It is 9. Nine is the greatest number in heaven and earth.
The Nine Palaces are ancient Chinese astronomers who divided the Heavenly Palace into nine equal parts: Qian Palace, Kan Palace, Gen Palace, Zhen Palace, Zhong Palace, Xun Palace, Li Palace, Kun Palace and Dui Palace. By observing the movement of the seven rays and stars in the sky from the ground at night, information such as direction and season can be known. So it's nine maximum.
Extended information
Zero: Wuji
The word "Wuji" first came from Chapter 28 of the Tao Te Ching: "For the world, Changde is not invincible, and returns to Wuji. "Taoism believes that at the beginning of creation, the world was ethereal, and the universe was still in a state of formless, boundaryless chaos. We call this state "nothing". This "nothing" in Taoism is the concept of zero in mathematics.
One: Taiyi
Sanqing refers to the Taoist collective name for the three highest gods in the Taoist immortal system. These three highest gods refer to: Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun, Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun and Taiqing Daode Tianzun. The Daode Tianzun here is the familiar Taishang Laojun. Although he ranks third among the Three Purities, he is the Taoist ancestor of Taoism, and his book "Tao Te Ching" is regarded as the "Bible" of Taoism.
Later, due to the emergence of the saying "Laojun transforms into three pure beings with one Qi", one god became three gods. In the ether, Laojun was divided into three gods of three pure states. "Qi" (same as "Qi") is the basic element in constructing the highest god of Taoism.
Two: Two Yis
"Book of Changes": "Yi has Tai Chi, which produces two Yis, two Yis give birth to four images, and four images give rise to Bagua." Two Yis are seen in Taoism There are many ways to say it, it can represent yin and yang, or it can represent heaven and earth, or it can represent hardness and softness. Everything in the world contains yin and yang, which are interdependent and conform to the nature of heaven and earth. One yin and one yang are called Tao, and yin and yang are the most basic doctrines of Taoism.
Three: Three Talents; Three Officials
The "Three Talents" are heaven, earth and man. In the traditional concept of Taoism, heaven, earth and man are a trinity. Everything in the world is created by nature and is created by nature. It is Qi in the sky and form on the earth. Every plant and tree is in harmony with the heaven and earth, and is integrated into one body. The unity of heaven and man is the relationship between heaven, earth and man, and it is also the essence of Tao. "
Sanguan" refers to the three official emperors, respectively referring to Tianguan, Diguan and Shuiguan, also known as "Three Yuan". They are the gods worshiped earlier by Taoism. It plays a very important role in the lineage of Taoist immortals.
Four: Four Elephants; Four Royals
The "Four Elephants" in ancient Chinese mythology first referred to Lao Yang, Lao Yin, Shao Yang and Shao Yin, as the Book of Changes says : Tai Chi generates two rituals, and two rituals generate four images. The four images are actually derived from the two rituals of yin and yang.
In traditional Taoist culture, the green dragon, white tiger, red bird, and Xuanwu are the specific representatives of the four images. They are also called the four spirits and are deeply worshiped among the people. Among them, the green dragon represents wood, the white tiger represents gold, the red bird represents fire, and the basalt represents water. They also represent the four directions of east, west, south, and north respectively.
Five: Five Elements; Five Directions and Five Elders
The Five Elements refers to the five elements that the ancients divided into five types of things in the universe, that is, into the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. categories, and call them "Five Elements".
The theory of the Five Elements is the core of traditional Taoist culture. Taoists believe that everything in the world is composed of the movement and cycle of the five basic elements of wood, fire, earth, gold, and water. They believe that nature is composed of five elements. , with the rise and fall of these five elements, changes will occur in nature, which not only affects human destiny, but also causes the cycle of all things in the universe.
The Five Directions and Five Elders are Chinese folk beliefs and Taoist gods. They are the Eastern Qing Emperor Qing Ling Shi Lao Jiu Qi Tian Jun, the Southern Red Emperor Dan Ling Zhen Lao San Qi Tian Jun, and the Central Yellow Emperor Xuan Ling Huang Lao One Qi Tianjun, the White Emperor Hao Ling Huang Lao Qi Qi Tianjun of the West, and the Black Emperor Wuling Xuan Lao Wu Qi Tianjun of the north.
Six: Liuding Liujia; Nandou Liuxingjun
In ancient times, people called pregnant women "pregnant with Liujia". Liujia and Liuding here were originally Taoist priests. There are twelve gods who control the heavenly stems and earthly branches. In the later period, they were equivalent to the Liujia Taisui God and Liuyi Taisui God in the Sixty Taisui General. It is said that Liuding Liujia is the servant of the Emperor of Heaven and can "move wind and thunder and control ghosts and gods." Therefore, Taoist priests can use talismans to summon them when performing fasting rituals.
Seven: Big Dipper
The Big Dipper are the seven star gods worshiped by Taoism, namely the Big Dipper. The first is Tianshu, the Lord of Yangming Greedy Wolf Star; the second is Tianxuan, the Lord of Yin Jing Jumen; the third is Tianji, the Lord of Zhenren Lucun; the fourth is Tianquan, the Lord of Xuanming Wenqu; the fifth is Tianheng, Danyuan Lian Zhen Xingjun; the sixth day is called Kaiyang, the North Pole Wuqu Xingjun; the seventh day is Yaoguang, the sky breaks through the military star king.
Eight: Bagua; Eight Immortals
The Tai Chi Bagua diagram is the symbol of Taoism, which are: Qian, Zhen, Kan, Gen, Kun, Xun, Li, and Dui. The summary of Bagua is "to deal with people and turn bad things into good fortune". It is the ancient Yin and Yang theory. The so-called Bagua is the eight hexagrams. The eight trigrams are combined with each other and become sixty-four hexagrams, which are used to symbolize various natural and human phenomena.
Everyone is familiar with the story of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea. The Eight Immortals are the eight Taoist gods widely circulated in Chinese folklore. Tieguai Li Xuan), Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao, Lu Dongbin, He Xiangu, Lan Caihe, Han Xiangzi, Cao Guojiu. Later, there was a famous saying about the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing his magical powers.
Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Taoism