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In Taiwanese Daoism, the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe (九天應元雷聲普化天尊) is the highest deity in the Thunder Ministry. In the the Korean new religion, Daesoon Jinrihoe (大巡真理會), he is the Supreme God. However, since the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe has the same name in these two traditions, it naturally leads people to wonder whether or not they can be considered the same deity. Or failing that, it could still be asked, to what extent are these two deities related? Or it could further be asked what meaning does the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe have in these two religions? Anyhow, all such questions depend on first establishing a greater degree of basic clarity. Religious scripture can serve as a cornerstone in gaining such basic clarity. Scripture almost invariably contains information regarding the divine nature, divine authority, and sacrosanctity of deities reflective of what is understood by the devotees of those religions. Clues on the precise nature of these key attributes of deity-depiction can be drawn out of scriptural accounts, and as such, the research presented in this paper will begin by comparing two relevant scriptures. The representative scriptures highlighted in this paper will be The Canonical Scripture (典經) of Daesoon Jinrihoe and The Scripture of the Jade Pivot (玉樞寶經) of Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity, 正一) Daoism. These scriptures will serve as the basis for exploration and analysis of the divine attributes of the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe in terms of his divine nature, divine authority, and sacrosanctity. By comparing these two scriptural accounts of his divine attributes, the similarities and differences that arise can be properly explored. This paper endeavors to clarify the ultimate purpose of 'the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe.' In this paper, the first step will be an exploration of scriptural analysis. The contents of this paper is roughly divided into four sections. The first section is an exploration of the general contents of the two scriptures, including their origin, contents, and value. The second section focuses on the three main divine attributes of the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe: his divine nature, divine authority, and sacrosanctity. The third section will compare the depictions of the deity in the two scriptural accounts in terms of those three attributes. Lastly, the deity's evolutionary history in both religions is shown and compared and final remarks are made on the contemporary value of the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe.
九天應元雷聲普化天尊在臺灣道教中, 被奉為雷部至上之神 ; 在韓國大巡真理會中, 卻是其宗教信仰的至上神。而九天應元雷聲普化天尊也因為在兩個宗教中具有相同名稱, 不禁讓人想知道, 在不同宗教卻出現相同名稱的神祇, 兩者之間是否指的是同一位神?亦或是兩者之間是否具有一定的關聯性?九天應元雷聲普化天尊在兩個宗教中, 所負含的意義為何?諸如此類的相關問題, 有必要先進行基礎性的釐清。而宗教經典即是釐清基礎性問題的基石。宗教經典對於具有該宗教情愫的人而言, 通常具有一定的神聖性, 權威性與教化性, 這些宗教經典的特性, 經常可由經典中人物的話語或經文字句中看出端倪, 因此, 本文亦試圖從兩宗教的經典中開始著手研究。本文從韓國大巡真理會與道教正一派的兩部關於「九天應元雷聲普化天尊」之經典 《典經》 與 《玉樞寶經》 著手, 探究兩部經典中, 解析 關於九天應元雷聲普化天尊, 在兩部經典中的神聖形象, 權威形象與教化形象, 並對九天應元雷聲普化天尊在兩部經典中的形象進行比較, 試圖探究兩者異同性。本文基於釐清「九天應元雷聲普化天尊在兩宗教中的異同」的終極目標下, 於本文中先進行第一步的經典分析探究。本文內容大致分為四大部分, 第一部分為, 探究兩部經典的內涵, 包含經典的由來, 內涵與價值。第二部分為, 兩部經典中九天應元雷聲普化天尊之三種經典形象, 包含神聖形象, 權為形象與教化形象。第三部分為, 兩部經典中九天應元雷聲普化天尊之三種經典形象比較。最後, 以兩教間的發展演化, 歷史關係, 為兩部經典中的九天應元雷聲普化天尊之存在價值做些許論述。