{"collection":"cfu","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/cfu/mlc/mlc08.htm","path":"cfu/mlc/mlc08.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/cfu/mlc/mlc08.htm","text":"Myths and Legends of China, by Edward T.C. Werner, [1922]\nAs already noted, affairs in the Otherworld are managed by official Bureaux or Ministries very similar to those on earth. The F\u00eang sh\u00ean yen i mentions several of these, and gives full details of their constitution. The first is the Ministry of Thunder and Storms. This is composed of a large number of officials. The principal ones are Lei Tsu, the Ancestor of Thunder, Lei Kung, the Duke of Thunder, Tien Mu, the Mother of Lightning, Feng Po, the Count of Wind, and Y[\u2019u] Shih, the Master of Rain. These correspond to the Buddhist Asuras, the \u201cfourth class of sentient beings, the mightiest of all demons, titanic enemies of the D\u00eavas,\u201d and the Vedic Maruta, storm-demons. In the temples Lei Tsu is placed in the centre with the other four to right and left. There are also sometimes represented other gods of rain, or attendants. These are Hsing T\u2019ien Ch\u00fcn and T\u2019ao T\u2019ien Ch\u00fcn, both officers of Wen Chung, or Lei Tsu, Ma Y\u00fcan-shuai, Generalissimo Ma, whose exploits are referred to later, and others.\nThis divinity has three eyes, one in the middle of his forehead, from which, when open, a ray of white light proceeds to a distance of more than two feet. Mounted on a black unicorn, he traverses millions of miles in the twinkling of an eye.\n \n \nClick to enlarge\n W\u00ean Chung, Minister of Thunder\nHis origin is ascribed to a man named W\u00ean Chung, generally known as W\u00ean Chung T\u2019ai-shih, \u2018the Great p. 199 Teacher W\u00ean Chung,\u2019 He was a minister of the tyrant king Chou (1154\u20131122 B.C.), and fought against the armies of the Chou dynasty. Being defeated, he fled to the mountains of Yen, Yen Shan, where he met Ch\u2019ih Ching-tzu, one of the alleged discoverers of fire, and joined battle with him; the latter, however, flashed his yin-yang mirror at the unicorn, and put it out of action. Lei Ch\u00ean-tzu, one of Wu Wang\u2019s marshals, then struck the animal with his staff, and severed it in twain.\nW\u00ean Chung escaped in the direction of the mountains of Ch\u00fceh-lung Ling, where another marshal, Y\u00fcn Chung-tzu, barred his way. Y\u00fcn\u2019s hands had the power of producing lightning, and eight columns of mysterious fire suddenly came out of the earth, completely enveloping W\u00ean Chung. They were thirty feet high and ten feet in circumference. Ninety fiery dragons came out of each and flew away up into the air. The sky was like a furnace, and the earth shook with the awful claps of thunder. In this fiery prison W\u00ean Chung died.\nWhen the new dynasty finally proved victorious, Chiang Tzu-ya, by order of Y\u00fcan-shih T\u2019ien-tsun, conferred on W\u00ean Chung the supreme direction of the Ministry of Thunder, appointing him celestial prince and plenipotentiary defender of the laws governing the distribution of clouds and rain. His full title was Celestial and Highly-honoured Head of the Nine Orbits of the Heavens, Voice of the Thunder, and Regulator of the Universe. His birthday is celebrated on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth moon.\nThe Spirit of Thunder, for whom Lei Tsu is often mistaken, is represented as an ugly, black, bat-winged p. 200 demon, with clawed feet, monkey\u2019s head, and eagle\u2019s beak, who holds in one hand a steel chisel, and in the other a spiritual hammer, with which he beats numerous drums strung about him, thus producing the terrific noise of thunder. According to Chinese reasoning it is the sound of these drums, and not the lightning, which causes death.\nA. Gruenwedel, in his Guide to the Lamaist Collection of Prince Uchtomsky, p. 161, states that the Chino-Japanese God of Thunder, Lei Kung, has the shape of the Indian divine bird Garuda. Are we to suppose, then, that the Chinese Lei Kung is of Indian origin? In modern pictures the God of Thunder is depicted with a cock\u2019s head and claws, carrying in one hand the hammer, in the other the chisel. We learn, however, from Wang Ch\u2019ung\u2019s Lun H\u00eang that in the first century B.C., when Buddhism was not yet introduced into China, the \u2018Thunderer\u2019 was represented as a strong man, not as a bird, with one hand dragging a cluster of drums, and with the other brandishing a hammer. Thus Lei Kung existed already in China when the latter received her first knowledge of India. Yet his modern image may well owe its wings to the Indian rain-god Vajrapani, who in one form appears with Garuda wings.\nLei Kung P\u2019u-sa, the avatar of Lei Kung (whose existence as the Spirit of Thunder is denied by at least one Chinese writer), has made various appearances on the earth. One of these is described below.\nA certain Yeh Ch\u2019ien-chao of Hsin Chou, when a youth, used to climb the mountain Chien-ch\u2019ang Shan for the purpose of cutting firewood and collecting medicinal p. 201 herbs. One day when he had taken refuge under a tree during a rain-storm there was a loud clap of thunder, and he saw a winged being, with a blue face, large mouth, and bird\u2019s claws, caught in a cleft of the tree. This being addressed Yeh, saying: \u201cI am Lei Kung. In splitting this tree I got caught in it; if you will free me I will reward you handsomely.