三皇
Sanhuang (The Three Sovereigns)
定义
即天皇、地黄、人皇,为君臣之始,教化之先。三皇像,人头龙身,四足长尾双羽,天皇为13头,地黄11头,人黄9头,与中国古代的九州设置相一致,各为九州之长。
Sanhuang (The Three Sovereigns): refers to the Heavenly Sovereign, the Earthly Sovereign, and the Human Sovereign, mythical figures regarded as the earliest sovereigns of China and pioneers who imparted knowledge to human beings. In painting, all have the body of a dragon, four feet, two wings, and a long tail, with the Heavenly Sovereign having thirteen human heads, the Earthly Sovereign eleven heads, and the Human Sovereign nine heads. The nine heads of the Human Sovereign symbolize his reign of the Nine Provinces or Nine Regions (jiuzhou) in ancient China since the number 9 is consistent with the territorial divisions, the Nine Provinces (or Regions) at that time.
