Today I wanted to write about Lu Ban, a Chinese spirit who’s the patron of architects, carpenters, and stone masonry. Lu Ban was once mortal. He was born into a family of carpenters. Soon, his craftsmanship became famous, leading him to get many contracts. To keep up with the demand for his work, he hadContinue reading “Lu Ban”
Category Archives: Chinese folk deities (Shen)
Niú Mówáng
Today I wanted to write about Niú Mówáng, the Bull Demon King, a malevolent Chinese god. He’s married to Tiě Shàn Gōngzhǔ. He is one of the five main antagonists in The Journey to the West. During his fight with Sun Wukong, it is left up to the Jade Emperor to decide his fate. HeContinue reading “Niú Mówáng”
Changxi
With the full moon tonight I wanted to write about Changxi, a Chinese goddess of the moon. She is the wife of Di Jun, together they have 12 daughters who represent the months. Di Jun is also married to the solar goddess Xihe. Changxi and Chang’e may have originated as a single goddess. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changxi?wprov=sfla1
Fengbo
Today I wanted to write about Fengbo, a Taoist god of wind. Fengbo lives in the constellation of Sagittarius. He uses a goatskin bag and fan to control winds. Fengbo is sometimes considered the same as Fei Lien, a dragon/deer/leopard/bird hybrid. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fengbo_%28deity%29?wprov=sfla1
Dhṛtarāṣṭra
Today I wanted to write about Dhṛtarāṣṭra, a Buddhist Deva of the east and music. Dhṛtarāṣṭra is a member of the Heavenly Kings. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dh%E1%B9%9Btar%C4%81%E1%B9%A3%E1%B9%ADra?wprov=sfla1
Chìjiǎo Dàxiān
Today, I wanted to write about Chìjiǎo dàxiān (Barefoot Immortal), also called Liu Hai or Liu Cao, a Taoist god associated with relaxation. In the Journey to the West, Sun Wukong tricks Chìjiǎo dàxiān to go to the wrong location for the Peach Banquet so that Sun Wukong can go in his place. Liu CaoContinue reading “Chìjiǎo Dàxiān”
Lingbao Tianzun
Today I wanted to write about Lingbao Tianzun, a Taoist god of the present. He is a member of the Sānqīng, a Taoist trio who rule over time: past, present, future. His largest temple is in Shanxi by Mt Mian. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingbao_Tianzun?wprov=sfla1
Huyen Vu
Today I wanted to write about Huyen Vu (black tortoise), a Chinese and Vietnamese spirit of the North, winter, and magic. Black tortoise is one of the four symbols of Chinese astrology. Black tortoise is frequently the companion or even the same figure as Xuanwu. The Hoklo people were known to bury their dead inContinue reading “Huyen Vu”
Nánjí Lǎorén
Today I wanted to write about Nánjí Lăorén, Old Man of the South Pole, a Taoist personification of Canopus and god of longevity, joy, and death. Nánji Lăorén holds the power of death while his brother, the old man of the North pole, resides over birth. The two of them can be bribed with wineContinue reading “Nánjí Lǎorén”
Vaiśravaṇa
Today for the Holidays I wanted to write about Vaiśravaṇa, also called Bishamonten, a Buddhist war deity. Vaiśravaṇa is one of the Four Heavenly Kings and one of the Seven Gods of Fortune. Vaiśravaṇa was known to regularly descend to earth to protect Siddhārtha Gautama. His earliest sites of veneration were trees, however now heContinue reading “Vaiśravaṇa”
Ge Hong
Today I wanted to write about Ge Hong, a Taoist Immortal associated with medicine. Ge Hong was a philosopher, physician, writer, politician, and alchemist from the 300s whose writings on taoism and traditional Chinese medicine became very important eventually leading to him being venerated as a spirit of healing in taoism. His writings are stillContinue reading “Ge Hong”
Zhenyuan Daxian
Today I wanted to write about Zhenyuan Daxian, a Taoist Immortal who is the patriarch of all of Earth’s immortals. Zhenyuan Daxian gaurds a special ginsengfruit tree which produces the ‘manfruit’ a pearlike fruit which resembles a human child that grants an extra 40000 years onto ones life however only 30 fruits can be grownContinue reading “Zhenyuan Daxian”
Wong Tai Sin
Today I wanted to write about Wong Tai Sin, a Taoism healing deity mostly venerated in Hong Kong. Wong Tai Sin was born Huang Chuping in 328 in Lanxi, Jinhua, Zhejiang province. He was a shepherd by trade he later met an immortal on a mountain who blessed him with the ability to turn rocksContinue reading “Wong Tai Sin”
Jiutian Xuannü
Today I wanted to write about Jiutian Xuannü, a Chinese goddess of war, martial arts, sex, and fertility. She is the sister of Sunü. Jiutian Xuannü is said to have been the ine to teach humans about different sexual positions. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiutian_Xuann%C3%BC?wprov=sfla1
Ao Shun
Today for Dragon month, I wanted to write about Ao Shun, also called Black Dragon of the North, a Chinese Dragon-God of the North Sea/Lake Baikal, along with water and winter. He’s the brother of Ao Guang, Ao Qin, and Ao Run. When their father (Yellow Dragon King) was giving them their own seas heContinue reading “Ao Shun”
Bai Long Ma
Today for Dragon month I wanted to write about Bai Long Ma, a Chinese dragon-god who is a major figure in Journey to the West. He is a son of Ao Run. After he destroyed his father’s pearl, he was sentenced to be executed. However, Guanyin saved him, so he only had to live inContinue reading “Bai Long Ma”
Pangu
Today I wanted to write about Pangu, a Chinese god of creation and embodiment of Taiji. Pangu was born from the primordial egg created by Yin and Yang. It separated the earth from the sky with his axe, after spending 18,000 creating the world he died and his eye’s became the sun and the moon,Continue reading “Pangu”
Nüwa
Today I wanted to write about Nüwa, a woman in Chinese legends credited with creating humanity along with music, cooking, hunting, fishing, farming, and the Cangjie. Sge is the daughter of Huaxu, and is married to her twin brother Fuxi. With Fuxi they created the first humans by their campfire out of clay and broughtContinue reading “Nüwa”
Guanyin
Today for Pride Month I wanted to write about Guanyin, an androgynous Buddhist Bodhisattva of mercy, healing, travel, and the protector of fishermen, women and children, among many other things. Guanyin is a child of Miaozhuang Wang who wanted them to marry for money. After years of an unfulfilling marriage, they turned to a lifeContinue reading “Guanyin”
Taibai Jinxing
Today I wanted to write about Taibai Jinxing, a Chinese god of the planet venus. He’s a son of Baidi. In Journey to the West Taibai Jinxing is a messenger of the Jade Emperor to Sun Wukong. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taibai_Jinxing?wprov=sfla1
Xiangshuishen
Today I wanted to write about the Xiangshuishen, a duo of Chinese river goddesses. The Xiangshuishen are daughters of Shangdi or Emperor Yao, and live in the Xiang River. The spots that grow on bamboo are caused by the tears that the Xiangshuishen shed. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiangshuishen?wprov=sfla1
Houtu
Wrapping up with earth week I wanted to write about Houtu, a genderfluid Chinese goddexx of the land, earth, soil, Di, and Yin. Houtu is a child of Gonggong. They’re one of the four heavily ministers (Sì yù). They are often synchronized with Bhumi. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houtu?wprov=sfla1
Ganymedes' guide. 