\u201d The woodcutter opened the cleft wider by driving in some stones as wedges, and liberated the prisoner. \u201cReturn to this spot to-morrow,\u201d said the latter, \u201cand I will reward you.\u201d The next day the woodcutter kept the appointment, and received from Lei Kung a book. \u201cIf you consult this work,\u201d he explained, \u201cyou will be able at will to bring thunder or rain, cure sickness, or assuage sorrow. We are five brothers, of whom I am the youngest. When you want to bring rain call one or other of my brothers; but call me only in case of pressing necessity, because I have a bad character; but I will come if it is really necessary.\u201d Having said these words, he disappeared.\nYeh Ch\u2019ien-chao, by means of the prescriptions contained in the mysterious book, could cure illnesses as easily as the sun dissipates the morning mist. One day, when he was intoxicated and had gone to bed in the temple of Chi-chou Ss\u016d, the magistrate wished to arrest and punish him. But when he reached the steps of the yam\u00ean, Ch\u2019ien-chao called Lei Kung to his aid. A terrible clap of thunder immediately resounded throughout the district. The magistrate, nearly dead with fright, at once dismissed the case without punishing the culprit. The four brothers never failed to come to his aid.\nBy the use of his power Ch\u2019ien-chao saved many regions from famine by bringing timely rain. p. 202\nAnother legend relates that an old woman living in Kiangsi had her arm broken through being struck by lightning, when a voice from above was heard saying: \u201cI have made a mistake.\u201d A bottle fell out of space, and the voice again said: \u201cApply the contents and you will be healed at once.\u201d This being done, the old woman\u2019s arm was promptly mended. The villagers, regarding the contents of the bottle as divine medicine, wished to take it away and hide it for future use, but several of them together could not lift it from the ground. Suddenly, however, it rose up and disappeared into space. Other persons in Kiangsi were also struck, and the same voice was heard to say: \u201d Apply some grubs to the throat and they will recover.\u201cAfter this had been done the victims returned to consciousness none the worse for their experience.\nThe worship of Lei Kung seems to have been carried on regularly from about the time of the Christian era.\nAnother Son of Thunder is Lei Ch\u00ean-tz\u016d, mentioned above, whose name when a child was W\u00ean Y\u00fc, who was hatched from an egg after a clap of thunder and found by the soldiers of W\u00ean Wang in some brushwood near an old tomb. The infant\u2019s chief characteristic was its brilliant eyes. W\u00ean Wang, who already had ninety-nine children, adopted it as his hundredth, but gave it to a hermit named Y\u00fcn Chung-tz\u016d to rear as his disciple. The hermit showed him the way to rescue his adopted father from the tyrant who held him prisoner. In seeking for some powerful weapon the child found on p. 203 the hillside two apricots, and ate them both. He then noticed that wings had grown on his shoulders, and was too much ashamed to return home.\nBut the hermit, who knew intuitively what had taken place, sent a servant to seek him. When they met the servant said: \u201cDo you know that your face is completely altered?\u201d The mysterious fruit had not only caused Lei Ch\u00ean-tz\u016d to grow wings, known as Wings of the Wind and Thunder, but his face had become green, his nose long and pointed, and two tusks protruded horizontally from each side of his mouth, while his eyes shone like mirrors.\nLei Ch\u00ean-tz\u016d now went and rescued W\u00ean Wang, dispersing his enemies by means of his mystical power and bringing the old man back on his shoulders. Having placed him in safety he returned to the hermit.\nThis divinity is represented as a female figure, gorgeously apparelled in blue, green, red, and white, holding in either hand a mirror from which proceed two broad streams or flashes of light. Lightning, say the Chinese, is caused by the rubbing together of the yin and the yang, just as sparks of fire may be produced by the friction of two substances.\nTung Wang Kung, the King of the Immortals, was playing at pitch-pot 1 with Y\u00fc N\u00fc. He lost; whereupon Heaven smiled, and from its half-open mouth a ray of light came out. This was lightning; it is regarded as p. 204 feminine because it is supposed to come from the earth, which is of the yin, or female, principle.\nF\u00eang Po, the God of the Wind, is represented as an old man with a white beard, yellow cloak, and blue and red cap. He holds a large sack, and directs the wind which comes from its mouth in any direction he pleases.