Zhùróng
祝融
Pray melt
"God of Fire"
Types |
Shén |
Attributes |
FireSummer |
Groups |
Five Phasal Gods |
Appearance
Zhùróng has the body of a beast and the face of a human, and he rides on two dragons.
Mythology
God of Fire
Zhùróng resides at the southernmost edge of the world. He passed down knowledge of tinder and taught humans fire mastery.
War of Fire and Water
Zhùróng and Gònggōng fought a great battle. After Gònggōng’s defeat, he smashed his head against Mount Bùzhōu, one of the pillars holding up the sky, in a fit of rage. The pillar broke, and the sky collapsed. This gave rise to the myth Nǚwā mending the heavens.
Overthrow Xia
Zhùróng was ordered by the Heavenly Emperor to set fire to the Xia capital, which was ruled by the tyrant, corrupt, and immoral King Jié.
Gǔn’s Execution
Gǔn, Yǔ the Great’s father, stole the Xīrǎng (magical self-expanding soil) in an attempt to control the floodwaters. As punishment, Zhùróng was ordered by the Heavenly Emperor to execute Gǔn at the outskirts of Mount Yǔ. After Gǔn’s death, he transformed into a three-legged turtle Huángnéng.
Literature
Pre-Qin and Han – Ancient Classics. Classic of Mountains and Seas – Classic of Southern Regions Beyond the Seas
先秦两汉·经典文献《山海经·海外南经》
Southern god Zhùróng, has the body of a beast and the face of a human, and rides on two dragons.
南方祝融，兽身人面，乘两龙。
Pre-Qin and Han – Confucianism. The Classic of Rites – Proceedings of Government in the Different Months
先秦两汉·儒家《礼记·月令》
孟夏之月，日在毕，昏翼中，旦婺女中。其日丙丁。其帝炎帝，其神祝融。其虫羽。其音徵，律中中吕。其数七。其味苦，其臭焦。其祀灶，祭先肺。
Pre-Qin and Han – Misc Schools. Huáinánzǐ – Instructions on Astronomy
先秦两汉·杂家《淮南子·天文训》
The South corresponds to Fire. It is governed by Yándì, assisted by Zhùróng, who holds the balance and governs Summer. Its celestibal body is Yínghuò (Mars), its sacred beast is the Vermilion Bird, its musical note is Zhǐ, and its associated days are Bǐng and Dīng.
南方，火也，其帝炎帝，其佐朱明，执衡而治夏；其神为荧惑，其兽朱鸟，其音徵，其日丙丁。
Pre-Qin and Han – Misc Schools. Huáinánzǐ – Instructions on Timing and Seasons
先秦两汉·杂家《淮南子·时则训》
At the farthest extent of the South, starting from beyond the land of the Northern Hù and Sūn clans, passing through the realm of Zhuānxū, and stretches southward to the land of Blazing Fire and Fiery Winds. This territory, governed by Chìdì and Zhùróng, spans 12,000 lǐ.
南方之极，自北户孙之外，贯颛顼之国，南至委火炎风之野，赤帝、祝融之所司者，万二千里。
Han. The Great Commentary on the Book of Documents, Volume 3 – Zhou Traditions – Treatise on the Five Phases
汉《尚书大传·卷三·周传·洪范五行传》
南方之极，自北户南，至炎风之野，帝炎帝，神祝融司之。
Ming. The Magnificent Forest of Elementary Learning, Volume 1 – Seasonal Occasions.
明《幼学琼林·卷一·岁时》
南方之神曰祝融，居离而司夏，丙丁属火，火则旺于夏，其色赤，故夏帝曰赤帝。
Games
