Erlang ShenErlang Shen (二郎神) is a Chinese God with a third true-seeing eye in the middle of his forehead. A warring deity, he carries a three-pronged, two-edged polearm and has a Heavenly Dog that follows him around.OriginEr-lang Shen may be a deified version of several semi-mythical folk heroes who help regulate China's torrential floods, dating variously from the Qin, Sui and Jin dynasties. A later Buddhist source identify him as the second son of the Northern Heavenly King Vaishravana. In the Ming semi-mythical novels Creation of the Gods and Journey to the West Er-lang Shen is the nephew of the Jade Emperor. In the former he assisted the Zhou army in defeating the Shang. In the latter, he is the offspring of a mortal and the Jade Emperor's sister. He was a filial son that entered the Chinese underworld to save his deceased mother from torment.Journey to the WestHe fought Sun Wukong near the start of the Journey to the West. It was a battle where both deities pit transformation skills. Near the conclusion of the battle, he managed to see through Sun Wukong's disguise (as a temple) using his third-eye. See also: Chinese mythology Category:Chinese gods |
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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) |
