玉清真王南極長生大帝

南極長生大帝，居於南鬥垣附近，即現天文之南極星（但不是南極仙翁，這的注意）。

「 南 極 長 生 大 帝 」 ， 是 協 助 玉 皇 執 掌 人 間 壽 夭 禍 福

南方南極長生大帝，又名玉清真王，為元始天王九子

全稱「高上神霄玉清真王長生大帝統天元聖天尊」，居高上神霄玉清府，簡稱神雷玉府。

對於南極長生大帝的來歷，有兩種說法：其一為元始天王長子之說。據道經《高上神雷玉清真王紫書大法.序》載：「昔太空未成，元炁未生，元始天王為昊莽溟律大梵之祖，凝神結胎，名曰混沌。混沌既拆，乃有天地。中外之炁，方名混虛。元始天王，運化開圖，金容赫日，玉相如天，陶育妙精，分辟乾坤。乃自玉京上山下游。遇萬炁祖母太玄玉極元景自然九天上玄玉清神母，行上清大洞雌雄三一混化之道，生子八人，長曰南極長生大帝。亦號九龍扶桑日宮大帝。亦號高上神霄玉清王。一身三名，其聖一也。」這位真王，凝神金闕，思念世間一切眾生三災八難，一切眾苦九幽泉酆，一切罪魂受報緣對。又因牿劫相求，無量眾苦，不捨晝夜，生死往來，如旋車輪。故真王以神通力，憫三界一切眾生，即詣玉清天中元始上帝，金閥之下，禮請慇勤，乞問紫微上宮紫玉瓊蕊之笈，於九霄寶箓之內，請《神霄真王秘法》一部三卷……

元始上帝即敕太皇萬福真君以《高上神霄玉清真長生護命秘法》傳付下世。其二為元始天王第九子之說。

據道經《高上九霄玉清大梵紫微玄都雷霆玉經》稱元始天王「第九子位為高上神霄玉清真王長生大帝，專制九霄三十六天，三十六天尊統領」。

同時，《高上神雷玉清真王紫書大法》卷一《元始八子封職》中對南極長生大帝的神職亦有記載，謂南極長生大帝任高上神雷玉清王，職太陽九炁玉賢君、玉清保仙王，諱棍洞，字曜華。

同卷《八帝封號官職位》中亦稱：「第一子任神霄玉清天王，綽霄太平應化道主大帝，遙領扶桑太陽九炁神君。

Nan Ji Da Di (南極大帝) aka Nan Ji Chang Sheng Da Di (南極長生大帝), in folks belief always mistaken as Nan Ji Xian Weng (南極仙翁) or Shou Xing Gong (壽星公) – Deity of Longevity.

Nan Ji Da Di, one of the 4/6 Celestial Emperors (四極大帝/六御大帝之一) manifested by Yuan Shi Tian Wang to look after issues that are associated all Beings in the Three Realms (為元始天王之化身).

According to Taoist Records, Taoist Scriptures & Chinese Deity System, Nan Ji Da Di was believed to be the 9^th Son of Yuan Shi Tian Wang (Tian Wang’s manifestation 據記載﹐南極大帝為元始天王第九子﹐稱為玉清真王).

And in some other contexts (另一說法), Nan Ji Da Di was believed to be the manifestation of Wan Qi Zu Lao Yu Qing Shen Mu (translated as Mother Highness of Infinite Energy of Yu Qing 萬氣祖姥玉清神母) after she collated the Three Pure Energies of the Universe together (大洞雌雄三一混化之道而成南極大帝).

So what is the main task for Nan Ji Da Di?

According to the Chinese Deity System, Nan Ji Da Di was being appointed to assist Jade Emperor in looking into Life & Age issues of all Beings in the Three Realms (協助玉皇執掌三界壽夭禍福).

And this is why, when a being is in-need to seek Deities for prolonging of one’s life, Nan Ji Da Di will be one of the few Deities that they can look-up for.