Lesson plan
Zigu
Zigu ( ), also known as Maogu, is a goddess representing toilets in Chinese folk religion. She was believed to be the spirit of a concubine who had been physically abused by a vengeful wife and died in the latrine. It is believed that her cult originated in the Shanxi region and spread across China by the Tang period. According to the legend, the true identity of Zigu is Consort Qi of the Han dynasty, who was tortured and killed in the toilet by Empress Lü. The earliest record of Zigu is in the fifth volume of "Yiyuan" by Liu Jingshu or Liu Song of the Southern dynasties (420–479). Other legends say that her real name is He Mingmei, and the word is Liqing, from Laiyang, Shandong. During the period of Empress Wu Zetian, the governor of Shouyang Li Jing killed He Mei's husband and regarded her as a concubine, which made He Mei jealous of Li Jing's chief wife. On the night of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month during the Lantern Festival, Li Jing's legitimate wife killed her in the toilet. Because He Mei had resentment in her heart, Li Jing often heard crying when he visited the toilet. Later, this matter was learned by the Heavenly Court that "the Jade Emperor is merciful" and established her as the god of toilets.
Article summary
Zigu ( ), also known as Maogu, is a goddess representing toilets in Chinese folk religion. She was believed to be the spirit of a concubine who had been physically abused by a vengeful wife and died in the latrine. It is believed that her cult originated in the Shanxi region and spread across China by the Tang period. According to the legend, the true identity of Zigu is Consort Qi of the Han dynasty, who was tortured and killed in the toilet by Empress Lü. The earliest record of Zigu is in the fifth volume of "Yiyuan" by Liu Jingshu or Liu Song of the Southern dynasties (420–479). Other legends say that her real name is He Mingmei, and the word is Liqing, from Laiyang, Shandong. During the period of Empress Wu Zetian, the governor of Shouyang Li Jing killed He Mei's husband and regarded her as a concubine, which made He Mei jealous of Li Jing's chief wife. On the night of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month during the Lantern Festival, Li Jing's legitimate wife killed her in the toilet. Because He Mei had resentment in her heart, Li Jing often heard crying when he visited the toilet. Later, this matter was learned by the Heavenly Court that "the Jade Emperor is merciful" and established her as the god of toilets.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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