China: Carving of Guangchenzi, depicting his role in the 16th Century Ming Dynasty novel <i>Fengshen...

Guangchengzi was a character from the classic Ming Dynasty novel 'Fengshen Yanyi'. The first of the Twelve Golden Xian, Guangchengzi was a student of Yuanshi Tianzun, and worked alongside fellow disciple Jiang Ziya to support King Wu of Zhou's attempts to overthrow the corrupt and tyrannical King Zhou of Shang. He was one of the leaders of Branch Chan of Taoism, and his accidental killing of Jinguang Shengmu, a student of Tongtian Jiaozhu - who was the founder of Branch Jie of Taoism - led to a war between the two branches. The war would last for a long time, resulting in many Xians and gods being injured or killed, and leading to each branch supporting the two opposing sides during the Shang-Zhou war. Branch Chan supported the Zhou army, while Branch Jie aided King Zhou of Shang. In Taoism, Guangchengzi is also considered the avatar of Daode Tianzun, and was said to have lived in the Kongtong Mountains, where he was visited by the Yellow Emperor, resulting in him playing a crucial role in the creation of early Chinese civilisation. He is even sometimes considered the avatar of Dao itself. Editor: Anandajoti