Bixia Yuanjun
Bixia Yuanjun, also known as the divine goddess of Mount Tai or “Grandmother Tai Shan,” is a revered figure in Taoism. There are various legends about her origins, including beliefs that she is either the daughter of the Mount Tai deity or a celestial maiden herself. According to the “Biographies of Jade Maidens” by Wang Zhigang, which references the “Research on Jade Maidens,” Emperor Huangdi dispatched seven maidens to Mount Tai to establish a temple, among whom only one achieved enlightenment and became known as Bixia Yuanjun. Another tale portrays her as a mortal born to a virtuous couple during the Han Dynasty. Named Yuye, she was known for her wisdom from a young age and eventually undertook spiritual practices in the Yellow Flower Cave on Mount Tai, where she transcended her mortal form.
Tasked by the Jade Emperor with overseeing the celestial forces of Mount Tai, Bixia Yuanjun has wide-ranging powers to adjudicate matters of life, death, and morality. She is particularly honored for her abilities to aid in agriculture, business, travel, and marriage, and is believed to grant fertility and ensure safe childbirth to women, often depicted in her statues as nurturing an infant.
The worship of Bixia Yuanjun has been vibrant since the Ming and Qing dynasties and continues robustly today. Her festival day on April 18th, a time of spring blossoms on Mount Tai, attracts throngs of pilgrims who ascend the mountain to offer incense and prayers. Throughout northern China, numerous temples are dedicated to her, with significant celebrations held in the Wanping area of Beijing, drawing large crowds seeking her blessings for fertility and the health of their children.