If you’ve ever wondered about the black dog in Chinese culture, then you’re not alone. There are several different names for this deity, including Xiwangmu, Zhang Xian, and Xiang Gong. Let’s take a look at each one and see how they differ from each other.
Xiang Gong
In the 4th century, the ancient Chinese deity Xiang Gong was first mentioned. According to the Shan Hai Jing, this black dog is an example of a Heavenly Dog and is associated with the protection of emperor Xiang Gong. In addition, the Heavenly Dogs are said to protect the emperor from thieves.
Other incarnations of Xiang Gong include Yu Jiang, the first shamanness of China and the creator of the Tribe of Three-Body People. She is also associated with the Five Shards Constellation, an unmoving cluster of stars that is a womb point. The goddess Yu Jiang is said to have escaped her role as a concubine for Prince Ying of the Qin state, but was only found hundreds of years later. In another story, Yu Xuanji was a great Daoist court priestess in the Tang dynasty.
The story behind Xiang Gong is quite interesting. He was an important political figure in ancient China, but he had no children of his own. So a female spirit came down from the sky to nurse him.
Xiang Nu
Xiang Nu is a deity of the Chinese pantheon. He was a demigod who lived in ancient China. He was believed to have been responsible for the development of agriculture and medicine. He was also regarded as one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Historians have also speculated that he was the same character as Huang Di, a mythical ancient Chinese ruler. He was also seen as the original lord of Chi You, and as an indirect opponent of Huang Di. The Chinese deity was also regarded as a winged dog or man-eating demon, and often portrayed as a tiger-like beast.
The mythical black dog, Xiang Nu, is also the symbol of the lunar eclipse. In this version, the black dog is the bad spirit who eats the moon, thereby making itself immortal. In the other story, a man named Chang Er, a man who wanted to remain youthful, ate a pill that made him immortal. The black dog licked the remains of the pill, and then chased Chang Er. Afterwards, he was immortal, and ascended to the moon.
Fo Lin
Chinese mythology has a wealth of mythical creatures. One of these creatures is the black dog, which is worshipped as a deity. It is a symbol of strength and courage, as well as a protector of children. A black dog is a great companion for any warrior.
ao dogs may have been a type of black mastiff
Various ethnic groups around the world claim to have deified a dog as their forebear. One such myth tells of a legendary Chinese sovereign named Di Ku who had a dog named Panhu. Panhu was believed to have brought the head of an enemy general to Di Ku, and eventually ended up marrying the emperor’s daughter.
Chinese history and mythology are replete with references to dogs. However, the distinction between ancient history and myth is often blurred, and the treatment of dogs is usually depicted in a non-fanciful manner. Some accounts also depict other animals in a mythological manner.
