Taibai Jinxing (Grand White) is one of the best-known immortals among Taoist gods.
He assumes great influence among common people. Today, in many people's opinion,
he is a kindly white-haired old man. He is honest and tolerant, acting as the
legate of Yuhuang Dadi (the Jade Emperor), in charge of transmitting
orders. Therefore, many people favor him.
He is also the apotheosis of natural
creature. In ancient China,
people called the Hesper Grand White. As it is the planet second nearest to the
sun and the nearest to the earth, it is easy to fuel people's
interest.
When Grand White was just apotheosized, he
was described as a lady. According to Taoist classical description, this goddess
is in yellow with a cockscomb-like hat and a lute in her hands. But after the
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), as the famous novel Pilgrimage to the West was
widely spread, in this novel Grand White was an old male god, which was accepted
by almost all the Chinese. Therefore, his original appearance has been
forgotten.