Jade Emperor

In Chinese mythology and folk religion, the Jade Emperor, or Yudi, represents one aspect of the primordial god. In Taoist theology, he serves as the assistant to Yuanshi Tianzun, one of the Three Pure Ones, who are the three primordial emanations of the Tao. However, some Taoists have historically questioned his benevolence, as his heavenly infrastructure was sometimes seen as interfering with the natural laws or Dao. The Jade Emperor is often equated with Śakra in Chinese Buddhist cosmology and with Yu the Great in Chinese mythology. He is known by various names, including Yu, Heavenly Grandfather (天公, Tiāngōng), which originally meant "Heavenly Duke" and is used by commoners, as well as the Jade Lord, the Highest Emperor, and the Great Emperor of Jade (玉皇上帝 Yu Huang Shangdi or 玉皇大帝 Yu Huang Dadi).