Longmu

Today, I wanted to write about Longmu, a Chinese goddess of paternal love. Longmu is said to have once been a mortal woman named Wen Shi. One day, when washing her clothes in the river, she found a beautiful white stone in the water, which she brought home, this stone was actually an egg which

Shuimu

Today I wanted to write about Shuimu, a Chinese water demon. Shuimu is a shapeshifter, often taking the form of a beautiful woman. However, her true form is a snake or dragon (she may have originally been a human though as one legend tells her being a peasant woman with magic killed by her mother-in-law),

Tiě Shàn Gōngzhǔ

Today I wanted to write about Tiě Shàn Gōngzhu, also called Princess Iron Fan, a Taoist goddess of metal and wind. She’s the wife of Niú Mówáng (Bull Demon King) and is the mother of Hóng Hái-er (Red Boy). Tiě Shàn Gōngzhu owns a magical fan capable of extinguishing volcanos, in the Journey to the

Pilanpo

Today I wanted to write about Pilanpo, a Chinese–Buddhist Bodhisattva associated with space. She’s the cousin of Mahamayuri, as both are descendants of Fènghuáng. In Journey to the West Pilanpo is the only one of the gods capable of capturing Hundred-Eyed Demon King by using a needle made from the sun rooster of Hairy Head.

Lü Dongbin

Today I wanted to write about Lü Dongbin, a Taoist Immortal associated with poetry and romance. Lü Dongbin, or Lü Yán as he was called in his mortal life, was born in 796 in Jingzhao on the fourteenth day of the fourteenth Chinese month. He devoted his life to scholarship until one day he had

Ao Run

Today for Dragon Week book 2: more dragons, I wanted to write about Ao Run, also called White Dragon of the West, a Chinese Dragon-God of the West sea/Qinghai Lake, along with metal and autumn. He’s the brother of Ao Guang, Ao Qin, and Ao Shun. Ao Run is the youngest of the four, when

Tu’er Ye

With it being the full moon tonight and the year of the rabbit swiftly approaching in two weeks, I wanted to write about Tu’er Ye, a Chinese lunar god. Tu’er Ye is often depicted riding a tiger, dragon, or horse. Tu’er Nainai is the feminine counterpart of Tu’er Ye but they may be the same

Budai

Today I wanted to write about Budai, a Buddhist Bodhisattva originating in China associated with joy, happiness, and laughter; in Chinese-Christian communities Budai is often their holiday gift bringer. In Budai’s mortal life he was a poor Buddhist monk who was fat and balding yet was still happy. He was known by the towns people

Jin Chan

Today I wanted to write about Jin Chan a Chinese money spirit. Jin Chan was the animal companion of Liu Haichan. Jin Chan will appear under the full moon to people that will soon become wealthier. Golden toad statues are often placed in the home to bring in money. These statues should face the main

Zigu

Today I wanted to write about Zigu, a Chinese folk goddess associated with the bathroom and toilets. In Zigu’s mortal life she was a concubine or mistress who was murdered in the bathroom by the jealous wife of the man she was sleeping with. Her mortal identity was possibly Qi, who was killed by Empress

Heibai Wuchang

Today for spooky season I wanted to write about Heibai Wuchang, a pair of Chinese deities who bring the spirits of the dead to the underworld. Heibai Wuchang, or Hei Wuchang (Fan Wujiu) and Bai Wuchang (Xie Bi’an) , were once mortal constables who were forced to split up to catch a convict who had

Qinglong

Continuing with dragon week I wanted to write about Qinglong/Ao Guang/Azure Dragon, a Chinese dragon god of spring, wood, and the East China Sea. He’s one of the Five Dragon Kings, and the only one if the five to also be one of the Sì Xiàng. Qinglong has eight daughters, the youngest being Longnü. Azure

Zhinü

As Cow Heard and Weaver Girl day is coming up on later this week on August 4th I wanted to take today to write about Zhinü, a Chinese goddess who weaves rainbows and clouds who is also associated with the star Vega. Zhinü is the youngest of the seven daughters of The Jade Emperor and

Han Xiangzi

Today I wanted to write about Han Xiangzi, one of the eight immortals in Taoism and the patron of musicians, and sometimes magicians. Han Xiangzi is a son of Han Hui, who is the brother the poet of Han Yu. After the death of Han Hui and his wife Han Xiangzi lived with his uncle.

Lan Caihe

Today I wanted to write about Lan Caihe, an intersex, androgynous, or trans-femminie Chinese immortal who is the patron of gardeners, florists, and rarely musicians. In their mortal life they lived during the Tang dynasty and were a homeless street preformer and musician. In one story about how they obtained immortality they were playing music

Yinyanggong

Today I wanted to write about Yinyanggong, a Taoist personification of the union of yin and yang, he is also sometimes an underworld god. In his mortal life he was a general to the Wufu Emperor. The majority of his temples are located in Taiwan. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yinyanggong?wprov=sfla1

Sun Wukong

Today I wanted to write about Sun Wukong, also called The Monkey King, an immortal being in Shenism often considered a trickster god. Sun Wukong was born of Stone and gained his powers through Taoism and Buddhism. Sun Wukong is part of the five major ‘gods’ from Journey to the West (Many of them are

Shennong

Today I wanted to write about Shennong, a Chinese deity and folk hero associated with farming and medicine. He is also a wind deity. In his legends he created or discovered the hoe, plow, axe, wells, irrigation, seed preservation, farmers markets, the Chinese calendar, acupuncture, moxibustion, and started the harvest festival. Shennong is sometimes said

Fuxi

Today I wanted to write about Fuxi, a man in Chinese legends created with creating humanity along with music, cooking, hunting, fishing, farming, Yi Jing, and the Cangjie. He is the son of Huaxu, and is married to his twin sister Nüwa. With Nüwa they created the first humans by their campfire out of clay

Tu’er Shen

Today I wanted to write about Tu’er Shen, a Chinese god of male homosexual love. Like many Chinese folk deities Tu’er Shen is said to have once been human. Tu’er Shen was once a soldier who fell in love with his imperial officer, one day Tu’er Shen was caught staring at his officer through the

Zao Shen

Earlier this year I was asked to write about more Chinese folk deities so today I wanted to write about Zao Shen (Kitchen god) also called Zao Jun, who is a Chinese god of the hearth, stove, and kitchen. Zao Shen is said to have once been mortal. During his mortal life he left his

Mazu

Earlier this year I was asked to write about more Chinese deities so I decided to write about Mazu, a goddess of the sea, fishers, and sailors. She is the deified form of the legendary figure Lin Moniang who was born during the reign of Liu Congxiao. She’s a daughter of Lin Yuan. She took