Xu Zhonglin facts for kids

Xu Zhonglin (traditional Chinese: 許仲琳; simplified Chinese: 许仲琳) was a Chinese writer who lived a long time ago, during the Ming dynasty. He was born around 1567 and passed away around 1619 or 1620. He is most famous for writing a fantasy novel called Investiture of the Gods (封神演義; Fengshen Yanyi). Xu Zhonglin was born in a place called Yingtian Prefecture, which is now the city of Nanjing in China.

Who Was Xu Zhonglin?

Xu Zhonglin was a novelist, which means he wrote stories. He lived during the Ming dynasty, a period in Chinese history that lasted from 1368 to 1644. This was a time when China was ruled by emperors and had a rich culture. Xu Zhonglin wrote fantasy stories, which are tales that often include magic, mythical creatures, and exciting adventures.

His Famous Novel: Investiture of the Gods

Xu Zhonglin is best known for his book Investiture of the Gods. This novel is a "semi-mythical" story. This means it mixes real history with myths, legends, and supernatural events. The book tells a grand story about gods, heroes, and battles. It is one of the most important classic novels in Chinese literature.

Where the Book Came From

An old copy of Investiture of the Gods is kept in a special library in Japan. This copy was printed by someone named Shu Zaiyang. Inside the book, it says "edited by Xu Zhonglin, the Old Recluse of Mount Zhong." A "recluse" is someone who lives away from others.

His Pen Name

Because of the words in the book, people think Xu Zhonglin might have used a special writing name, called a pseudonym. His possible pseudonym was "Zhongshan Yisou" (鍾山逸叟). This name means "a carefree old man living in Mount Zhong." Mount Zhong is a famous mountain near Nanjing, where he was born. Some stories also say that Xu wrote this novel as a special gift for his daughter when she got married.