Erlang Shen (二郎神, Èrláng Shén?, lit. "Second-Lad God"), titled Illustrious Sage and True Lord Erlang (顯聖二郎真君, Xiǎnshèng èrláng zhēnjūn?), also known as Yang Jian (楊戩, Yángjiǎn?), is a god with a Third Eye in the middle of his forehead. He is known as the greatest warrior god of Heaven.
Description[]
His bearing was refined, his visage noble, His ears hung down to his shoulders, and his eyes shone. The hat on his head had three peaks and phoenixes flying, And his robe was of a pale goose−yellow. His boots were lined with cloth of gold; dragons coiled round his socks; His jade belt was decorated with the eight jewels, At his waist was a bow, curved like the moon, In his hand a Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear. His axe had split open Peach Mountain when he rescued his mother, His bow had killed the twin phoenixes of Zongluo. Widespread was his fame for killing the Eight Demons, And he had become one of Plum Hill's seven sages. His heart was too lofty to acknowledge his relatives in Heaven; In his pride he went back to be a god at Guanjiang. He was the Merciful and Miraculous Sage of the red city, Erlang, whose transformations were numberless.
History[]
Erlang's mother was the Jade Emperor's sister, Princess Yaoji, who was imprisoned under Tao Mountain because she violated the Heavenly Rules by marrying a human named Yang Tianyou. Many years later, her son Yang Jian cleaved the mountain using his axe, hoping to set his mother free. He did successfully rescue his mother after he chased away the sun by carrying a mountain on his back.
Synopsis[]
Erlang had been ordered by the Jade Emperor, in which Erlang was also with his seven elite sages whom he called his brothers, to subdue Sun Wukong, who was to be punished for his havoc in heaven.
Throughout the course of Erlang's duel between Sun Wukong, Sun wukong had been the stronger adversary though and Erlang cooperate with other Gods, trying to subdue Wukong. After many transformations that were performed in their duel (Sun Wukong fleeing as a fish; Erlang and Sun Wukong becoming larger birds, and so forth), near the conclusion of the battle, he managed to see through Sun Wukong's disguise (as a temple) using his third eye. He eventually defeated Wukong through teamwork with several other gods; Laozi personally had dropped his refined golden ring that had hit Sun Wukong on the head, giving Erlang a chance to bring him down, and Erlang's dog bit him in the leg. After Sun Wukong had been captured (to which Sun Wukong retorts that they are cowards for attacking from behind), he and his heavenly soldiers would burn areas of Flowers and Fruit Mountain. only with Buddha's help, they manage to capture Wukong
Erlang is seen again far later in the novel when he assists Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie through chance by fighting against an ancient Dragon King and his villainous son-in-law, a nine-headed bird demon.
Trivia[]
- In Chinese Folk religion, Erlang Shen is a god and mythological figure. Besides Journey to the West, he also appeared in Investiture of the Gods, where he is also the nephew of the Jade Emperor and assists the Zhou army in defeating the Shang.