Zhong Kui is the most familiar character in Chinese folk god belief. He is posted on the door as a door god to suppress ghosts and evil spirits. Hanging in the middle hall is a talisman to ward off disasters and dispel evil spirits. He appears in Nuo rituals as a symbol of unity. The fierce general who kills ghosts and monsters has derived various Zhong Kui plays and Zhong Kui pictures. Even the "Compendium of Materia Medica" includes the "secret recipe" of using Zhongkui's burnt ashes mixed with water or mixed with other medicinal powders to form pills to treat dystocia, malaria and other diseases. According to China's "Folklore" magazine, as late as the 1990s, some people even hired wizards to treat illnesses and perform the so-called "Zhong Kui" ritual to catch ghosts, drive away demons, and maintain peace in their homes ("Zhen Zhong Kui" by Shi Hanru and Yang Wenchun) Zhong Kui's "Nuo Yi Ji").
For ordinary people, almost everyone is familiar with stories such as "Zhong Kui fights ghosts". Zhong Kui's belief has a profound and wide influence among the people. But this is only one aspect of the problem. On the other hand, the identity and origin of Zhong Kui, a god with great supernatural powers, may not be clear to ordinary people. In fact, this issue has been debated by many scholars since the Tang Dynasty. In recent years, with the rise of folk culture craze, issues such as the origin and evolution of Zhong Kui's beliefs have been raised again. Many scholars have expressed their own opinions and there are different opinions. So far, there is no conclusion.
The earliest known record of Zhong Kui’s life and events is Tang Luzhao’s “History of Tang Dynasty”: During the Kaiyuan period (713-741), when Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was ill, he dreamed that a little ghost had stolen the jade flute and the Yang dynasty. The imperial concubine's embroidered sachet. Xuanzong was furious and was about to send warriors to drive away the ghosts when he suddenly saw a big ghost running into the palace. This ghost had shaggy hair and a curly beard, a terrifying face, a horn belt on his head, a blue robe, and leather bindings on his feet. With one arm exposed, he reached out and grabbed the kid, gouged out his eyes and swallowed them in one gulp. Xuanzong was so horrified that he quickly asked who it was. The big ghost saluted Xuanzong and claimed to be Zhongkui of Zhongnan Mountain. During the Wude period of Emperor Gaozu, he failed to pass the martial arts examination in Chang'an and returned home in shame. He touched the steps in front of the palace and died. Fortunately, Emperor Gaozu gave him a green robe to bury him, so he remembered it deeply and vowed to eradicate all evil spirits for the Tang Dynasty. After Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty woke up, he suddenly recovered from his illness. Xuanzong ordered the painter Wu Daozi to paint a picture of Zhong Kui based on what he saw in his dream. After the picture was completed, Xuanzong wrote on the painting: "The spirit responds to the dream, and the disease is completely healed. A martyr eliminates the evil spirit, so he deserves to be commended. Because of the abnormal shape of the picture, it is awarded to have an official, and it should be expelled at the end of the year. It is appropriate to know it thoroughly to get rid of evil spirits." It is charming and calms the demonic atmosphere. It is still known to the world, and everyone knows it." According to the order, Wu Daozi's "Zhong Kui's Ghost Hunting Picture" was printed on the engraving board and distributed to the world, so that the world would know about Zhong Kui's power.
Lu Zhao was a Jinshi in the third year of Huichang (843) of Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty. It was more than a hundred years ago from the Kaiyuan era. What he said may not be true. However, it has indeed been a practice since the Tang Dynasty for the emperor to give a portrait of minister Zhong Kui as a New Year gift. For example, celebrities such as Zhang Shuo in the Kaiyuan Dynasty and Liu Yuxi later had works handed down to the world in which they thanked Zhong Kui for pictures and calendar tables. In addition, people also discovered the Tang Dynasty manuscript "New Year's Eve Zhong Kui Drives Nuo Wen" in the Dunhuang suicide note, which is evidence that Zhong Kui played the leading role in the Nuo ceremony. All this shows that Zhong Kui's belief has become a trend in the whole society since the late Tang Dynasty. Therefore, some people estimate that the origin of Zhong Kui's story may be earlier than the Tang Dynasty.
