The Chinese civilization is among the oldest civilizations in the world. It has Mongolian, Uzbek, Indian, Tibetian, and even Russian influence. Due to its huge landmass and centuries-old civilization, the history of China is humongous. There are different regions in China with their individual identity, which contributes to China’s cultural diversity.
While the present Chinese setup under the Communist government doesn’t have any significant place for gods and temples, religion and spirituality played a great role in the emergence of the Chinese civilization. As far as religion is concerned, India greatly influenced China as many Buddhist monks from India traveled to China to spread Buddhism.
Buddhism was the religion followed in China by most of the population. Most people still live their lives according to Buddhist principles. Like India, the Chinese too have gods that include dedicated Chinese gods of tribes and universal gods like the Buddha. In this blog, we will try to know more about some of the most popular Chinese gods.
The people in ancient Chinese civilization believed in gods, goddesses, supernatural beings, dragons, etc. We’re going to look at some of the most popular Chinese gods.
Jade Emperor:
In Chinese Taoism, Jade Emperor is considered the highest authority. He is believed to be the ruler of the universe. Jade Emperor is also known as Yuhuang Dadi. It is believed that he is the most powerful god and the single highest authority above all the Buddhist and Taoism gods. He is considered a holy figure and worshipped by people across China.
Guanyin:
Guanyin is the “Chinese Goddess of Mercy” in Chinese mythology. She is also known as Guanyin Pusa. Guanyin is considered the goddess of good fortune and blesses the distressed and hungry and gives them food and comfort. Those following Buddhism hold Guanyin in high regard. She is a very popular goddess across the country.
Long Wang:
Long Wang is another name for Dragon King. Long Wang, according to Chinese mythology, is the lord of the sea. All the creatures underwater are under him, and he is their supreme commander. He is also the king of rains and storms. He decides when the rain will lash the earth. Long Wang follows the orders of the Jade emperor.
Nezha:
As per Chinese mythology, Nezha is a teen deity. Nezha is respected in China for assisting Jiang Ziya in the battle against the Shang dynasty in the 16th century. She was also the general of heaven during the Journey to the West. She also fought the Monkey King and defeated several powerful demons.
Also Read, The Asgard of Strong and Brute Norse Gods
Nuwa:
Nuwa is one of the most important Chinese gods in mythology. She is considered to be the creator of all human beings. As per Chinese mythology, she created the first-ever human being by molding yellow mud into a figure like her. She is also known as the goddess that mends the sky with five-colored stones.
Wangmu Niangniang:
Wangmu Niangniang is the highest Chinese goddess in mythology. She is the wife of the Jade emperor in Taoism. Wangmu Niangniang is also known as the Queen Mother of the West. She enjoys authority over all the other goddesses and is considered the goddess of happiness and longevity. Wangmu Niangniang is believed to have magic pills that can help a person live forever. She also has a Peach garden where magic peaches grow. These magic peaches can help people become younger.
Caishen:
As per mythology, Caishen is the Chinese god of wealth. He is a very popular god in China. Business owners and shop owners offer him sacrifices regularly to earn his blessings and get richer. He is also known as the “Chinese god of money,” depicted in red clothes with goldenrod and a lot of wealth in his hands.
Yan Wang:
Another very popular god in Chinese mythology, Yan Wang is the god of death. All the Chinese gods of the underworld listen to his command. The life and death of every person are recorded in a book that belongs to Yan Wang. He is the one who punishes every individual as per their deeds during their lifetime.
