The classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods (also commonly known as Fengshen Yanyi) contains a register of deities (Chinese:封神榜). According to Fengshen Yanyi, Yuanshi Tianzun ("Primeval Lord of Heaven") bestows upon Jiang Ziya the Fengshen bang (Register of Deities), a list that empowers him to invest in the gods of heaven. Through this power, he elevates the heroes of Zhou and some of their fallen enemies from Shang to heavenly rank, essentially making them gods. This act of deification serves as the central event and inspiration for the novel's title. In Chinese folk religion, the register of deities was left by the primordial goddess Nüwa before her acceptance of parinirvāṇa (death).[1] The register includes 365 gods among the Eight Divisions of Heaven. These figures, upon entering the Fengshen Bang, are granted godhood and are still worshipped in the Taoist pantheon of modern times.[2]
Illustrations of the appointment of the gods and immortals
In Fenshen Yanyi, on Kunlun Mountain, in the Yuxu Palace, the leader of the Chen Sect, Yuanshi Tianzun, was forced to close the palace and stop teaching because his twelve disciples had become involved in the affairs of the mortal world. The ruler of heaven, Haotian Shangdi, had ordered the twelve heavenly generals to submit to him, but the Jie Sect refused, and so a war broke out between the two sects.[3]
At the same time, the Shang Dynasty was coming to an end, and the Zhou Dynasty was about to begin. This was a time of great change and upheaval, and the three religions, Chenjiao, Jiejiao, and Rendao, saw an opportunity to intervene and shape the course of history. The three religions agreed to a truce and came together to create a list of 365 gods. The gods were divided into eight divisions of Heavenly Court.[4]
When Jiang Ziya first arrived at Kunlun Mountain, Yuanshi Tianzun ordered the Old Man of the South Pole to hand over the Register of Deities to Jiang Ziya. He also bestowed upon him the Divine Whip and ordered him to build the Platform of Gods on Mount Qi and hang the List of Gods on the platform.[5]
Among those listed on the Register of Deities, there are both loyal ministers and righteous individuals. Some, though not having achieved the path of immortality, have ascended to the ranks of deities. Each spirit possesses varying depths of spiritual development and karmic connections, leading to a hierarchy among the gods. For disciples of the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect, those with the highest level of Dao cultivation ascended to full godhood upon entering the Register of Deities. Those with lesser cultivation became immortals or divine beings, while those with the weakest cultivation were reborn into the cycle of reincarnation. Some disciples also joined Western Buddhism, including the Chan Sect's Cihang Zhenren (later known as Guanyin), Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun (later known as Manjushri), and Puxian Zhenren (later known as Samantabhadra. Even the soul of the antagonist, King Zhou of Shang, was sealed as the Tian Xixing ("Star of Heavenly Happiness"). As Tian Xixing, he bore the responsibility of managing the marriage affairs of humans. Jiang Ziya maintained that King Zhou's consciousness did not engage in any wrongdoing or bad practices. According to Jiang Ziya, all the nefarious deeds throughout history were orchestrated under the influence of the nine-tailed fox, Daji, and thus, all the sins were attributed solely to her.[6] However, some characters, such as Li family members Li Jing, Nezha, Jinzha, and Muzha, as well as Yan Jian and Leizhenzi, did not enter the list of gods, but they became more popular deities than the ones listed.
There are significant discrepancies in the names and lists of gods recorded between the Shu edition (the original handwritten manuscript version) and the Tongxing edition (a widely printed version) of the Fengshen Yanyi, especially in Chapters 99 and 100. In the 99th chapter, the Shu edition lists 363 righteous gods and then adds Fei Lian and A Lai, two ministers, in the 100th chapter, bringing the total to 365 gods. On the other hand, the Tongxing edition lists 365 righteous gods in the 99th chapter and adds the Four Heavenly Kings and the Hengha Erjiang ("Two Roaring and Laughing Warriors") in the 100th chapter, resulting in a total of 371 gods.
The Shu version excludes the Four Heavenly Kings and the Hengha Erjiang because of their affiliation with the Buddha's Western Pure Land sect. These figures, who served as assistants to the Western Pure Land teaching and guardians of the Western Buddhist Mountain Gate, are not considered deities in the traditional sense.[7]
There are two characters who are said to have been deified; however, their names are not included in either of the two versions of the god list. These characters are Caiyun Xianzi and the demons Gaoming and Gaojue.
