One of the four Taoist Marshals, Marshal Ma - Chinese Deities 5 (GIF)

Huaguang Dadi is is also known as Lingguan Ma Yuanshuai, or Marshal Ma (Error in the photo version, it is not Marshal Wen), one of the Four Guardian Marshals of Taoism. Illustrating the need for imperial recognition by orthodox Taoism and Buddhism in medieval China, the two religions share many deities, but in different roles. Therefore, while a warrior deity in Taoism, and also venerated by Cantonese Opera troupes as the God of Performing Arts, and by extension, of southern styles of kungfu practiced by the opera troupes, in Buddhism, Huaguang became a generic term for one of the historical Buddha’s ten primary disciples. As Chinese folk religion has its roots in so many traditions, most deities have multiple mythologies, some from religious texts, and others from romantic fiction such as the books 'Journey to the West' and 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. In the Lingbao school of Taoism, Huaguang, aka, Marshal Ma, became associated with 'The Five Manifestations', precursors to the 'Money Gods of the Five Directions' worshipped in Taiwan today. 'The Five Manifestations were first reinvented though as the five Huaguang Heavenly Marshals , and charged by the supreme Taoist being, Yuanshi Tianzun, to protect human souls against the ravages of malevolent demons, and to assist human souls on their post-mortal journeys in the afterlife. Meanwhile, in Buddhism, The Five Manifestations were incarnated in the Lotus Sutra as the bodhisattva Huaguang, a deity later identified with the Bodhisattva Manjusri (Wenshu Pusa) in the novel Journey to the South. In this particular photograph, Huaguang is depicted in his martial role as Marshal Ma, a Taoist protector of humanity.