Chapter 1

Wikipedia Entry: Investiture of the Gods Investiture of the Gods, commonly known as The List of Deities, is also titled The Complete Chronicle of the States of Shang and Zhou, The Unofficial History of King Wu’s Campaign Against Zhou, and The Legend of the Investiture of the Gods. It is a Chinese novel of gods and demons. The author was Chen Zhonglin (or Xu Zhonglin) of the Ming Dynasty; another theory attributes it to the Ming Daoist Lu Xixing (there are more than ten references in Investiture of the Gods to the Daoist classic The Yellow Court Classic). It was likely completed during the Longqing and Wanli reigns. The entire work comprises one hundred chapters. Set against the historical backdrop of Jiang Ziya assisting the House of Zhou (King Wen of Zhou and King Wu of Zhou) in their campaign against King Zhou of Shang, it depicts the battles of wits and courage among the immortals of the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect, the breaking of formations, the slaying of generals, and the investiture of deities. It contains numerous folk legends and myths. It features vivid and distinct characters such as Jiang Ziya and Nezha, concluding with Jiang Ziya investing the gods and King Wu of Zhou enfeoffing the feudal lords. An ancient-style poem: When chaos first divided, Pangu came first; Taiji, the Two Instruments, and the Four Images hung suspended. Zi marked Heaven, Chou marked Earth, and Man emerged in Yin; To avoid beastly calamities, the worthy Youchao arose. Suiren obtained fire to spare raw food; Fuxi drew the trigrams before Yin and Yang. Shennong governed the world and tasted a hundred herbs; Xuanyuan established rites and music and joined marriages. Under Shaohao and the Five Emperors, the people and goods flourished; King Yu controlled the waters, and the flood waves receded. Enjoying peace and ruling the state for four hundred years, King Jie was unrighteous, and heaven and earth were overturned. Daily indulging Mo Xi in wild wine and lust, Cheng Tang built Bo to wash away the stench of fish and mutton. Exiling Jie to Nanchao to rescue the people from tyranny, Clouds and rainbows answered wishes, and all survived. For thirty-one generations, Yin Zhou inherited the throne; The Shang lineage was like a broken string: Disordering court laws and severing ethical bonds, Killing his wife and executing his son, believing slanderous words, Defiling the palace chambers by favoring Daji, The Snake Pit and the Red-hot Pillar wronged the loyal and chaste, On Deer Terrace he amassed wealth, causing suffering to the hundred surnames, Sounds of sorrow and resentment obscured the heavens, Those who remonstrated directly had their hearts cut out or were burned alive, Pregnant women were disemboweled, and those crossing the river at dawn were slain, Trusting treacherous villains and abandoning court governance, Dismissing tutors and guardians, how biased was his nature! Suburban and social sacrifices were neglected, ancestral temples fell into ruin, Strange skills and excessive ingenuity were diligently studied, Fond of this criminal, he feared nothing, Indulging in drunkenness and tyranny like a hawk or kite. The Count of the West paid homage to Shang and was imprisoned in Youli, Weizi embraced the ritual vessels and fled into the wind and dust. Heaven, enraged, sent down disasters and poisons, As if wading through a vast sea with no shore in sight. The world was desolate, and the hundred surnames resented; Ziya emerged into the world, an immortal among men, Spending his days dangling silk to fish for a lord, A flying bear entered the dream, hunting in the fields of Qi. Carried together back to Zhou to assist in governance, Two-thirds of the realm followed him day after day. Wen Kao did not live to complete his great merit and passed away; Wu Wang skillfully continued his work, diligent day by day. At Mengjin, a great assembly of eight hundred states gathered, To take the cruel and violent and punish their sins. On the morning of Jiazi, they met at Muye, The vanguard turned their weapons and reversed course. Bowing their heads until their horns seemed to collapse, Blood flowed enough to float pestles, fat like springs. Having just put on ceremonial robes, the world was settled, Adding further luster to Cheng Tang’s legacy. Tethering horses at Mount Hua to show the cessation of warfare, Opening our House of Zhou for eight hundred years. The Taibai banner hung, and the Sole Man died; The dark souls of fallen generals and soldiers lurked unseen. Heaven-born human worthiness earned him the title Shangfu; On the altar for the investiture of gods, floral petitions were listed, Great and small heroic spirits honored in ranked positions, The romance of Shang and Zhou transmitted from ancient times to today. Cheng Tang was a descendant of the Yellow Emperor, bearing the surname Zi. Initially, Di Ku’s secondary consort, Jian Di, prayed at the Gao Mei altar. There