Legend and Gods

Legend and Gods---神和传说

1、 Houyi Shot the Suns---后羿射日

Houyi (or Yi) was the hero who shot the suns in the ancient mythology of China.

Legend says Yi was very good at archery. There were once ten suns in the sky, which made plants wither, and fierce beasts run wild to imperil people. It was too hot to live under the suns. To save the people, Yi started to shoot the suns. He shot down nine of them one by one, and he might have shot the last one if it was not called off by others. Thus the severe drought was gone. He also got rid of those fierce animals for the people.

It is said Yi's wife was Chang'e, a legendary lady in the famous story, "Chang'e flying to the moon." Chang'e swallowed the elixir stolen from her husband, and she flew to the moon and became the goddess of the moon, who has lived in the palace on the moon ever since.

Yi was killed by Fengmeng, a disciple of Yi who learned to shoot from him.

2、 Shennong---神农氏

Shennong, also called Yan Emperor, was the god who invented farming in the mythology of ancient China. He taught people how to cultivate crops and to establish markets for trading.

Shennong was also regarded as the god of Chinese medicine. Legend says he tasted all kinds of herbs. Once he identified poisonous plants more than 70 times in a day. It was because of his practice that people learned that medical herbs could cure diseases.

According to "Baihutong" by Ban Gu of the Han Dynasty, in ancient times, people only ate animal meat. By Shennong's time, there were too many people and animals were insufficient. Thus Shennong taught people to do farming. People benefited a great deal from it. So they called him Shennong, which means the god of farming.

In "Stories of Gods" by Gan Bao of the Jin Dynasty, Shennong used a reddish brown whip to beat all kinds of plants to test their properties as drugs and identify those suitable for crop growing.

Because of his contribution to Chinese civilization, he and Huangdi are generally regarded as the ancestors of the Huaxia race.

3、 Nvwa Mended the Firmament---女娲炼石补天

Nvwa is the ancestor of mankind in the mythology of ancient China. As legend goes, she smelted the five-colored stones to mend the firmament (sky), cut off the feet of the great turtle to support the four pillars of the universe, controlled the flood, and drove away fierce beasts so as to let the people live in peace. Another legend says, she made persons with yellow clay, and married her brother, Emperor Fuxi, turning a relationship of brother and sister into a marriage, and multiplying mankind. Thus, later generations adored her as a goddess of marriage and reproduction, especially in charge of matters of copulation between men and women. Learners of cultural history regard her as a goddess that came into being in the era of worship of the female genital organ.

The popular story of "Nvwa Mended the Sky" was noted in "Huainanzi," written in Western Han (206 B.C. - 24). It says, "In remote antiquity, the four poles of the universe collapsed, the sky cracked open, the earth was no longer able to support everything, fire ran wild everywhere without ceasing, and flood overflowed out of control. Fierce beasts ate common people, and ferocious birds attacked the old and the weak. Hence, Nvwa smelted the five-colored stones to mend the sky, cut off the feet of the great turtle to support the four poles, killed the black dragon to help the earth, and gathered the ash of reed to stop the flood."

According to "Taiping Yulan," a set of encyclopedias compiled in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), at the beginning of the universe, there were no human beings. Nvwa molded figures from yellow clay to create people. As the clay was not strong enough, she put ropes into the clay to make the bodies erect. There was also such a saying, "Nvwa prayed to gods to let her be the goddess to take charge of marital affairs. As a result of her going-between, men and women lived in harmony, and she was worshiped as the goddess of marriage." According to "Duyi Zhi" by Li Rong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), at the opening of the universe, there were a brother and a sister called Nvwa, living in Kunlun Mountain, and there were no ordinary people at that time. They wished to become husband and wife, yet, felt shy about it. Thus, the brother took his younger sister to the top of the mountain and swore: "If Heaven allows us to be husband and wife, please let the clouds gather; if not, please let the clouds scatter." Then, the clouds gathered together. The younger sister came to live with her brother. She made a fan with grass to hide her face. The present custom of women taking a fan in their hands originated from that story.

4、 Pan Gu Creates the World---盘古开天地

Chinese legend says Pan Gu created the world by separating the heaven and the earth from chaos. In the beginning, the universe was like an egg and there was only chaos in the egg. Pan Gu had slept in the egg for over 18,000 years. Then one day, he woke up and cracked the egg into pieces. By separating the heavy and light parts of the egg, he created the heaven and the earth. Pan Gu stood on the earth and held up the heaven using his hands, and then he had grown with the heaven until the form of the world for another 18,000 years. For more information about Pan Gu, check out the following links.

