Chiyou facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chiyou
Chiyou as depicted on a tomb relief of the Han dynasty
Chinese	蚩尤
Literal meaning	Wormy Transgressor
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin chīyóu Wade–Giles Chʻih1-yu2 Yue: Cantonese Jyutping ci1 jau4

Chiyou (蚩尤) is a powerful figure from Chinese mythology. He was a brave tribal leader in ancient China. Chiyou led the Nine Li tribe (九黎) during a very old time. He is most famous for his battles against the Yellow Emperor. These events happened during the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors era. Some ancient books say his family name was Jiang (姜). They also say he was a descendant of the Flame Emperor.

Chiyou is often linked with strength and war. In some stories, he is seen as a powerful spirit of battle. Soldiers sometimes looked to him for protection in fights. However, for some Hmong people, Chiyou (or Txiv Yawg) was a wise and respected king. His background is quite interesting, with different stories connecting him to various ancient groups.

Legends describe Chiyou as having a unique appearance. He had a bronze head with a metal forehead. Some tales say he had four eyes and six arms. He carried many sharp weapons, making him a formidable warrior. Other stories say his head was like a bull with two horns. Yet, his body was human, and his lower half was like a bear. He was known for being incredibly fierce and brave. It is said he had 81 brothers or led 81 clans. Chiyou also knew how to control the weather. He could create thick fog to confuse his enemies, as he did during the Battle of Zhuolu.

The Nine Li Tribe

Chiyou was the leader of the Nine Li tribe (九黎). This is a fact almost all ancient stories agree on. However, figuring out his exact family background is a bit tricky. Many different groups claim Chiyou as an ancestor.

Some old books, like the Guoyu, connect Chiyou's Li tribe to the ancient San Miao tribe (三苗). Today, in Zhuolu Town, there is a statue of Chiyou. This statue honors him as an early ancestor of the Miao people. Many believe this area is where the San Miao and Miao people first lived. The Hmong people are a part of the larger Miao group. Sometimes, the "Nine Li" tribe is called the "Jiuli" kingdom, which means "nine Li."

Legends and Stories

Many interesting legends tell us more about Chiyou. One story says that the Miao people lived near the Yellow River long ago. They had 81 villages, and Chiyou was their leader. He protected his people from a harmful witch. This allowed the Miao people to live peacefully. Later, the witch's children sought revenge. They asked the Red Dragon and Yellow Dragon (who were the Yan Emperor and Yellow Emperor) for help. Chiyou bravely led his people and defeated them many times.

Another legend comes from the Song dynasty. It tells of a time when a salt pond stopped producing salt. A wise Taoist priest named Zhang Tianshi was called to the emperor's court. He said that Chiyou was causing the problem. Zhang Tianshi then summoned the mighty warrior Guan Gong. Guan Gong used his power to overcome Chiyou. After this, the salt pond began producing salt again, and everyone was happy.

The Battle of Zhuolu

Chiyou first fought against the Yan Emperor. The Yan Emperor's tribe was no match for Chiyou's Nine Li warriors. The Yan Emperor lost the battle and fled. He then sought help from the powerful Yellow Emperor in Zhuolu. This led to a huge and famous conflict.

The epic battle between Chiyou and the Yellow Emperor's armies began. It was a long and fierce fight, lasting for ten years. For much of this time, Chiyou's forces seemed to be winning. During the Battle of Zhuolu, Chiyou used his magical powers. He created a thick fog that covered the battlefield. This fog made it impossible for the Yellow Emperor's soldiers to see.

The Yellow Emperor's army was in great danger. To find their way, the Yellow Emperor invented the south-pointing chariot. This clever device helped them navigate through the fog. Chiyou then summoned a powerful storm. In response, the Yellow Emperor called upon the drought spirit Nüba (女魃). Nüba blew away the storm clouds, clearing the battlefield. With these challenges overcome, Chiyou and his army were finally defeated by the Yellow Emperor. After this victory, the Yellow Emperor became known as the ancestor of the Huaxia people. Chiyou's followers had to leave their kingdom and live in the mountains. Legends say that after Chiyou's defeat, unusual red rain fell for a while.

Chiyou's Lasting Legacy

Chiyou's story has had a big impact throughout Chinese history. Important figures like Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, honored Chiyou. Liu Bang, who founded the Han dynasty, also paid respects to Chiyou before a major battle. They saw him as a powerful God of War.

The God of War

Chiyou earned the title "God of War" because he was incredibly strong. Neither the Yellow Emperor nor the Yan Emperor could defeat him alone. Chiyou won many battles, both big and small. It took the combined forces of both emperors to finally overcome him in their tenth and final war. Even today, Chiyou is still respected and worshipped by some.

Another legend tells of the goddess Nüwa. Chiyou once claimed he could not be defeated. Nüwa then dropped a stone tablet on him from Mount Tai. Chiyou was so strong that he escaped! This special stone tablet, called "Mount Tai shigandang" (泰山石敢當), became a symbol. People use it to protect against bad luck and danger.

The Taotie Motif

Chiyou is also connected to a design called the Taotie motif. This design appears on ancient bronze vessels. Historians like Luo Bi wrote that the Yellow Emperor defeated Chiyou. To remind people to avoid bad behavior, Chiyou's image was cast onto these bronzes. Luo Bi's son, Luo Ping, added that Chiyou was a magical spirit. His image on bronzes served as a warning against being too greedy. The Taotie often looks like an animal, sometimes with wings.

See Also

• Mogwai
• Ox-Head and Horse-Face
• Ox in Chinese mythology
• Zhuolu County