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Wenquxing
In Chinese mythology, Wenquxing (文曲星, 'Star of Literature') is a god responsible for overseeing literary pursuits and examinations. Those who excel in literary skills and hold high-ranking positions in the imperial court are often associated with the incarnation of Wenquxing to the mortal realm. Unlike other literary deities such as Wenchang Wang and Kui Xing, Wenquxing emphasizes romantic literary talents, while Wenchang Wang focuses on achieving fame and fortune, and Kui Xing specializes in literary composition and examinations. He is mostly worshipped by students wishing for success or to enter a better school or position. Folk beliefs In folk beliefs, it is believed that various figures, such as Bi Gan, the prince of Shang, Yi Yin, the prime minister of the Shang dynasty, Zhang Dongzhi, the prime minister of the Tang dynasty, Fan Zhongyan, the prime minister of the Song dynasty, Bao Zheng, the magistrate of Kaifeng, Wen Tianxiang, the Grand Chancellor of the Song dynast ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bi Gan
Prince Bigan (), surnamed " Zi" (子), was a prominent Chinese figure during the Shang dynasty. He was a son of King Wen Ding, and an uncle of King Zhou, and served as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Shang. He was later worshipped as the God of Wealth. History Prince Bigan was the prime minister of the Kingdom of Shang during the late Shang dynasty, and a member of the Shang royal family. His surname was " Zi" (子). He was the son of King Wen Ding and served his nephew, King Zhou. Zhou, the last king of the Shang dynasty, has been traditionally regarded as notoriously cruel, immoral, and wasteful. According to the account recorded by Sima Qian in his ''Records of the Grand Historian'', King Zhou's minister Prince Weizi admonished him to reform his ways several times, but his admonitions fell on deaf ears. Prince Weizi then decided to withdraw from the court, but Prince Bigan argued that to serve as minister meant doing what was right even if it meant death. Prince Biga ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Xu Shilin (character)
Xu Shilin (許士林), known as Xu Mengjiao (许梦蛟) in some versions, is a Chinese mythological figure, son of the white snake spirit Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian. He is a major character in the Legend of the White Snake, one of four great Chinese folk tales. The story has been adapted many times, including into Chinese operas, films, television series and other media. The story of ''Xu Shilin Rescued His Mother'' is separate from the main legend of the White Snake and has become a well-known folktale in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. His legend is so popular throughout China that there's a common saying: "A child who fulfills the gratitude of their parents is like Xu Shilin, who demonstrated great filial piety to his mother". Legends Legend has it that he is an incarnation of the Wenquxing (Astral God of Civil Arts). Bai Suzhen was defeated and imprisoned in the imposing Leifeng Pagoda by Fahai (character), Fahai. While imprisoned, Bai Suzhen gave birth to a son named Shilin. In an al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Di Qing
Di Qing (1008–1057), formerly romanized as Ti Ch'ing, was a Chinese military general of the Northern Song dynasty. He often wore a mask in battle. He led campaigns against the Western Xia and the Nong Zhigao rebellion in Guangxi. He was known for his bravery and skill in warfare, achieving numerous remarkable feats on the battlefield. He held high official positions, including that of the Grand Preceptor. He was also posthumously honored with the titles of and . In folklore, he was believed to be an incarnation of the God of Military Arts (Wuquxing). Biography Di Qing was born to a poor family in Xihe, Fenzhou (汾州西河; present-day Fenyang, Shanxi). He sported tattoos on his face and excelled in mounted archery. In 1038, during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, Di Qing was appointed as Commander (指揮使) of Yanzhou (延州; covering parts of present-day Shaanxi). He participated in the war between Song and Western Xia. Each time he went to war, he would don a b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bao Zheng
Bao Zheng (; 5 March 999 – 3 July 1062), commonly known as Bao Gong (), was a Chinese politician during the reign of Emperor Emperor Renzong of Song, Renzong in China's Song Dynasty. During his twenty-five years in civil service, Bao was known for his honesty and uprightness, with actions such as impeaching an uncle of Emperor Renzong's favourite concubine and punishing powerful families. His appointment from 1057 to 1058 as the prefect of Song's capital city, capital Kaifeng, where he initiated a number of changes to better hear the grievances of the people, made him a legendary figure. During his years in office, he gained the honorific title Justice Bao () due to his ability to defend peasants and commoners against corruption or injustice. Bao Zheng is depicted as the incarnation of the Astral God of Civil Arts (Wenquxing, 文曲星), while another protagonist — famous Northern Song warrior Di Qing as the Astral God of Military Arts (Wuquxing, 武曲星). Bao Zheng toda ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wenchang Wang
Wenchang Wang (), also known as Wenchang Dijun (), is a Taoist deity in Chinese mythology, known as the God of Culture and Literature. He is also at times referred to simply as Wen Qu, or Wen. The literal translation of his name would be King () of Flourishing () Culture/Language (). Wenchang Wang is physically represented by a constellation of six stars near the Big Dipper. The stars all had names of their own: Shangjiang (), Cijiang (), Guixiang (), Siming (), Sizhong (), and Silu (). Wenchang Wang is often depicted as an elderly scholar accompanied by two attendants, Tianlong ( or Heaven-Deaf) and Diya ( or Earth-Mute). He sometimes holds a pen and a book that says "Heaven determines literary achievement". He has historically been called upon by scholars and writers who need inspiration or help right before an exam. Story There are quite a few accounts of Wenchang Wang; most depict him as a man by the name Zhang Yazi (), of a county in Sichuan Province called Zitong. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jiang Ziya
