Taoist Exorcist Zhong Kui pendant. Golden obsidian quality A+

Taoist Exorcist Zhong Kui pendant.

Golden obsidian quality A+

Size:44/44mm

Obsidian from Mexico

Zhong Kui (Chinese: 鍾馗; pinyin: Zhōng Kuí; Japanese: Shōki)

is a legendary exorcist from China. deity of mythology
Chinese. The god of Taoist exorcism Traditionally considered a
slayer of ghosts and evil beings, and reputed to be able to command
80,000 demons, his image is often painted on household doors as a
guardian spirit, as well as in places of business where goods of great
value are involved.

According to tradition, Zhong Kui traveled with a friend from his hometown, Du Ping
(杜平), to participate in the imperial examinations held in the capital. Despite
Zhong Kui's excellent results and obtaining top honors at the
main examinations, his legitimate title of "Zhuangyuan" (top candidate)
was removed by the Emperor due to his misshapen appearance.

In anger and fury, Zhong Kui committed suicide on the steps of the palace in
throwing himself violently against the palace gates until his head was
broken. During his judgment after his death by suicide, Yama, the king of the underworld
fully appreciated the potential of Zhong Kui and his intelligence
brilliant, but condemned to hell by his suicide.

Yama gave him the title of king of ghosts and asked him to hunt,
capture, take charge of and maintain the discipline and order of all
the ghosts. The new king of the underworld returned to the world of the living in order to
thank his friend Du Ping and agreed to the latter's marriage
with Zhong Kui's sister, Zhong Kui's popularity in symbolism
Taoist can be traced to the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (712 to
756). According to Song dynasty sources, two ghosts, enjoying a
serious illness of the emperor, took advantage of a dream to attack him, stealing
an important bag closing important imperial information and a flute
belonging to him.

Zhong Kui captured the two thieves, tore out the eye of one of them and ate it.
The emperor woke up cured of his illness. He ordered the court painter Wu
Daozipour to produce a portrait of Zhong Kui and show it to officials
of the court. This painting will sustainably inspire all representations
later. Zhong Kui became legendary and became a very popular theme in
painting, art and folklore. Representations of the exorcist deity
are often hung in homes to scare away ghosts and the like
poltergeists. Wearing it as a pendant also plays this protective role.

Its representation is often present during the New Year celebrations in order to
Guarantee yourself an excellent year It is often represented in Japanese art.
He appears bearded, armed with a long sword and sometimes wearing a large hat.
straw.

This hero fights and kills oni (Japanese devils). In Taiwan and the
southern Fujian, at the end of certain ceremonies, a master is sometimes asked
Taoist or an actor embodying Zhong Kui armed with a sword, to perform a dance
meant to ward off evil spirits.

Traditionally, this spectacle was considered dangerous for the public
ordinary who left before his execution. In the Chinese world, Zhong Kui
sometimes appears as a protective god on the doors.

The Zhong Kui myth is said to have origins older than the Tang dynasty.
According to scholars Yang Shen (杨慎, 1488-1559), Gu Yanwu (顧炎武, 1613-1682), and Zhao
Yi (赵翼, 1727-1814), the character's name would be a graphic variant of zhong
kui (终葵), a ritual object of exorcism, whose name would be the expansion
disyllabic of zhui (椎), stick used to chase away spirits, according to books
ancient as the Zhouli.

According to Taiwanese folklorist Hu Wanchuan (胡萬川), the character of Zhong Kui
is said to be linked to ancient Chinese traditions of Nuo exorcism, in which
young men in disguise expelled evil influences from the palace during
Chinese New Year period.