Chinese Deities – Chang’e, Pan Gu, and Xiwangmu

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Change is the Chinese deity of the moon, and she is also known as the moon goddess. Her name means “shining moon,” and she is greatly admired in Chinese folk tales. Her stories include a star-crossed lover, Hou Yi, ten suns, and the Jade Emperor. No wonder food is left out at the Mid-Autumn Festival in honor of her.

Pan Gu

The Chinese deity of Change, Pan Gu, is the giant god that embodies Change. His horns, akin to those of a lion, are found over his head. The rest of his body is covered in weeds. He is often portrayed as a mountain, but his proper form is a composite of animals, plants, and stars.

In myth, Pan Gu was the first entity to appear in the universe. This entity, made up of the primordial egg, gradually created cosmic dualities. Eventually, these two aspects balanced and formed Pan Gu. In Taoism, this union is called Taiji (the supreme ultimate).

Initially, Pan-Gu was a mountain that was transformed into five sacred mountains: the Xi-Tai-Chi, Fu-Xi, Shen-Nong, and Shen-Nong. These mountains were then interpreted in legends as the body of Pan-Gu.

Pan Gu is also referred to as the creator of the universe. His creation was believed to have been influenced by the Yin and Yang symbol, which eventually merged to create the heavens and earth. However, no evidence proves that a divine being created the universe. Nonetheless, Pan Gu is revered in several shrines throughout contemporary China. Those interested in the deity of Change are encouraged to visit the Pangu King Temple in Huadu District, northwest of Guangzhou. It is located near Baiyun International Airport.

Ancient Chinese myths state that Pangu, the Chinese deity of Change, formed the universe and shaped the world. This giant acted as the first being to inhabit the world and is regarded as a great hero.

Change

The Chinese deity of Change is often associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. According to the myth, the ten suns rising simultaneously brought great disaster and devastation to people. Then, the servant of the Jade Emperor, Hou Yi, shot down nine of the suns to leave only one to give light. As a reward, he received an elixir of immortality, which he did not drink. He was then able to save the people from the tyrant’s rule.

The change was initially called Heng’s, but her name was changed when the character heng became the name of a Han emperor. She is the mother of the twelve moons, and her name is often translated as Changxi, meaning “mother of the twelve moons.” She is also considered beautiful by some writers and is often mentioned in poetry.

Change, the Chinese deity of Change, is a powerful goddess of nature. Her story is also one of love and Change. In ancient Chinese culture, Change became a moon goddess when she stole an elixir of immortality from the legendary archer Hou Yi. Her story is one of the most famous in the Chinese canon. Her name comprises two characters, Change, and e, meaning “pretty young woman.” She is also known as Yu Tu and Change, though the former is more common.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in the lunar calendar and is the traditional festival of Change. The festival takes place during the full moon of the autumn season, and outdoor altars are built to honor the goddess. Mooncakes constitute a significant part of the festival and are believed to be blessed by Change and bring beauty and prosperity to people.

Lady Hao

Lady Hao was an important figure in the history of ancient China. She was a powerful woman, landowner, administrator, and royal consort. As the mother of the king’s heir, she led armies into battle on his behalf. During her reign, the king asked her to lead an army of 13,000 men and asked her to help him fight the neighboring country Qiang.

She was also known as Fu Hao or Mu Xin, honorary titles that indicated her position as a high priestess. Her role included overseeing ceremonies involving oracle-seeking and sacrifice. She was also in charge of divination. Archaeologists have unearthed inscriptions on her bone, which indicate she was an influential political figure.

Lady Hao was born into a high-ranking family and was the mother of the heir apparent. She was also a military general, leading thousands of troops in successful military campaigns. She also participated in sacrificial rituals, including the sacrificing of enemies. Her tomb is covered in graphic inscriptions depicting her sacrificial practices.

Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang are complementary principles of nature that alternate. Their mutual polarity is responsible for the rise and fall of phenomena and entities. As opposites, yin and Yang influence all aspects of human life, including food, actions, and mental structure.

Originally, yin and Yang were used to describe a hill’s sunny and shaded sides. Later, the concepts were used in a more abstract sense to describe the cosmological order. The earliest text, dating to the third century B.C., lists items according to their yin and yang qualities.

Yin and Yang are also symbols for the balance of opposites in the world. In ancient Chinese literature, the concept of yin and Yang was associated with heaven and earth and the idea of heat and chill. In Chinese culture, yin and Yang are also referred to as the sun and the moon, day and night, the seasons, the father, the elder brother and the younger brother, soldiers, speech and silence, giving and receiving, and action.

In Chinese culture, yin and Yang are closely associated with masculinity and femininity. They are often associated with the opposite of each other, with the yang side characterized by warmth and light and the yin side by gloom and darkness.

Xiwangmu’s disciples

Xiwangmu is a Chinese goddess worshipped throughout China and other East Asian countries. She has several titles in Chinese mythology, including Jinmu Yuanjun (‘Primordial Lady Golden Mother’) and Wangmu Niangniang (‘Aunt Queen Mother’). The origin of her cult is unknown, but it is generally believed that she was a demonic goddess who spawned demons.

Xiwangmu is the only deity in the Chinese pantheon with direct communication with heaven. As a result, her peach tree is said to be an intermediary between earth and heaven. The Mandate of Heaven was considered a divine right for the emperor to rule, and the first Chinese emperor to claim it was Emperor Shun of Shanxi.

Xiwangmu is also associated with secrets to immortality. The Peaches of Immortality, also known as the ‘Flat Peach,’ are believed to symbolize immortality. The Peach Tree bears fruit once every 3000 years. During this time, Xiwangmu hosts a banquet to commemorate these divine peaches. Chinese artists often depict this feast in their paintings.

Xiwangmu is a popular Chinese goddess and may have been as old as four thousand years ago. She lived in an enchanted palace in the Kunlun Mountains and cultivated trees believed to give immortality. Her image is often depicted holding a peach of immortality and wearing a phoenix ornament.

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Chinese Deities – Chang’e, Pan Gu, and Xiwangmu
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Chinese Deity Holding Peach