Chong Houhu () a character featured within the Chinese novel ''

Fengshen Yanyi ''The Investiture of the Gods'', also known by its Chinese titles () and is a 16th-century Chinese novel and one of the major vernacular Chinese works in the gods and demons (''shenmo'') genre written during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Co ...

''. This role originated from Chong Hou Hu, or Hu, Marquis of the Chong State, a vassal of the

Shang dynasty The Shang dynasty (), also known as the Yin dynasty (), was a Chinese royal dynasty that ruled in the Yellow River valley during the second millennium BC, traditionally succeeding the Xia dynasty and followed by the Western Zhou d ...

. In ''Fengshen Yanyi'', Chong Houhu is a person's name, in which Chong is the

family name In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

and Houhu is the

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

Plot in fiction

In ''Fengshen Yanyi'', Chong Houhu is a high-ranking official of the Shang Dynasty—he is one of four Grand Dukes. After the four Grand Dukes had been invited to a banquet by King Zhou himself, Chong Houhu would be the primary defense of the king's edict to capture the "rebel"

Su Hu Su Hu (蘇護) is a Chinese mythological figure and character in the 16th-century Chinese novel ''Fengshen Yanyi''. He was a general of the Shang dynasty under King Zhou of Shang. He was the father of Su Quanzhong and Su Daji. Su Hu gave Su Daji t ...

, who had originally written harsh words about the king on the Noon Gate—words that reflected truth however. Chong Houhu assures his utmost loyalty to the king and thus heads his army of 50,000 soldiers out of the

Zhaoge Zhaoge (), in modern Qi County, Hebi, Henan province, was the capital of the State of Wey in the Zhou dynasty. According to traditional histories, it had been the last capital of the Shang dynasty, from king Geng Ding or Wu Yi through the final ...

capital to capture Su Hu from his Ji province. It had been said that the Chong Houhu's soldiers looked live rolling waves constantly emerging from the earth with murderous intent. After ten miles of traveling on horseback, scouts had reported to Chong Houhu that soldiers had effectively made it within Ji province; thus the duke makes camp. After Su Hu heard of this and sat atop the city gate as to see before him Chong Houhu's army, Chong Houhu presented himself. As seen, the Chong Houhu whore a large bright red robe around his body with a jade belt, golden armor, and a large Flying Phoenix Helmet. While sitting atop a fat purple horse, a large broad knife could be seen resting on Chong Houhu's waist. After the duke then ordered the immediate capture of Su Hu, Mei Wu, the greatest general under Chong Houhu ran out and was met by Total Loyal and was soon killed. After a battle ensued following this, the duke retreated and hid in a small forest for rest at night. After Su Hu then ordered his soldiers to launch a night raid on the duke, complete chaos ensued and the duke himself would have lost his life if it had not been for the quick appearance of Chong Yingbiao, Jin Kuai, and Huang Yuanji. After the Chong Houhu, his son Chong Yingbiao, and other remnants fled on horse amongst the burning flames of their supplies, the duke uttered the words, "''Ever since I have led an army, I have never suffered such defeat. How are we to take revenge? Moreover, I think the Grand Duke of the West is disobeying the king in not sending his troops, but sitting pretty to see who may win. Oh, how I hate that

fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...

!''" After Chong Houhu then decided to regroup in the morning, Total Loyal could be seen standing atop a mountain in the moonlight charging down upon the duke. After a battle ensues, Chong Houhu ends up having his left arm pierced by Total Loyal's spear; thus almost falling from his horse. Eventually, after the battle rages on for many days upon days following this event, the Grand Duke of the West sends a letter to Su Hu which results in Su Hu's consent, and the stopping of the conflict. Thus,

Chong Heihu Chong Heihu ( zh, c=崇黑虎, p=Chóng Hēihǔ; Heihu literally means black tiger) is a character in the classic 16th-century Chinese novel ''Fengshen Yanyi''. He is the younger brother of Chong Houhu, the Grand Duke of the North. Legend Chong H ...

, and the Grand Duke of the West completely shun the Chong Houhu for his idiotic impulsive ways. After the duke returns to the capital with his remaining men, he asks pardon from King Zhou. Following the

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 as ...

arc, Chong Houhu would be responsible for creating the Deer Gallery, and would thus starve the populace even further. Chong Houhu was appointed as the deity of Dahao Star (Great Consumption Star, 大耗星) in the end.

Notes

References

* ''

'' Chapter 2-4 (scattered) {{DEFAULTSORT:Chong, Houhu Investiture of the Gods characters Fictional Shang dynasty people