Four heavenly ministers
The Four Heavenly Ministers , also translated as the Four Sovereigns, are four of the highest sky deities of Taoism and subordinate only to the Three Pure Ones. They assist the Three Pure Ones in administering all phenomenon of the universe.
The Four Heavenly Ministers are: The Great Jade Emperor , the Great Emperor of Middle Heaven North Star, the Great Emperor of Polaris, and the Imperial God of Earth.
The Great Jade Emperor is the head of all sky deities and presides over the heaven. The Great Emperor of Middle Heaven North Star assists the Jade Emperor in managing the sun, the moon, stars, and the climate of the four seasons. The Great Emperor of Polaris oversees all matters in heaven, earth, and the human world. The Imperial God of Earth is in charge of fertility, land, rivers, and mountains.
The four heavenly ministers are often worshiped in Taoist temples.
