Gods And Goddesses: Xi Wang Mu

The Queen Mother of the West, or Xi Wang Mu, has the title of Yaochi Jinmu (Golden Mother of the Shining Lake). She is also referred simply as Queen Mother. Xi Wang Mu is the goddess of life and immortality. Many women have looked up the Xi Wang Mu, whom this goddess will protect female believers. Xi Wang Mu is the wife of the Jade Emperor.
　
The third day of the third lunar month and the eighteenth day of the seventh lunar month, Xi Wang Mu’s birthday is celebrated.
　
Often depicted holding court within the palace she resides, where it is believed she grows an orchid of peaches of immortality that ripens every three thousand years. Xi Wang Mu is also known for serving guests these peaches of immortality and wearing a headdress in which these peaches of immortality suspend from it.
　
A being known as Tetsakumi once imprisoned Xi Wang Mu in hopes of gaining a peach of immortality. Xi Wang Mu was able to get a message to the ruler of Heaven, Jade Emperor, who gave the god of fire, Zhu Rong, the title of Heavenly Executioner and the job of dealing with Tetsakumi. Zhu Rong defeated Tetsakumi eventually, gaining a mortal wound. Xi Wang Mu was saved by Zhu Rong and left unable to save Zhu Rong with a peach of immortality.
　
Xi Wang Mu is thought of having met many famous Chinese figures. Xi Wang Mu is said to have taught Yu The Great, met King Mu of the Zhou Dynasty and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Houyi quested for immortality after he and his wife Chang E lost it, getting given a pill of immortality from Xi Wang Mu. Chan Chu stole the Elixir of Immortality from Xi Wang Mu and got punished by being turned into a three legged frog. Xi Wang Mu unintentionally offended the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, by not inviting him to a banquet, leading to Sun Wukong getting drunk.

Gods And Goddesses: Chang E

Chang E, also known as Chang O and originally as Heng E and/or Heng O but changed to what it is now due to a naming taboo against speaking or writing the names of exalted people in China. Chang E is the moon goddess who is said to live on the moon and whom the spacecraft Chang’e 1 was named after.

While Chang E represents the moon, her husband Houyi, or simply Yi, represents the sun. Chan Chu, also known as the Three-Legged Frog/Toad, represents Chang E and is said to live on the moon alongside with a rabbit that is a companion of Chang E. This rabbit, also known as the ‘Jade Rabbit’, is said to be constantly pounding a Elixir of Immortality for Chang E.

Worship of Chang E is most frequent around the Mid-Autumn Festival, with the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival considered the day of Chang E’s birthday. During the Mid-Autumn Festival alters are set up to Chang E with incense being burnt as an offering. It is also common to offer fruits, flowers and mooncake.
These alters that are set up tend to be facing the moon with items such as lotions, bath salts and make up are placed on the alter to Chang E. These beauty items are for Chang E herself to bless as it is said worshippers of Chang E will be endowed with great beauty.

Chang E also is mentioned in Journey to the West where it is explained that the greedy Zhu Bajie, while as commander of 80,000 heavenly warriors, got drunk at a party. Chang E was seen by Zhu Bajie who was captivated by the beauty of this goddess and tried to make advances on Chang E. These advances failed and Chang E reported Zhu Bajie’s behaviour to the Jade Emperor and it is said that since then Chang E has been reluctant to go to Heaven.

There are a couple legends involving Chang E that involve her husband Houyi. One legend starts with Chang E and Houyi living as immortals in Heaven. The ruler of Heaven, the Jade Emperor, had ten sons who decided to transform into suns that caused a scorching of the earth. The Jade Emperor ordered his sons to stop ruining the earth and failed, so Houyi was asked to help.

Houyi used his archery skills to shoot down  nine of the Jade Emperor’s sons, leaving one son to be sun. The Jade Emperor wasn’t pleased by this as nine of his sons were now dead so as punishment both Houyi and his wife, Chang E, was banished to earth to live as mortals.

Chang E was miserable over her lose of immortality so Houyi decided to quest for immortality both Chang E and himself. Houyi eventually got given a pill that would make people immortal by a goddess known as Queen Mother of the West, this pill also could be broken in half and make two people immortal.

Houyi took the pill home where it was stored in a case, warning Chang E not to open the case before leaving home. Chang E out of severe curiosity checked the case and found the pill as Houyi got back home, fear that Houyi would catch her with the case caused Chang E to accidentally swallow the pill. Chang E started to float to the sky and continued to float until she landed on the moon where she had company of the jade rabbit and Chan Chu.

The other legend of Chang E tells how she lived in Heaven and one day accidentally broke a precious jar. Punishment was banishment to earth and was allowed to come back to Heaven if she contributed a valuable service on earth.
Chang E on earth was transformed into a girl of a rich farming family. Chang E grew into a young beautiful woman and was spotted by a hunter from another village, Houyi, whom Chang E became friends with.

Eventually a strange event of ten suns coming into the sky rather than one, bringing the earth to an unbearable heat. Houyi with his bow and arrows shot down nine of these suns and became a hero ad eventually a king, marrying Chang E.

Houyi as a king turned both greedy and selfish, turning his sights onto immortality and ordered an elixir for the purpose of prolonging his life to be created. This elixir came in a form of a pill that Chang E came across that she either accidentally or purposely swallowed. Houyi was angered by this so Chang E fled, jumping out of a window of  a chamber at the top of the palace she lived within. Upon jumping out the window Chang E floated to the moon instead of falling to her death. Later, Houyi ascended to the sun where he built a palace.

