Tag: Chinese Myth Figures

Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 23 ZhongKui 钟馗

In Chinese folklores, Zhong Kui is a god who exorcises ghosts and evil spirits.As legend has it, he lived in Zhongnan Mountain in the early Tang Dynasty. He was born with a panther-like head, ring-like eyes, an iron face and curly whiskers. Though very ugly, he was a profoundly learned and talented figure. As a man of integrity, he always upheld justice and feared no evil or mischievous being. In 712 when Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty ascended the throne, Zhong Kui went to Chang’an to take the imperial civil examination. Impressed by Zhong’s five poems entitled Holding Banquets in Yingzhou, the chief examiner praised him as a prodigy and enrolled him top of all examinees. During the palace examination, however, a treacherous minister named Lu Qi judged Zhong Kui by the appearance, and repeatedly spoke ill of him before the emperor. As a result, Zhong Kui failed to claim championship in the exam. Infuriated, he bumped his head against a pillar in the palace and thus killed himself. The entire court was shocked. Then Emperor Dezong issued an imperial edict, conferring upon Zhong Kui the title of Demon Queller who traveled all over the world to kill the evil and expel the wicked. In addition, the official title of Number One Scholar was also buried with him.

Continue Reading →

Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 22 Pixiu 貔貅

Also known as Tianlu or Bixie, Pixiu is one of the five auspicious animals in ancient Chinese mythology, the other four being the dragon, phoenix, tortoise, and Chinese unicorn. Pixiu is considered a wealth-bringing divine animal with a dragon’s head, a horse’s body and a unicorn’s feet. The animal, capable of flying, looks like a lion and has gray fur.

Continue Reading →

Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 21 The God of Land 土地神

The God of Land, commonly known as “Lord of Land”, “Land Master” or “Land Divinity”, may be the lowest-ranking and most unnoticed god of all divinities, but it’s one of the most-widely worshipped gods among the Chinese people. In the past, nearly all households enshrined the God of Land, with temples of various sizes dedicated to the god scattered in urban and rural areas, attracting a large number of pilgrims.

Continue Reading →

Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 19 Tai Sui 太岁君

Tai Sui is one of the few demon gods of divinities in Chinese folk culture and people tend to shy away from him.
The term "Tai Sui" is derived from the "Tai Sui Calendar System" of ancient China. "Sui" originally referred to Jupiter, which was considered the head of all stars. But it was quite inconvenient to calculate the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches based on the movement of Jupiter, so people created a false and imaginary star moving directly opposite to Jupiter. This star was called "Tai Sui".

Continue Reading →

Chinese Myth Figures 中国神话人物 17 Tianlu and Bixie 天禄与辟邪

Tianlu (heavenly emolument) and Bixie (evil dispeller) are two Chinese mythological animals that herald in good fortune and keep evil at bay. Both look like a lion except for their wings–the one with only one horn on his head is tianlu and the one with two horns is Bixie. During the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. -220 A.D.), the images of both animals were for ornamentation purposes. Sculptures of them were placed in front of tombs to suggest the dignity and power and authority the deceased enjoyed in their lifetime. As symbols of bravery and immunity to evil, the two animals are meant for those aspiring to ascend to heaven to ride on. Images of tianlu and Bixie were inscribed, embroidered or carved on fabrics, army banners, bands and hooks, or the handles of seals and bells in ancient times.

Continue Reading →