, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Fire "is in charge of the growth of all things. It lightens the dark and obscure. People who are unfortunate and unlucky or suffering from illness and troubles should promote kindness and entice it." To the West, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Metal "is in charge of the ending of all things. It reaps the fruits. People involved in many legal cases should promote kindness and entice it." To the North, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Water "is in charge of the moistening and dredging of all things. People suffering from many robberies by bad luck should promote kindness and entice it." In the Centre, the Perfect Sovereign of the Virtue of Earth "is in charge of the breeding of all things in the four seasons. It reaps the fruits. People suffering from legal cases and worries due to bad luck should promote kindness and entice it." As for the sun and moon, according to the Supreme Pervasive Divine Book of the Sun, Moon and Five Planets in Chaos and Eternity ( 《太上洞神五星日月混常經》 Taishang Dongshen Wuxing Riyue Hunchang Jing ), whoever meets the Sun Sovereign ( 日君 Rijun ) will "obtain the Herb of Immortality ( 仙木 Xianmu ) "; and whoever meets the Moon Sovereign ( 月君 Yuejin ) will "obtain whatever he wants and acquire the arts of immortality".

Worship in Temples
Daoist temples usually have halls especially dedicated to the worship of the stars, and sometimes only for the Five Planets and Seven Stars. In large-scale Daoist rituals, Divine Seats are often set for the Stellar Sovereigns of Five Planets and Seven Stars. The sovereigns are invoked in relevant rituals. Daoist adepts, during the construction of houses, bridges and roads, often worship the Stellar Spirits to pray for good luck and longevity, and eliminate misfortunes and illness. 五星七曜星君