Huanglong Zhenren

Relief of Huanglong Zhenren

Huanglong Zhenren (Chinese: 黄龙真人; pinyin: Huánglóng Zhēnrén; lit. 'the Yellow Dragon Immortal'), is a deity in the classic Chinese mythological epic Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi). In the novel, he is depicted as a senior member of the Chan Sect (阐教) and one of the Twelve Golden Immortals (十二金仙) who study under Yuanshi Tianzun.

In Chinese folklore, Huanglong Zhenren is sometimes identified with the legendary Yellow Dragon (黄龙), who is said to have assisted Yu the Great (大禹) in controlling the Great Flood. According to the legend, the dragon was rewarded for its service by attaining immortality and becoming the Daoist immortal Huanglong Zhenren.

Fengshen Yanyi

In Investiture of the Gods, Huanglong Zhenren resides in Magu Cave (麻姑洞) on Erxian Mountain (二仙山). His mount is a white crane, and he uses a pair of swords as weapons. A modern discussion of the novel describes Huanglong Zhenren as the "poorest" (贫民玩家) of the Twelve Golden Immortals, noting that he has no magical treasures or disciples unlike some of the other immortals.

Huanglong Zhenren is defeated or captured in several encounters in the novel. During the battle against the plague deity Lü Yue, he is unable to withstand Lü Yue's three-headed, six-armed form and retreats. Lü Yue pursues him, but Nezha intervenes and prevents his death. Later, during the Ten Thousand Immortals Array (万仙阵), Huanglong fights the Jie Sect immortal Ma Sui. Ma Sui throws a magical golden hoop (金箍) at him, which clamps onto his head and causes him intense pain. None of the other immortals can remove it, and Yuanshi Tianzun eventually removes the hoop himself.

Local folklore

The name "Huanglong Zhenren" is associated with local folklore in Sichuan, where he is traditionally linked to the Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area and the Huanglong Temple (黄龙寺). According to local tradition, Huanglong Zhenren cultivated the Dao in the area before attaining immortality. One legend attributes the area's yellow travertine terraces to an incident involving Huanglong Zhenren and his disciples. After attaining immortality, he invited other immortals to a banquet, but his disciples accidentally spilled a large pot of boiling soy milk down the mountainside. When Huanglong Zhenren returned, he scattered yellow sand over the spill, causing it to harden. According to the legend, this became the area's golden terraces, known as "Golden Sand Paving the Earth" (金沙铺地). Huanglong Temple was later established in the area in his honor.

Scholarly interpretation

Literary scholar Chen Hong argues that Huanglong Zhenren's portrayal in Investiture of the Gods may represent a Daoist response to Buddhist folklore. He suggests that the character may have been inspired by the Northern Song Chan Buddhist monk Huanglong Huinan. According to Chen, a popular religious tale known as Flying Sword Slays Huanglong (飞剑斩黄龙) circulated from the Song to the Ming dynasty. In Buddhist versions of the story, the Daoist immortal Lü Dongbin challenges Zen Master Huanglong to a magical duel but is defeated after Huanglong takes away his flying sword.

Chen suggests that the author of Investiture of the Gods used the name "Huanglong" for one of the Twelve Golden Immortals as a response to this tradition. He notes that the novel includes poems attributed to Lü Dongbin and repeatedly depicts Huanglong Zhenren as lacking powerful treasures and being defeated, captured, or humiliated by opponents. Chen interprets these elements as a Daoist response to earlier Buddhist narratives.

In popular culture

Huanglong Zhenren appears in modern Chinese web novels (网文), including works that reinterpret his character from Investiture of the Gods. Some stories portray him as gaining powerful magical treasures or changing his fate, in contrast to his relatively weak portrayal in the novel. One example is Shen Jian's web novel Huanglong Zhenren's Journey to Another World (黄龙真人异界游).