zhong kui stories
While his suicide nearly resulted in damnation, Zhong Kui was eventually recognized for his abilities. He recognized that he was exceptionally intelligent and had a vast knowledge of the law. Poll. Nov 24, 2018 - Zhong Kui (Chinese: 鍾馗) is the vanquisher of ghosts and evil beings. His legend began in the Tang Dynatry, and by the Song Dynasty he had been adopted into the Daoist pantheon. Synopsis The story of Chinese legendary anti-hero Zhong Kui, a young man endowed with mysterious powers who is forced into a battle among the realms of Heaven, Earth and Hell in the course of his attempt to save his countrymen and the woman he loves. Zhong Kui achieved top honors in the exams, but was stopped from taking the title earned after the emperor saw how truly ugly Zhong Kui was. He excelled in all areas of study and rightfully earned the title of top scorer, beating out every other young man who took that year’s exams. He and his childhood best friend, Du Ping, traveled from their hometown to the capital to take the imperial examinations. When he was judged, however, this fate was changed. Zhong Kui was given dominion over all ghosts. Zhong Kui’s legend was a tragic one. Zhong Kui (鍾馗) is a legendary Daoist demon hunter. In ancient times, Zhong Kui and his friend, Du Ping (杜平), took the imperial exams. The comic climax to this spectacle is Zhong Kui himself—stone drunk and propped atop a small donkey by three retainers while his sister sits helplessly astride a recalcitrant water buffalo. The oldest known image of Shōki dates back to the reign of the Japanese Emperor Goshirakawa (1127-1192). One day, he is again in a wine house drowning his frustration in drink. This ghost was the one and only ghost hunter Zhong Kui. He became a well-known figure in Japan, as well. Where can I read Exorcist Zhong Kui? In the second version of the legend, when the emperor learned of Zhong Kui’s suicide, he was filled with shame. He borrowed the travelling expenses from the kind man Du Ping. These exams set the course of a man’s career in the imperial government. He is generally depicted as a terrifying figure with a wild beard, war-like demeanor, and accompanied by a diminutive ghost companion. In the old days, people in China used to hang a picture of Zhong Kui in their homes during the Dragon Boat Festival. Among a long list of folk gods in traditional Chinese mythology, Zhong Kui is worshiped as a very special deity. In pursuit of his real identity, he crosses paths with Yang Ren Zhi and Ling Xi who join in his travel to become faithful allies. Unlike the emperor, Yan saw potential in Zhong Kui. He was a very Zhong Kui was an intelligent young man who earned near-perfect grades in the competitive imperial examinations. It is painted with enamel on porcelain, and the base has the reign mark of the Daoguang Emperor who ruled … The story picks up again in the Song Dynasty text “Bu Mengqi Bitan” (補夢溪筆談) by Shen Kuo (沈括). Zhong Kui was an unattractive man with a scarred and disfigured face. Zhong Kui - The God that catches Ghost This folktale tells the story of an ordinary scholar turns into a vanquisher of ghost and evil beings. Zhong Kui is still revered as a protective deity in both China and Japan. Because the imperial court valued beauty as much as talent, the emperor refused to give him the place he had earned. • Zhong Kui was venerated in Chinese folk religion as one of the three Lords of Demon-Subduer (三伏魔帝君) in Southern China region. As it happens to be the day commemorating the ghost festival, the owner of the wine house and his workers are anxious to get home. In his book, Gaiyu Congkao (陔餘叢考) Zhao Yi (趙翼) says that the legend started because of the Zhong Kui flower (終葵). According to legend, Zhong Kui was once a top student. His best friend buried him respectfully, but his manner of death meant Zhong Kui would be consigned to punishment in the underworld. In Taoism, Zhong Kui was a man who desired to be the emperor's personal physician. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. The story of Zhong Kui also serves as an inspiration to those who do not have access to the highest rungs of the social ladder. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. Cast aside by the emperor in spite of his excellent scores, Zhong Kui was so furious and frustrated that he killed himself at the palace gates. Known as Kui God or King of Ghosts, Zhong communicates with the three realms of heaven, earth and hell, connecting gods, people and ghosts. There, his name is Shoki but his shameful death and elevation to power in the underworld remain unchanged. He died locked out of the court that his scores should have earned him a place in. Despite exceling in the imperial exams, the emperor of China refused to grant Zhong Kui the position of physician because of his appearance. Those who scored well would earn a position in the emperor’s court and become wealthy and influential members of the bureaucracy, while those who did poorly would be excluded from all but the most menial positions. His image is painted on doors to ward off evil spirits and bad luck. Besides figures paintings, he also excelled at painting birds and plants.Ren Yi was fond of depicting immortals and legendary figures such as Zhong Kui. Believers in China also pay special care to Zhong Kui on New Year’s Day. Ren Yi (1840-1895), also known as Ren Bonian, was a representative painter of the Shanghai School. But Zhong Kui, who is drunk, refuses to leave. The story goes like that: one Chinshih went to the capital to take part in an examination. According to