252:
presumably relayed by the Master himself is that one day, while traveling down the road, he came upon a skull. After a prolonged and introspective session of speculation on what unhappy events had led to some unknown person's lack of proper burial, in such an inappropriate final resting spot: whose it had been and by what event the skull came to be lying here, abandoned by the wayside. Master Zhuang then became tired, and lay down to sleep, pillowing his head upon "Mr. Skull". In his sleep, the skull came and lectured the Master upon the great tranquillity and happiness experienced by the dead. Zhuangzi retorted that he could petition Siming to use his or her powers over Fate and
Destiny to restore the skull to be again a living human being, and then he or she could return to both hometown and family. The skull emphatically denies any such desire, and ends the encounter by rhetorically asking why anyone in such a state of unassailable happiness as experienced by the dead would ever wish give this up in exchange for suffering the vicissitudes of the living?
422:
115:
17:
1343:
1231:
224:) provide on specifically regulated dates. Based on these reports, and perhaps other information, Siming alters the fine yin-yang balance of each individual, thus regulating each one's health or sickness, and ultimately each's lifespan. Nevertheless, humans are believed to have various recourses available to alter the judgement of Siming regarding their fates, such as interfering with the reporting process, praying to Siming or his superiors, or following treatment from a doctor to improve the yin-yang balance, and thus extend the lifespan.
267:
251:
One of the great literary figures of China, Zhou of the Zhuang family became known as Master Zhuang, Zhuangzi, to many subsequent generations. Living in about the 3rd century BCE, Zhuangzi's words and anecdotes have since become a central part of philosophy and culture around the globe. One anecdote,
158:
As a deity Siming takes his, her, or their place in a complex cosmological system of
Chinese religion and mythology. Over time, this system became a visualization of a complex cosmology including the elaboration of a heavenly bureaucracy, somewhat parallel to the earthly bureaucracy of the Chinese
465:
shamanic cult versions, both of which were prominent at the time the poems were collected and both of which listed Siming as a god), the greater and lesser may refer to the length of the poems, have some seasonal connotation, or perhaps there is some other explanation. (Hawkes 2011 (1985), 110)
212:"Three Worms"), the Three Deathbringers are part of a Daoist physiological belief that demonic creatures live inside the human body, and they seek to hasten the death of their hosts. These three supernatural parasites allegedly enter the person at birth, and reside in the three
150:(命) is a complicated word with a long folk and technical history, basically meaning "life" or "the balance of fate or destiny", personified as Siming. Often, a deified entity such as Siming receives increased sanctity over time, signified by additional official titles.
274:
In ancient times, astrology and astronomy were hardly distinguished. In China, on the one hand, there was the observation of phenomena in the sky, particularly trans-atmospheric phenomena: this observational study of experiential events became differentially known as
49:, with various English translations (such as, the Master of Fate, Controller of Fate, Deified Judge of Life, Arbiter of Fate, Director of Allotted Life Spans, and Director of Destinies). Siming is both an abstract deity (or title thereof) and a celestial
138:(司) is a common term, meaning "in charge of", "a person or department which is in charge of something", often translated as "secretary". Commonly, in real life or in imagined bureaucracies, there were Chief and Assistant Secretaries (
421:
114:
166:(Hawkes 2011 (1985), 109). Of particular relevance here is the relation between yin and yang balance and human health, and the importance to individual human health of such balance, as articulated in
56:
Siming, as
Director of Destinies, has the bureaucratic function of human lifespan allocation. Siming seems to have roots in the shamanic traditions, then later to have somewhat assimilated with the
457:). Two of its poems are titled "Greater Master of Fate" and "Lesser Master of Fate". The "Greater" and "Lesser" may refer to two different Siming deities, two aspects of the same deity (such as
220:. However, this process is regulated by Siming, who may or may not permit this process: in this regard, Siming is said to rely on the reports which the Three Deathbringers (and perhaps
1139:
409:
or Earth-Mute). Wenchang has historically been called upon by scholars and writers who need inspiration or help right before an exam, in especial, traditionally, the
516:
279:. On the other hand, cerebral and emotional impulses lead to the development of a more philosophic, religious, and sometimes superstitious phenomenon known as
1219:
598:
170:. Siming has the power to balance or unbalance yin and yang, and thus to lengthen or shorten human lifespans, or to provide health or prolong illness.
