The Zhong Kui 钟馗 The Sage Lord of Bestowing Blessings and Protecting the Residence

Zhong Kui, also known as "the Sage Lord of Bestowing Blessings and Protecting the Residence", is one of the famous folk gods in China. Later, he was incorporated into the immortal system by Taoism, and his main function is to catch ghosts. According to records, he was a native of Zhongnan Mountain in Chang'an at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty. He had a leopard-like head, ringed eyes, a iron-like face and curly whiskers, with an extremely ugly appearance. However, he was a talented and erudite person, who was upright in daily life and not afraid of evil spirits.

During the reign of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty, he went to Chang'an to take the imperial examination. The article written by Zhong Kui was praised as a masterpiece by the chief examiner and he was ranked first among the successful candidates. However, during the palace examination, Lu Qi, who was the prime minister at that time, judged people by their appearance and repeatedly slandered Zhong Kui, which led to his failure in becoming the top scorer. In a fit of anger, Zhong Kui hit his head against the pillar in the hall and died, which shocked the whole court. Emperor Dezong buried Zhong Kui with the ceremony of the top scorer's official position.

There is another saying about Zhong Kui. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty dreamed that a little ghost stole Yang Guifei's purple sachet and Emperor Xuanzong's jade flute, and ran around the hall. At this time, a big ghost caught the little ghost and ate him. The big ghost was extremely ugly in appearance, wearing a tattered gauze hat, a blue robe, a horned belt and court boots. He claimed to be a failed scholar from Zhongnan Mountain, who had hit himself to death in front of the steps because he failed in the imperial examination. He said to Emperor Xuanzong, "I swear to eliminate all the evil spirits in the world for Your Majesty."

👉👉👉Get It Right Away

After Emperor Xuanzong woke up from the dream, he ordered the painter Wu Daoxuan to paint Zhong Kui Catching Ghosts according to the dream and announced it to the whole country to exorcise evil spirits and bless peace. Wu Daoxuan finished the painting with a flourish of his brush. It turned out that Wu Daoxuan had also had the same dream, so he "seemed to have seen it" and finished it in one go.