How did Daoist beliefs change the identity of Mount Tai’s most important deity?

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With the rise of organized Daoism, the identity of the primary deity of Mount Tai underwent a formal transformation. Originally known as Taishan Fujun, or "Lord of Mount Tai," the spirit was elevated to the title of Taiyue Dadi, or "Grand Emperor of Mount Tai".1

This shift reflected the mountain's evolving religious significance, as it became viewed as the center of the yang principle and the source of life. From the Dong Han period onward, beliefs associated with the mountain held that this deity determined human destiny and presided over the judgment of souls after death.1