1078:
894:
16:
1552:
559:
361:). Wenchang Wang is physically represented by a constellation of six stars near the Big Dipper. The stars traditional names are: Shangjiang (
1085:
687:
1342:
1484:
1261:
1197:
1106:
511:
216:"energy centers" (head, chest, and abdomen). Succeeding the demise of their human host, they become free of the body as malevolent
1511:
626:
506:
317:); that is, Siming One and Siming Two. Astrological considerations appear to have had some influence on the assignment of names.
1212:
1171:
1164:
1050:
591:
20:
A temple in Taiwan, where a consortium of deities are worshiped, including Siming, as "Siming, True Lord" (司命真君/Sīmìng zhēnjūn)
1266:
1132:
1357:
441:(Hawkes 2011 (1985), 95 and following, and 118 and following): the so-called "Greater Siming" and the "Lesser Siming". The
1099:
1015:
1479:
1387:
1256:
288:
261:
167:
76:
1557:
1537:
1453:
834:
1458:
1315:
1205:
682:
646:
584:
1499:
1494:
1185:
1157:
937:
661:
543:
217:
1057:
476:
1547:
1542:
1505:
1412:
1320:
1178:
1071:
763:
641:
1310:
993:
967:
818:
621:
283:. It is worth emphasizing that the differentiation between the two is relatively modern. The astronomical
183:
1532:
1443:
1305:
1251:
962:
666:
410:
284:
187:
50:
45:) refers to a Chinese deity or deified functionary of that title who makes fine adjustments to human
134:
The Siming deity has the bureaucratic function of human lifespan allocation. In bureaucratic terms,
1489:
1417:
1397:
1092:
947:
458:
397:). Wenchang Wang is often depicted as an elderly scholar accompanied by two attendants, Tianlong (
1402:
1298:
1113:
942:
927:
343:), or simply as Wen Qu, or Wen, is a Taoist god of Culture and Literature. Literally he is King (
64:, in which Siming becomes a deity to whom home household activities are periodically reported,
1463:
1448:
1427:
1382:
1283:
1243:
1235:
1064:
631:
607:
555:
526:
521:
280:
276:
266:
1422:
1392:
1293:
1288:
879:
874:
780:
501:
332:
28:
889:
692:
233:
192:
An idea from Daoism/traditional
Chinese medicine relates to the Siming. Also known as the
552:
The Songs of the South: An
Ancient Chinese Anthology of Poems by Qu Yuan and Other Poets
1327:
1043:
768:
753:
707:
636:
238:
One of the early literary references to Siming as a deity is in a section of the book
1526:
1407:
1036:
957:
922:
800:
773:
326:
179:
68:
61:
425:
Illustrated version of the poem "Lesser Master of Fate", probably fourteenth century
1273:
952:
912:
758:
748:
163:
67:
As an asterism, or apparent stellar constellation, Siming is associated with the
988:
868:
864:
712:
462:
221:
57:
1332:
859:
812:
722:
308:
298:
72:
1377:
1362:
1125:
1022:
790:
297:, "Emptiness") consist of the Deified Judge of Life star group. Sīmìngyī: (
795:
702:
1367:
1029:
849:
697:
213:
1278:
1117:
998:
932:
884:
844:
839:
727:
717:
531:
453:
437:
431:
126:
36:
576:
1230:
972:
854:
823:
785:
732:
656:
443:
420:
265:
120:
113:
15:
917:
829:
807:
651:
46:
1201:
580:
447:
poetry anthology (collected late BC - early BCE) has a section
1372:
486:), appearing as the Priestess of Death and a Lesser Siming (
162:
Siming's special concern (and power) is the balancing of
159:
state, and invoking the same sort of explicit hierarchy.
1472:
1436:
1350:
1242:
1149:
1007:
981:
905:
741:
675:
614:
1140:Notes of the Thatched Abode of Close Observations
546:, translator and introduction (2011 ). Qu Yuan
517:List of supernatural beings in Chinese folklore
339:), also known as Wenchang Dijun (Chinese:
1213:
592:
564:
487:
481:
404:
398:
392:
386:
380:
374:
368:
362:
356:
350:
344:
312:
302:
292:
243:
207:
197:
97:
87:
8:
188:Chinese views on sin § Chinese_Buddhism
1220:
1206:
1198:
599:
585:
577:
435:features to Siming in two titles of the
124:poetry anthology section "Nine Songs" (
270:Starmaps showing two Siming asterisms
7:
130:), poem the "Greater Master of Fate"
96:, meaning "big" or "greater") or by
1086:Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
291:(itself, actually part of asterism
118:From an illustrated version of the
688:Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
480:film. There are a Greater Siming (
14:
1485:Heterodox teachings (Chinese law)
1107:What the Master Would Not Discuss
512:Emptiness (Chinese constellation)
1512:Huichang Persecution of Buddhism
1341:
1229:
507:Chinese spiritual world concepts
106:, meaning "small" or "lesser").
