The
Three Pure Ones also translated as the
Three Pure Pellucid Ones, the
Three Pristine Ones, the
Three Divine Teachers, the
Three Clarities, or the
Three Purities are the
Taoist Trinity, the three highest Gods in the Taoist pantheon. They are regarded as pure manifestation of the
Tao and the origin of all sentient beings. From the Taoist classic
Tao Te Ching, it was held that "The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things." It is generally agreed that: Tao produced One -
Wuji produced
Taiji; One produced Two - Taiji produced
Yin and Yang [or Liangyi (兩儀) in scholastic term]. However, the subject of how Two produced Three has remained a popular debate among Taoist Scholars. Most scholars believe that it refers to the Interaction between Yin and Yang, with the presence of
Chi, or life force.