Tradition has it that these three gods, dressed in full imperial attire, are transformations of the sacred emperors of old, Yao, Shun, and Yu. Their birthdays--coming on the 15th day of the first, seventh, and tenth months of the year on the Chinese lunar calendar--have an important status among customary popular celebrations.
這三位著帝王服、戴帝王帽的神祇，傳說是古聖帝堯、舜、禹的化身；祂們的生辰﹘﹘上元節、中元節與下元節，更在民俗慶典中有重要地位。