Chiyou

Article summary

Chiyou ( ) is a mythological being that appears in Chinese mythology. He was a tribal leader of the Nine Li tribe ( ) in ancient China. He is best known as a king who lost against the future Yellow Emperor during the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors era in Chinese mythology. According to the Song dynasty history book Lushi, Chiyou's surname was Jiang ( ), and he was a descendant of the Flame Emperor. Chiyou is often associated with chaos and war, earning him the status of a demon god in later mythological interpretations, especially in northern China. In some Daoist traditions, he is considered a demon or evil god representing war and violence. His image has also been used as a protective figure, especially by soldiers, who see him as a war deity capable of offering protection in battle. Conversely, for some Hmong people, Chiyou or Txiv Yawg was a sagacious mythical king. He has a particularly complex and controversial ancestry, as he may fall under Dongyi Miao or even Man, depending on the source and view. According to legend, Chiyou had a bronze head with a distinct metal forehead. He had four eyes and six arms, wielding terrible sharp weapons in every hand, similar to a description of fangxiangshi.…

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