Yuenü () was a swordswoman from the state of
Yue, in the modern Chinese province of
Zhejiang
Zhejiang ( or , ; , Chinese postal romanization, also romanized as Chekiang) is an East China, eastern, coastal Provinces of China, province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable citie ...
. She is also known as ''Maiden of the Southern Forest''.
In
Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology () is mythology that has been passed down in oral form or recorded in literature in the geographic area now known as Greater China. Chinese mythology includes many varied myths from regional and cultural traditions.
Much of t ...
, she is a
reincarnation
Reincarnation, also known as rebirth or transmigration, is the philosophical or religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death. Resurrection is ...
of
Jiutian Xuannü
In Chinese mythology, Jiutian Xuannü is the goddess of war, sex, and longevity..
Etymology
This goddess was initially known as ''Xuannü'' ().. The name has been variously translated as the "Dark Lady" or the "Mysterious Lady". in English. In ...
.
Life and legacy
Yuenü lived during the reign of
Goujian
Goujian () (reigned 496–465 BC) was the king of the Kingdom of Yue (越國, present-day northern Zhejiang) near the end of the Spring and Autumn period (春秋). He was the son of Marquis Yunchang.
Goujian's reign coincided with arguably th ...
of
Yue (496-465 BCE). From a young age, she learned
archery and how to use a sword by hunting with her father. The King of Yue planned to attack the state of
Wu and when he heard about her skills, he invited her to court. Along the way, she was challenged by an old man who was in reality a magic white ape:
Upon meeting the king, the Maiden reveals the secret to her fighting ability is the application of
yin and yang
Yin and yang ( and ) is a Chinese philosophical concept that describes opposite but interconnected forces. In Chinese cosmology, the universe creates itself out of a primary chaos of material energy, organized into the cycles of yin and ya ...
energy, which are metaphorically described as the opening and closing of large and small swinging doors. Furthermore, she claims that, while strengthening the spirit, one should remain outwardly calm.
Her exposition on the art of the sword impressed the king, who decreed that her skills be in training his army and gave her the title 'the Yue Woman' (越女) or ''Lady of Yue''. The king appointed her to train his army officers, who in turn, instructed his army.
Hers is the earliest known exposition on the art of the sword, and influenced
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common ...
for generations.
See also
*
Sword of the Yue Maiden
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yuenu
Chinese swordsmanship
Fictional characters from Zhejiang