Jiang Ziya ( century BC – 11th century BC), also known by several other names, also known by his posthumous name as the Duke Tai of Qi, was the founding monarch of the Qi state. He was a military general and strategist who assisted King Wen of Zhou and King Wu of Zhou overthrow the Shang dynasty and establish the Zhou dynasty. Following their victory in the Battle of Muye, he continued to serve as a Zhou minister. He remained loyal to the regent Ji Dan (Duke Wen of Zhou) during the Rebellion of the Three Guards; following the Ji Dan's punitive raids against the restive Dongyi, Jiang was enfeoffed with the land of Qi. He established his seat at Yingqiu (in modern-day Linzi, Zibo, Shandong). He has been worshipped as a war god since the Han and, especially, Tang dynasties. He is also celebrated in Chinese literature, and is one of the main heroes in the Ming-era ''Investiture of the Gods''. Names The first ruler of Qi bore the given name Shang. The nobi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Queen Mother Of The West
The Queen Mother of the West, known by #Names, various local names, is a mother goddess in Chinese folk religion, Chinese religion and Chinese mythology, mythology, also worshipped later in neighbouring countries. She is attested from ancient times. The first historical information on her can be traced back to Shang dynasty oracle bone inscriptions that record sacrifices to a "Western Mother". Even though these inscriptions illustrate that she predates organized Taoism, she is most often associated with Taoism. The growing popularity of the Queen Mother of the West, as well as the beliefs that she was the dispenser of prosperity, longevity, and eternal bliss, took place during Han dynasty, in the 2nd century BCE, when the northern and western parts of China became more accessible through the opening of the Silk Road. Names ''Queen Mother of the West'' is a calque of Xiwangmu in China, Chinese sources, Seiōbo in Japan, Seowangmo in Korea, and Tây Vương Mẫu in Vietnam. S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
King Father Of The East
King Father of the East, also known as Dongwanggong (), is the tutelary deity of the Taoist immortals. Legends say that the King Father of the East is the consort of Queen Mother of the West. He is the manifestation of yang energy. Legends When the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) was a mountain demon, she was in love with the King Father of the East (Dongwanggong). Xiwangmu ruled the west and Dongwanggong ruled the east. In some versions of the Chinese creation myth, the two lovers created humanity through their union. According to one text in the ''Classic of Mountains and Seas'', there was a bronze pillar on Kunlun Mountain that was so tall that it reached the sky. On top of this column, there was a huge bird named Xiyou (literally meaning "rare"). Under its left-wing, it held Dongwanggong and under its right wing, it held Xiwangmu. When Xiwangmu first met Dongwanggong, she had to climb onto the bird's wing to reach him. In another account, Dongwanggong lived in a big s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Western Xia
The Western Xia or the Xi Xia ( zh, c=, w=Hsi1 Hsia4, p=Xī Xià), officially the Great Xia ( zh, c=大夏, w=Ta4 Hsia4, p=Dà Xià, labels=no), also known as the Tangut Empire, and known as Stein (1972), pp. 70–71. to the Tanguts and Tibetans, was a Tangut-led imperial dynasty of China that existed from 1038 to 1227. At its peak, the dynasty ruled over modern-day northwestern China, including parts of Ningxia, Gansu, eastern Qinghai, northern Shaanxi, northeastern Xinjiang, and southwest Inner Mongolia, and southernmost Outer Mongolia, measuring about . The capital of Western Xia was Xingqing (modern Yinchuan); another major Xia city and archaeological site is Khara-Khoto. Western Xia was annihilated by the Mongols in 1227. Most of its written records and architecture were destroyed, so the founders and history of the empire remained obscure until 20th-century research in China and the West. Today the Tangut language and its unique script are extinct, only ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grand Secretariat
The Grand Secretariat, or the Cabinet (), was nominally a coordinating agency but ''de facto'' the highest institution in the imperial government of the Chinese Ming dynasty. It first took shape after the Hongwu Emperor abolished the office of Chancellor (of the Zhongshu Sheng) in 1380 and gradually evolved into an effective coordinating organ superimposed on the Six Ministries. There were altogether six Grand Secretaries (), though the posts were not always filled.Hucker, 29. The most senior one was popularly called Senior Grand Secretary (, ''shǒufǔ''). The Grand Secretaries were nominally ranked as mid-level officials, ranked much lower than the Ministers, heads of the Ministries. However, since they screened documents submitted to the emperor from all governmental agencies, and had the power of drafting suggested rescripts for the emperor, generally known as ''piàonǐ'' () or ''tiáozhǐ'' (), some senior Grand Secretaries were able to dominate the whole government, acting a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Son Of Heaven
Son of Heaven, or ''Tianzi'' (), was the sacred monarchial and imperial title of the Chinese sovereign. It originated with the Zhou dynasty and was founded on the political and spiritual doctrine of the Mandate of Heaven. Since the Qin dynasty, the secular imperial title of the Son of Heaven was " Huangdi". The title, "Son of Heaven", was subsequently adopted by other Sinospheric monarchs to justify their rule. The name Celestial Empire (or "Heavenly Dynasty") was also used in reference to the status of the Chinese emperor as the Son of Heaven in the Sinosphere. The Son of Heaven was the supreme universal monarch, who ruled ''tianxia'' (means "all under heaven"). His status is rendered in English as "ruler of the whole world." The title, "Son of Heaven", was interpreted literally only in China and Japan, whose monarchs were referred to as demigods, deities, or " living gods", chosen by the gods and goddesses of heaven. History and adoption The title "Son of Heaven" (; ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