With the popular belief in Zhong Kui still flourishing, Shen Kuo of the Northern Song Dynasty first questioned the story of Tang Xuanzong’s dream of Zhong Kui: During the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty (1049-1054), an ancient site was discovered in Shangyuan County, Jinling. The tomb is the tomb of Mrs. Zheng, the mother of Zong Ji, the general who conquered the West in the Southern Song Dynasty. From the inscription, we know that Zong Ji had a sister named Zhong Kui. In addition, the Later Wei Dynasty had Li Zhongkui, and the Sui Dynasty generals had Qiao Zhongkui and Yang Zhongkui. Because we know that "Zhong Kui's name has always been far away, and it did not originate from the time of Kaiyuan" (Volume 3 of "Mengxi Supplementary Talk"). Ming scholars such as Lang Ying and Hu Yinglin mostly followed his theory, but their conclusions were different. Lang Ying believes that the prototype of Zhong Kui is Yao Xuan, a native of the Northern Dynasties. His real name is Zhong Kui, and his courtesy name is to ward off evil spirits. Hu Yinglin pointed out that the legend of Zhong Kui catching ghosts "has existed since before the Six Dynasties", so Yao Xuan once named Zhong Kui with the word to ward off evil spirits. There were many people named Zhong Kui in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and they may have taken this meaning.
Yang Shen of the Ming Dynasty and Gu Yanwu and Zhao Yi of the Qing Dynasty, according to "Zhou Li·Kao Gong Ji" "Dagui, three feet long, Zhongkui head" and "Dialect" "Qi people call the vertebrae Zhongkui " and other data, it is believed that the so-called Zhongkui system evolved from "Zhongkui". "Zhongkui" is a kind of sharp weapon - vertebrae. "Dagui" is the ceremonial guard of the emperor in ancient times. The upper end is shaped like a vertebra, so it is called "Dagui Zhongkui's head". The people of Qi spoke slowly, dragging the pronunciation of "vertebral column" into two syllables, which became "Zhongkui". The ancients used the vertebrae as a sharp weapon in combat, so there is a description in the "Book of the Later Han Dynasty: Ma Rong Biography" as "Hui ends with sunflowers and Yangguan ax".
"The ancients used vertebrae to drive away ghosts, just like the exorcism used as ears" ("Zhongkui", Volume 32, "Rizhilu"). During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, many people named Zhong Kui or Zhong Kui in the hope that all ghosts would be frightened like the weapon Zhong Kui (that is, sharp vertebra) used by the ancients to stab ghosts. This meaning was eventually passed down to the personified "Zhong Kui" in the Tang Dynasty. ". In recent years, as a large number of documents from the Qin and Han Dynasties have been unearthed, the fact that using vertebrae to kill ghosts was popular in ancient times has been proven. For example, the Qin Jian "Rishu·Jie Pian" says that if a person is entangled by a mourning ghost, he can "knock his heart with spines and peach handles, and he will not come back." Remember the magic of using iron vertebrae to kill ghosts and cure diseases. Therefore, some people think that Gu Yanwu's explanation of Zhong Kui's origin is credible.
Modern scholars such as Chang Renxia and Ma Yong both wrote about Zhongkui Kao, each expressing his or her own opinions, but their arguments were generally consistent with those of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Only He Xin and Wang Zhengshu came up with new ideas.
He Xin believes that Zhong Kui is originally a person's name and has nothing to do with the so-called "Zi" or "Zhong Kui". The prototype of Zhong Kui is Zhong Puppet, the shaman prime minister during the Tang Dynasty. His name is also called "Zhong Hui", "Zhong Gui" and "Zhong Lei" in "Shang Shu", "Zuo Zhuan" and "Xun Zi". Businessmen deal with ghosts, and all political officials are also shamans and ministers. A puppet is also a mask; to drive away ghosts, you must wear a mask. There are many shapes of masks, so there are legends about many puppets. Zhongguo evolved into Zhonghui with the same pronunciation. Hui is a strange snake in mythology, so Zhonghui evolved into the "Xiong Hui" of the nine-headed giant snake ("Tian Wen"), and the "Xiong Bo" of the evil-eating monster ("Book of the Later Han Dynasty"). "Book of Etiquette"), even the "Yu Lei" who leads the ghosts in the lost article of "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" (see the book "Tie Shen Gate and the Myth of Dushuo Mountain") is actually another part of the legend of Zhongpuppet and Xionghui. Deformation, Yu Lei is the changed name of Zhong Lei. Basically, Zhong Puppet, a real person who exorcises ghosts and appears as a witch, turns into Zhong Kui, a ghost-eating monster. The more complex the transformation, the further away from the truth, but there is still a trace left: the ancients often used characters to explain names, and Zhong Kui's "Kui" It is a combination of "Nine Poems", "Tian Wen": "Nine Poems of Xiong Hui", so Zhong Hui is named after "虺", and "Kui" - Jiu Poems, which may be his original name ("Wen Shi" New Examination·Zhong Kui Examination").
Now that this statement has been made, there are some who agree with it, but some people also question it, thinking that businessmen deal with ghosts but do not chase ghosts away. Moreover, I have not heard of Zhong Puppet or Zhong Hui having any achievements in driving away ghosts.