Gods And Goddesses: Zhu Rong

Zhu Rong is the god of fire and the ruler of the southern hemisphere who can be recognised as a man in armour, wielding a sword and riding a tiger. He is said to be one of the gods who helped separate Heaven and earth.

Zhu Rong has to be most famous for battling Gong Gong who is said to be either a water god or water demon. It is said that Gong Gong had done some lovely flood causing and even the son of Zhu Rong himself, not only that but Gong Gong apparently wanted to seize the throne of Heaven to which is said why Zhu Rong and Gong Gong fought. The battle between the two is said to have started in Heaven which lasted for days, eventually the two fell to earth and Zhu Rong won.

While Zhu Rong did win against Gong Gong and returned to Heaven victorious, Gong Gong did sort of commit suicide that in turn caused one very large flood.

Those who have read Romance of Three Kingdoms may remember Lady Zhurong (or Madam Zhurong as she is sometimes called), a wife of a chieftain called Meng Huo. It is Lady Zhurong who is said to be a descendant of Zhu Rong himself and like many characters of Romance of Three Kingdoms appears in the Dynasty Warriors games where Lady Zhurong is called Zhu Rong.
In other media Zhu Rong appears on a card, the card game in question in which he appears in is Anachronism.

Zhu Rong himself is said to have been an official in charge of fire under the Yellow Emperor and the son of a tribal leader. Zhu Rong is said to have been known as Li or Chu Jung as a child who was tall and intelligent yet had a bad temper. Zhu Rong is also said to have used fire in war, even helping the Yellow Emperor win a battle at a place called Zhuolu Plain using fire attacks.

Another person discovered the method of making fire by drilling wood by didn’t know much about keeping or utilizing fire so Zhu Rong, seeing as he had a special bond with fire, became an expert in managing fire, using fire itself for cooking, heating, lighting and driving both insects and beasts away.
Zhu Rong is even said to have discovered the method of creating fire by hitting two stones together.

A lovely person called Tetsakumi is said to have imprisoned the Queen Mother of the West, hoping to get a peach of immortality. Queen Mother of the West was able to get a message to the ruler of Heaven, Jade Emperor, who gave Zhu Rong the title Heavenly Executioner and sent him to deal with Tetsakumi. Tetsakumi tried to avoid Zhu Rong as much as possible, which included sacrificing the lives of others and thanks to this Zhu Rong got so enraged by the deaths that Heaven shook.

Zhu Rong did eventually get to deal with Tetsakumi but got a mortal wound during the battle with Tetsakumi, Queen Mother of the West tried to save Zhu Rong by feeding him a peach of immortality which did not work. The Jade Emperor decreed that Zhu Rong shall be eternally reincarnated until he learnt to control his own temper, where if done he will gain his place as the god of fire and Heavenly Executioner once again.

There are some monks living in mountainous regions who are said are trying to search for the child who is the reincarnation of Zhu Rong for the purpose of guiding the child so he can get his place in Heaven.

Chan Chu

Chan Chu, also known as the Lucky Money Toad, Three-Legged Money Frog, Three-Legged Frog, King Money Frog and simply as Money Frog/Toad. Easily recognisable by the fact she is a frog or toad with three legs, often seen with a coin in her mouth and it is common to see Chan Chu on top of either a pile of coins, ingots or a mirror used in Feng Shui, the bagua. Not only that, Chan Chu has flared nostrils and red eyes which show a frightening look.

The coin itself that Chan Chu holds in his mouth is a I Ching coin which have been used as amulets to ward off evil and disease, but also for good luck. The bagua which Chan Chu is commonly seen sitting on is for the encouragement of the flow a lovely thing called chi. The ingots Chan Chu is also seen sitting on is of a simple boat shape which symbolizes abundance and an easy life.

Chan Chu is also known to have a lovely symbol on its back, the pa kua, symbolizing protection. Not only that, frogs symbolizes wealth and with a protection symbol on its back, Chan Chu is said to help bring in money and protect it as well. Chan Chu is also said to help get rid of bad luck.

In Feng Shui, Chan Chu would be placed in the living room of a house or the main room of a business, specifically at the corner diagonally opposite of the entrance door as it is said corners are where chi concentrates and chi flow will be helped with this. This is said to be the best placement for Chan Chu.

 Another thing done in Feng Shui being Chan Chu placed facing out the entrance door during the day and facing inwards of the house in the late afternoon and night. This symbolizes Chan Chu going out during the day to fetch money and later coming back with it.
Two of these frogs may also be bought and placed by a front door, one placing inwards of the house and the other facing outwards. The one facing inside brings in money while the other collects the money.

Some people will even buy nine Chan Chu’s as it is said nine is the ideal number, with these frogs placed randomly all over the living room, all facing in different directions.

Symbolically, Chan Chu represents the moon goddess, Chang E, and is even said to live on the moon. The reason for Chan Chu living on the moon comes from the legend that originally Chan Chu was the wife of one of the Eight Immortals and a greedy person herself. It is said that Chan Chu stole the Elixir of Immortality from a goddess known as Queen Mother of the West. She was punished by being turned into a three legged from and sent to the moon.

Lui Hai, one of the Eight Immortals, is also said to have known of Chan Chu’s like for money and use a red line tied with gold coins to lure Chan Chu out from hiding. It is for this that frogs with coins symbolize the soon coming of wealth.