Leizhenzi

Lei Zhenzi, as depicted in relief at Ping Sien Si

Lei Zhenzi (Chinese: 雷震子; pinyin: Léizhènzǐ), also known as Lei Chen-Tzu or Lei Jen Zu, is a character in the classic 16th-century Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi; simplified Chinese: 封神演义). He is also regarded as one of the Chinese thunder gods.[1] A supernatural Chinese hero, Lei Zhenzi is the adopted son of Ji Chang and serves as major supporting character on the side of the Western Zhou forces against King Zhou and the Shang dynasty.[2]

Legends

In the Fengshen Yanyi, Lei Zhenzi is a celestial being that was created by a great thunderstorm at Mount Swallow. Ji Chang, Grand Duke of the West, was passing through on his way to the capital when he was caught up in the sudden storm. Upon seeing a light in the sky after the thunderstorm's end, Ji Chang predicted it was an omen of a great hero sent to earth. He and his men set out to discover this hero and they found a small newborn near an old grave. Thus the baby was adopted as the 100th son of Ji Chang[3]. Soon after, Yunzhongzi would take the newly named Lei Zhenzi in as a disciple; for he was destined to assist in the creation of the new Zhou dynasty.[4]

Seven years later Ji Chang, now titled Wen Wang, was fleeing from the capital after finally being freed from an unjust imprisonment. Lei Zhenzi, now seven, was summoned by his master Yunzhongzi atop Mount South End, and told of his father's plight. Before he could assist his father, Lei Zhenzi was ordered to find a weapon located at Tiger Cliff. As Lei Zhenzi searched for a weapon, he came across two large apricots and quickly devoured one then the other. As he made to return to his master's cave, Lei Zhenzi suddenly underwent an extreme transformation. He grew to a great height, wings sprouted from his back, his hair turned red like cinnabar, his face turned indigo, and from his mouth sprouted tusks .[5][6]

Once Lei Zhenzi returned to his master, Yunzhongzi was delighted by the changes his disciple underwent seeing it as the mark of an extraordinary hero. He gave Lei Zhenzi a golden rod who was quickly able to master the weapon. Yunzhongzi then wrote the characters for wind and thunder on Lei Zhenzi's wings, and with a few mighty flaps he was able to soar to his father's rescue. Lei Zhenzi met his father atop a mountain slope and quickly dealt with the Generals Lei and Yin by creating a rockslide with his golden rod which scared them off. Ji Chang was initially frightened by this monster claiming to be his son, but quickly calmed down once he found out his savior was named Lei Zhenzi, the name he gave his infant son before leaving him with his master.

Carrying Ji Chang on his back, Lei Zhenzi transported his father through the five mountain passes and left him at Golden Rooster Peak on the border of the Zhou territory. With these words, Lei Zhenzi departed from his father: "My father, you are now safe. Now I must say good-bye and return to Mount South End. Please take care of yourself. I will see you again someday."

Much later, Lei Zhenzi would return as promised to assist his older brother King Wu against the Shang forces. At the end of the novel, Lei Zhenzi leaves the newly founded Zhou Dynasty and is shortly thereafter said to have become an Immortal free from death and reincarnation.[7]

In the Wuwang FaZhou Pinghua (武王伐纣平话）, a plain tale from the Yuan dynasty that tells a similar albeit much shorter story as the Fengshen Yanyi, Lei Zhenzi appears in a similar role as he does in the Ming dynasty novel. In the text, Lei Zhenzi is an adopted son of Ji Chang who rescues his father as he flees the Shang capital before parting ways. Towards the end of the story, Lei Zhenzi again appears wielding a large sword to assist his brother, King Wu, in the capture of King Zhou.[8][9]

According to one legend, Lei Chen-Tzu, though not born a dragon, took on the form of a dragon when his adoptive father Wen Wang – the god of literature – was taken prisoner, in order to save him.[10][11]

Another version of the legend states that he was believed to be the son of Dianmu and Leigong. He was born from an egg that Lei Gong shattered open using one of his thunderbolts. He closely resembled his father, Leigong, having wings and a pointed bird beak. Additionally, he possessed supernatural abilities and could change into a dragon after feasting on apricots.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Woodward, Hiram (29 November 2017). "The Louis XIV Manuscript Cabinet: The Role of Thunder and Lightning". The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage (105).
  2. ↑ Xu, Zhonglin; Lu, Xixing (1500s). Investiture of the Gods. Translated by Gu, Zhizhong (First ed.). People's Republic of China: New World Press, Foreign Languages Press, Human People's Publishing House (published 2000). ISBN 7-80005-486-1. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  3. ↑ ibid. p. 199.
  4. ↑ 中國惠山泥人. 北京工藝美術出版社. 1990. ISBN 978-7-80526-029-7.
  5. ↑ Werner, E. T. C. (Edward Theodore Chalmers) (2005). "Myths & Legends of China". Project Gutenberg. Archived from the original on February 17, 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  6. ↑ Investiture Of The Gods. pp. 417–419.
  7. ↑ ibid. p. 2133.
  8. ↑ Liu, Tsu-yan (1957). Buddhist and Taoist Influences on Chinese Novels: VOLUME 1 The Authorship of the Feng Shen Yen I. Kommissionsverlag Otto Harrassowitz. Wiesbaden (published 1962). pp. 6–75.
  9. ↑ "武王伐纣平话-不详-未删节减足本完整版白话全本全文翻译-国学典籍网". ab.newdu.com. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  10. ↑ Rose, Carol (2001). Giants, Monsters, and Dragons. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-32211-4.
  11. ↑ McLeish, Kenneth (1996). Myth. Internet Archive. Facts on File. ISBN 978-0-8160-3237-2.
  12. ↑ Bates, Roy (5 September 2008). 29 Chinese Mysteries. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-0-557-00619-9.

See also

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