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Glite Dictionary
Heavenly Jewel

Heavenly Jewel

9.9
A Taoist god who is the first of the three main gods
  • noun
  • Literature
translation icon : Joya Celestial
  • The Heavenly Jewel represents the ultimate spiritual essence in Taoism.

Examples

  • Rituals sometimes begin by invoking the Heavenly Jewel for blessings.

  • The Heavenly Jewel is often depicted at the top of Taoist shrines.

  • Many Taoists honor the Heavenly Jewel as the source of universal order.

  • Many followers of Taoism revere the Heavenly Jewel as a symbol of enlightenment.

  • Many Taoists honor the Heavenly Jewel as the source of universal order.

  • Rituals sometimes begin by invoking the Heavenly Jewel for blessings.

  • The Heavenly Jewel is often depicted at the top of Taoist shrines.

Synonyms

Tien-pao
vsHeavenly Jewel
9.9

The first of three important gods in Taoism

uses the shorter term Taoism and simpler phrasing

Surface Forms

Heavenly Jewel singular
Heavenly Jewels plural

Morphology

heavenly + jewel

Although the constituents 'heavenly' and 'jewel' transparently yield a literal sense of a divine or precious object, the specific meaning—naming the first of the three supreme deities in the Taoist Trinity—is a culture-specific referent that cannot be derived from the parts. A B1 learner who knows the words would not predict the expression refers to a particular Taoist deity without prior cultural or lexical knowledge, so this is not compositionally transparent.

Etymology

Heavenly Jewel paints a clear picture of a bright, precious stone high in the sky. One popular story in Taoist belief says the shining jewel in the heavenly sky sits above everything and brings order and blessing, so the name came to mean the 'highest of the gods'.