1172:The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl
1165:Dong Yong and the Seventh Fairy
60:, as in the Daoist case of the
1267:Chinese salvationist religions
1133:Records of the Grand Historian
41:
1:
1100:In Search of the Supernatural
1016:Classic of Mountains and Seas
1553:Traditional Chinese medicine
1480:Freedom of religion in China
262:Aquarius (Chinese astronomy)
168:traditional Chinese medicine
1574:
403:or Heaven-Deaf) and Diya (
324:
259:
231:
177:
75:, in what is more or less
1500:Ghosts in Chinese culture
1495:Regional Religious System
1339:
1186:Mulian Rescues His Mother
1158:Legend of the White Snake
565:
554:. London: Penguin Books.
492:) as Priestess of Birth.
488:
482:
405:
399:
393:
387:
381:
375:
369:
363:
357:
351:
345:
340:
336:
313:
303:
293:
244:
208:
198:
98:
88:
32:
1244:Major religions in China
1058:The Peach Blossom Spring
474:Two Siming are found in
429:The ancient poetry text
1506:Three Persian religions
1413:Mongolian folk religion
1179:The Magic Lotus Lantern
1072:Investiture of the Gods
242:, from about 300 BCE (
71:star pattern, near the
1262:Folk ritual ministries
994:Peaches of Immortality
819:Chinese guardian lions
742:Mythological creatures
426:
271:
228:Zhuangzi and the skull
184:Bigu (grain avoidance)
131:
21:
1252:Chinese folk religion
1079:The Sorcerer's Revolt
667:Chinese folk religion
424:
269:
248:: Zhuāngzǐ, Zhì lè).
232:Further information:
178:Further information:
117:
19:
627:Godly world concepts
411:Imperial examination
355:) Culture/Language (
202:"Three Corpses") or
1490:Irreligion in China
1418:Qiang folk religion
1257:Ancestor veneration
1093:Journey to the West
256:Astronomical Siming
174:Three Deathbringers
82:Sometimes the term
1558:Astronomy in China
1538:Time and fate gods
1403:Miao folk religion
1299:Theravada Buddhism
1114:Heavenly Questions
928:Gate of the Ghosts
683:Gods and immortals
647:Gods and immortals
427:
349:) of Flourishing (
272:
132:
22:
1520:
1519:
1428:Yao folk religion
1236:Religion in China
1195:
1194:
1065:The Four Journeys
608:Chinese mythology
560:978-0-14-044375-2
527:Religion in China
522:Chinese mythology
477:The Legend of Qin
281:Chinese astrology
277:Chinese astronomy
154:Powers and duties
1565:
1393:Manchu shamanism
1345:
1294:Tibetan Buddhism
1289:Chinese Buddhism
1234:
1233:
1222:
1215:
1208:
1199:
1150:Other folk tales
880:Nine-headed Bird
875:Peng (mythology)
781:Four Holy Beasts
676:Major personages
601:
594:
587:
578:
571:Zhuāngzǐ, Zhì lè
568:
567:
502:Culture of China
491:
490:
485:
484:
408:
407:
402:
401:
396:
395:
390:
389:
384:
383:
378:
377:
372:
371:
366:
365:
360:
359:
354:
353:
348:
347:
342:
338:
316:
315:
307:) and Sīmìngèr (
306:
305:
296:
295:
247:
246:
211:
210:
201:
200:
101:
100:
91:
90:
86:is qualified by
43:
34:
1573:
1572:
1568:
1567:
1566:
1564:
1563:
1562:
1523:
1522:
1521:
1516:
1468:
1432:
1351:Other religions
1346:
1337:
1238:
1228:
1226:
1196:
1191:
1145:
1003:
977:
943:Kunlun Mountain
901:
890:Nine-tailed fox
737:
693:Eight Immortals
671:
615:Overview topics
610:
605:
540:
498:
472:
419:
331:Wenchang Wang (
329:
323:
264:
258:
236:
234:Zhuangzi (book)
230:
190:
176:
156:
112:
12:
11:
5:
1571:
1569:
1561:
1560:
1555:
1550:
1548:Life extension
1545:
1543:Taoist deities
1540:
1535:
1525:
1524:
1518:
1517:
1515:
1514:
1509:
1502:
1497:
1492:
1487:
1482:
1476:
1474:
1470:
1469:
1467:
1466:
1461:
1459:Inner Mongolia
1456:
1451:
1446:
1440:
1438:
1434:
1433:
1431:
1430:
1425:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1354:
1352:
1348:
1347:
1340:
1338:
1336:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1324:
