Jinling Shengmu

Jinling Shengmu (simplified Chinese: 金灵圣母; traditional Chinese: 金靈聖母; pinyin: Jīnlíng Shèngmǔ; lit. 'Saint Mother (of) Golden Spirit') is a character in the 16th-century Chinese novel, Fengshen Yanyi, which is also known as The Investiture of the Gods.^[1]

Legend

In Fengshen Yanyi, Jinling Shengmu is one of the four chief disciples of Tongtian Jiaozhu. She is said to be more powerful than the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chanjiao. Jinling Shengmu has two disciples: Wen Zhong and Yu Yuan.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

During the Battle of the Ten Thousand Immortals, she defeated Princess Longji and Hong Jin, and she faced off against the three great immortals: Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun, Puxian Zhenren, and Cihang Zhenren. Although she emerged victorious in her battle against the great immortals, she ultimately met her demise at the hands of the powerful weapon, Dinghai Shenzhu, wielded by Randeng Daoren.^[6]^[7]

She was appointed as the God of Kangong Doumu, the head of Ziwei Zhizun (紫薇之尊), who has 84,000 stars and spirits under her command. Her position is of great importance and high rank in heaven. She is in charge of Jin Que, resides in the Dou Mansion, and holds the highest position among the places in Zhou Tian.^[3] In the esoteric teachings of Taoism, she is identified as the same as Doumu.^[8]^[9]^[10]

Worship

Jinling Shengmu is one of the principal deities in the village of Molangfang in Haidong, Tian Dalishi. She is venerated as the goddess of fertility in this village, and her attire is adorned with myriad characters. Scholars consider these characters to be a clear symbol of fertility, signifying the community's prayers for abundant and prosperous life.^[11]

References

^ 封神演义 (in Chinese). Beijing Book Co. Inc. September 2019. ISBN 978-7-5455-4857-0.
^ 神神鬼鬼：眾生萬象，神鬼亦然 (in Chinese). 北京時代華文書局. 1 January 2018. ISBN 978-7-5699-2348-3.
^ ^a ^b "一念即可成圣的金灵圣母，为两个弟子上了封神榜，后来她后悔了吗_手机网易网". NetEase News (in Chinese). 7 August 2020.
^ "居北极紫气之尊，金灵圣母为何能成斗姆元君？掌八万四千群星恶煞_手机网易网". 手机网易网 (in Chinese). 14 September 2020.
^ Chen, Fan-Pen Li (2007). Chinese Shadow Theatre: History, Popular Religion, and Women Warriors. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. ISBN 978-0-7735-3197-0.
^ 中国神话人物辞典 (in Chinese). 陝西人民出版社. 1998. ISBN 978-7-224-04279-5.
^ 明清文学史: 明代卷 (in Chinese). 武汉大学出版社. 1992. ISBN 978-7-307-00990-5.
^ "金灵圣母和阐教十二金仙比，谁的道行更强？金灵圣母的原型是谁？_手机搜狐网". Sohu (in Chinese). 31 March 2021.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "金灵圣母是什么变的金灵圣母和玉帝谁大_猎历史网". 猎历史网 (in Chinese). 7 March 2016.
^ 許姬传七十年见闻录 (in Chinese). 中华书局. 1985.
^ 搖篮边的祝福: 中国诞生礼 (in Chinese). 上海文艺出版社. 2001. ISBN 978-7-5321-2310-0.

[1] 封神演义 (in Chinese). Beijing Book Co. Inc. September 2019. ISBN 978-7-5455-4857-0.

[2] 神神鬼鬼：眾生萬象，神鬼亦然 (in Chinese). 北京時代華文書局. 1 January 2018. ISBN 978-7-5699-2348-3.

[a-3] "一念即可成圣的金灵圣母，为两个弟子上了封神榜，后来她后悔了吗_手机网易网". NetEase News (in Chinese). 7 August 2020.

[4] "居北极紫气之尊，金灵圣母为何能成斗姆元君？掌八万四千群星恶煞_手机网易网". 手机网易网 (in Chinese). 14 September 2020.

[5] Chen, Fan-Pen Li (2007). Chinese Shadow Theatre: History, Popular Religion, and Women Warriors. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. ISBN 978-0-7735-3197-0.

[6] 中国神话人物辞典 (in Chinese). 陝西人民出版社. 1998. ISBN 978-7-224-04279-5.

[7] 明清文学史: 明代卷 (in Chinese). 武汉大学出版社. 1992. ISBN 978-7-307-00990-5.

[8] "金灵圣母和阐教十二金仙比，谁的道行更强？金灵圣母的原型是谁？_手机搜狐网". Sohu (in Chinese). 31 March 2021.^{[permanent dead link]}

[9] "金灵圣母是什么变的金灵圣母和玉帝谁大_猎历史网". 猎历史网 (in Chinese). 7 March 2016.

[10] 許姬传七十年见闻录 (in Chinese). 中华书局. 1985.

[11] 搖篮边的祝福: 中国诞生礼 (in Chinese). 上海文艺出版社. 2001. ISBN 978-7-5321-2310-0.

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