| Hou Yi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Houyi, as depicted inXiao Yuncong's Illustrated 'Inquiry of the Heavens' (蕭雲從天問圖), published 1645 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 后羿 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hou Yi (Chinese:后羿) is a mythological Chinesearcher. He was also known asShen Yi and simply asYi (羿). He is also typically given the title of "Lord Archer". He is sometimes portrayed as a god of archery or axian[1] descended from heaven to aid mankind. Other times, he is portrayed as either simply half-divine or fully mortal. His wife,Chang'e, is one of the lunar deities.[2]
In Chinese mythology, there were originally 10 suns; in some forms of this myth they are the sons or grandsons of theJade Emperor. Initially, the 10 suns would cross the sky one by one, but one day the 10 suns decided to come out all at once so that they could play with each other, and scorched the earth. Hou Yi was tasked by the mythicalEmperor Yao—in some versions, the Jade Emperor—to rein in the suns. Hou Yi first tried to reason with the suns. When that did not work, he then pretended to shoot at them with his bow to intimidate them. When the suns again refused to heed Hou Yi's warnings, he began to shoot at them one by one. As each one fell, they turned intothree-legged crows. Finally, only one sun was left. King Yao and the sun's motherXihe asked for him to be spared for the prosperity of man.[3] In other variants, Hou Yi's final arrow was stolen, either by a brave boy or by Emperor Yao himself, who realized that the land requires a sun.[4][5]
Hou Yi was also known for the slaying, maiming and imprisonment of several other mythical beasts such as the Yayu, Zaochi, Jiuying, Dafeng, Fengxi, and Xiushe. He had been directed by King Yao to go after these creatures as they were all causing trouble for humans.[6]
Hou Yi was gifted the pill of immortality by the gods. One of Hou Yi's apprentices calledFeng Meng broke into Hou Yi's house in search of the pill of immortality while Hou Yi was out hunting. His wifeChang'e swallowed the pill before Feng Meng could get it. After eating the pill, Chang'e became immortal and flew to the moon.[7]
In another version, after Hou Yi shot down the suns, he was proclaimed as a hero-king by the people. However, once he was crowned king, he became a tyrant and subjugated his people. Hou Yi had also obtained an immortality elixir fromXiwangmu to live forever. Chang'e was afraid that if he lived forever, that people would forever be victim to his cruelty. Therefore, Chang'e consumed the elixir herself and floated away. As she did, Hou Yi tried to shoot her down but failed. For her sacrifice, people have taken to honoring her during theMid-Autumn Festival.[8]
TheHeavenly Questions section of the anthologyChu Ci recorded: "The Emperor sent Hou Yi to reform the people of Xia. Why did he shoot Hebo and take his wife Luoshen?" The poem tells the story of Hou Yi, who was sent by the Emperor to reform the people of Xia. He was a skilled archer and hunter, and he used his skills to rid the world of many monsters and pests. However, he also became arrogant and tyrannical, and he eventually killed Hebo, the god ofYellow River and took his wifeLuoshen as his own.[9][10]
Hou Yi was also depicted as a tribal leader of ancient China in classical sources, usually conflated with the legendary figure. According to theBamboo Annals, Hou Yi attacked theXia dynasty during the first year ofKing Taikang's reign, occupying the Xia capitalZhenxun while Taikang was hunting beyond theLuo River. In the eighth year of the reign of Taikang's nephewXiang of Xia,[2] Hou Yi was deposed by his lieutenantHan Zhuo. Recent research suggests the legend of Hou Yi shooting 10 suns (十日) originated with a miswriting of Hou Yi shooting Xiang (相).[11]