was an omen of the black bird, and she subsequently gave birth to Qi. Qi served as Minister of Education under Tang and Yu, meritorious in teaching the people, and was enfeoffed at Shang. After thirteen generations, Tai Yi was born, who became Cheng Tang. Hearing that Yi Yin was plowing in the wilds of Youshen and delighted in the ways of Yao and Shun, recognizing him as a great sage, he immediately sent gifts of silk and dispatches three times to invite him, yet dared not employ him himself, instead presenting him to the Son of Heaven. King Jie was unrighteous, believed slander, and expelled the worthy, so he could not be used, and Yi Yin returned to Tang. Later, King Jie daily engaged in debauchery, killing the upright minister Guan Longfeng, and the multitude dared not speak plainly; Tang sent someone to mourn him. King Jie was angered and imprisoned Tang at Xiatai. Later, Tang was released and returned to his state. Going out to the suburbs, he saw a man setting nets on all four sides and praying, saying, “Those falling from heaven, those emerging from the earth, those coming from the four directions, all fall into my net!” Tang untied three sides of the net, leaving only one side set, and prayed again, saying, “Those wishing to go left, go left; those wishing to go right, go right; those wishing to go high, go high; those wishing to go low, go low; only those who do not obey fate enter my net!” The regions south of the Han River heard of this and said, “Tang’s virtue is supreme!” More than forty states submitted to him. Jie’s evil grew increasingly violent, and the people could not sustain their lives. Yi Yin then assisted Tang in campaigning against Jie, exiling Jie to Nanchao. The feudal lords held a great assembly, and Tang stepped back to assume the position of a feudal lord. All the feudal lords recommended Tang as the Son of Heaven. Thus, Tang ascended the throne and established his capital at Bo. In the first year, Yiyi, Tang reigned, abolishing Jie’s tyrannical policies, following what the people liked, and those near and far submitted to him. Because Jie was unrighteous, there was a great drought for seven years. Cheng Tang prayed in the Mulberry Forest, and heaven sent heavy rain. He also cast currency using metal from Zhuang Mountain to save the people’s lives. He composed the music “Da Huo.” Huo means protection, signifying that Tang’s broad benevolence and great virtue could protect and save the living people. He reigned for thirteen years and passed away at the age of one hundred. The dynasty lasted six hundred and forty years, continuing until Shang Shou: Cheng Tang Tai Jia Wo Ding Tai Geng Xiao Jia Yong Ji Tai Wu Zhong Ding Wai Ren He Dan Jia Zu Yi Zu Xin Wo Jia Zu Ding Nan Geng Yang Jia Pan Geng Xiao Xin Xiao Yi Wu Ding Zu Geng Zu Jia Lin Xin Geng Ding Wu Yi Tai Ding Di Yi King Zhou King Zhou was the third son of Di Yi. Di Yi had three sons: the eldest was Weizi Qi; the second was Weizi Yan; the third was Shou Wang. Because Di Yi was touring the imperial garden, leading the civil and military officials to admire the peonies, a beam in the Feiyun Pavilion collapsed, and Shou Wang supported the beam and replaced the pillar, displaying immense strength. Therefore, the Prime Minister Shang Rong, the Senior Grand Master Mei Bo, Zhao Qi, and others submitted memorials to establish the Eastern Palace heir, and thus the youngest son, Shou Wang, was made Crown Prince. Later, Di Yi reigned for thirty years and passed away, entrusting his orphan to Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong, and subsequently Shou Wang was installed as the Son of Heaven, named King Zhou, with his capital at Chaoge. In civil affairs, there was Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong; in military affairs, there was the State-Protecting Martial King, Huang Feihu. Civil capacity was sufficient to stabilize the state; military power was sufficient to secure the nation. The Empress of the Central Palace, the primary consort, was Jiang Shi; the Consort of the Western Palace was Huang Shi; and the Consort of the Xinqing Palace was Yang Shi. The consorts of the three palaces were all virtuous, chaste, quiet, gentle, and wise. King Zhou enjoyed peace, the hundred surnames were content in their occupations, the winds and rains were timely, the state was prosperous and the people peaceful; the four barbarian tribes bowed in submission, guests from the eight directions submitted, and the eight hundred town-feudal lords all paid homage to Shang—there were four great feudal lords leading eight hundred minor feudal lords: the Marquis of the East, Jiang Huanchu, residing in Eastern Lu; the Marquis of the South, E Chongyu; the Marquis of the West, Ji Chang; and the Marquis of the North, Chong Houhu. Each town-feudal lord led two hundred minor town-feudal lords, totaling eight hundred town-feudal lords subject to Shang. In the seventh year of King Zhou’s reign, in the second month of spring, news suddenly arrived in Chaoge that Yuan Futong and seventy-two route feudal lords of the North Sea had rebelled. Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong received an imperial edict to campaign north. This is not detailed here. One day, King Zhou attended the morning court and ascended the hall, assembling the civil and military officials. What was seen was: Auspicous mists in profusion, the monarch sat in the Jinluan Hall; Auspicious light coiled around, civil and military officials stood in rows on the white jade steps. Eight hundred burners sprayed agarwood and sandalwood incense, revealing the high-rolled pearl curtains; Orchid and musk fragrances enveloped the precious fans, as one watched the pheasant-tail plumes sway low. The Son of Heaven asked the officials on duty: “If there are memorials to present, step forward; if not, the court is dismissed.” Before he had finished speaking, a man from the right rank stepped forward, prostrated himself at the golden steps, held his ivory tablet high, and bowed deeply, declaring himself a subject: “Your subject Shang Rong, the Chancellor bearing the burden of guilt, manages the affairs of the court. I dare not withhold matters of importance. Tomorrow is the fifteenth day of the third month, the birthday of Goddess Nüwa. I invite Your Majesty to visit the Nüwa Palace to offer incense.” The King said, “What merits does Nüwa possess that I, with my ten thousand chariots, should lightly go to offer incense?” Shang Rong memorialized: “Goddess Nüwa is an ancient divine lady who possessed sacred virtue. In those times, Gonggong struck his head against Mount Buzhou, causing the heavens to tilt northwest and the earth to sink southeast. Nüwa gathered five-colored stones and refined them to patch the blue sky, thus performing a service for the people. The common folk established sacrifices to repay her. Now, if Chaoge worships this blessed deity, the four seasons will be peaceful, the dynasty’s fortune will be long-lasting, the winds and rains will be timely, and disasters will secretly vanish. This is the upright deity who blesses the state and protects the people; Your Majesty should go to offer incense.” The King said, “I approve your memorial.” King Zhou returned to the palace. The imperial decree was issued; the next day, the Son of Heaven rode in his carriage, accompanied by the civil and military officials of both ranks, to the Nüwa Palace to offer incense. —In this episode, it would have been better if King Zhou had not come; it was precisely because of this incense offering that the four seas were thrown into chaos and the people lost their livelihoods. As the saying goes: “Casting hook and line into the river, from then on fishing up trouble.” How can this be seen? There is a poem as proof: The Son of Heaven’s imperial carriage leaves the Phoenix City, Auspicious colors of banners and flags reflect on hairpins and tassels. Dragon-light swords spit the hues of wind and clouds; Red-feathered standards shake the essence of sun and moon. Willows on the dyke share the dew of the Immortal Palm at dawn; Flowers by the stream shine, clarifying the emerald furs. If you wish to know of the tour to behold the heavenly countenance, The robes and caps of ten thousand states bow to the sage and bright one. The procession exited the South Gate of Chaoge. Every family burned incense and set up fires; every household decorated with colored silks and spread mats. Three thousand iron cavalry and eight hundred imperial guards followed. Wu Cheng Wang Huang Feihu protected the imperial person, and all the civil and military officials of the court accompanied him. They arrived before the Nüwa Palace. The Son of Heaven descended from his carriage and ascended the main hall. Incense was burned in the censer; the civil and military officials followed their ranks to pay homage and congratulations. When this was completed, King Zhou observed the splendor within the hall. How can it be described? The splendor before the hall, decorated in five colors and gold; Golden boys in pairs hold banners and standards; Jade girls in twos hold ruyi scepters. Jade hooks hang askew, a half-moon suspended in the void; Precious curtains sway, ten thousand pairs of colorful phoenixes paying homage to the Dipper. By the bed of the azure sky, all are dancing cranes and soaring phoenixes; The agarwood precious throne is crafted with running dragons and flying phoenixes. Floating strange colors, extraordinary and uncommon, auspicious mist in the golden censer; Curling auspicious signs rise in purple fog, silver candles brilliant and glorious. The monarch was just viewing the scenery of the temporary palace when a gust of wild wind chilled him to the bone. King Zhou was just observing how neat the palace buildings were and how lofty the towers and pavilions stood, when suddenly a gust of wild wind rolled up the curtains, revealing the holy statue