《洞真九真中(zhong)經》云:中(zhong)央(yang)黃老君者,太上(shang)太微天(tian)帝君之(zhi)(zhi)弟子也,以混皇二年始生焉。年七歲,乃知長生之(zhi)(zhi)要,天(tian)仙之(zhi)(zhi)法。仍眇(miao)綸上(shang)思,欽納真玄,蕭條(tiao)靈(ling)想,棲(qi)心(xin)神源。解脫于(yu)文(wen)蔚之(zhi)(zhi)羅(luo),披素于(yu)空任之(zhi)(zhi)肆。于(yu)是(shi)太上(shang)授《九真之(zhi)(zhi)訣》、《八(ba)道秘言》,施修道成(cheng),受書為太極真人(ren)。
五方(fang)五老(lao)(lao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)君(jun),為(wei)(wei)東南(nan)(nan)西北(bei)中(zhong)五方(fang)之天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)神,一說為(wei)(wei)元(yuan)始(shi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)王所化。中(zhong)國(guo)個道派以三清為(wei)(wei)始(shi),比(bi)如全(quan)真道以太上老(lao)(lao)君(jun)為(wei)(wei)主,五方(fang)五老(lao)(lao)為(wei)(wei)元(yuan)始(shi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)為(wei)(wei)主。五方(fang)五老(lao)(lao)的名號分別為(wei)(wei)東方(fang)青(qing)帝(di)(di)青(qing)靈(ling)(ling)(ling)(ling)始(shi)老(lao)(lao)九炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)君(jun)、南(nan)(nan)方(fang)赤帝(di)(di)丹靈(ling)(ling)(ling)(ling)真老(lao)(lao)三炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)君(jun)、中(zhong)央黃帝(di)(di)玄(xuan)靈(ling)(ling)(ling)(ling)黃老(lao)(lao)一炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)君(jun)、西方(fang)白(bai)帝(di)(di)皓靈(ling)(ling)(ling)(ling)皇老(lao)(lao)七(qi)炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)君(jun)、北(bei)方(fang)黑帝(di)(di)五靈(ling)(ling)(ling)(ling)玄(xuan)老(lao)(lao)五炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)君(jun)。
五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老君(jun)(jun)是(shi)(shi)道教初期的五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)神(shen)靈(ling),亦稱(cheng)(cheng)“五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)”。 五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老君(jun)(jun)是(shi)(shi)歷代帝(di)(di)王祭祀的對象,“在(zai)天中(zhong)則(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老上帝(di)(di),在(zai)天文則(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di)座及五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)星(xing),在(zai)神(shen)靈(ling)則(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)方(fang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)帝(di)(di),在(zai)山岳(yue)則(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)岳(yue)圣帝(di)(di),在(zai)人身則(ze)稱(cheng)(cheng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)臟神(shen)君(jun)(jun)”。他(ta)們與元(yuan)始(shi)天尊(zun)一樣,非(fei)后(hou)天學(xue)而得真者,為(wei)天地(di)開辟(pi)之前(qian)的先天神(shen)靈(ling),所以又稱(cheng)(cheng)元(yuan)始(shi)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老,五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)行之始(shi)、五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)氣之祖。在(zai)道教神(shen)仙體(ti)系(xi)中(zhong),五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)老君(jun)(jun)沒有具體(ti)職司,但地(di)位崇尊(zun)。
以下(xia)五老(lao)對應泰山、衡山、嵩山、華山、恒山。
東方青靈始老天君,號稱東方木(mu)德青帝太(tai)昊伏羲,木(mu)帝也,其精(jing)星。下應泰山(shan)神仙;
南方(fang)丹靈真(zhen)老天(tian)君,號稱南方(fang)火(huo)德赤帝(di)(di)炎帝(di)(di)神(shen)農,火(huo)帝(di)(di)也,其精(jing)熒屏,下應衡山神(shen)仙(xian);
元靈元老君(jun),中央土德(de)黃帝(di)(di)軒轅(yuan),土帝(di)(di)也,其(qi)精(jing)鎮星,下(xia)應嵩山神仙;
西(xi)方(fang)豪靈皇帝(di)(di)老天(tian)君,號稱西(xi)方(fang)金德白帝(di)(di)金天(tian)少昊(hao),金帝(di)(di)也,其精華太白,下應華山神仙(xian);
北方五靈玄(xuan)老(lao)天(tian)君,號稱北方水德(de)黑帝朱(zhu)旭,水帝也,其精星,下應恒山(shan)神仙(xian)。
此外,還有五老監真之稱:綿山是五方神(shen)會群(qun)仙之所,因此善男信女建此殿供奉。
【東方青(qing)帝青(qing)靈始老(lao)九(jiu)炁(qi)天(tian)(tian)君】號曰青(qing)帝。頭戴青(qing)精玉冠,衣九(jiu)氣青(qing)羽衣。常駕(jia)蒼龍(long),建鶉(chun)旗,從(cong)神甲乙,官(guan)將九(jiu)十萬人(ren)。上導九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)之和氣,下引九(jiu)泉(quan)之流(liu)芳,養(yang)二儀以(yi)長存,護陰陽以(yi)永昌(chang)。
【南方赤帝(di)丹靈真老三(san)(san)炁(qi)天(tian)君】號曰赤帝(di)。頭戴赤精(jing)玉冠,衣三(san)(san)氣(qi)丹羽飛衣。常駕(jia)丹龍,建朱旗,從神丙丁,官(guan)將三(san)(san)十萬人(ren)。上導(dao)泰(tai)清玄元之靈化,下和三(san)(san)氣(qi)之陶镕,令萬物(wu)之永存,運天(tian)精(jing)之南夏。
【中央黃(huang)帝玄靈黃(huang)老一炁天(tian)君】號(hao)曰黃(huang)帝。頭(tou)戴黃(huang)精玉冠(guan),衣五色飛衣。常駕黃(huang)龍,建黃(huang)旗,從神(shen)戊(wu)己,官將十二萬(wan)人。上等(deng)自然(ran)之和,下旋五土之靈,天(tian)地(di)守以(yi)不(bu)虧,陰陽用之不(bu)傾。
【西(xi)方白(bai)帝(di)皓靈皇老七炁(qi)天君】號(hao)曰(yue)白(bai)帝(di)。頭(tou)戴白(bai)精(jing)玉(yu)冠,衣白(bai)羽飛(fei)衣。常駕白(bai)龍,建素旗,從(cong)神庚辛(xin),官(guan)將七十萬人。上導洪(hong)精(jing)于(yu)上天,下和(he)眾(zhong)生于(yu)靈衢。
【北方(fang)黑(hei)帝五靈玄(xuan)老五炁天(tian)君】號曰黑(hei)帝。頭戴玄(xuan)精玉(yu)冠(guan),衣玄(xuan)羽飛衣。 常駕黑(hei)龍(long),建(jian)皂旗,從(cong)神壬(ren)癸,官將五十萬人。上導五帝之流氣,下(xia)拯生生之眾和,護(hu)二儀而不傾,保群命(ming)以永安。