Eggsquisitely Mythical #7: China
- Wera Niyom
- Mar 26
- 9 min read
Hello, fellow eggs and mythology lovers!
For our next Eggsquisitely Mythical issue, we are doing a deep dive on the deities of China. Please note that this is the first article in a three-part series. Check out part two to learn about mythical creatures and part three to learn about the myths, legends, and folktales of China!
BACKGROUND
China (also officially known as the People's Republic of China) is a country located in Eastern Asia. Its capital is Beijing. There are 292 languages spoken in China, but the official language is Standard Chinese (a standard of Mandarin). It is the second country with the largest population, after India, by representing 17.4% of the world's population. Many westerners admire the beauty of Chinese culture through watching emotional C-dramas with compelling lead actors, captivating soundtracks showcasing traditional instruments like the erhu or guzheng, vivid paintings and poetry, and timeless embroidered gowns.
DEITIES
Some deities have multiple names, so we have provided that list below, along with their names in Chinese. For deities whose gender is unknown, they are referred to as "deity."
Heavenly Deities
God of Heaven: Aside from Shangdi and Taidi, the God of Heaven may be described with the terms outlined below or as Yudi (Jade Deity) or Taiyi (Great Oneness).
Tiāndì (天帝) is the Deity of Heaven / Emperor of Heaven.
Tiānzhǔ (天主) is the Lord of Heaven.
Tiānhuáng (天皇) is the King of Heaven.
Tiāngōng (天公) is the Duke of Heaven / General of Heaven.
Tiānjūn (天君) is the Prince of Heaven / Lord of Heaven.
Tiānzūn (天尊) is the Heavenly Venerable.
Tiānshén (天神) is the God of Heaven.
Shénhuáng (神皇) is God the King.
Lǎotiānyé (老天爺) is the Olden Heavenly Father.
Cosmic Deities
Yudi (玉帝) / Yuhuang (玉皇) is the Jade Emperor / Jade King, a popular human-like representation of the God of the Heaven.
Doumu (斗母) / Tianhou (天后) is the Mother of the Great Chariot / Queen of Heaven, the mother of the Big Dipper (which is also known as the Great Chariot). She is considered the wife and the mother of the God of Heaven.
Pangu (盤古) is a macranthropic (anthropomorphic body with various parts of the universe assigned to its body parts) metaphor of the cosmos. He is known for separating yin and yang, thus creating the earth and the sky. When he died, everything was made from his body.
Xiwangmu (西王母) is the Queen Mother of the West. She is a dark, chthonic goddess associated with creation and destruction. She represents pure yin.
Dongwanggong (東王公) / Mugong (木公) is the King Duke of the East. He is the male counterpart to Xiwangmu and represents yang.
Yanwang (閻王) is the Purgatory King. He is the ruler of the underworld.
Yinyanggong (陰陽公) / Yinyangsi (陰陽司) is the Yinyang Duke / Yinyang Controller. He is the personification of the union of yin and yang.
The Three Patrons and Five Deities
Sānhuáng (三皇) / Sāncái (三才) are Three Patrons / Three Deities that correspond to the Three Realms and yin, yang, and the medium between them. They includes Fúxī (伏羲) / Bāguàzǔshī (八卦祖師), the patron of heaven; Nǚwā (女媧), the patron of earth; and Shénnóng (神農), Peasant God and the patron of humanity.
The Five Deities correspond to the five phases of creation, five constellations which rotate around the celestial pole and five planets, the five sacred mountains, five directions of space, and five Dragon Gods.
They include Huángdì (黃帝), the Yellow Emperor or Yellow Deity. He is associated with Saturn, the essence of earth and the Yellow Dragon. He also represents the heart of creation and Kunlun (which is also known as the axis mundi).
Cāngdì (蒼帝) / Qīngdì (青帝), the Blue Deity or Bluegreen Deity. He is also known as the East Deity (東帝) and the Great Deity of the Eastern Peak (東岳大帝). He is associated with Jupiter, the essence of wood and the Bluegreen Dragon. He is the god of fertility and spring.
Hēidì (黑帝) / Běidì (北帝) / Běiyuèdàdì (北岳大帝), the Black Deity / North Deity / or Great Deity of the Northern Peak. Today, he is frequently worshipped as Xuánwǔ (玄武) - Dark Warrior or Zhēnwǔ (真武). He is associated with the essence of water, Mercury, winter, the Black Dragon, and the tortoise-snake.
Chìdì (赤帝) / Nándì (帝) / Nányuèdàdì (南岳大帝), the Red Deity / South Deity / Great Deity of the Southern Peak. He is associated with the essence of fire, summer, Mars, the Red Dragon, and the phoenix. He is also the god of agriculture, animal husbandry, medicinal plants, and market.
Báidì (白帝 ) / Xīdì (西帝) / Xīyuèdàdì (西岳大帝), the White Deity / the West Deity / Great Deity of the Western Peak. He is associated with the essence of metal, autumn, Venus, the White Dragon, and the tiger.