Caiyun Xianzi is a disciple of Sanxiao Shengmu (Zhao Yunxiao, Zhao Qiongxiao, and Zhao Bixiao). Seeking revenge for the death of Zhao Gongming, together with her teacher, she descended from the mountain to aid Wen Zhong's army in their attack on Xiqi (the Western Capital). After the powerful Grand Nine-Curves Yellow River Formation (九曲黄河阵) was broken, Caiyun Xianzi died from Nezha's spear, and her soul went to the Register of Deities. However, her name was not included in either of the two versions of the god lists.[7]
Gaoming and Gaojue are originally peach and willow demons from Mount Qipan; they possessed the spiritual energy of the clay statues of the Thousand-Li Eye and the Wind-Hearing Ear, granting them extraordinary vision and hearing. King Zhou recruited them as godly martial generals, and they joined Meishan's Yuan Hong in resisting the Zhou army at Mengjin. Following guidance from Yuding Zhenren, Jiang Ziya ordered Li Jing to destroy their peach and willow roots and Leizhenzi to smash the clay statues. Gaoming and Gaojue were ultimately killed by Jiang Ziya's divine whip, and their souls went to the Register of Deities. Despite the novel's explicit statement of their deification and titles (Shentu and Yulei), their names remain absent from the official lists.[7]
The Gods List from Fengshen Yanyi holds a significant place in Chinese folklore, influencing Chinese folk beliefs after its publication. Today, references to Emperor Dongyue evoke thoughts of Huang Tianhu, the rebellious Shang-dynasty general. Discussions about success in imperial examinations lead to contemplation of Bi Gan's reincarnation as the Wenquxing, a star influencing those with literary talent. Zhao Gongming, identified as the God of Wealth, and his four lieutenants now oversee the accumulation of wealth and treasure.[3]
Following the publication of Fengshen Yanyi, the Chinese heavenly court underwent substantial transformation, representing a distinctive departure from divine courts in other major civilizations. This reshaping underscores the novel's pivotal role in shaping the celestial hierarchy and its significant influence on Chinese folk beliefs. The gods from Fengshen Yanyi had an influence on Journey to the West, as many names of gods and Buddhas from the novel also appear in Journey to the West.[3] This list also reflects the intensification of god-making (zao shen, 造神) during the Yuan-Ming period.[8]
Legend has it that the ruins of the Platform of Gods (fengshentai, 封神台), where Jiang Ziya appointed the gods, are located near Shandi Village in Huangdui Township, Fufeng County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. According to local history, all the gods listed were once enshrined here, but they were later destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. However, the modern government reconstructed a replica of the Platform of Gods on the former site, turning it into a tourist destination.[9] Many statues of gods now stand before the site.[10]
The 365 names of the righteous gods are listed below, though they might vary in two versions of the book.[11]
God of Good Fortune
The Three Realms Leader of the Eight Divisions and Three Hundred Sixty-Five Qingfu Gods:[note 1]Baijian[note 2]
The translation of "清福神" as "Qingfu God" is a literal translation. It is also possible to translate it as "God of Tranquil Bliss" or "God of Serenity and Happiness."
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In Chinese mythology, the 36 Stars of the Dipper are a group of celestial beings associated with the Big Dipper constellation. They are divided into two groups: the Heavenly Spears (天罡星, Tiānggāng Xīng) and the Heavenly Gourds (天魁星, Tiānkuí Xīng).
The Heavenly Spears are considered the more powerful of the two groups, led by Grand Marshal Huang Zhen (黃真, Huáng Zhēn), also known as the Great King of the Dipper (天罡大帝, Tiānggāng Dàdì). The Heavenly Gourds are considered the less powerful of the two groups, led by Grand Marshal Gao Yan (高衍, Gāo Yán), also known as the Great King of the Gourds (天魁大帝, Tiānkuí Dàdì).
In the Taoist mythology, the Five Elements Water Virtue Stars of the Northern Dipper are important subordinates of the Water God. They are ordered by the Great Emperor of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper to be responsible for governing water-related matters and protecting the world from natural disasters.
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