🌌 Primordial Chaos · Before the Dao 🌌
Pangu (盘古)
The Cosmic Giant · First Being
Split heaven from earth · Body became the world
Nüwa (女娲)
Creator Goddess · Mother of Humanity
Molded humans from clay · Mended the sky with five-colored stones
Fuxi (伏羲)
Culture Hero · First Sovereign
Created the Eight Trigrams · Taught fishing and hunting
Shennong (神农·炎帝)
Divine Farmer · Flame Emperor
Tasted the hundred herbs · Taught agriculture
Yellow Emperor (黄帝)
Ancestor of Civilization
Unified the tribes · Founded Chinese civilization
※ These primordial beings predate the administrative hierarchy. Pangu and Nüwa are referenced in Journey to the West.
☯ Source of the Great Dao · Supreme ☯
Yuanshi Tianzun (元始天尊)
Jade Purity · First of the Three Pure Ones
Primordial Beginning · Chaos Dao
Lingbao Tianzun (灵宝天尊)
Supreme Purity · Second of the Three Pure Ones
Differentiation of Chaos · Evolution of Dao
Daode Tianzun (道德天尊)
Grand Purity · Taishang Laojun (太上老君)
Dao Embodied · Master of Alchemy
⚜ Rulers of the Three Realms · Apex of Power ⚜
Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝)
Supreme Lord of the Three Realms
Chief Administrator of the Cosmos
Ziwei Emperor (中天紫微北极大帝)
Second of the Four Sovereigns
Governs Stars & Celestial Order
Gouchen Emperor (勾陈上宫天皇大帝)
Third of the Four Sovereigns
Oversees Polaris & Mortal Warfare
Houtu Empress (后土皇地祇)
Fourth Sovereign · Lady of the Earth
Yin-Yang Fertility · Mountains & Rivers
✦ Immortal Sovereigns (Outside the Four Sovereigns but Equal in Status) ✦
Queen Mother of the West (西王母)
Sovereign of Female Immortals
Guardian of the Peaches of Immortality
Dongwanggong (东王公)
Sovereign of Male Immortals
Counterpart to the Queen Mother · Lord of the East
▼ Under the Jade Emperor · Core Power Echelon ▼
Five Elders of the Five Directions (五方五老)
Regional Sovereigns
East: Chong'en · South: Guanyin
West: Tathāgata · North: Xuanling · Center: Huangjiao
Four Heavenly Masters (四大天师)
Imperial Counselors
Zhang Daoling · Ge Xuan
Xu Xun · Sa Shoujian
Four Saints of the North Pole (北极四圣)
Military Core
Marshal Tianpeng · Vice Marshal Tianyou
Yizhen Shengjun · Zhenwu Dadi
Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun (太乙救苦天尊)
Supreme Savior of the Underworld
Master of the Nine-Headed Lion
Donghua Emperor (东华帝君)
Patriarch of Quanzhen · Leader of Male Immortals
※ Tathāgata holds the rank of "Elder of the West" among the Five Elders, officially answering to the Jade Emperor. Within the Buddhist hierarchy, he remains the supreme Buddha.
◆
Heavenly Bureaucracy
✦ Star Ministry ✦
28 Lunar Mansions (二十八宿)
Four Symbols Constellations
Including Kuimulang (奎木狼) — the Yellow Robe Monster
11 Great Luminaries (十一大曜)
Sun, Moon, Planets & more
Southern Dipper Six (南斗六司)
Life · Prosperity · Longevity
Northern Dipper Seven (北斗七元)
Tanlang · Jumen etc.
Taibai Jinxing (太白金星)
Celestial Envoy · Venus Star Lord
Wenqu & Wuqu Stars (文曲星·武曲星)
Civil & Martial Virtues
⚡ Thunder Ministry ⚡
Nine Heavens Universal Celestial Venerable (九天应元雷声普化天尊)
Supreme Thunder God
Duke of Thunder · Mother of Lightning (雷公·电母)
Thunder & Lightning
Earl of Wind · Master of Rain (风伯·雨师)
Wind & Rain
🌊 Weather & Nature Ministry 🌊
Dragon Kings of the Four Seas (四海龙王)
Ao Guang · Ao Qin · Ao Run · Ao Shun
Rain-making Dragon Gods
Emperors of the Five Sacred Mountains (五岳大帝)
East · West · South · North · Center
Guardians of the Five Peaks
🛡 Guard & Military 🛡
Four Heavenly Kings (四大天王)
Virudhaka · Dhritarashtra · Virupaksha · Vaishravana
Guardians of the South Gate of Heaven
Nezha, the Third Prince (哪吒三太子)
Marshal of the Central Altar
Erlang Shen Yang Jian (二郎神杨戬)
Illustrious Sage King
Obeys orders, not summons
Wang Lingguan (王灵官)
Chief Divine Inspector
Foremost Guardian of Heaven
Juling Shen (巨灵神)
Vanguard of Heavenly King Li
📜 Surveillance & Messengers 📜
Four Merit Officers (四值功曹)
Year · Month · Day · Hour
Five Direction Dharma Protectors (五方揭谛)
Golden Head Deities
Secret escort of the pilgrimage
Six Ding & Six Jia (六丁六甲)
Guardian Spirits
Day & Night Wardens (日游神·夜游神)
Patrol Deities
Clairvoyant & Clairhearing (千里眼·顺风耳)
Surveillance System
Discipline Inspectors (纠察灵官)
Military Police
👻 Underworld Ministry 👻
Ten Kings of Hell (十殿阎王)
King Qinguang · King Chujiang etc.