Wang Zhengshu believes that Zhong Kui and the concept of exorcising ghosts and evil spirits in the past dynasties actually originated from ancient witchcraft. He was derived from Chong Li, who held the title of Zhu Rong in his ancestors. In ancient history, Chongli was called Chongli, Chonghui, Jumang, etc. In legends, Jumang was also described as a figure with a special mission and a special appearance between heaven and earth, gods and humans. One of his missions is to hold the position of witch, which can be proved by records in "Historical Records: Tianguan Shu". In the Shang Dynasty, it was Zhonghui who was named after his official duties. In fact, Zhonghui was the name of Zhonghui (Chongli). As for "Zhongkui", it originally refers to a cone-shaped body. Since the feather crown worn by Chongli when he was engaged in the shamanic function was taken from this shape, it became a symbol of shamanism in the Shang Dynasty. In the Shang Dynasty, it was common practice to use official positions as surnames, so the family line formed by Zhong Hui was also called the "Zhong Kui family". In the Zhou Dynasty, this clergy group was renamed "Fang Xiangshi". The name of the Fang Xiang clan is the same as that of the Zhong Kui clan. They are both derived from the attire on the head of the ancient shaman. The difference is that "Zhong Kui" comes from the feather crown, and "Fang Xiang" comes from the mask. This custom of exorcising ghosts, centered on Fang Xiangshi, was followed until the Tang Dynasty. In summary, from the return of the magicians in ancient times to the Zhonghui, Zhongkui and Fang Xiangshi of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, they are all the prototypes of Zhong Kui, and they are all in the same vein in terms of nature and title ("Zhong Kui's Research on Facts") 》).
This theory is consistent with He Xin's opinion, but it just traces the origin of Zhong Kui back to Zi Chongli. However, some people think that Chongli or Goumang are figures in myths and legends, and their existence may not be confirmed. What's more, if from Zhongli to Zhonghui, Zhongkui, and Fang Xiang, there is no record of "Zhongkui" in the Han and Jin Dynasties, but it was not until the Southern and Northern Dynasties that many "Zhongkui" or "Zhongkui" suddenly appeared ", "Zhong Kui". This hundreds of years of blank interruption is difficult to explain.
"On Zhong Kui" written by Liu Xicheng and "Research on Zhong Kui and Zhong Kui's Hometown" written by Wang Kuan Xi have also conducted comprehensive textual research and research on Zhong Kui. You are welcome to read it.
Looking at the opinions of the ancients and today’s sages, it should be said that they all have their own truths, and the doubters also have basis for their reasons. Although various theories stand side by side, the origin of Zhong Kui is still a big mystery in the history of Chinese folk culture.
Comprehensive research on Zhong Kui
(1) Zhong Kui’s explanation:
That is, "Nine Poems of Zhong"
(1) End (Zhong) The leader or number one in Nanshan.
(2) Nine thoughts at the end of Nanshan.
(2) Real Zhongkui: refers to the consecrated Zhongkui with the trademark "Zhongkui's Hometown" in Happy Valley, Zhongkui's hometown in Xi'an.
(3) Zhong Kui’s hometown ruins:
Agu Spring, Xiahu County, Zhongnan Mountain, Qinling Mountains, Shaanxi Province - Zhong Kui’s hometown, Happy Valley Resort in Xi’an.
(4) The author of "The Biography of Zhong Kui":
Wang Jiusi, the Ming Dynasty writer and dramatist "Teacher of the Son of Heaven" in Huxian County.
(5) Zhong Kui’s academic qualifications:
A famous Jinshi in the Tang Dynasty, and the number one scholar in the Tang Dynasty.
(6) Zhong Kui’s ethnicity and gender:
Ethnicity, Chinese; gender, male.
(7) Zhong Kui’s birthday:
In 600 AD, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month (also known as the Zhong Kui Culture Dragon Boat Festival), grand commemorative activities are held across the country on this day every year.
(8) Zhong Kui’s official position:
Bless the house as a holy king, bless the house and win the first place in the rankings; Zhong Kui is a true god, giving us happiness, wealth, longevity and good health. .
(9) Zhong Kui’s bosses:
Wang Jiusi, Tang Dezong, and the Jade Emperor.
(10) Zhong Kui’s clothes:
Wearing a soft-winged gauze hat with a pointed top, a red round-collared python robe with an inner collar, a gold-inlaid jade belt, and a pair of soaps with raised hair. shoe.
(11), Zhong Kui’s weapons:
Qingfeng Seven-Star Sword, Golden Whip, Golden Mace, Peach Stick, and Peach Hammer.
(12). Zhong Kui’s writing utensils:
Official seal, Yahu, Kuixing pen, jade qin, imperial list book, merit book, blessing fan, and jade Ruyi.
(Thirteen), Zhong Kui’s equipment:
A red gauze lantern with eight treasures to guide the way, a yellow umbrella covered with three treasures along the edges, two dragon flag poles, a pair of shoulder poles, and two book boxes , give some medicinal gourds, wine sea, pomegranates, fairy peaches, persimmons, mugwort leaves, and calamus.