Beginning of the world---天地初开

Long ago, there was a god named Pang Gu. He was said to be 18 thousand years old when he created the universe. He created the universe from nothing. Many trillion years after Pang Gu's death, a goddess with a snake's body and a human's face came to existence. This goddess was named, Ni Wo.

Ni Wo was the only creature on Earth and became very lonely. So, from the mud, she created people. These people kept Ni Wo company and she was no longer lonely. But, unknown to Ni Wo, there were other gods inhabiting the universe. The gods of fire and water were battling each other, and leaving a path of destruction in their wake. To the Earth, this battle was devestating. The sky was being destroyed along with the Earth and the people Ni Wo had created. So the goddess took colored stones and patched up the damaged sky. The goddess had saved the Earth along with her people. Ni Wo is regarded as the mythological mother of the Chinese people.

Many years later, the people that Ni Wo had created had reproduced and populated the Earth, but they had no knowledge and lived in caves. Ni Wo was no longer with them. However, the first of five saviours of the Chinese people came. He was known as the "Housing Emperor." The housing emperor taught the people how to build houses and shelter instead of living in caves. This gave the Chinese people the knowledge to create housing where ever they went.

The next saviour was the "Fire Emperor." He taught the Chinese people how to create fire from sticks. Ni Wo's people no longer had to live like animals and eat raw food that they caught. With their new found skills of cooking food, Chinese cuisine started. Having fire to cook was excellent for creating exquisite dishes, but the main problem was getting the materials to cook with.

Along came the "Domestication Emperor" who taught the Chinese people how to fish and tame animals so that humans didn't have to be nomadic. They no longer needed to follow the animals so that their supply of food could be steady.

Even though meat was an important source of food, it could not sustain the population the way it was growing. The "Gardening Emperor" came and taught the Chinese people how to plant and raise crops. Finally, the Chinese people could settle down and civilization truly started. After they settled down, the "Gardenong Emperor" became knownas Yen Di, one of the founding fathers of the Chinese people.

After Yen Di's death, his son was deemed as an unfit emperor, and people tried to replace him. Fighting broke out for many years. Finally, Hwang Di, or Yellow Emperor, stopped all the fighting and once again reunited China. Under Hwang Di's rule, Hwang Di taught the Chinese people music, mathematics, and the use of tools. He also taught them how to extract silk from the worm, and how to make a compass. This time period was similar to the European Rennassance and the rule under Hwang Di was known as the the first true Chinese history.

After Hwang Di's death, his great-grandson, Yao Di, one of Chinese history's noble kings, gave the throne to a competent successor instead of his son. This person was named, Shun Di. Shun Di did the same thing with the throne and passed it on to a more competent ruler, Yu Di. However, Yu Di was the last emperor to pass the throne to non-family. Yu Di founded the Xia dynasty and from then on, emperial thrones became a family "business."

5、 The Gate Gods---门神

In China, there used to be a custom to put drawings of the gate gods on gates during the Chinese New Year. As you may know, there are many gods worshiped in China, especially during traditional festivals. Though Chinese have the traditions of worshipping many gods and most people usually follow the traditions, religions have never been as deeply rooted in Chinese as those in many other countries. The Chinese people are more practical in philosophy or gods. So different gods are invited for different occasions. For an example, when they were lack of money, the god of fortune would be the guest at the table of sacrifice. So we say, 'A god in need is a god indeed.' No matter how things happened, however, you can always find a story proving its inevitability of being there. And the presentation of the gate gods had no exceptions as well.

It is said that long ago there grew a peach forest. The king of the peach trees shaded two stone huts in which lived two brothers, Shen Tu and Yu Lei. Both of them were so strong that in front of them lions would bend down their heads, leopards shivered at them and tigers gave in entirely to promise to serve as guards in the forest. And the two brothers lived there on the peaches.