Sānguān (三官) / Sānguāndàdì (三官大帝) are the Three Officials [of Heaven] or Three Officer Great Deities: Yao, the Official of Heaven (Tiānguān 天官); Shun, the Official of Earth (Deguān 地官); and Yu, the Official of Water (Shuǐguān 水官)
Celestial / Terrestrial Phenomena Deities
Lóngshén (龍神) / Lóngwáng (龍王) / Sìhǎi Lóngwáng (四海龍王) are Dragon Gods / Dragon Kings / Dragon Kings of the Four Seas. They are patron deities of water to the four seas and four cardinal directions:
Ao Guang (敖廣 or 敖光) / Azure or Blue-Green Dragon (Qīnglóng, 靑龍 or Cānglóng 蒼龍), who is the Dragon God of the east and essence of spring.
Ao Qin (敖欽) / Red Dragon (Chìlóng, 赤龍 or Zhūlóng, 朱龍, literally translates to Cinnabar or Vermillion Dragon), who is the Dragon God of the South and the essence of summer.
Ao Shun or Ao Ming (敖順 or 敖明) / Black Dragon (Hēilóng, 黑龍), who is the Dragon God of the North and the essence of winter.
Ao Run or Ao Jun or Ao Ji (敖閏 or 敖君 or 敖吉) / White Dragon (Báilóng, 白龍), who is the Dragon God of the West and the essence of autumn. The fifth dragon is the Yellow Dragon (Huánglóng, 黃龍).
Báoshén (雹神) is the God of Hail.
Dòushén (痘神) is the God of Smallpox.
Fēngshén (風神) / Fēi Lián (飛帘) is the God of Wind.
Hǎishén (海神) / Hǎiyé (海爷) is the God of the Sea / Sea Lord.
Héshén (河神) / Hébó (河伯) is the River God / River Lord.
Gǔshén (穀神) is the Valley God.
Huǒshén (火神) / Zhùróng (祝融) is the God of Fire.
Húshén (湖神) is the Lake God.
Jīnshén (金神) / Rùshōu (蓐收) is the God of Gold, but often identified as Qiūshén (秋神), the God of Autumn.
Jǐngshén (井神) is the Waterspring God.
Léishén (雷神) / Léigōng (雷公) is the God of Thunder.
Mùshén (木神) / Chūnshén (春神) / Jùmáng (句芒) is the Woodland God, also identified as the God of Spring.
Shānshén (山神) is the Mountain God.
Shuǐshén (水神) is the God of Water.
Tǔdìshén (土地神) / Tǔshén (土神) / Tǔdìgōng (土地公) is the God of the Local Land / God of the Earth / Duke of the Local Land.
Wēnshén (瘟神) is the God of Plague.
Xiāngshuǐshén (湘水神) are the Patron Goddesses of Xiang River.
Xuěshén (雪神) is the God of Snow.
Yuèshén (月神) / Changé (嫦娥) / Chángxī (常羲) / Shí'èryuèzhīmǔ (十二月之母) is the Moon Goddess / Mother of the Twelve Moons.
Yǔshén (雨神) is the God of Rain.
Xīhé (羲和) / Shírìzhīmǔ (十日之母) are the Great Sun Goddess / Mother of the Ten Suns.
Human Virtues and Crafts Deities
Wéndi (文帝) / Wénchāngdì (文昌帝) / Wénchāngwáng (文昌王) is the Culture Deity / Deity who Makes Culture Thrive / King who Makes Culture Thrive.
Kuíxīng (魁星) is the Chief Star, another god of culture and literature.
Wǔdì (武帝) / Guāndì (關帝) / Guāngōng (關公) / Guānyǔ (關羽) is the Military God.
Zhànshén (戰神) is the Fight God.
Bǎoshēngdàdì (保生大帝) is The Great Deity who Protects Life.
Bāxiān (八仙) refers to The Eight Immortals. These are a group of legendary immortals which include He Xiangu (何仙姑); Cao Guojiu (曹國舅); Li Tieguai (李鐵拐); Lan Caihe (藍采和); Lü Dongbin (呂洞賓); Han Xiangzi (韓湘子); Zhang Guolao (張果老); and Zhongli Quan (鍾離權).
Cánshén (蠶神) / Cánmǔ (蠶母) / Cángū (蠶姑) is the Silkworm God / Silkworm Mother / Silkworm Maiden.
Cáishén (財神) is the Wealth God.
Cāngjié (倉頡) is the inventor of Chinese characters.
Chénghuángshén (城隍神) is the Moat and Walls God / Boundary God.
Chénjìnggū (陳靖姑) / Línshuǐ Fūrén (臨水夫人) is the Old Quiet Lady / Waterside Dame.
Chēshén (車神) is the Vehicle God.
Èrlángshén (二郎神) is the God of Engineering / Twice Young God.
Guǎngzé Zūnwáng (廣澤尊王) is the Honorific King of Great Compassion.
Guānyīn (觀音) is She Who Hears the Cries of the World and the goddess of mercy.
Huáng Dàxiān (黃大仙) is the Great Immortal Huang.
Jìgōng (濟公) is the Help Lord, known for helping the poor and standing up to injustice.
Jiǔshén (酒神) / Yidi (儀狄) is the Wine God.
