Li Gen (Investiture of the Gods)

Li Gen (Chinese: 李艮; pinyin: Lǐ Gèn) is a character featured within the famed classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods (more commonly known as Fengshen Yanyi). In the Legend of Nezha, it is recounted that Li Gen, a yasha entrusted with guarding the sea, once served as the imperial pen of Haotian Shangdi. He consistently wielded his authority to subjugate others and was subsequently banished from Heaven.^[1]

As a yaksha, Li Gen became the number one investigator under the East Sea Dragon King Ao Guang. In appearance, Li Gen is a lizard like creature with long mercury red hair, protruding fangs, and a face the color of indigo.^[2][3]

After the celestial being Nezha had been washing himself within the Nine Curve River - which had upset Ao Guang's Crystal Palace to an abnormal extent - Li Gen would be sent out to investigate, as like he should. When Li Gen found Nezha and concluded that he would make a delicious meal for his master, he began to bark at Nezha for his actions. After being called a beast in an undermining way by Nezha, Li Gen's anger burst, leading for him to charge at Nezha with his renowned steel trident. Instantly however, Li Gen would find himself dead upon the ground after being stricken by Nezha's legendary golden bracelet.^[4][5][6]

After his death, Jiang Ziya appointed him as the "Dahuo Xingjun" (God of the Great Misfortune Star, 大禍星君). Three figures on the list of gods, Li Gen, Princess Longji, and Ao Bing, already belong to the Heavenly Court. It is unusual for only a few immortals to be included on the list of gods. It is believed that yasha has entered the list of gods through unconventional means, earning an important position Xingjun.^[7][8]

References

1. 哪吒传 (in Chinese). 吉林人民出版社. 1984. 巡海夜叉李艮,本是玉皇大帝的御笔点差,一贯仗势欺人。
2. 封神演義（封神榜）: 媲美哈利波特的超凡想像力，更勝哈利波的曲折鬥法 (in Chinese). 谷月社. 28 April 2015.
3. 明清经典小说重读: 寻找失落的传统 [Rereading Classic Novels of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: In Search of a Lost Tradition] (in Chinese). 中国社会科学出版社. 2006. ISBN 978-7-5004-5455-7.
4. Chen, Shawn. 封神降魔錄 神魔制裁 (in Chinese). 雲書bestbook.
5. 哪吒：业火红莲 [Nezha: Karma Red Lotus] (in Chinese). Beijing Book Co. Inc. 1 May 2018. ISBN 978-7-5596-1558-9. "吾乃东海龙王点差之巡海夜叉李艮,你这小娃儿怎敢辱我!"夜叉李艮平素横行东海,哪里有人敢如此辱他?登时大怒,一斧将河劈作两半,抡起斧头便朝哪吒砍来。
6. 中国古典小说鉴赏辞典 [Appreciation Dictionary of Chinese Classical Novels] (in Chinese). 中国展望出版社. 1989. ISBN 978-7-5050-0403-0.
7. "李艮本是巡海夜叉，为何被封"大祸星"！他带来什么"大祸"了？_哪吒_天庭_敖丙". 搜狐 (in Chinese). 16 August 2022.
8. "封神酱油党：露一面就战死，却进了封神榜，与玉帝的女儿共事". Sina (in Chinese). 27 December 2018.

• Investiture of the Gods Chapter 12 pages 140 - 141