In the Northeast of Mount Duso, there lived a monster which was said the son of a spirit of a bull. By right of the uncommon strength, it made itself the king of that area. When it heard that the delicious peaches on the mountain of Duso were magic in turning an evil into a god, he couldn't wait to go there. Of course, the monster was refused absolutely by the brothers. The monster was so angry that he led more than 300 ghosts to fight against the brothers. After a fierce fight, the monster was defeated completely and ran away. But the monster wouldn't bury its axe. In the dark, he sent a few of the strongest ghosts to attack the brothers' huts. Though the ghosts appeared with blue faces, long buckteeth and dark red eyes, the brothers were very calm and they determined to give them a hard blow. The elder brother fought ahead with a hard stem of a tree and the younger followed with a strong reed rope. When the brother beat down one of the ghosts, the younger would tie it hard and put it into the mouth of a tiger. The bothers, Shen Tu and Yu Lei, won the battle at that night and the ghosts never dared to annoy them again.

Thus, the reputation of the brothers was spread quickly around the area, and they also helped a lot of people in the area. Many years later, when the bothers died, people thought they had got into the Heaven and became gods there and served as guards by the gate of the Heaven. Because the gate gods were once lived in the peach forest, people thought the branches of peach trees were full of magic. So it began to get popular for people to hang a peach board with the bothers' names on it on each side of their door pinning their hope for peace on the two giants. When paper was used, a picture of them was put up instead of those peach boards.

6、 Kitchen God---灶王爷

The Spring Festival (or the Chinese New Year) is the most important event for the Chinese. The Spring Festival is on Feb. 5 for Year 2000 and it is the Year of the Dragon. It is said that people born in the Year of the Dragon inspire trust, are honest, sensitive and sincere, never flattering, and their opinions are usually valid.

Traditionally the Spring Festival actually begins its course a week before the Chinese New Year (the 23th of the last month from Chinese lunar calendar), with the practice of offering a sacrifice to the Kitchen God, a god sent from Heaven to each family to take charge of family's affairs and make a report on what the family has done in the past year to Heaven annually on the date of the 23th. Strangely enough, the sacrifice to the Kitchen God is a lotus root-like sticky cake made of a kind of confection, a typical Chinese traditional candy, instead of the usual cows, pigs or sheep. The purpose of the practice is compromising, for people are making full use of the sticky cake to prevent the Kitchen God from speaking ill of the family in Heaven by sticking his mouth. Of course, it seems to be quite a tacit agreement between the Kitchen God and his prayers; he is always accepting the sweet food from the people around. This tradition is no longer popular in cities now, but may still be observed in some areas of countryside.

From the 23th to the 28th, it is the seed time for the great festival. People are usually found themselves buying various things which vary from new clothes to delicious food. The Spring Festival is also the time for all family members getting together.

Usually most people are trying to get home from different places before or on the New Year's Eve (the 29th) so the week before the Chinese New Year is the busiest travel time in China.

7、 Yellow Emperor---黄帝

Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) and Yandi (Yan Emperor) are generally regarded as the ancestors of the Huaxia race. His surname is Ji and he is called Xuanyuan. He is the son of Shaodian.

It is believed there were many tribes settled down near Yellow River and engaged in farming about 4,000 years ago. Huangdi was the chief of a large tribe lived around Ji River. As the legend goes, at that time, Yan Emperor disturbed the other tribes in the region and Yellow Emperor defeated Yan Emperor at Banquan. Later the tribes lead by Huangdi killed Chiyou, a troublemaker, who was the chief of a large tribe in the east. Then he became the leader of all the tribes.

It is also believed there were many inventions originated from the time of Yellow Emperor, such as characters, ships and carts, medicines, music, sericiculture and some daily utensils. Thus Huangdi was said to be the founder of Chinese civilization. Huangdi is also regarded as the central god among the five gods in the heaven in Chinese mythology.

8、 Yao Emperor—尧帝

Yao was an emperor in the ancient legend of China. As a tribe chief in the later period of the patriarchal society, he was also called Taotang or Tang Yao in history.

Legend says he once appointed Yihe to take charge of the calendar. When Yao became old, he chose Shun as the prince regent after three years' examination. When he died, Shun became the emperor. But it was also said, in his late years, Yao was put in jail and replaced by Shun. Yao was very diligent and economical. He showed great concern for his people, thus was adored by them and was regarded as an ideal emperor in people's mind.

Yao was an emperor in the ancient legend of China. As a tribe chief in the later period of the patriarchal society, he was also called Taotang or Tang Yao in history.

Legend says he once appointed Yihe to take charge of the calendar. When Yao became old, he chose Shun as the prince regent after three years' examination. When he died, Shun became the emperor. But it was also said, in his late years, Yao was put in jail and replaced by Shun. Yao was very diligent and economical. He showed great concern for his people, thus was adored by them and was regarded as an ideal emperor in people's mind.