of Nüwa. Her appearance was dignified and beautiful, auspicious colors fluttering around her, possessing the beauty of a nation and the grace of heaven, lifelike in her gentleness; truly like a fairy from the Rui Palace descending to the mortal world, or Chang’e from the Moon Palace coming down to earth. An ancient saying goes: “When a state is about to flourish, there must be auspicious signs; when a state is about to perish, there must be evil monsters.” Upon seeing this, King Zhou’s spirit wandered, and suddenly lust arose in his heart. He thought to himself: “I am noble as the Son of Heaven, rich within the four seas. Even though I have the Six Courts and Three Palaces, none possess such stunning beauty.” The King said, “Bring the Four Treasures of the Study.” The officials attending the emperor hurriedly brought them and presented them to King Zhou. The Son of Heaven deeply moistened the purple brush and composed a poem on the powdered white wall of the temporary palace: “The scene of the phoenix and luan precious curtains is most extraordinary, All decorated with skillful patterns in mud-gold. Curving distant mountains fly with emerald colors; Fluttering dancing sleeves reflect on rosy garments. Pear blossoms bearing rain compete in delicate beauty; Peonies shrouded in mist display their charming makeup. If only this enchanting figure could move, I would take her back to Changle Palace to serve the monarch.” When the Son of Heaven had finished writing, Prime Minister Shang Rong stepped forward and memorialized: “Nüwa is an upright deity of antiquity and the blessed protector of Chaoge. Your old subject invited Your Majesty to offer incense to pray for blessings and virtue, so that the myriad people may live in peace, the rains and winds be timely, and warfare cease. Now Your Majesty has composed a poem that profanes the holy and bright one, showing no sincerity of reverence. This is to incur guilt before the divine, not the proper etiquette for the Son of Heaven’s tour and prayer. I wish my lord would wash it away with water. I fear that if the common people of the world see it, they will spread rumors that the Holy Sovereign lacks virtuous governance.” The King said, “I saw that Nüwa’s countenance possessed peerless beauty, so I composed a poem to praise her. How could there be any other intention? Do not speak too much, my lord. Moreover, I am the honored one of ten thousand chariots. Leaving it for the myriad surnames to view shows that the Lady’s beauty is peerless, and also displays my leftover brushwork.” Having spoken, he returned to court. The civil and military officials silently nodded, none daring to object, and all returned with sealed lips. There is a poem as proof: The phoenix carriage and dragon car leave the Imperial Capital, Offering incense and prayers to the heroine among women; Knowing only to pray for blessings and the joy of the people, Who could have predicted that chanting a poem would shock the myriad surnames? Now the fox becomes the Empress Dowager; Before our eyes, jackals and tigers fill the ranks of officials. Heaven’s omens are all like this, Vainly causing heroes to sigh at the injustice. The Son of Heaven returned in his carriage and ascended the Longde Hall. The people paid homage and dispersed. It was the time of the full moon. The consorts and empresses of the Three Palaces paid homage to the monarch: Empress Jiang of the Central Palace, Consort Huang of the Western Palace, and Consort Yang of the Xinqing Palace. After paying homage, they withdrew. Let this be set aside for now. Now, regarding Goddess Nüwa’s birthday: on the fifteenth day of the third month, she went to the Huoyun Palace to pay homage to the Three Sages—Fuxi, Yandi, and Xuanyuan—and returned. She dismounted from her green luan bird and sat in the treasure hall. After the jade girls and golden boys had completed their morning rites, the Lady suddenly raised her head and saw the verses on the powdered wall. Greatly angered, she cursed: “Yin Shou, this tyrannical and dim-witted monarch! Instead of cultivating his character and establishing virtue to protect the realm, he now fears not Heaven and chants poems to profane me. This is truly detestable! I recall that Cheng Tang attacked Jie and ruled the world, enjoying the state for over six hundred years. His fate is now exhausted. If I do not give him retribution, my spiritual power will not be seen.” She immediately summoned the Boy Bixia to ride the green luan bird to Chaoge for a visit. This is not detailed here. It is said that the two princes, Yin Jiao and Yin Hong, came to pay respects to their father, the King. That Yin Jiao later became the “Value-Year Tai Sui” on the “Investiture of the Gods”; Yin Hong became the “God of the Five Grains”: both were famous divine generals. Just as they were performing their rites, two beams of red light shot up from their heads to the sky. The Lady was traveling at that moment and