 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(April 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Thetiangou (Chinese:天狗;pinyin:tiāngǒu;Wade–Giles:t'ien1-kou3;lit. 'Heavenly Dog') is alegendary creature fromChina. Thetiangou resembles ablack dog or meteor, and is thought to eat the Sun or Moon during aneclipse.[clarification needed : See talk page.]
As a good spirit, it has the appearance of a white-headedfox. It brings peace and tranquility, and gives protection from all sorts of troubles and robbers. It is referred to by astrologers as a constellation guardian of welfare. This constellation consists of seven stars. In ancient China it was called "Dog" (in the constellationShip).
As a bad spirit, it is a black dog that eats the Moon. According to the legends, as an interpretation of a lunar eclipse, afterHouyi shot down the nine Suns in the sky, he was awarded with an immortality-granting pill by theQueen Mother of the West. Before he could eat it, his wifeChang'e ate it, hoping she could maintain her youth. Chang'e felt her body getting lighter and flew away. Seeing this, a black dog that Hou Yi was rearing went inside her room and licked the remains of the pill. He then chased after Chang'e, getting bigger and bigger. Chang'e, terrified, hid on the Moon. The black dog then ate the Moon, along with Chang'e.
After being informed of this, the Queen Mother of the West captured the dog. Surprised to see that the dog was actually Hou Yi's, she assigned him to guard the gates of heavens and bestowed upon him the title of Tiangou. Tiangou spat the Moon and Chang'e back out, and Chang'e continued living on the Moon.
Zhang Xian (Chinese:張仙; pinyin:Zhāng Xiān) is the enemy of thetiangou. It is said that he protects his children from the dog god with his bow and arrows. He is often depicted aiming at the sky, waiting for the beast to appear.
He is the god of birth and the protector of male children. Many sought[when?] for him to give them male offspring and to protect their living sons.
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(April 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The termtengu and the characters used to write it may be borrowed from the name of tiangou, though this is still to be confirmed. Despite the characters, both creatures are independent mythological creatures with no common ancestor or origin. Atengu is usually depicted as a bird or man with a long nose and other bird-like characteristics, while thetiangou is a dog.
| Britain |
|
|---|---|
| Spain | |
| China | |
 | This article related to Chinese mythology is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
