Guang Chengzi ({{zh, s=广成子, t=廣成子, p=Guǎngchéngzǐ, w=Kuang ch'eng-tzu) (Literarily "Person Who Knows All" ) is a Taoist deity and a character in the classic 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 ...

''.

Taoist mythology

From the idea of

Taoism Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ' ...

, Guang Chengzi was the

avatar Avatar (, ; ) is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means . It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes u ...

of Taishang Laojun (also named

Daode Tianzun Daode Tianzun (), also known as Taishang Laojun () is a high Taoist god. He is the Taiqing (, lit. the Grand Pure One) which is one of the Three Pure Ones, the highest immortals of Taoism. Laozi is regarded to be a manifestation of Daode Tia ...

) during the period of

Yellow Emperor The Yellow Emperor, also known as the Yellow Thearch, or Huangdi ( zh, t=黃帝, s=黄帝, first=t) in Chinese, is a mythical Chinese sovereign and culture hero included among the legendary Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. He is revered as ...

in ancient Chinese history. According to

Zhuangzi Zhuangzi may refer to: * ''Zhuangzi'' (book) (莊子), an ancient Chinese collection of anecdotes and fables, one of the foundational texts of Taoism **Zhuang Zhou Zhuang Zhou (), commonly known as Zhuangzi (; ; literally "Master Zhuang"; als ...

's recording, he lived in the

Kongtong Mountains Kongtong Mountains () is one of the sacred mountains of Taoism. It is located in Pingliang City, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China. It is the mythical meeting site between the Yellow Emperor (also known as ''Huangdi'' or by his given n ...

and the Yellow Emperor visited him there for his teaching. He gave the Yellow Emperor several books that talked about the moral, the natural, and the philosophical, helping the Yellow Emperor create the early Chinese civilization. It is said that Guang Chengzi had a long life of 1200 years. There is another saying that Guang Chengzi was the avatar of the

Dao The Tao or Dao is the natural way of the universe, primarily as conceived in East Asian philosophy and religion. This seeing of life cannot be grasped as a concept. Rather, it is seen through actual living experience of one's everyday being. T ...

, who appeared in the human world three times – the first time as Guang Chengzi during the Yellow Emperor time; second as

Laozi Laozi (), also romanized as Lao Tzu #Name, among other ways, was a semi-legendary Chinese philosophy, Chinese philosopher and author of the ''Tao Te Ching'' (''Laozi''), one of the foundational texts of Taoism alongside the ''Zhuangzi (book) ...

during the

Spring and Autumn period The Spring and Autumn period () was a period in History of China, Chinese history corresponding roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou (256 BCE), characterized by the gradual erosion of royal power as local lords nominally subject t ...

; and third time as

Zhang Daoling Zhang Daoling (, traditionally February 22, 34October 10, 156), birth name Zhang Ling (), courtesy name Fuhan (), was a Chinese Taoist religious leader who lived during the Eastern Han dynasty. He founded the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice ...

in the

Han dynasty The Han dynasty was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC ...

In ''Fengshen Yanyi''

From the novel of ''Fengshen Yanyi'', Guang Chengzi is the student of

Yuanshi Tianzun Yuanshi Tianzun (), the Celestial Venerable of the Primordial Beginning or the Primeval Lord of Heaven, is one of the highest deities of Taoism. He is one of the Three Pure Ones () and is also known as the Jade Pure One (). He resides in the Gr ...

, who is the co-founder of Branch ''Chan'' of Taoism. Guangchengzi ranked the first of the Twelve Golden Xian (十二金仙) along with Yuanshi Tianzun's other eleven students: Chi Jingzi,

Yuding Zhenren Yuding Zhenren () is a Taoist deity and character in the classic Chinese novel ''Fengshen Yanyi''. He is one of the Twelve Golden Immortals under Yuanshi Tianzun. His disciple is Yang Jian and he taught him fighting and magical skills including ...

Taiyi Zhenren Taiyi Zhenren () is a Daoist deity in Chinese religion and Taoism. ''Taiyi'' () means "primordial unity of yin and yang" and ''Zhenren'' () is a Daoist term for "Perfected Person". According to the opening of the classical novel '' Fengshen Bang ...

, Huanglong Zhenren,

Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun () is a Taoist deity and character in the classic Chinese novel ''Investiture of the Gods'' (more commonly known as ''Fengshen Yanyi''). He is a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun and one of the Three Great Immortals, holding the f ...

(also known as

Manjusri Manjushri () is a ''bodhisattva'' who represents ''Prajñā (Buddhism), prajñā'' (transcendent wisdom) of the Buddhas in Mahāyāna Buddhism. The name "Mañjuśrī" is a combination of Sanskrit word "wikt:%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9C%E0 ...

Puxian Zhenren Puxian may refer to: * Pu–Xian Min, subcategory of Min languages * Puxian Pavilion, at Shanhua Temple in Datong, Shanxi Province, China * Puxian, Chinese name for Samantabhadra, a Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism * Puxian Wannu, 13th-century Jurc ...

