Among the tree spirits revered worldwide is Pi-Fang, the Chinese tree deity. She was also known as the “Lady of Sycamore.” In ancient Egypt, the wild banana was inhabited by the spirit of Nang Tani. And in Madagascar, the Rakapila was the sacred tree spirit.
Teng She
Teng She (Teng-she) is a Chinese flying dragon or serpent. Historically, the Chinese tree deity was associated with a serpent or soaring snake. It was also the name of a famous Chinese battle formation. According to Chinese legend, Emperor Wencheng’s army was composed of ten columns of troops known as tense Teng She (“ascending snakes”). Tenge also refers to a beautiful fish. In Chinese physiognomy, this figure is associated with a dragon-like appearance, with vertical lines rising from the corners of the mouth.
According to ancient Chinese mythology, Teng She was the mother of tens of thousands of human beings. She was also known as the Lady of Sycamore. In the Chinese language, she is known as a heavenly dragon, or Qianlong, and is often compared to a flying dragon. Her role in human development is described as guiding the lives of humankind.
The goddess of T’ai Shan was discovered on the summit of Mount T’ai Shan in the year 1008, establishing her as the first goddess of the T’ai Shan religion. Her role was to provide light and help people. The goddess was also believed to be the physiological basis for a new faith. However, this goddess is one of many female tree deities in the Taoist tradition. Many of these mythological figures are female.
The god of T’ai Shan is the patron of fertility. He is also responsible for the distribution of rain. The mountains seem to produce clouds, so the deity is invoked when drought or too much water threatens the crops. The hills also ensure the stability of the surrounding environment. If the earth’s balance is disturbed, rivers and earthquakes may occur.
Teng She, the Golden rain tree, is native to Eastern Asia. Though it is widely distributed in Central and Eastern China, it can also be found in the Korean peninsula and the coasts of the Yellow Sea. It is often grown as an ornamental garden tree. The flowers of the Golden rain tree are used in traditional medicines. Research has also found that the tree helps remove heavy metals from contaminated soils.
Bai Xi
Bai Xi, Pi Fang, or Huang Fu Gui, is a Chinese tree deity. He is the shape-shifting god of the forest and appears as people, beasts, and mist. He is particularly fond of yellow clothes and enjoys consuming human flesh. Moreover, he has the power to command tigers. He also guides lost travelers through the woods.
The Chinese believe that a dragon without a tail, or a black dragon without a seat, banishes floods. This deity is revered in northeastern China. Legends tell that he was born into a Li family and that his ancestor – Li Hei – changed into a dragon and subdued a white dragon which brought floods. The Black Dragon River, which flows through Heilongjiang province, is named after this dragon. Another myth involves a magpie, Lei, flapping its wings and extinguishing fires.
Regardless of the name, there is some controversy surrounding Bai Xi. Some say he is a pagan deity, and other beliefs place him in the religious realm. Others disagree, saying that he is a Chinese tree deity. However, there has yet to be a consensus among Chinese scholars about the identity of this deity, as his identity needs to be clarified.
Bai Xi is also known as the Nine-headed Bird. The myths associated with this myth suggest that it was initially a ten-headed bird, but a hunter cut one of its heads on the orders of Zhou Gongdan, a thinker and politician in the Western Zhou dynasty. This bird was associated with early morning light and was well-documented in Tang and Song dynasties.
In Chinese mythology, the Turtle Spirit is also an important figure. It is a mysterious spirit with a beautiful upper body and a turtle-like lower body. As such, it is feared that it will wreak havoc on the world. The Turtle Spirit is also a deity of the seas.
The Ghost of China is another important figure in Chinese folklore. He lives in the area between the heart and the diaphragm. His presence is said to inspire ill thoughts and cause physical illnesses. The Chinese idiom Xin Zhong you GUI – which means to have a demon inside your heart – was born from this legend. Although the ghost’s appearance remains a mystery, it is thought to be a source of great pain in the internal organs and the victim’s death.
