Deities (of Daojiao)

Daojiao, originiating in China, has absorbed many of China's own folk deities. Therefore, you could call religious Taoism as part of the broader Chinese folk religion. Note that the deities worshipped in Daojiao are oftentimes also worshipped in Chinese folk religion, but not all folk deities are exclusively Taoist. A lot of regional Chinese deities have also gained Taoist deity status.

The Pantheon

The Taoist Pantheon is divided into serveral layers and continously grows as Taoist masters encounter new deities in meditation and as Taoists become immortals themselves. Because there are thousands of gods, immortals and other divine beings in the Pantheon, I'll cover only a fraction covering the 'most important' ones.

Three Pure Ones

Yuanshi Tianzun

Yuanshi Tianzun is known as the 'Primeval Lord of Heaven' or the Celestial Worthy of Pimordial Beginning, accredited with the creation of the Earth and Heaven after he was born into the beginning of the universe. Resides in Heaven of Jade Clarity (purest heaven, origin of all existence).

Sangqing Tianzun

Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure, acts as the translator or mediator between Yuanshi and the earth. Resides in the Heaven of Upper Clarity (main place where Tao becomes yin & yang) and reveals sacred texts to humanity. He leads rituals and cosmic orders.

Lingbao Tianzun

Celestial Worthy of the Dao and Virtue, associated best with Laozi, writer of the Tao Te Ching. He resides in the Heaven of Great Clarity (manifested Dao, focuses on physical immortality) and is representative of the Dao on Earth. He is considered the 'teacher', guiding humanity towards peace with the Tao.

The Four Heavenly Emperors

In some specific traditions, there are six emperors. But the most widely acknowledged are the four. They each respectively govern over their own realms (Earth, Heaven, North Star & afterlife) and serve directly under the Three Pure Ones.

The Jade Emperor

In Taoism, the Jade Emperor is seen as a subordinate to the Three Pure Ones. He's in charge of the entire heavenly realm and acts as the main administrator of the cosmos. The deities below him mainly report to him.

Emperor of the North Star

In charge of the stars and celestial bodies. Rituals are invoked for him to align oneself with cosmic harmony.

Emperor of the Celestial Hook

Rules over military affairs and protects the cosmic order from chaos. Called for in exorcisms and martial rituals.

Empress of Earth

Ruler over the underworld, the Earth and fertility. Her rule acts as the balance between the Jade Emperor's power over the Heavens, herself ruling over the Earth. Worshipped for harvest yields and burials.

Star Deities

Celestial bodies are personified in religious Taoism and seen as deities who control the natural world and human fate. Each deity can be compared to a government official, assigned to their own domain which they hold power over.

Big Dipper (Bei Dou)

The Big Dipper is one of the most important constallations in Taoism, seen as the controller of life, death and one's destiny. Each star of the Big Dipper is its own deity, having 7 in total. Rituals revolving around the Beidou promote a longer life and avoid bad luck.

The Southern Dipper (Nan Dou)

The Southern Dipper dictates birth and longetivity. The Six Stars of the Southern Dipper are tied to the Six Heavens in Taoist cosmology.

Natural Spirits

Natural spirits (shen), similar to the Star Deities, form their own 'ministries' (Bu) similar to that of a governments'. Here I'll only cover a part of all ministries, each having their own natural elements.

the Dragon Kings

The Dragon Ministry is controlled by the Four Dragon Kings, them being Ao Guang (the East Sea), Ao Qin (the South Sea), Ao Run (the West Sea) and Ao Shun (the North Sea). For context, China saw itself as the Middle Kingdom, a giant island surrounded by four seas.

Thunder Ministry (Lei Bu)

The Thunder Ministry holds control over the weather, exorcism and has the authority to give out divine punishment. Leading figures are Leo Gong, the Thunder God, his wife, Dian Mu, Lightining Mother who holds mirrors to create lighting and Feng Bo (Wind Earl) & Yu Shi (Rain Master) who hold the power to control storms and rain.

Mountain Deities

Similar to the Dragon Kings, there are Five Sacred Mountains, those being Heng Shan (North - water & winter), Tai Shan (East - life & death), Song Shan (Center - balance), Hua Shan (West - metal & autumn) and Heng Shan (South - fire & summer).

Historical Figures

Various mortal, historical figures have been (almost always) posthumously granted divine titles by Chinese emperors. Guan Yu, as an example, was later worshipped as Guan Di, God of War after his death.

Merit

Some figures, like Mazu, was a woman living in the Song Dynasty named Lin Moniang who later became Goddess of the Sea due her performed miracles. Specifically:

During her brother and father's boat being caught in the middle of a typhoon, she sensed the danger while meditating at home and (in some versions) her soul left her body to go and guide the boat back to safety. But, while she was guiding the boat, her mother who was unaware Mazu was in meditation, interrupted her causing Mazu to lose focus. As a result, she saved her brother but wasn't able to save her father, who drowned in the water.

Deeply hit by the tragedy, she went into the sea to recover the body of her father. After her death, various fishermen reported to have seen her spirit guide ships, leading to her veneration as Goddess of the Sea.

Taoist Masters

Another way to enter the Pantheon of Taoism is to become immortal. This was achieved by some living Taoist Masters who achieved immortality through rituals, like Zhang Daoling.