Administrators of the Netherworld
Judge Cui Jue (判官崔珏)
Chief Magistrate of the Dead
Heibai Wuchang (黑白无常)
Soul-escorting Officers
Ox-Head & Horse-Face (牛头马面)
Executors of the Underworld
◆
Buddhist Attainment Hierarchy (Spiritual Rank)
🔸 First Fruition: Buddha (Perfect Enlightenment) 🔸
Śākyamuni Buddha (如来佛祖)
Tathāgata · Lord of the Sahā World
Supreme Leader of Western Paradise
Dīpaṃkara Buddha (燃灯上古佛)
Buddha of the Past · Teacher of Śākyamuni
Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha (药师佛)
Lord of the Eastern Pure Land
Amitābha Buddha (阿弥陀佛)
Lord of the Western Pure Land
Maitreya Buddha (弥勒佛)
Buddha of the Future · Lord of Tusita
Guide Buddha (接引佛祖)
Baochuang Guangwang Buddha
🔸 Second Fruition: Bodhisattva (Enlightened Being) 🔸
Guanyin Bodhisattva (观音菩萨)
Teacher of Seven Buddhas · Compassion
Also listed among the Five Elders
Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva (文殊菩萨)
Wisdom Supreme · Teacher of Seven Buddhas
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (普贤菩萨)
Great Practice & Vows
Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva (地藏王菩萨)
Lord of the Underworld
Hell not empty, vow not to become Buddha
Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva (大势至菩萨)
Attendant of Amitābha
Lingji Bodhisattva (灵吉菩萨)
Subduer of Wind Demons
Pilamra Bodhisattva (毗蓝婆菩萨)
Reclusive · Insect Demon Tamer
Peacock Great Illustrious King (孔雀大明王)
Buddha-Mother · Great Bodhisattva Rank
Sūryaprabha & Candraprabha (日光菩萨·月光菩萨)
Attendants of Bhaiṣajyaguru
🔸 Third Fruition: Arhat (Worthy One) 🔸
Five Hundred Arhats (五百罗汉)
Assembly of Saints
Eighteen Arhats (十八罗汉)
Dragon-subduing · Tiger-taming etc.
Elite Dharma Protectors
🔸 Fourth Sequence: Dharma Protectors & Guardians 🔸
Four Heavenly Kings (Buddhist Guardians)
Dharma Protectors at Monastery Gates
Skanda Bodhisattva (韦驮菩萨)
Chief Guardian Deity
Eight Legions (天龙八部)
Devas · Nāgas · Yakṣas · Asuras etc.
Eighteen Saṃghārāmas (十八伽蓝)
Monastery Guardians
◆
Transcendent Sages · Outside the System
Patriarch Bodhi (菩提祖师)
Transcendent Sage · First Rank
Master of Three Teachings · Hidden from the World
Status equal to the Three Pure Ones
Great Immortal Zhenyuan (镇元大仙)
Ancestor of Earth Immortals · First Rank
Reveres only Heaven & Earth · Old friend of the Three Pure Ones
Status equal to the Three Pure Ones
※ These two exist outside the administrative hierarchy, peers of the Three Pure Ones.