\nThere are various ideas regarding the nature of this deity. He is regarded as a stellar divinity under the control of the star Ch\u2019i, 2 because the wind blows at the time when the moon leaves that celestial mansion. He is also said to be a dragon called Fei Lien, at first one of the supporters of the rebel Ch\u2019ih Yu, who was defeated by Huang Ti. Having been transformed into a spiritual monster, he stirred up tremendous winds in the southern regions. The Emperor Yao sent Sh\u00ean I with three hundred soldiers to quiet the storms and appease Ch\u2019ih Yu\u2019s relatives, who were wreaking their vengeance on the people. Sh\u00ean I ordered the people to spread a long cloth in front of their houses, fixing it with stones. The wind, blowing against this, had to change its direction. Sh\u00ean I then flew on the wind to the top of a high mountain, whence he saw a monster at the base. It had the shape of a huge yellow and white sack, and kept inhaling and exhaling in great gusts. Sh\u00ean I, concluding that this was the cause of all these storms, shot an arrow and hit the monster, whereupon it took refuge in a deep cave. Here it turned on Sh\u00ean I and, drawing a sword, dared him to attack the Mother of the Winds. Sh\u00ean I, however, bravely faced the monster and discharged another arrow, this time p. 205 hitting it in the knee. The monster immediately threw down its sword and begged that its life might be spared.\nFei Lien is elsewhere described as a dragon who was originally one of the wicked ministers of the tyrant Chou, and could walk with unheard-of swiftness. Both he and his son \u00d4 Lai, who was so strong that he could tear a tiger or rhinoceros to pieces with his hands, were killed when in the service of Chou Wang. Fei Lien is also said to have the body of a stag, about the size of a leopard, with a bird\u2019s head, horns, and a serpent\u2019s tail, and to be able to make the wind blow whenever he wishes.\nY\u00fc Shih, the Master of Rain, clad in yellow scale-armour, with a blue hat and yellow busby, stands on a cloud and from a watering-can pours rain upon the earth. Like many other gods, however, he is represented in various forms. Sometimes he holds a plate, on which is a small dragon, in his left hand, while with his right he pours down the rain. He is obviously the Parjanya of Vedism.\nAccording to a native account, the God of Rain is one Ch\u2019ih Sung-tz\u016d, who appeared during a terrible drought in the reign of Sh\u00ean Nung (2838\u20132698 B.C.), and owing to his reputed magical power was requested by the latter to bring rain from the sky. \u201cNothing is easier,\u201d he replied; \u201cpour a bottleful of water into an earthen bowl and give it to me.\u201d This being done, he plucked from a neighbouring mountain a branch of a tree, soaked it in the water, and with it sprinkled the earth. Immediately clouds gathered and rain fell in torrents, filling the rivers to overflowing. Ch\u2019ih Sung-tz\u016d was then honoured as the God of Rain, and his images show him holding the p. 206 mystic bowl. He resides in the K\u2019un-lun Mountains, and has many extraordinary peculiarities, such as the power to go through water without getting wet, to pass through fire without being burned, and to float in space.\nThis Rain-god also assumes the form of a silkworm chrysalis in another account. He is there believed to possess a concubine who has a black face, holds a serpent in each hand, and has other serpents, red and green, reposing on her right and left ears respectively; also a mysterious bird, with only one leg, the shang yang, which can change its height at will and drink the seas dry. The following legend is related of this bird.\nAt the time when Hs\u00fcan-ming Ta-j\u00ean instructed Fei Lien in the secrets of magic, the latter saw a wonderful bird which drew in water with its beak and blew it out again in the shape of rain. Fei lien tamed it, and would take it about in his sleeve.\nLater on a one-legged bird was seen in the palace of the Prince of Ch\u2019i walking up and down and hopping in front of the throne. Being much puzzled, the Prince sent a messenger to Lu to inquire of Confucius concerning this strange behaviour. \u201cThis bird is a shang yang\u201d said Confucius; \u201cits appearance is a sign of rain. In former times the children used to amuse themselves by hopping on one foot, knitting their eyebrows, and saying: \u2018It will rain, because the shang yang is disporting himself.\u2019 Since this bird has gone to Ch\u2019i, heavy rain will fall, and the people should be told to dig channels and repair the dykes, for the whole country will be inundated.\u201d Not only Ch\u2019i, but all the adjacent kingdoms were flooded; all sustained grievous damage except Ch\u2019i, where the p. 207 necessary precautions had been taken. This caused Duke Ching to exclaim: \u201cAlas! how few listen to the words of the sages!\u201d\nMa Y\u00fcan-shuai is a three-eyed monster condemned by Ju Lai to reincarnation for excessive cruelty in the extermination of evil spirits. In order to obey this command he entered the womb of Ma Chin-mu in the form of five globes of fire. Being a precocious youth, he could fight when only three days old, and killed the Dragon-king of the Eastern Sea. From his instructor he received a spiritual work dealing with wind, thunder, snakes, etc., and a triangular piece of stone which he could at will change into anything he liked. By order of Y\u00fc Ti he subdued the Spirits of the Wind and Fire, the Blue Dragon, the King of the Five Dragons, and the Spirit of the Five Hundred Fire Ducks, all without injury to himself. For these and many other enterprises he was rewarded by Y\u00fc Ti with various magic articles and with the title of Generalissimo of the West, and is regarded as so successful an interceder with Y\u00fc Ti that he is prayed to for all sorts of benefits. p. 208\n208:2 In Sagittarius, or the Sieve; Chinese constellation of the Leopard.","title":"Myths and Legends of China: Chapter VI. Myths of Thunder, Lightning, Wind, and Rain","type":"page"}