Question 89: Who are the Nine Celestial Maidens (Cửu vị Tiên-Nương) and the Nine Female Buddhas (Cửu vị Nữ-Phật)?  

"Under the authority of the Buddha Mother (Phật Mẫu) are the Nine Celestial Maidens, who oversee the teaching and guidance of all souls.

Beyond them are countless Buddhas who supervise the work of salvation, with Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Quan Âm Bồ Tát) as their leader.

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva resides in the Southern Sea Palace, at the An Nhàn Cave. The Palace of Diêu Trì is located in the Celestial Creation Realm." (Excerpt from Tam Thể Law)

The responsibilities of each Celestial Maiden in the Spiritual Realm are as follows:

•  1. First Maiden (Nhứt Nương)
  • Wields her sacred instrument, the Pipa.
  • Oversees the Garden of Ngạn Uyển in the First Heaven of the Ninefold Heaven (Cửu Trùng Thiên).
  • Welcomes returning souls ascending to the First Heaven.
  • Examines their causes and conditions, whether still living in the human realm or already returned to the spiritual realm.

  Each flower in the garden represents a soul. When a soul reincarnates on Earth, the flower blooms; when it returns to the spirit, the flower withers.

  When the soul acts with virtue, the flower is bright and beautiful; when it acts with evil, the flower appears wilted and unsightly.

•  2. Second Maiden (Nhị Nương)
  • Wields the sacred Incense Burner (Lư Hương).
  • Oversees the Peach Garden of the Buddha Mother in the Second Heaven.
  • Welcomes and guides souls ascending to the Second Heaven.
  • Hosts a banquet, offering the elixir of immortality to souls, then leads them to the Silver Bridge, where a line of golden light supports their ascent to the Third Heaven.

•  3. Third Maiden (Tam Nương)
  • Wields the sacred Dragon-feather Fan (Long Tu Phiến).
  • Welcomes souls to the Third Heaven, Thanh Thiên.
  • Uses the Boat of Wisdom (Bát Nhã) to ferry souls across the sea of suffering to the shore of enlightenment, returning them to their former positions.

•  4. Fourth Maiden (Tứ Nương)
  • Wields the sacred Golden Tablet (Kim Bảng).
  • Welcomes souls to the Fourth Heaven, Huỳnh Thiên.

•  5. Fifth Maiden (Ngũ Nương)
  • Wields the sacred Wish-Fulfilling Staff (Như Ý).
  • Guides souls to the Fifth Heaven, Xích Thiên, within the Ninefold Heaven.
  • Directs them to the Minh Cảnh Đài, to clearly observe the deeds and karmic results of their previous earthly lives.
  • Then to the Ngọc Diệt Hình Palace, to open the Book of Nameless Scripture (Kinh Vô Tự) and review the fruits of their past actions.

•  6. Sixth Maiden (Lục Nương)
  • Wields the sacred Floating Banner (Phướn Tiêu Diêu / Phướn Truy Hồn).
  • Welcomes souls to the Sixth Heaven, Kim Thiên.
  • Guides them to the Vạn Pháp Palace, to review their past karma.

  In one earthly incarnation in France, the Sixth Maiden was the Holy Woman Jeanne d’Arc (1412–1431), who expelled invading English forces to save France.

•  7. Seventh Maiden (Thất Nương)
  • Wields the sacred Lotus Flower.
  • Welcomes souls to the Seventh Heaven, Hạo Nhiên Thiên, to pay respects to Chuẩn Đề Bodhisattva and Phổ Hiền Bodhisattva.
  • Volunteers to descend from the Ngọc Hư Palace to the realm of the dead to guide female spirits, awakening them for future reincarnation to repay karmic debts and practice cultivation.

•  8. Eighth Maiden (Bát Nương)
  • Wields the sacred Blue Lotus Basket.
  • Welcomes souls to the Eighth Heaven, Phi Tưởng Thiên, within the Ninefold Heaven.
  • Guides souls to pay respects to Merciful Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.

  She incarnated on Earth in China during the Western Han dynasty as Bạch Liên (White Lotus).

•  9. Ninth Maiden (Cửu Nương)
  • Wields the sacred Flute (Ống Tiêu).
  • Welcomes souls to the Ninth Heaven, Tạo Hóa Thiên, to pay homage to the Buddha Mother (Phật Mẫu).

The Nine Celestial Maidens oversee the teaching and spiritual guidance of all souls.

All skills and crafts — female arts, music, strategy, poetry, painting, or philosophy — fall under the care of the Nine Maidens, who educate and cultivate these talents.

In the Caodaist scripture Thiên Đạo và Thế Đạo, within the ritual instructions for the Buddha Mother, disciples recite:

But after reciting the “Praise to the Virtues of Diêu Trì Kim Mẫu”, the conclusion instructs: "Nam mô TẠO HÓA HUYỀN THIÊN CỬU VỊ NỮ PHẬT"

Why are there two titles?

This is not difficult to understand: they are one and the same beings. In popular language and mythology, when discussing magical powers, they are called Celestial Maidens (Tiên). When discussing enlightenment, they are called Buddhas (Phật).

• Enlightenment is Buddha.
• Magical power is Celestial.

In the early Caodaist scriptures, when spiritual beings first communicated the Đạo to human disciples, they were called Cửu Vị Tiên Nương, referring to the power and skill of these Maidens.

These spirits, from the void, communicated with mortals through table-sitting and spirit-writing, creating the foundation of Caodaism — like a dream manifested.

Later, when spiritual cultivation and enlightenment were emphasized, the same beings were called Buddhas, reflecting their awakened state. Whether Tiên or Phật, these beings are essentially spiritual souls of the highest order, beyond physical form.

The titles “Celestial” or “Buddha” are human terms, derived from the practice path each followed:

• Following the Shakyamuni path: called Buddha.
• Following Lao-Tzu and Zhuangzi path: called Celestial.

Because they attained enlightenment, they naturally possessed spiritual power; spiritual power and enlightenment are two aspects of the same soul life.

When these exalted beings communicate with humans, they adopt human language to convey sacred meaning clearly. Misunderstanding this can easily lead to confusion.

In essence, the Nine Celestial Maidens and the Nine Female Buddhas are one and the same, unceasing in their path of spiritual cultivation, like sunlight illuminating the planets.

Their recognition as Buddhas is not merely because of their service to Caodaism — it reflects their intrinsic enlightenment.