# Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun

Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun (simplified Chinese: 文殊广法天尊; traditional Chinese: 文殊廣法天尊; pinyin: Wénshū Guǎngfǎ Tiānzūn) is a Taoist deity and character in the classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods (more commonly known as Fengshen Yanyi). He is a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun and one of the Three Great Immortals, holding the fifth position among the Twelve Golden Immortals.
The character is believed to be derived from the bodhisattva Manjusri. The books Qunxian Xianpo Tianmen and Western Tang Dynasty Biography states Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun and Manjusri Bodhisattva are not the same person. It is believed that Manjusri Bodhisattva transformed into Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun, one of the protectors in Taoism, helping to resolve religious conflicts common in the Western regions.

## Legend

In Fengshen Yanyi, Guangfa Tianzun is the superiorman over Five Dragons Mountain, Cloud Top Cave, and the renowned teacher of Jinzha, the first son of Li Jing. In rank, Guangfa Tianzun is seemingly an elite superiorman—even greater than that of Nezha's teacher, Taiyi Zhenren.
After a fine duel had ensued between Muzha and Nezha and Li Jing attempted his first suicide, Guangfa Tianzun would appear. Once Guangfa Tianzun had ordered Li Jing to enter his cave for safety, he would personally settle things with the "spoiled brat" Nezha. Once Nezha's temper raged and he thrust his spear continuously at Guangfa Tianzun, Guangfa Tianzun would side step and throw his legendary Seven Treasure Golden Lotus over Nezha's head. Nezha would lose consciousness quickly following this and would find himself tied to a large gold post while cuffed by golden rings. Soon enough, Guangfa Tianzun would order Jinzha, his student, to flog Nezha. Following the arrival of Nezha's teacher, Taiyi Zhenren, it would be revealed that the whole event between Li Jing and Nezha had been set by Taiyi Zhenren as a chance to teach Nezha some discipline. After Nezha greeted Guangfa Tianzun and his master, who was sitting to Guangfa Tianzun's right, Nezha would have a great level of inner resentment.
After Nezha and Li Jing departed on the orders of Guangfa Tianzun, he remained absent from sight for quite some time. During the Battle of the Ten Thousand Immortals, along with Puxian Zhenren and Cihang Zhenren, he faced off against the powerful disciple of the Jie Sect, Jinling Shengmu. He once shattered the 'Tianjue Formation', the first formation of the Ten Jue Formations of the Jie Sect, and killed Qinwan Tianjun, eliminating a threat to the Chan Sect. Later, he was captured by Sanxiao Niangniang (Yunxiao Niangniang, Qiongxiao Niangniang and Bixiao Niangniang) using the Chaos-Origin Gold Gourd and imprisoned within the Grand Nine-Curves Yellow River Formation, which drained his magical powers. However, he managed to eventually restore his cultivation.
In the end, among the disciples of the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect, those with the highest level of Dao cultivation ascended to become deities upon entering the Register of Deities, while those with lesser cultivation entered as divine beings or immortals, and those with lower levels of cultivation were reborn in the cycle of reincarnation. Some disciples also joined Western Buddhism, including the Chan Sect's Cihang Zhenren (later known as Guanyin), Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun (later known as Manjushri), and Puxian Zhenren (later known as Samantabhadra).

## Temple

Located in the southwestern suburb of Chengdu, Sanqing Hall within Qingyang Palace is a temple dedicated to the supreme Taoist god Sanqing. In the center of the hall sits a statue of Sanqing, and on both sides of the hall are the disciples of Sanqing, including the Twelve Golden Immortals, including Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun. This historical temple traces its origins back to the Tang dynasty and underwent significant reconstruction during the Kangxi period of the Qing dynasty. The foundation of Sanqing Hall takes the form of a square, covering a total area of 1,600 square meters.