Queen Jiang (character)

Relief of Queen Jiang

Queen Jiang (Chinese: 姜王后) is a fictional queen and later deity in Chinese mythology. She first appeared in the Song–Yuan dynasty tale Quanxiang Wuwang Fazhou Pinghua (全相武王伐纣平话; Wǔwáng Fá Zhòu Pínghuà) and later became a central character in the Ming dynasty novel Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi). In the novel, she is the first queen consort of Di Xin and the mother of the princes Yin Jiao and Yin Hong.[1][2]

After her death, Queen Jiang is deified as the Taiyin Star (太阴星), one of the celestial deities appointed during the Investiture of the Gods.[3]

Literary origins

According to historical records and surviving oracle bone inscriptions, Queen Jiang does not appear to have existed. It is believed that her prototype was Jiuhou Nü, who was a consort of Di Xin. She was the daughter of Jiuhou, the leader of the Guifang, and was presented to Di Xin as part of a political alliance. According to historical accounts, she was later executed after being accused of "disliking lewdness", while her father was executed by dismemberment. A tomb traditionally associated with Jiuhou Nü is located in present-day Qixian County, Hebi, Henan Province, near the Qi River.[4][5][6]

The character first appeared in the Song–Yuan dynasty vernacular text Quanxiang Wuwang Fazhou Pinghua (全相武王伐紂平話; The Fully Illustrated Plain Tale of King Wu's Expedition Against Zhou), which served as one of the main sources for Investiture of the Gods. In this earlier work, she is already portrayed as the principal wife of King Zhou and the mother of Yin Jiao and Yin Hong.[7]

Fengshen Yanyi

In Fengshen Yanyi , Queen Jiang was the daughter of the Eastern Duke, Jiang Huanchu. She was of extraordinary beauty and became the queen consort of Di Xin. She gave birth to two sons, Yin Jiao and Yin Hong. At that time, Daji, who was of bewitching beauty, had just been selected for the palace and was honored as the imperial concubine. She was not familiar with Jiang, but they became acquainted a few months later. Two years later, Jiang was crowned queen, which aroused Daji's jealousy. As a result, Daji launched a series of conspiracies to frame Queen Jiang.[8][1]

After being framed by Daji, Jiang was demoted to the status of imperial concubine by Di Xin of Shang and banished to the cold palace. In her solitude there, Daji gained favor, while Jiang endured loneliness. Despite Yin Jiao and Yin Hong, her two sons, informing Di Xin of Shang about everything, the king chose to heed Daji's slanderous words and disregarded his sons' counsel, opting instead to punish the two princes with beatings. Two months later, Lady Yin, the wife of Li Jing, spoke of Queen Jiang's virtues in front of Di Xin. Upon hearing this, Di Xin released Queen Jiang. That night, Di Xin reinstated Jiang as queen once again.[1]

Once, under the influence of alcohol, Daji accompanied Di Xin in disguise for a patrol. After two hours, they returned on horseback. Later, in a fit of jealousy, Daji punished Queen Jiang with thirty lashes and sent her to the cold palace. To prove her innocence, Queen Jiang sent a messenger pigeon to Lady Yin, the wife of Li Jing. Upon receiving the message, Lady Yin rushed to the cold palace. When Lady Yin entered the cold palace, she saw Queen Jiang being gouged out of her eyes, so she went to stop her. However, Queen Jiang was already dead. After the conclusion of the event, Daji slandered Di Xin by accusing Queen Jiang of plotting rebellion, attempting to assassinate Di Xin, and assisting her father, Duke Jiang Huanchu, in usurping the throne of Shang from the Zhou dynasty.[9] Subsequently, Di Xin enfeoffed Daji as queen. After Queen Jiang's death, her two sons, Yin Jiao and Yin Hong, were marginalized by Daji and eventually slandered to death by Di Xin.[10] When Jiang Ziya was naming gods, Queen Jiang was appointed as the Taiyin Star.[1][3]

Tomb

Despite being a fictional character, Queen Jiang has become part of local folklore in Henan Province. In Qi County (the site of ancient Zhaoge), local tradition identifies a tomb beside the King Zhou Mausoleum as the Tomb of Queen Jiang (姜王后墓). Another nearby tomb is identified as that of Su Daji, forming a traditional "one ruler, two consorts" (一主二配) burial arrangement.[11][12]

Modern adaptations

In the 2023 Chinese fantasy film Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, Queen Jiang's costume design was inspired by the female deities depicted in the Yuan dynasty Chaoyuan Tu (朝元图) murals at Yongle Palace in Shanxi. Her clothing and phoenix crown were modeled on the traditional Daoist mural paintings.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Xian Qin ye shi juan 中华野史 (in Chinese). 中国戏剧出版社. 2000.
  2. ↑ 中国名女传闻传奇 [Legend of Famous Women in China] (in Chinese). 山东人民出版社 and the University of Wisconsin - Madison. 1996. ISBN 978-7-209-02004-6.
  3. 1 2 趙弘雅 (2002). 怪力亂神的民間信仰: 《封神榜》與《西遊記》角色神格化之批叛 (in Chinese). 前衛出版社. ISBN 978-957-801-346-9.
  4. ↑ 周貽白小说戲曲論集 (in Chinese). 齐鲁书社. 1986.
  5. ↑ 封神榜故事探原 (in Chinese). 偉興印務所印. 1960.
  6. ↑ Jiang, Zhudong, ed. (1990). 中国通俗小说总目提要 (Comprehensive Bibliography of Chinese Popular Fiction) (in Chinese). China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Publishing Corporation (中国文联出版公司). ISBN 9787505901117.
  7. ↑ Chen, Liao (1986). "《封神演义》的成书时代及作者 (The Creation Era and Author of "Investiture of the Gods")". Ming Qing Fiction Research (明清小说研究) (in Chinese) (2).
  8. ↑ 姜越编著 (2018-01-01). 商末周初大变局 (in Chinese). Beijing Book Co. Inc. ISBN 978-7-205-09192-7.
  9. ↑ 許仲琳 (2016-07-11). 新雅‧名著館－封神榜 (in Chinese). 新雅文化事業有限公司. ISBN 978-962-08-6614-2.
  10. ↑ 黃獎 (2014-12-27). 首誌封神1: 奇緣非註定 道術可速成. 萌動出版.
  11. ↑ "纣王墓 (Tomb of King Zhou)" (in Chinese). Qi County People's Government (淇县人民政府). 2012-05-24.
  12. ↑ 纣王墓背后的两座墓，为何被称为“姜王后墓”和“妲己墓”？. 腾讯新闻 (in Chinese). 16 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "永乐宫壁画何以"封神"？ (How did the Yongle Palace murals become "Gods"?)" (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency (新华网). 2023-11-10.
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