Old Mother of Mount Li (黎山老母)
Ancient Immortal Lady
Disguised as Bodhisattvas' mother to test the pilgrims
Chan Master Wuchao (乌巢禅师)
Hermit of Floating Mountain
Taught Tang Sanzang the Heart Sutra
Nine Elders of Yingzhou (瀛洲九老)
Recluses of the Ocean Immortal Isles
Barefoot Immortal (赤脚大仙)
Wandering Immortal of the Heavenly Court
◆
The Pilgrimage Core Team · 取经五人
Tang Sanzang (唐三藏)
Golden Cicada Reincarnated → Candana Merit Buddha
Scripture Seeker · Master of the Pilgrimage
Sun Wukong (孙悟空)
Great Sage Equal to Heaven → Victorious Fighting Buddha
Senior Disciple · Born from Stone
Zhu Bajie (猪八戒)
Marshal Tianpeng → Cleaner of the Altars
Second Disciple · Exiled from Heaven
Sha Wujing (沙悟净)
Curtain-lifting General → Golden Body Arhat
Third Disciple · Former Sand River Demon
White Dragon Horse (白龙马·敖烈)
Dragon Prince → Eight-section Heavenly Dragon
Steed · Reformed into Buddhist Guardian
◆
Demon Forces · Unranked & Targets of Suppression
⚠ Demons with Heavenly/Buddhist Backgrounds ⚠
Green Bull Demon (青牛精)
Laozi's Mount
Wields the Diamond Snare
Yellow Brow King (黄眉大王)
Boy Servant of Maitreya Buddha
Wields the Human Sack · Imitated Thunder Monastery
Golden-winged Great Peng (金翅大鹏雕)
Tathāgata's Uncle
Leader of the Lion-Camel Ridge trio
Green Lion Demon (青狮精)
Mañjuśrī's Mount
Second of the Lion-Camel Ridge trio
White Elephant Demon (白象精)
Samantabhadra's Mount
Third of the Lion-Camel Ridge trio
Golden Horn & Silver Horn (金角大王·银角大王)
Laozi's Fire-tending Boys
Sai Taisui (赛太岁)
Guanyin's Mount Golden-haired Hou
Yellow Robe Monster (黄袍怪)
Kuimulang Star Descended
Nine-headed Lion Sage (九灵元圣)
Mount of Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun
White Deer Spirit (白鹿精)
Mount of the South Pole Immortal
Inspiration King (灵感大王·金鱼精)
Goldfish from Guanyin's Lotus Pool
Terrorized the Village of Chen
💀 Wild Demons · Self-cultivated Spirits 💀
White Bone Spirit (白骨精)
Corpse Demon · Master of Disguise
Three times deceived Tang Sanzang
Scorpion Demoness (蝎子精)
Once Stung Tathāgata
Seven Spider Sisters (蜘蛛精)
Silk-Cave Web Queens
Centipede Demon (蜈蚣精·百眼魔君)
Thousand-eye Golden Light Array
Red Boy (红孩儿)
Son of Bull Demon King · Samadhi Fire
Later adopted by Guanyin as Shancai
Black Bear Demon (黑熊精)
Fierce Lone Fighter
Later became guardian of Guanyin's mountain
Yellow Wind Demon (黄风怪)
Samadhi Divine Wind
Three Demons of Chechi (车迟国三妖)
Tiger · Deer · Goat
🐂 The Seven Great Sages · Brotherhood of Sun Wukong 🐂
Great Sage Equal to Heaven · Bull Demon King (牛魔王)
Leader of the Seven Sages
Great Sage Covering the Sea · Flood Dragon King (蛟魔王)
Great Sage Confusing Heaven · Peng King (鹏魔王)
Great Sage Moving Mountains · Lion King (狮驼王)
Great Sage Ventilating Wind · Macaque King (猕猴王)
Great Sage Driving Gods · Giant Ape King (禺狨王)
👹 Other Notable Demons & Affiliates 👹
Princess Iron Fan (铁扇公主)
Rakshasi · Wife of Bull Demon King
Wielder of the Banana-leaf Fan
Jade-faced Fox (玉面狐狸)
Concubine of Bull Demon King
Daughter of the Longevity Fox King
Ruyi Immortal (如意真仙)
Brother of Bull Demon King
Six-eared Macaque (六耳猕猴)
Mirror Image of Sun Wukong
◆
Mortal World & Grassroots Deities
👤 Notable Mortals 👤
Emperor Taizong of Tang (唐太宗·李世民)
Mortal Ruler · Commissioned the Pilgrimage
Wei Zheng (魏征)
Dream-beheaded the Dragon King
Yuan Shoucheng (袁守城)
Divine Fortune-teller
Liu Boqin (刘伯钦)
Hunter of Double Fork Ridge · Peak Mortal Warrior
Queen of the Women's Kingdom (女儿国国王)
Mortal Kingdom
Kings of Various Nations (各国国王)
Chechi · Bichu · Baoxiang etc.
🏘 Grassroots Deities 🏘
City God (城隍)
Protector of Cities
Earth God (土地)
Local Guardian
Mountain God (山神)
Guardian of Mountains
🐉 Dragon Clan Supplement 🐉
Dragon King of the Jing River (泾河龙王)
Beheaded for tampering with rain quotas
His ghost demanded justice, catalyzing the pilgrimage
Tuo Long (鼍龙)
Son of Jing River Dragon King
Demon of the Black River
Prince Mo'ang (摩昂太子)
Mightiest Warrior of the West Sea Dragons
◆
📜 The Complete Order of the Cosmos 📜
Primordial Chaos → Pangu · Nüwa · Fuxi · Shennong · Yellow Emperor
Supreme Dao → The Three Pure Ones (Embodiments of the Dao)
Apex of Power → Four Sovereigns + Queen Mother + Dongwanggong
Core Echelon → Five Elders · Four Masters · Four Saints · Taiyi · Donghua
Heavenly Bureaucracy → Stars · Thunder · Weather · Military · Surveillance · Underworld
Buddhist Path → Buddha → Bodhisattva → Arhat → Dharma Protector
Outside the System → Patriarch Bodhi · Zhenyuan · Li Mountain Mother
Pilgrimage Core → Tang Sanzang · Sun Wukong · Zhu Bajie · Sha Wujing · White Dragon Horse
Demon Forces → Background Demons · Wild Demons · Seven Great Sages
Mortal World → Emperors · Heroes · City Gods · Earth Gods · Dragon Clan