Mei Wu () is a character featured within 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 ...

''. Mei Wu was a high-ranking officer under 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 ...

for many years, and had gained great renown for his loyalty. Following Chong Houhu's coalition against the rebel leader,

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 ...

, Mei Wu became the right hand general serving under the Chong. After Chong arrived at the gates to Su Hu's Ji province, Mei Wu had been the first general to respond to the duke's call – the capture of Su Hu. When Mei Wu appeared before Su Hu, he could be seen riding on a chestnut

stallion A stallion is an adult male horse that has not been gelded ( castrated). Stallions follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cre ...

, wearing bright golden armor, a Phoenix Wing's helmet, and a bright red robe with a lion-headed belt. After the son of Su Hu – Su Quanzhong – appeared as Su Hu's protector, Mei Wu shouted at him: "''Su Quanzhong! You, father and son, are committing a capital crime! You know the king's army can very easily overwhelm your region and destroy your ancestral shrine!''" Mei Wu, who wielded a golden

axe An axe (; sometimes spelled ax in American English; American and British English spelling differences#Miscellaneous spelling differences, see spelling differences) is an implement that has been used for thousands of years to shape, split, a ...

, charged at Quanzhong and a duel ensued between them. After the two warriors had fought for more than twenty rounds, Quanzhong finally found an opening and slashed Mei Wu off his horse with his spear. A major battle then ensued, resulting in the fleeing of Chong, and the death of Mei Wu. Mei Wu was appointed as the deity of Tiankong Star () in the end.''

'' Chapter 99.

Notes

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 2 (pages 21-22) Investiture of the Gods characters Fictional Shang dynasty people {{novel-char-stub