One of the four Taoist Marshals, Marshal Wen - Chinese Deities 5

Huaguang Dadi is is also known as Lingguan Ma Yuanshuai, or Marshal Ma, one of the Four Guardian Marshals of Taoism. Illustrating the need for imperial recognition by orthodox Taoism and Buddhism in medieval China, the two religions share many deities, but in different roles. Therefore, while a warrior deity in Taoism, and also venerated by Cantonese Opera troupes as the God of Performing Arts, and by extension, of southern styles of kungfu practiced by the opera troupes, in Buddhism, Huaguang became a generic term for one of the historical Buddha’s ten primary disciples. As Chinese folk religion has its roots in so many traditions, most deities have multiple mythologies, some from rel...View all