was blocked in her cloud path by this energy. Looking down, she knew that King Zhou still had twenty-eight years of fortune remaining, so she could not act rashly. She temporarily returned to the temporary palace, displeased in her heart. She summoned the Boy Caiyun to bring the golden gourd from the rear palace and placed it below the red stone steps. She lifted the gourd’s cover and pointed with her hand. From within the gourd emerged a beam of white light, as thick as a thread and more than forty or fifty zhang high. Above the white light hung a banner, its light dividing into five colors, with a thousand auspicious strands reflecting, named the “Demon-Summoning Banner.” In a short time, mournful winds rustled, miserable mists spread, dark clouds gathered from all sides, and after several gusts of wind, all the demons and monsters of the world arrived at the temporary palace to await the legal decree. The Lady instructed Caiyun: “Order the demons and monsters from all places to withdraw; only keep the three demons from the Tomb of Xuanyuan to attend.” The three demons entered the palace to pay respects, saying: “May the Lady’s holy longevity be boundless!” Of these three demons, one was a Thousand-Year Fox Spirit, one was a Nine-Headed Pheasant Spirit, and one was a Jade Pipa Spirit. They prostrated themselves below the red stone steps. The Lady said: “You three demons listen to my secret decree: The qi of Cheng Tang is dim and dark; it shall lose the world. The phoenix cries at Qishan; the Western Zhou has already given birth to a sage lord. Heaven’s will is determined; it is a matter of fate. You three may hide your demonic forms, entrust yourselves to the palace quarters, and confuse the monarch’s heart. Wait for King Wu to attack Zhou, and assist in his success. Do not harm the living beings. After the matter is accomplished, I will enable you all to achieve the true fruit.” When the Lady had finished giving her instructions, the three demons kowtowed to thank her for her grace and transformed into clear breezes, departing. It is truly said: The fox heard the decree and practiced demonic arts, bringing an end to the six hundred years of Cheng Tang. There is a poem as proof, which says: In the middle of the third month, the drive came to offer incense, Chanting a poem started the flying disaster. Knowing only to wield the brush to display talent and learning, Unaware that this time the state would perish. Let the instructions given by Goddess Nüwa to the three demons be set aside for now. Now, regarding King Zhou: ever since his visit to offer incense, he had been captivated by the beauty of Nüwa. Morning and night, his thoughts dwelled on her; he forgot the changing seasons, neglected his sleep and meals. Whenever he looked upon the Six Palaces and Three Courts, they seemed to him as worthless as dust for rice and earth for soup, unbearable to behold. All day long, this matter weighed heavily on his heart, leaving him melancholy and joyless. One day, while holding court in the Xianqing Hall, with his regular attendants at his side, King Zhou suddenly had a realization. He ordered an imperial attendant to summon Fei Zhong, the Grand Remonstrator. Fei Zhong was King Zhou’s favored minister. Recently, because Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong had received imperial orders to pacify the North Sea, leading a great army on a distant expedition to achieve merit beyond the borders, the King had consequently bestowed favor upon Fei Zhong and You Hun. These two men daily corrupted the Sage Intelligence with flattery and slander, and there was nothing King Zhou would not accept from them. Generally speaking, when a realm is on the verge of peril, sycophants hold power. Before long, Fei Zhong arrived for an audience. The King said, “Since offering incense at the Nüwa Palace, I happened to see her countenance, so vibrant and beautiful, unparalleled in the world. The ladies of the Three Palaces and Six Courts do not satisfy My will. What is to be done? What strategy do you have, Minister, to comfort My heart?” Fei Zhong memorialized, “Your Majesty is the Lord of Ten Thousand Chariots, possessing wealth within the Four Seas, your virtue matching that of Yao and Shun. All that exists under Heaven belongs to Your Majesty. Is there anything you desire that you cannot obtain? This is no difficulty at all. Tomorrow, Your Majesty should issue an edict to the feudal lords of the Four Regions: let each town select one hundred beautiful women to fill the Royal Court. Why worry that the most exquisite beauties of the land will not enter the Royal Selection?” King Zhou was greatly pleased. “What you have memorialized accords well with My will. I shall issue the edict at the morning court tomorrow. You may withdraw for now.” He immediately ordered his carriage to return to the palace. If you wish to know what happened next, listen to the explanation in the following chapter.