Taiyin Xingjun

The emergence of Taiyin Xingjun can be traced back to ancient Chinese lunar worship practices. Referred to by various names such as the Moonlight Goddess, Taiyin Xingjun, Moon Maiden, and Moonlight Bodhisattva, her worship has deep historical roots in China. According to legend, the origins of Taiyin Xingjun in Taoism are linked to the "Four Symbols" (Si Xiang) concept derived from Taiji yin-yang philosophy. In this concept, "Taiyin" (Supreme Yin) is also known as "Lao Yin" (Old Yin). Other mythological tales suggest that (the Sun Star Lord) and Taiyin Xingjun were formed from the two eyes of the ancient god Pangu, with the right eye transforming into Taiyin Xingjun. During the Qing dynasty, the customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival changed. What began as Taoist worship of Chang'e evolved to include both Buddhist and Taoist traditions, featuring the Moonlight Bodhisattva and the Jade Rabbit. The depictions of the Moon God were mostly inscribed by Taoist temples, titled . In Taiwanese folk beliefs, people believe that the deity who governs the moon is Taiyin Xingjun. Taiyin Xingjun originated from natural worship in animistic beliefs and originally did not have an image. For example, in the Tiantan Temple, known as the first temple in Taiwan, there is only a wooden plaque inscribed with the words "Taiyin Xingjun." However, with the spread of the myth of Chang'e flying to the moon, the connection between the pure white moon and Chang'e's beautiful and gentle image was formed, leading many to believe that Taiyin Xingjun is the incarnation of Chang'e. Most of the images of Taiyin Xingjun that we see today depict a woman dressed in palace attire, holding the moon high in her hand; she is also known as Taiyin Niangniang. Sometimes, Taiyin Xingjun is also seen as another aspect of the Queen Mother of the West. The Yúnjí Qīqiān states: According to some traditions, although Chang’e is also considered to be an accidental resident of the moon, she is not the moon's rightful owner. Instead, Taiyin Xingjun, the moon goddess herself, graces the night sky with her luminous presence. Taiyin Xingjun is also known as Jielin, which means "the immortal who races to the moon." According to the poem Two Ghosts () by Ming dynasty poet Liu Ji () offers a creation myth for the balance of labor and rest, impacting health and well-being. The Jade Emperor, concerned about the uneven distribution of these elements leading to illness, appoints two guardian spirits: Jielin and Yuhua. Taiyin Xingjun holds a position akin to the Chinese goddess of the moon, similar to Selene in Greek mythology. With the Mid-Autumn Festival's focus on lunar veneration, homage naturally gravitates toward Taiyin Xingjun. On the 15th day of the eighth Chinese lunar month, throughout China, people erect incense altars, light crimson candles, offer fresh fruits in four vibrant hues, burn incense, and pay homage beneath the gleaming moonlight. This ritual intertwines reverence with leisure, as the moon's radiance bestows a mystical aura, evoking myriad enchanting narratives and profound contemplations. Among these tales, "Chang'e Flies to the Moon" remains one of the most revered. In Fengshen Yanyi, when Jiang Ziya was naming gods, Queen Jiang was appointed as Taiyin Xingjun. ==Worship==

Taiyin Xingjun is rarely worshipped in mainland China, but there are some temples in Taiwan dedicated to Taiyin Xingjun. The oldest one is the Guan Shengdijun Temple in Daxi, which has a history of over a hundred years and does enshrine her. According to Taiwanese media reports, Taiyin Xingjun and Taiyang Xingjun, who is the embodiment of the sun, are often worshipped as the companion gods of the Jade Emperor. As the celestial embodiments of the moon and the sun, Taiyin Xingjun is considered to be the consort of Taiyang Xingjun. According to Wu Yingtao's Taiwanese Folklore (), during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan, people offer mooncakes, sacrificial offerings, and rice vermicelli and taro to their ancestors and the land god. There is also a tradition of "worshipping the moon goddess": after nightfall, an incense table is set up in the courtyard of one's home, and a pair of red candles, mooncakes, fresh fruits, and four other offerings are placed on it. The incense is burned, and the moon is worshipped under the night sky. In folk beliefs, Taiyin Xingjun is the guardian deity of women and children. Yue Lao specializes in matchmaking and tying the knot of marriage, while Taiyin Xingjun, as the guardian deity of women, can be said to have a more comprehensive understanding of women's needs. According to the temple staff of the Kaigi Jade Emperor Palace in Tainan, which worships Taiyin Xingjun, the goddess manages both "internal fate" and "external fate". External fate refers to career and interpersonal relationships, such as those of saleswomen and salespeople who need connections and popularity and often bring cosmetics as offerings to worship the Lord of the Moon. Internal fate refers to personal emotional entanglements. The biggest difference between Taiyin Xingjun and Yue Lao is that Taiyin Xingjun is good at cutting off bad relationships. There's a popular sutra in Taiwan called the True Scripture of Taiyin Xingjun (). It is said that if a child is malnourished or sickly, praying to the Taiyin Xingjun is very effective. The method involves fasting and burning incense on the full moon nights of the 15th and 16th of each lunar month, while reciting the True Scripture of Taiyin Xingjun ten times to ensure peace for the whole family. ==References==