Three Pure Ones - Definition and Overview

The Three Pure Ones (Chinese: 三清; pinyin: Sān Qīng; Wade-Giles: San-ch'ing) are three Taoist deities. They are:

• the Jade Pure (玉清; pinyin: Yù Qīng; Wade-Giles: Yu-ch'ing), also known as the "Heavenly Worthy of the Primordial Beginning" (元始天尊, Yuanshi tianzun).
• the Upper Pure (上清; pinyin: Shàng Qīng; Wade-Giles: Shang-ch'ing), also known as the "Heavenly Worthy of the Numinous Treasure" (灵宝天尊, Lingbao tianzun).
• the Great Pure (太清; pinyin: Tài Qīng; Wade-Giles: T'ai-ch'ing), also known as the "Heavenly Worthy of the Way and its Virtue" (道德天尊, Daode tianzun) or the "Exalted Supreme Lord Lao" (太上老君, Taishang Laojun).

See also

• Chinese mythology
• Religion in China

Example Usage of Three