Who were the Three Pure Ones?

BRY2K

The Three Pure Ones", "The Three Clarities", or "The Three Purities", are the three highest Taoist deities. They are: The Jade Pure Pellucid One (Cantonese: Yoc-Tsing; Mandarin: Yu-ch'ing), also known as "The Universally Honoured One of Origin", or "The Universal Lord of the Primordial Beginning" (Yiun Tsee Tin Tziun). The Upper Pure Pellucid One (Cantonese: Serng Tsing; Mandarin: Shang-ch'ing), also known as "The Universally Honoured One of Divinities and Treasures", or "The Universal Lord of the Numinous Treasure" (Ling Boe Tin Tziun). The Ultra Pure Pellucid One (Cantonese: Tai Tsing; Mandarin: T'ai-ch'ing), also known as "The Universally Honoured One of Tao and Virtues" or "The Universal Lord of the Way and its Virtue" (Doe Buc Tin Tziun) or the "Ultra Supreme Elder Lord" (Tai Serng Loe Gwun). http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Three-Pure-Ones Aug 18 08, 4:07 PM

zbeckabee

The central deity of the Three Purities, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Tiancun Yuanshi). As his name implies, he is believed to have spontaneously formed from pure energy at the beginning of the world. According to legend, he observed the shifting patterns of energy and created the first writing system from them by casting the patterns in gold onto jade tablets. The second of the Three Purities, the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure (Tiancun Lingbao). His name comes from the scriptures written in response to the growing influence of Buddhism in the early fifth century. These writings eventually formed the basis for the second section of the Taoist Canon, which is dedicated to the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure. Like the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, he is considered a source of Taoist knowledge and scripture. The Celestial Worthy of the Way and Its Power (Tiancun Daode), or Laozi. The god's identity is indicated by the presence of his defining attribute, a fan with fly-whisk. His divine title was derived from the name of the text attributed to him: the Classic of the Way and Its Power (Daode jing). Since the name Laozi literally means "elder master," he is shown with white hair and an aged face, unlike the other two Celestial Worthies. Pictures of each: http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln472/Purities.htm Aug 18 08, 4:19 PM