Yunzhongzi () is a character from the famed classic Chinese novel ''

Fengshen Yanyi ''The Investiture of the Gods'', also known by its Chinese names () and is a 16th-century Chinese novel and one of the major vernacular Chinese works in the gods and demons (''shenmo'') genre written during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Cons ...

''. Yunzhongzi is a renowned immortal of the Jade Column Cave atop Mount South End. After the sinister

Daji Daji () was the favourite consort of King Zhou of Shang, the last king of the Shang dynasty in History of China, ancient China. In legends and fictions, she is portrayed as a malevolent fox spirit who kills and impersonates the real Daji. Her ide ...

had taken her grasp over

King Zhou of Shang King Zhou (; ) was the pejorative posthumous name given to Di Xin of Shang () or King Shou of Shang (), the last king of the Shang dynasty of ancient China. He is also called Zhou Xin (). In Chinese, his name Zhòu (wikt:紂, 紂) also refers to a ...

, Yunzhongzi was the first immortal to see the injustice from above the clouds. After Yunzhongzi realized that this was none other than the Thousand-Year Vixen, he exclaimed the words "''If she is not eliminated, great disaster will befall the Red Dust! I must prevent this from happening!''" Following this event, Yunzhongzi presented himself before King Zhou. After the king had asked for Yunzhongzi's home, Yunzhongzi responded by saying that he is from water--heart of cloud, mind of fluidity. Thus following this point, Yunzhongzi would engage in a great reformative conversation with the king in the hopes that he would be rid of Daji and employ the

Taoist Taoism (, ) or Daoism () refers to either a school of philosophical thought (道家; ''daojia'') or to a religion (道教; ''daojiao''), both of which share ideas and concepts of Chinese origin and emphasize living in harmony with the ''Tao'' ...

way to his kingdom. Before Yunzhongzi left the king, he handed him his wooden

sword A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...

, a sword that would gradually kill Daji through its latent spiritual power instilled by Yunzhongzi. 5 chapters later during chapter 10, Yunzhongzi would be seen once again before the Grand Duke of the West,

Ji Chang King Wen of Zhou (; 1152–1050 BC, the Cultured King) was Count of Zhou during the late Shang dynasty in ancient China. Although frequently confused with his fourth son Duke of Zhou, also known as "Lord Zhou", they are different historical perso ...

. After a special child had been found in a mysterious tomb following a very rare and sudden lightning storm, Yunzhongzi would once again appear. When Yunzhongzi had held the small baby in his arms after receiving consent, he said the words "''My Grand Duke. Please let me take this child to Mount South End, to raise and educate. When you come back in seven years, I will return him to you.''" Thus holding the baby in his hands, he parts the clouds and returns to the skies, determined to instill the Taoist ways into this future savior of the new dynasty. Later on within chapter 22, Yunzhongzi peered over his Mount South End and saw Ji Chang being chased by Generals Yin and Lei of

Zhaoge Zhaoge () was the last of a series of cities that served as capital of the Shang dynasty, and later capital of State of Wey (衛國). It is located in current Qi County, Hebi, Henan about 50 km south of Anyang. See also *Yinxu Yinxu (modern ; ...

. Once Yunzhongzi unleashed

Leizhenzi Leizhenzi ( zh, c=雷震子, p=Léizhènzǐ) a character in the classic Chinese novel ''Investiture of the Gods'' (''Fengshen Yanyi''). Leizhenzi is a celestial being that had been created by a great thunderstorm at Mount Swallow. Ji Chang had ...

to save Ji Chang, he would not reappear again for some time.

References

* ''

Investiture of the Gods ''The Investiture of the Gods'', also known by its Chinese names () and is a 16th-century Chinese novel and one of the major vernacular Chinese works in the gods and demons (''shenmo'') genre written during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Cons ...

'' - chapter 5 * ''Investiture of the Gods'' - chapter 10 Investiture of the Gods characters Taoist immortals {{Tao-stub