some stories his appearance was not even so dramatic; the rejection was based on messy hair and a square face. Upload stories, poems, character descriptions & more. He could send those after spirits who broke the laws of the underworld and they would do his bidding without question. His duty was to maintain order over all ghosts. In the second version of the legend, when the emperor learned of Zhong Kui’s suicide, he was filled with shame. Zhong Kui… He died in a tragic and dramatic suicide. He gave his sister to Du Ping as his wife, uniting their families. In the old days, the picture of Zhong Kui was ted on the walls of almost all Chinese homes. Because he returned to be with his family then, it is believed that he may make special trips to Earth on holidays to offer protection for the coming year. He even gave his sister in marriage to his friend Du Ping to thank him for his kindness. COVID-19 Safety Regulations and Protocols, The Dangers of Hallucinations During Meditation. As a young man, Zhong Kui traveled to Chang’an (modern day Xi’an) with his friend Du Ping (杜平) to sit the imperial civil service exam. Zhong Kui (鍾馗) is a legendary Daoist demon hunter. The King of the underworld recognized his intelligence and potential. This was also a position of military leadership. In addition to this protection, the King of the Ghosts had one boon to give. Get paid for your art. Zhong Kui received the highest score on the exam, earning him the rank of Zhuang Yuan, which guaranteed fame and fortune. He also protects those who are not held in high esteem in some areas of their lives. The ghost stole a purse that belonged to the emperor’s favorite concubine and the emperor’s jade flute. Even near-perfect grades did not make up for his unpleasant features. Such images are thought to scare away evil spirits that mean harm. Years later, another emperor, Emperor Xuanzong (玄宗) fell ill after archery practice. Ask the community. Vanquisher of demons, Zhong Kui plays an important role as a mythological guardian figure, popular in Chinese art from as early as the Tang dynasty. He is depicted as fierce man with a black face and a comic beard brandishing a magic sword. The legend has it that one day Zhong Kui and his friend Du Ping traveled a long way to take part in imperial examinations. Early Chinese texts suggest another possible origin to the Zhong Kui legend. He wonders who at the university would be powerful enough to host something like this and tells Ouyang Kai that the school is … Just as the ghost was about to escape, a larger ghost dressed as an official appeared. In ancient Chinese culture, there was a story called “Zhong Kui makes his sister’s marriage”. In both countries, he is one of the deities painted on doors of businesses, temples, and homes to provide protection. Knowing his story is an important part of understanding Chinese culture. The story of Zhong Kui began in the eighth century during the Tang dynasty (618–907). Early Chinese texts suggest another possible origin to the Zhong Kui legend. Zhong Kui is said to be himself the ghost of a man who failed to pass the civil service examinations and committed suicide. He was given the title King of Ghosts and tasked with hunting down spirits who strayed from the underworld. And Du Ping helped Zhong Kui generously and gave him a … The painting on this bottle is a common Chinese theme. Zhong Kui was born in the Zhongnan Mountain area in the early Tang Dynasty. Knowing his story is an important part of understanding Chinese culture. Zhong Kui is a deity in Chinese mythology. The legend of ‘ghost hunter’ Zhong Kui is one such story. Another bigger ghost captured the smaller one and returned the purse. Zhong Kui was elevated to a position of power and leadership after his death. Zhong Kui was born in the Zhongnan Mountain area in the early Tang Dynasty. Wen Tian Lu 问天录 is a Chinese drama that follows a young Zhong Kui as he bands together with friends to form a three-man team dedicated to catching demons. Once, Emperor Xuanzong (reigned 712–56) fell ill with fever and dreamt that a small demon broke into the palace and began to wreak havoc. However, the imperial ministers feared Zhang Kui’s hideous appearance would bring shame to the empire, so they stripped him of his title. There is a story that the Emperor Xuanzong of Tang once dreamed that a small ghost stole the purse of the imperial consort. While disappointment and frustration may be overwhelming believers can hope that they, like Zhong Kui, will someday have a change in fortune. Debate is on whether he really existed or not, but one thing is clear that he has a lasting influence on the mind of the Chinese people. Men, too, are thought to be affected by such painted figures if their intentions are wicked. His legend began in the Tang Dynatry, and by the Song Dynasty he had been adopted into the Daoist pantheon. The story is set at the end of the Tang Dynasty. He offered Zhong Kui a place in the bureaucracy of Hell even though he had been denied one on Earth. