As the first emperor of China and the ultimate ruler of Heaven, the Jade Emperor is one of the most significant and popular figures in Chinese mythology. He is also regarded as most important Taoist deity. The Jade Emperor's court resembles the ancient Chinese monarchies in terms of social hierarchies and specialised roles. What true Chinese rulers aimed to achieve was the emperor's kindness, fairness, and generosity.
The Jade Emperor is still very much a part of Chinese culture, especially during the Chinese New Year. The Jade Emperor is supposed to judge each person's character for the previous year and either award or punish them at the New Year.
Origins and Attributes
In art and cinema, the Jade Emperor is usually depicted as a middle-aged man sporting a thin mustache and a long, sagely goatee. He typically appears wearing long, flowing robes and sitting on a royal throne, though he is also sometimes depicted wearing full battle armor and wielding a large sword.
In some versions of his origin story, the Jade Emperor came into existence when the universe was created by Pangu. In most popular myths, he is commonly described as having been a mortal man prior to becoming a god.
The Origin of the Jade Emperor as a Soldier
The Jade Emperor was said to have been a soldier named Zhang Denglai who fought in a bloody civil war during the Zhou Dynasty. In the midst of a particularly vicious battle, Denglai and his entire battalion were wiped out. When Denglai woke up in the afterlife, he found his commander handing out honorary positions in the celestial court to each of the other soldiers.
All of the men, save for Denglai and the commander, were eventually given places in the court. His commander was surreptitiously plotting to retain the title of Jade Emperor for himself. But before he could proclaim himself emperor, he stopped and murmured, "děng lái," which translates to "wait a minute." It was common in those days for royals and top officials to consider the weight of responsibility they would be taking on before accepting a promotion. Sensing a great chance, Denglai pretended not to know about this custom and pretended to hear his name. Denglai thus came forward and took on the mantle of the Jade Emperor.
The Origin of the Jade Emperor as a Virgin Birth
In other versions of his story, the Jade Emperor was born to a chaste queen who had been praying for an heir to succeed the throne of her sick, elderly husband. One night as she slept, the queen had a vision of the Daoist philosopher, Laozi, and miraculously became pregnant. As soon as the baby was born, it was obvious that there was something special about him. He gained the ability to walk and talk prematurely, and was unusually patient and kind for a small child.
Following his father's death, the Jade Emperor ascended to the throne and devoted his time to ensuring his subjects' prosperity and providing aid to the less fortunate. After achieving all of his goals in just a few short years, the Jade Emperor abdicated the throne to a relative because he saw no use in having so much power.
The Jade Emperor dedicated his life to studying Daoist philosophy and practicing meditation after leaving the palace. After years of study, he achieved enlightenment, learned the secret to immortality, and became a powerful deity.
Family
The Jade Emperor is married to the Celestial Queen Mother, Xiwangmu. The couple are said to have had an enormous amount of children together, and three of their daughters hold important places in Chinese mythology.
Zhu niang-niang is a fertility goddess that helps couples in need of children, and Yen-kuang nian-niang is the protector of the blind who can grant the power of eyesight to those in need. Perhaps their most famous daughter, Zhinü is famous not for her role as a goddess but for her actions: she infamously fell in love with a human and suffered as a result.
The Seamstress and the Cowherd
The story of the seamstress and the cowherd is one of the most famous Chinese folktales ever told and remains very popular to this day. Once upon a time, the Jade Emperor’s daughter, a talented weaver, and a humble cowherd fell in love. Enraged that his daughter would leave heaven to marry a human, the Jade Emperor banished the couple to live on opposite sides of the milky way. After seeing how unhappy his daughter was, however, he allowed them to see each other once a year. The seventh day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is known as "Chinese Valentine's Day," since it is believed to be the day that the two lovers reconnect every year.
The Monkey King and the Jade Emperor
One of the most popular myths in the Chinese canon, Journey to the West is the story of a humble Buddhist monk named Tang Sanzang who journeys from Southern China to India in order to bring back holy texts and help enlighten his countrymen.
The Jade Emperor’s role in the story revolves around the Monkey King, Sun Wukong. Wukong was once a member of the Jade Emperor’s court but was thrown out of heaven and pinned underneath a mountain for 500 years for defying the Emperor’s authority. Whereas Wukong is the epitome of jealousy, impatience, and bitterness, the Jade Emperor is a model example of kindness, compassion, and wisdom. After repenting and serving as Sanzang’s disciple, Wukong achieves Buddhahood and is accepted back into the Jade Emperor’s court.
The Zodiac Animals
One day, the Jade Emperor sent letters to all the animals in his earthly kingdom inviting them to meet him at his palace. The animals that showed up were to be named honorary members of the zodiac.
Knowing he was the most handsome of all animals, the Cat was sure that he would be granted a spot. He was also very lazy, however, and loved to sleep in. Feeling sleepy, the Cat asked his friend the Rat to wake him up when it was time to go to the Jade Emperor’s palace.
The Rat had not been invited to the Jade Emperor’s palace and knew that he did not have a chance of getting into the zodiac—not when people were disgusted by his mere presence. The Rat saw only one choice in front of him: he must let the Cat sleep and go in his place.
When the Cat woke up the next morning, he realized that he had slept through most of the day. He looked around for the Rat to ask him why he had failed to wake him up and saw him strolling happily through the streets. Angry at the Rat’s betrayal, the Cat began to chase after him; this is why cats hunt rats to this very day.
Pop Culture
The Jade Emperor is one of the most important and popular deities in Chinese folk religion. There are hundreds of temples dedicated to the Jade Emperor throughout Asia, and nearly every temple has at least one shrine devoted to him.
The Jade Emperor’s birthday celebration is held on the ninth day of the Lunar calendar, and this day of worship is an integral part of celebrating Chinese New Year. During the New Year, everyone’s deeds are told to the Jade Emperor by the Stove God, Zao Jun, who lives in the kitchen and bears witness to everything that happens within the house. The Jade Emperor then decides if that family should be rewarded or punished in the coming year based off their behavior in the previous one. People will often give candy to Zao Jun either to sweeten him up or to make his mouth so sticky that he won’t be able to speak.