(also known as

Samantabhadra Samantabhadra (Lit. "All Good", or "Always Auspicious") may refer to: * Samantabhadra (Bodhisattva), a bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism associated with practice and meditation * ''Samantabhadra'' (Tibetan: ''Kuntu Zangpo''), the name of a Buddha, ...

), Cihang Zhenren (also known as

Guanyin Guanyin () is a common Chinese name of the bodhisattva associated with Karuṇā, compassion known as Avalokiteśvara (). Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin, which means " he One WhoPerceives the Sounds of the World". Originally regarded as m ...

), Lingbao Dafashi, Ju Liusun (also known as

Kakusandha Buddha Kakusandha (Pāli), or Krakucchaṃda in Sanskrit, is one of the ancient Buddhas whose biography is chronicled in chapter 22 of the '' Buddhavaṃsa'', one of the books of the Pali Canon. According to Theravāda Buddhist tradition, Kakusandha is ...

), Daoxing Tianzun, and Qingxu Daode Tianzun. The twelve Xians and their students worked together with

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 ...

to support

King Wu of Zhou King Wu of Zhou (; died ), personal name Ji Fa, was the founding king of the Chinese Zhou dynasty. The chronology of his reign is disputed but is generally thought to have begun around 1046 BCE and ended with his death three years later. Ki ...

conquer

King Zhou of Shang King Zhou (; ) was the pejorative posthumous name given to Di Xin of Shang () or Shou, King of Shang (), the last king of the Shang dynasty of ancient China. He is also called Zhou Xin (). In Chinese, his name Zhòu ( 紂) also refers to a horse ...

(who got the support of the Branch ''Jie''). On his visit to Jin'ao Island to see

Tongtian Jiaozhu Tongtian Jiaozhu (通天教主) or sometimes translated as ''Grandmaster of Heaven'' is the third disciple of Hongjun Laozu and younger brother of Yuanshi Tianzun and Taishang Laojun. He has appeared as an antagonist in many legends, classic nov ...

—the founder of Branch Jie, he killed Tongtian Jiaozhu's student Huoling Shengmu by mistake, which angered the other people from Branch Jie. He was able to leave the island after that, but the direct war between Branch Jie and Branch Chan began. That huge war lasted for a long time and many gods and Xians were injured or even killed in the war. Eventually Branch Chan beat Branch Jie.

Weapons of Guangchengzi

He has three weapons: Fantian Yin, Luohun Bell, and Female-Male Double Sword. Fantian Yin is his best weapon. It is said to be a huge seal, which was made by Guangchengzi's teacher Yuanshi Tianzun and then passed to him. Fantian Yin is driven by magic; it kills people by hitting the forehead. Luohun Bell was a bell that makes the sound to interrupt enemies' soul. Female-Male Double Sword was a pair of swords; these swords were believed to have genders, one was female and one was male, and he was considered the master of Chinese sword culture.

Guangchengzi's student

He had sacrificed many years of solitude and had emerged as an immortal. Originally, this superior man had been within the Peach Stream Cave of Mount Nine Elves. After he, along with his fellow immortal by the name of Chijingzi had been passing by

King Zhou King Zhou (; ) was the pejorative posthumous name given to Di Xin of Shang () or Shou, King of Shang (), the last king of the Shang dynasty of ancient China. He is also called Zhou Xin (). In Chinese, his name Zhòu ( 紂) also refers to a horse c ...

's capital,

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 ...

, two very large beams of red light from heaven had impeded Guang Chengzi's path. After Guangchengzi personally saw beneath him the unfortunate events taking place - the near execution of both the crown princes Yin Jiao and Yin Hong - Guang Chengzi would say that it would be best to create a very large tornado over the capital and use the confusion to steal both of the princes – as to ensure the creation of the new dynasty. Guangchengzi took Yin Jiao as his student, and Chijingzi took Yin Hong as student. After several decades of studying, Yin Jiao was strong enough to do some contributions to the world, thus Guang Chengzi gave him the Fantian Yin along with some other weapons and asked Yin Jiao to help Jiang Ziya and King Wu of Zhou. However, on Yin Jiao's way to the camp of King Wu's army, he met the cunning

Shen Gongbao Shen Gongbao (申公豹) is a major character featured within the famed classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods. Shen Gongbao is a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun, Jiang Ziya's junior fellow apprentice. Background The earliest source of the c ...

, who persuaded Yin Jiao to help his father King Zhou to fight against King Wu, and protect the country of Shang. As a youth who had little social experience, Yin Jiao accepted Shen Gongbao's suggestion and fought against King Wu's army, contrary to his teacher Guang Chengzi. Eventually, he killed Yin Jiao.

References

* ''

Investiture of the Gods ''The Investiture of the Gods'', also known by its Chinese titles () and is a 16th-century Chinese novel and one of the major Written vernacular Chinese, vernacular Chinese works in the gods and demons (''shenmo'') genre written during the Min ...

'' chapter 9 pages 107-108 Chinese gods Investiture of the Gods characters Taoist deities