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Zhong Kui is a character in many Chinese operas, TV shows, movies, and video games. In his book, Gaiyu Congkao (陔餘叢考) Zhao Yi (趙翼) says that the legend started because of the Zhong Kui flower (終葵). Zhong Kui received the highest score on the exam, earning him the rank of Zhuang Yuan, which guaranteed fame and fortune. The story of Zhong Kui 2020-06-26 Zhong Kui is a legendary figure who defeats ghosts. The larger ghost introduced himself to the emperor as Zhong Kui. He was charged with controlling them and capturing any who threatened the world of the living. This should have earned him eternal punishment, but a more powerful ruler would soon see his potential. Xuan Guan Shang Di and Guan Di are the other two Deities. The story picks up again in the Song Dynasty text “Bu Mengqi Bitan” (補夢溪筆談) by Shen Kuo (沈括). As a young man, Zhong Kui traveled to Chang’an (modern day Xi’an) with his friend Du Ping (杜平) to sit the imperial civil service exam. Then, Zhong Kui viewed to protect all men, even the emperor who had rejected him, from malevolent spirits. He was so upset about the injustice done to him that he threw himself at t… Find out what other deviants think - about anything at all. With an army of demons at his command and orders to control the ghosts of the underworld, he vowed to protect even the people who had done him wrong. Zhong Kui appeared before King Yan, the ruler and judge of the dead. Read on to find out how a disgraced scholar won an army of demons! King Yama recognized Zhong Kui’s potential and named him “King of Ghosts”, charging him to hunt and capture evil spirits. Storyline "The Legend of Zhong Kui " is compose by the four independent legend stories, they are "Xiang Yao Sha Hu Zhen", "Gong Zhu San Shi Qing", "Chu Mo Wu Qing Zhan" and "Tian Shi Ye You Heng". Zhong Yui died trying to get back into the heavens upon his death Zhong Yui went to the underworld world. Both versions of the legend agree that Zhong Kui’s spirit then returned home to celebrate the New Year. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Zhong Kui’s myth can therefore be seen as a source of inspiration and comfort in times of struggle. (Auction 30, lot 567) Zhong Kui is well known in Chinese mythology for both his fearsome, ugly appearance and his ferocious disposition. A good score could open up new opportunities for any intelligent man. It stars Xing Zhao Lin (Eternal Love), Jian Ren Zi (Game of Hunting), Xuan Lu and Xu Wen Hao. Zhong Kui was a mortal man who was offended the chance to become a for his heroic deeds. Before he returned to his duties, Zhong Kui repaid his friend, Du Ping, for the care and honor he had shown at his burial. In Imperial China, a man’s fortunes could be made or lost based on the result of one test. His friend Du Ping buried him. They were shocked to see him and to learn about his newfound status in the underworld. In the first version of the legend, Zhong Kui went to the underworld where he came before King Yama, the king of hell. Zhong Kui notices that Zhao Jia Jun is on the attendee list for the movie theater event and was hosting it, but he wasn’t there when Zhong Kui arrived that day. In the Tang Dynasty, another door god named Zhong Kui, an excellent ghost catcher, became popular. According to legend, he is himself a ghost who died by suicide after he was unjustly dishonored by the emperor. It depicts Zhong Kui (the Chinese demon killer) accompanying his sister to her wedding ceremony. Zhong Kui is one of the most well-loved folk heroes of Chinese mythology. The drama will be split into six stories, each inspired by Chinese folklore. Those who are excluded from positions of power, status, or wealth through no fault of their own can take comfort in the hope that one day they, like Zhong Kui, will be recognized for their talents. Commission. Plot Summary | Add Synopsis His image is a fierce man with a messy beard, wide-open eyes, a hook nose and bell-like ears. For many centuries, Zhong Kui was one of the most popular protective deities of Chinese culture. Finally they find out that someone is trying to set up an this kind of array in the capital. In Japanese culture, Zhong Kui is known as Shōki. He was stripped of his accomplishments and rejected for a place at court, however, because he was not attractive. Eventually Zhong became the King of Ghosts in Hell and one Chinese New Year's eve he returned to his hometown. Another Han Dynasty author named Ma Rong (馬融) says that people would wave around the Zhong Kui flower as part of a ritual to protect from evil spirits. Zhong Kui was so furious that he threw himself against the palace gates over and over until his head was broken. Zhong Kui however was cast out of the heavens and denied the chance to be a deity when the emperor saw how ugly his appearance. He ordered Zhong Kui to be buried in official’s robes and awarded him the Zhuang Yuan title posthumously. Zhong Kui was devastated and committed suicide by bashing his head on the palace steps over and over. The story of Zhong Kui not only offers a source of protection against evil, but also of inspiration. To repay Du Ping's kindness, Zhong Kui gave him his younger sister in marriage. Sell custom creations to people who love your style. Most images of Zhong Kui we see today are based on Wu Daozi’s depiction. He is wearing a black gauze cap, black court shoes and a red robe, holding a sword in … This honor, however, was soon unjustly stripped from him. To help in this task, he was also given command of an army of eighty thousand ghosts. Although Zhong Kui scored at the top of his class, he wasn’t awarded a position in the emperor’s government. They measured knowledge of the law, history, mathematics, culture, and religion to choose the most well-learned scholars for civil service. According to some stories his appearance was not even so dramatic; the rejection was based on messy hair and a square face. He captured the smaller ghost, ripped out its eyes, tore it to pieces, and ate it! Chang’e, the goddess of the moon, never intended to become an immortal. 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