(14), Zhong Kui’s generals:
福官——福兴官喜 Spider, bestows blessings and brings happiness.
Fuqu - general, with a wolf waist and a tiger body, good at the bravery of ten thousand men, and was awarded the title of Martial Virtue to praise the Holy and True King.
Han Yan - Sima, elegant and charming, capable of socializing, granted the title of Wende Yishengzhenjun.
Shen Tu - General Zuomen, wearing a silver helmet and armor, holding a steel fork with an iron point, his face as raw as lacquer, his eyes whispering to his ears, his eyebrows raised to the sky, and his beard hanging down from the bottom of the sea. Iron wire.
Yu Lei - the right door god general, two feet tall, three feet broad, wearing a golden helmet and gold armor, holding a nine-section peach wood stick at eyebrow level, with a face like a silver basin, round eyes and a long beard.
(15), Zhong Kui’s soldiers:
Three hundred heroes.
(16). Zhong Kui’s guide:
The guide - five bats of longevity (i.e. the five blessings).
(17) Zhong Kui’s carriage:
(1) The golden stirrup chasing the wind and the black cone horse, which is Zhong Kui’s sedan chair.
(2) Golden Dragon Baize - Baize, a mythical beast in ancient legends. "Xiantian Ji": "The Yellow Emperor went hunting east to the sea, climbed Mount Heng, and found the mythical beast Bai Ze by the sea. He could speak and express the feelings of all things."
(18), Zhong Kui's favorite food Meals:
Large meat and spicy dumplings, noodles in soup, Qinzhen Liangpi, dumplings, and water vegetables.
(19) Zhong Kui’s favorite wine:
Zhong Kui’s hometown rice wine and white wine.
(Twenty), Zhong Kui’s favorite things to play:
Invite Zhong Kui, jump Zhong Kui, play Zhong Kui and Zhong Kui ghost hunting games.
(Twenty-one), Zhong Kui’s favorite opera:
Qin Opera, Meihu Opera: Zhong Kui marries his sister, Zhong Kui brings blessings.
(Twenty-two), Zhong Kui’s relatives:
Little sister - Zhong Meier
Brother-in-law - Du Ping
Nephew - Du Lin'er
(Twenty-three), Zhong Kui's hometown, Zhongnan Mountain, historical celebrities:
Teacher of the Emperor - Wang Jiusi
Ancestor of Taoism God Sect ——Tai Shang Laojun (Laozi Li Er)
Quanzhen Holy Ancestor——Wang Chongyang
Great God of Wealth——Liu Hai
Moon God of Wealth——Zhao Gongming
Literary Master——Yin Xi
The King of Medicine——Sun Simiao
The Immortal Family——Han Zhongli, Lu Dongbin, Liu Haichan
The Huayan Grandmaster——Du Shun
The Four Haogongs——Dong Yuan Gong, Xia Huang Gong, Qili Ji, and Jiao Li
One of the Three Heroes of the Early Han Dynasty——Zhang Liang
The hero of the Western Zhou Dynasty - Jiang Ziya
The real hermit - Tao Yuanming
The sage of poetry - Wang Wei
Ma Yizi - Li He< /p>
Eminent monks from the Western Regions - Kumarajiva, Tamaliuzhi, Nahuduo
Eminent Chinese monks - Seng Zhao, Daosheng, Daorong, Sengrui, Huiguan, Tan (Seng ) Ying, Huiyan, Daoheng, Sengfeng Daoshi, Huirui, Sengbi, Tanjian, Hui'an, Tanwucheng, Sengdao, Sengyin, Sengbao, Sengye, Sengzhou, Sengliang, etc. The monks after the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasty include: Tanxiang, Fazang (Fazang during the Northern Zhou, Sui and Tang Dynasties, buried in Yunji Temple), Sengzhao, Jingzang, Daoxian, Faying, Jingmiao, Puji, Pu'an, Qingyi (Jingzang). ) Yuan, Facheng, Huichao, Shanhui, Falin, Zhizang, Dharmaxi, Zhizheng, Jingye (the master of Wuzhen Temple), Huiyuan, Lingrun, Huitong, Juelang, Zhixi, Hongzhi, Fashun, Zhiyan, Shandao, Daoban, Huiyi, Fazang (the state teacher of Tang Xian), Daoxuan, Chengguan, Zongmi, Jingye (the master of Xiangji Temple), Huaihui, Xuanzang, Feixi, Wei Zheng and so on.
Other hermits - Silla people Jin Keji, Lu Zang (Tang Dynasty), Wang Jia (Jin Dynasty), Jiang Benshi (Ming Dynasty), Qi Hui, Zhang Zhijian, Gao Henian