9、KuaFu Chased the Sun ---夸父逐日

It is said that in antiquity a god named KuaFu determined to have a race with the Sun and catch up with Him. So he rushed in the direction of the Sun. Finally, he almost ran neck and neck with the Sun, when he was too thirsty and hot to continue. Where could he find some water? Just then the Yellow River and Wei River came into sight, roaring on. He swooped upon them earnestly and drank the whole river. But he still felt thirsty and hot, thereupon, he marched northward for the lakes in the north of China. Unfortunately, he fell down and died halfway because of thirst. With his fall, down dropped his cane. Then the cane became a stretch of peach, green and lush.

And so comes the idiom, KuaFu chased the Sun, which becomes the trope of man's determination and volition against nature.

10、 Nian---年的故事

The Spring Festival is the grandest festival for the Chinese. The Spring Festival is also called "Nian", but who knows the term, Nian, was once the name of a furious monster that lived on human beings in the ancient time. How the Festival has some relationship with the monster lies in a story about the origin and development of the Spring Festival.

The legend says, long ago, there was a monster called Nian. It was born to be very ugly and ferocious, which looked like either dragons or unicorns. On the first and the 15th of each lunar month, the monster would come down from the mountains to hunt people. So people were very much afraid of it and locked their doors early before sunset on the days of its coming.

There lived an old wise man in a village. He thought it was the panic in people that made the monster so bold and furious. Thus the old man asked people to organize together and to conquer the monster by means of beating drums and gongs, burning bamboo, and lighting fireworks in purpose of making large noises to threaten the hateful monster. When he told people about the idea, everybody agreed on it.

At a moonless and freezing cold night, the monster, Nian, appeared again. The moment it opened its mouth at people, burst out the frightening noises and fire made by people, and wherever the monster went, it was forced to back off by the terrible noises. The monster couldn't stop running until he fell down with exhaustion. Then people jumped up and killed the evil monster. Savage as the monster was, he lost in the end under the efforts from the cooperation of people.

Since then, people have kept the tradition by beating drums and gongs, and lighting fireworks at the coldest day in winter to drive the imagined monsters away and to celebrate the victory over it. Today, Nian refers to the New Year's day or the Spring Festival. People often say Guo Nian, which means 'live the festival.' Furthermore, Nian also means the year. For an example, the Chinese often greet each other by saying Xin Nian Hao, which means Happy New Year! Xin means new and Hao means good.

11、 Fuxi---伏羲

Fuxi is the legendary god in the mythology of ancient China. He is also called Taihao or Taihao Fuxi. Legend says, by imitating the spider, he created a net to catch fish and animals. He invented the musical instrument, Se, a plucked instrument with 50 strings, and constituted the Eight Diagrams used in divination. He married his younger sister, Nvwa, and started the reproduction of offspring one generation after another. Thus they became the ancestors of the Chinese.

In the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 220), they were carved on stone as figures with both human heads and bodies of the snake. They are human-shaped from the waist up, but are snake-like below. The lower bodies are entangled together with each other.

12、 Town God Temple---城隍庙

In almost every large and medium-sized city in China, one can find a Chenghuang Temple or Town God Temple. In the temple, sits a statue of the town god. Usually, there are one or two sacrificial ceremonies each year. The ceremonies are important occasions for both old and young.

Who is the town god?

In the old days, people imagined that the city was protected by a god known as Chenghuang (town god). Under his protection, people could live peacefully. Chenghuang's duty was just like that of the county head in feudal China. Taoists accepted him not only as an executive but as a law officer as well. It was believed that Chenghuang was empowered by the celestial ruler to exterminate evils in towns and cities and make citizens live a prosperous and happy life. He was even capable of granting what people prayed for. He gave rain when it was too dry and gave sunshine when there was too much rain. He brought big crop harvests for farmers and flourishing business for traders. As historical records indicate, the first known Chenghuan Temple was built as early as 239 A.D in the Three Kingdoms Period.

Interestingly, the town god had his mold in the practical society. The mold was always a hero who had done a lot and sacrificed his life for the public. People honored him as a god and believed that he would bring them peace and happiness. That's why the town gods in different cities often have different looks. Even today, every year at a fixed time, people come to the temples and show their respect for their protectors by kowtowing and offering some sacrifices. Chenghuang is a god in Taoism, but monarchs of different faiths in history all put him in a very important position.