The List of Deification: The 'Conscription List' Behind the Legend of Nezha, Revealing the Harsh Truth and Cultural Depth of the Investiture of the Gods

Brief Summary:

The List of Deification in Investiture of the Gods, known for gathering 365 deities, is not a "hall of fame" but rather a "conscription list." The list was jointly decided by the three teachings—Chan, Jie, and Humanity—and categorized into Immortal Path, Deity Path, and Human Path. However, few achieved the Immortal Path, with most stopping at the Deity Path. Followers of the Jie Sect, who aided the tyrant King Zhou, were mostly inscribed on the list as deities, while Jiang Ziya was destined to never become an immortal and could only enjoy worldly fortunes. The List of Deification is not only a crucial element in ancient Chinese mythology but also profoundly influenced folk culture and religious rituals, becoming a key part of ceremonial performances. In recent years, this classic IP has been adapted into movies, TV series, and games, attracting a vast audience and players.

The source of the legend of Nezha is the list of gods in "Fengshen Yanyi", which is said to be "gathering 365 righteous gods". What specific stories and characters are they told?

In the novel, it is said that when Jiang Ziya went down the mountain, there was a brief explanation for the list of gods: "God Haotian ordered the twelve immortals to be ministers, so the three religions were discussed together, which are the three levels of explanation, interception and humanity, with a total of 365 gods." This passage is too vague. The so-called separation of the three religions of explanation, interception and humanity belongs to the originality of this book. The book does not explain humanity, but it explains the contradiction between interception and explanation of religion, which is about setting interception as a school of "crooked evil way". In this way, it is equivalent to setting the list of gods jointly formulated by the "Three Religions" into a list of gods of different origins, which naturally dispels the homogeneity of the list of knots.

Fengshenbang is a "strong list"

Many people will understand the "famous on the list" of Fengshenbang as "inscribed on the gold list", but Fengshenbang is really not a good list. It is said in the book that when the positive party (Xiqi) Nezha fought with the other side (Chao Ge) Zhang Guifang, the narrator said: "One is the lotus incarnation of the spiritual bead, and the other is the mourning door on the list of gods." The right side of the mainland suppresses the Taoist who cursed the opposite side, Yu Yuanshi also said, "If you act against the sky, it is unacceptable for heaven. Moreover, you are a person on the list of gods, and I will not be punished by heaven." Even if it is mentioned that the loyal minister of the other side, Wen Taishi, the book also says that he "is moral to become an immortal without blessing, and is on the list of gods". It can be seen that it is not fortunate to be on the list of gods.

Most of the antagonists who work for King Zhou are interceptors. Therefore, when the other side, Zhao Gongming, died in the war, Yunxiao Niangniang cried and said, "My teacher (the master of Tongtian) said that he was not allowed to go down the mountain in the sect; those who follow the mountain must be famous on the list of gods, and the number of days has been set. My brother doesn't listen to the teacher, so it's hard to get out of this. This sentence reveals that the inner logic of the novel is not strict enough. Since the novel has preset that the list of gods is jointly formulated by the three masters of the three religions, Yuan Shitianzun, the Lord of Tongtian and Laozi. Once it takes effect, it has been a number of days and cannot be changed. So why should the Lord of Tongtian warn that "the sect is not allowed to go down the mountain"?

However, Fengshenbang is not nothing. According to the setting of the novel, it should be that after Haotian God became the Emperor of Heaven, he invited to explain religion, cut off religion and humanity. The leaders of the three religions first discussed a level standard. In the novel, he used the dialogue between Yuan Shi Tianzun and the Tongtian priest to explain: "At that time, in your Biyou Palace, they discussed the list of gods together, and they were sealed in front of them. There were three levels: those who have deep roots will become immortals. Tao; the root line is a little second, and it becomes its divine way; the root line is shallow, and it becomes its humanity, but it still falls into the robbery of reincarnation. That is to say, the highest realm of monks is immortality, followed by Shinto, and then humanity.

So, who are the people who have cultivated the immortal way? There is none in the novel. The immortals who appear in the book, in addition to the three priests, are Antarctic Xian Weng, Duer Zhenren, Taiyi Zhenren, etc. As soon as they appear, they are at the level of immortal mentors, and they have long known the "standard answer". Throughout the whole process, they just sit on the coach's bench and watch the apprentices fight, and occasionally point out one or two.

According to the setting in the book, Shintoism is inferior to the immortal Taoism. As the Tongtian Master said, "We of the three religions discuss the title of God. Among them, there are loyal and righteous people on the list, and there are those who do not become Shintoism without immortality. Each has a deep and shallow, and they are destined to each other. Therefore, the gods have respect and inferiority, and death has a priority." Under the master of the Tongtian sect, most of them have strong magic power and are stubborn. The key is to "help and abuse", so they can't enter the immortal way, so they can only stop at Shinto. To put it bluntly, the list of gods in the novel is actually the "strong list" of Haotian God's cabinet. All outstanding creatures with special talents, regardless of humans and beasts, whether good or evil, first destroy their physical bodies, take their heroes and spirits, push them into the cabinet, and then use them: "Although it is evil, it is appropriate to practice the duties, and there is no need to be fierce again. "

Others, such as Yang Jianzhi, have strong magic power and a correct position, but they can neither ascend to the immortal path nor fall into the divine path. So what should they do? The novel says: "Later, Li Jing, Jin Zha, Mu Zha, Nezha, Yang Jian, Wei Hu and Lei Zhenzi, these seven people all became saints in the flesh." According to the setting of the novel, this should be a positive result between immortals and gods, a kind of rebirth and extraordinary cultivation realm.

In the book, only Jiang Ziya is the most miserable. Yuan Shi Tian Zun said, "You were born with a thin fate, and it is difficult to become an immortal. You can only receive the blessing of the world. The number of soups is exhausted, and the surrounding room is prosperous. You and I have worked to be a god and went down the mountain to help the Lord. As a general, it is not in vain that you have practiced on the mountain for 40 years. That is to say, Jiang Ziya was destined not to become an immortal, but only deserved to enjoy the blessings of the world. Therefore, in the book, he became a great weapon late. At the age of 80, he worshiped the minister. At the age of 98, King Zuowen ruled the world. He was crowned by Qi and became the ancestor of the State of Qi.

Explore the profound charm of Chinese mythology and experience the cultural power of the List of Deification! Star8s brings you exquisite products infused with Chinese elements, blending tradition and modernity, myth and reality. Let Star8s help you discover the unique charm of Chinese culture anytime, anywhere. Visit Star8s today and embrace your own Chinese-inspired style!