Jiǔtiān Xuánnǚ (九天玄女) is the Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens.
Lóngmǔ (龍母) is the Dragon Mother.
Lǔbān (魯班) is the God of Carpentry.
Lùshén (路神) is the Road God.
Māzǔ (媽祖) is the Ancestral Mother, often called the Queen of Heaven.
Píng'ānshén (平安神) is the Peace God.
Qīngshuǐ Zǔshī (清水祖師) is the Venerable Patriarch of the Clear Stream.
Táoshén (陶神) is the Pottery God.
Tùershén (兔兒神) is the Leveret God, known as the God of Love to men.
Tuōtǎlǐ Tiānwáng (托塔李天王) is the Tower-Wielding Heavenly King.
Wǔxiǎn (五顯) are the Five Shining Ones, believed to be referring to the Five Deities.
Xǐshén (喜神) is the Joy God.
Yàoshén (藥神) / Yàowáng (藥王) is the Medicine God / Medicine King.
Yuèxià Lǎorén (月下老人) is the Old Man Under the Moon, knowing for being a matchmaker.
Yùshén (獄神) is the Jail-Purgatory God.
Zàoshén (灶神) is the Hearth God, the master of the household deities including: Chuángshén, the Bed God (床神); Ménshén, the Gate Gods (門神); and Cèshén / Zigu, the Toilet god (廁神).
Sānxīng (三星) are the Three Stars, a cluster of three astral gods of well-being: Fúxīng (福星), the Prosperity Star, god of happiness; Lùxīng (祿星), the Firmness Star, god of firmness and success in life and examinations; Shòuxing (壽星), the Longevity Star, who stands for a healthy and long life.
Animal and Vegetal Life Deities
Huāshén (花神) is the Flower Goddess.
Húsān Tàinǎi (胡三太奶) is the Great Lady of the Three Foxes (specific to northeast China).
Húsān Tàiyé (胡三太爷) is the Great Lord of the Three Foxes (specific to northeast China).
Húshén (狐神) / Húxiān (狐仙) / Húxiān Niángnián (狐仙娘娘) is the Fox Goddess / Fox Immortal / Fox Immortal Lady.
Mǎshén (馬神) / Mǎwáng (马王) is the Horse God / Horse King.
Niúshén (牛神) / Niúwáng (牛王) is the Cattle God or Ox God / Cattle King.
Lángshén (狼神) is the Wolf God.
Shùshén (樹神) is the Tree God.
Wǔgǔshén (五谷神) is the Five Cereals God.
Yuánshén (猿神) / Yuánwáng (猿王) / Sūn Wùkōng (孙悟空) is the Monkey God / Monkey King.
Zhīmáshén (芝蔴神) is the Sesame God.
Mother Goddesses
There are nine goddesses that are believed to be representations of the singular deity, Bixia Yuanjun, the Lady of the Blue Dawn (碧霞元君) / Tiānxiān Niángniáng, the Heavenly Immortal Lady (仙娘娘) / Tàishān Niángniáng, Lady of Mount Tai (泰山娘娘) / Jiǔtiān Shèngmǔ, Holy Mother of the Nine Skies (九天聖母) / Houtu, the goddess of the earth.
Bānzhěn Niángniáng (瘢疹娘娘) is the goddess who protects children from illness.
Cuīshēng Niángniáng (催生娘娘) is the goddess who protects midwives and ensures swift childbirth.
Nǎimǔ Niángniáng (奶母娘娘) is the goddess who protects nursing and presides over maternal milk.
Péigū Niángniáng (培姑娘娘) is the goddess who cultivates children.
Péiyǎng Niángniáng (培養娘娘) is the goddess who protects the upbringing of children.
Sòngzi Niángniáng (送子娘娘) / Zǐsūn Niángniáng (子孫娘娘) is the goddess who presides over offspring.
Yǎnguāng Niángniáng (眼光娘娘) is the goddess who protects eyesight.
Yǐnméng Niángniáng (引蒙娘娘) is the goddess who helps guide young children.
Northeast China Gods
Huángxiā (黃仙) is the Yellow Immortal, Weasel God.
Shéxiān (蛇仙) / Liǔxiān (柳仙) is the Snake Immortal / Immortal Liu OR Chángxiān (常仙) / Mǎngxiān (蟒仙), a Viper Immortal / Python or Boa Immortal.
Báixiān (白仙) is the White Immortal, Hedgehog God.
Hēixiān (黑仙) is the Black Immortal often considered to be Wūyāxiān (烏鴉仙), the Crow Immortal; or Huīxiān (灰仙), the Rat Immortal.
Other Deities
These deities have been adapted from Hinduism.
Guānyīn (觀音) is She Who Hears the Cries of the World. She is modeled after the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.
Sìmiànshén (四面神) is the Four Faced God.
Xiàngtóushén (象頭神) is the Elephant-Head God.
That concludes today's discussion about the deities of Chinese Mythology. We hope you enjoyed learning about the multifaceted backgrounds of these important figures who continue to have an impact on modern-day literature and art.
Check out these other articles written by former team members:
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