Editing Three Pure Ones (section)

==In Taoism==
From the Taoist classic ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'', it was held that "The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things." It is generally agreed by Taoist scholars that Tao produced One means [[Wuji (philosophy)|Wuji]] produced [[Taiji (philosophy)|Taiji]], and One produced Two means Taiji produced [[Yin and yang|Yin and Yang]] [or Liangyi ({{lang|zh|兩儀}}) in scholastic terms]. However, the subject of how Two produced Three has remained a popular debate among Taoist scholars. Most scholars believe that it refers to the Interaction between Yin and Yang, with the presence of [[qi|Chi]], or life force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chaoping0216.wordpress.com/2007/12/01/%E9%81%93%E5%BE%B7%E7%B6%93%E7%AC%AC%E5%9B%9B%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%8C%E7%AB%A0%E2%80%A7%E3%80%8C%E9%81%93%E7%94%9F%E4%B8%80%EF%BC%8C%E4%B8%80%E7%94%9F%E4%BA%8C%EF%BC%8C%E4%BA%8C%E7%94%9F%E4%B8%89%EF%BC%8C/ |author=Yang, Chaoping |date=December 1, 2007 |script-title=zh:道德經第四十二章‧「道生一，一生二，二生三，三生萬物。」|language=zh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813105245/http://chaoping0216.wordpress.com/2007/12/01/%E9%81%93%E5%BE%B7%E7%B6%93%E7%AC%AC%E5%9B%9B%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%8C%E7%AB%A0%E2%80%A7%E3%80%8C%E9%81%93%E7%94%9F%E4%B8%80%EF%BC%8C%E4%B8%80%E7%94%9F%E4%BA%8C%EF%BC%8C%E4%BA%8C%E7%94%9F%E4%B8%89%EF%BC%8C/ |archive-date=2011-08-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In religious Taoism, the theory of how Tao produces One, Two, and Three is also explained. In Tao produces One—Wuji produces Taiji, which represents the Great Tao, embodied by [[Hundun]] ({{zh|c=混沌無極元始天王|p=Hùndùn Wújí Yuánshǐ Tiānwáng}}, "Heavenly King of the Never-ending Primordial Beginning") at a time of pre-Creation, manifesting into the first of the Taoist Trinity, [[Yuanshi Tianzun]]. Yuanshi Tianzun oversees the earliest phase of Creation of the Universe, and is henceforth known as Dàobǎo ({{lang|zh|道寶}}) "Treasure of the Tao". In One produces Two—Taiji produces Yin Yang, Yuanshi Tianzun manifests into [[Lingbao Tianzun]] who separated the Yang from the Yin, the clear from the murky, and classified the elements into their rightful groups. Therefore, he is also known as Jīngbǎo ({{lang|zh|經寶}}) "Treasure of the Law/Scripture". While Jīng in popular understanding means "scriptures", in this context it also mean "passing through" [the phase of Creation] and the [[physical law|Laws of Nature]] of how things are meant to be. In the final phase of Creation, [[Daode Tianzun]] is manifested from Língbăo Tiānzūn to bring civilization and preach the Law to all living beings. Therefore, He is also known as Shībǎo ({{lang|zh|師寶}}) "Treasure of the Master".

Each of the Three Pure Ones represents both a [[primordial deity]] and a [[heaven]]. Yuanshi Tianzun rules the first heaven, Yu-Qing, which is found in the Jade Mountain. The entrance to this heaven is named the Golden Door. "He is the source of all truth, as the sun is the source of all light". Lingbao Tianzun rules over the heaven of Shang-Qing. Daode Tianzun rules over the heaven of Tai-Qing. The Three Pure Ones are often depicted as throned elders.

Schools of Taoist thought developed around each of these deities. Taoist Alchemy was a large part of these schools, as each of the Three Pure Ones represented one of the three essential fields of the body: [[Jing (Chinese medicine)|jing]], [[qi]] and [[Shen (Chinese religion)|shen]]. The congregation of all three Pure Ones resulted in the return to Tao.

The first Pure One is universal or heavenly chi. The second Pure One is human plane chi, and the third Pure One is earth chi. Heavenly chi includes the chi or energy of all the planets, stars and constellations as well as the energy of God (the force of creation and universal love). Human plane chi is the energy that exists on the surface of our planet and sustains human life, and the earth force includes all of the forces inside the planet as well as the five elemental forces.

As the Three Pure Ones are manifestations of Primordial Celestial Energy, they are formless. But to illustrate their role in Creation, they are often portrayed as elderly deities robed in the three basic colours from which all colours originated: Red, Blue and Yellow (or Green) depending on personal interpretation of colour origins by [[additive color|additive]] or [[subtractive color|subtractive]] means. Each of them holds onto a divine object associated with their task. Yuánshǐ Tiānzūn is usually depicted holding the Pearl of Creation, signifying his role in recreating the Universe. The [[Ruyi (scepter)|Ruyi]] held by Lingbao Tianzun represents authority: the second phase of Creation where the Yang was separated from the Yin and the Law of Things was ordered in place. Lingbao Tianzun then took his seat on the left of Yuanshi Tianzun. Later, when all was complete, Daode Tianzun took his place on the right, with the fan symbolizing the completion of Creation, and the act of fanning representing the spreading of Tao to all Mankind.