Jiutian 九天 [the Ninth Heaven], or jiuchong tian 九重天, refers to the highest level of the heavens according to Chinese mythology. This term first appears in the Spring and Autumn period in ancient works like Qu Yuan’s 屈原 (339 BC – 278 BC) Tianwen 天問 [Asking the Heaven]. Later in Daoism, it is said to be composed by the nine qi generated by the Three Pure Ones, the three highest gods in the Taoist pantheon, and becomes the place where gods and immortals live.
Language and Culture Center (LCC) at Duke Kunshan University