1323:
1318:
1316:Roman Catholic
1313:
1303:
1302:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1270:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1248:
1246:
1240:
1239:
1227:
1225:
1224:
1217:
1210:
1202:
1193:
1192:
1190:
1189:
1182:
1175:
1168:
1161:
1153:
1151:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1143:
1136:
1129:
1122:
1110:
1103:
1096:
1089:
1082:
1075:
1068:
1061:
1054:
1047:
1044:Shenxian Zhuan
1040:
1033:
1026:
1019:
1011:
1009:
1008:Literary works
1005:
1004:
1002:
1001:
996:
991:
985:
983:
979:
978:
976:
975:
970:
965:
960:
955:
950:
945:
940:
935:
930:
925:
920:
915:
909:
907:
903:
902:
900:
899:
892:
887:
882:
877:
872:
869:Four Evildoers
862:
857:
852:
847:
842:
837:
832:
827:
821:
816:
810:
805:
804:
803:
798:
793:
788:
778:
777:
776:
771:
769:Vermilion Bird
766:
761:
756:
754:Black Tortoise
745:
743:
739:
738:
736:
735:
730:
725:
720:
715:
710:
708:Yellow Emperor
705:
700:
695:
690:
685:
679:
677:
673:
672:
670:
669:
664:
659:
654:
649:
644:
642:Shenmo fiction
639:
634:
629:
624:
618:
616:
612:
611:
606:
604:
603:
596:
589:
581:
575:
574:
562:
539:
536:
535:
534:
529:
524:
519:
514:
509:
504:
497:
494:
471:
468:
418:
415:
325:Main article:
322:
319:
260:Main article:
257:
254:
229:
226:
175:
172:
155:
152:
111:
110:Siming (deity)
108:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1570:
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1549:
1546:
1544:
1541:
1539:
1536:
1534:
1531:
1530:
1528:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1507:
1503:
1501:
1498:
1496:
1493:
1491:
1488:
1486:
1483:
1481:
1478:
1477:
1475:
1471:
1465:
1462:
1460:
1457:
1455:
1452:
1450:
1447:
1445:
1442:
1441:
1439:
1435:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1391:
1389:
1386:
1384:
1381:
1379:
1376:
1374:
1371:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1356:
1355:
1353:
1349:
1344:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1322:
1319:
1317:
1314:
1312:
1309:
1308:
1307:
1304:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1286:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1268:
1265:
1263:
1260:
1258:
1255:
1254:
1253:
1250:
1249:
1247:
1245:
1241:
1237:
1232:
1223:
1218:
1216:
1211:
1209:
1204:
1203:
1200:
1188:
1187:
1183:
1181:
1180:
1176:
1174:
1173:
1169:
1167:
1166:
1162:
1160:
1159:
1155:
1154:
1152:
1148:
1142:
1141:
1137:
1135:
1134:
1130:
1128:
1127:
1123:
1121:
1119:
1115:
1111:
1109:
1108:
1104:
1102:
1101:
1097:
1095:
1094:
1090:
1088:
1087:
1083:
1081:
1080:
1076:
1074:
1073:
1069:
1067:
1066:
1062:
1060:
1059:
1055:
1053:
1052:
1048:
1046:
1045:
1041:
1039:
1038:
1037:Liexian Zhuan
1034:
1032:
1031:
1027:
1025:
1024:
1020:
1018:
1017:
1013:
1012:
1010:
1006:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
990:
987:
986:
984:
980:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
939:
938:Jade Mountain
936:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
923:Eight Pillars
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
910:
908:
904:
898:
897:
893:
891:
888:
886:
883:
881:
878:
876:
873:
870:
866:
863:
861:
858:
856:
853:
851:
848:
846:
843:
841:
838:
836:
833:
831:
828:
825:
822:
820:
817:
814:
811:
809:
806:
802:
801:Spirit turtle
799:
797:
794:
792:
789:
787:
784:
783:
782:
779:
775:
774:Yellow Dragon
772:
770:
767:
765:
762:
760:
757:
755:
752:
751:
750:
747:
746:
744:
740:
734:
731:
729:
726:
724:
721:
719:
716:
714:
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
699:
696:
694:
691:
689:
686:
684:
681:
680:
678:
674:
668:
665:
663:
660:
658:
655:
653:
650:
648:
645:
643:
640:
638:
635:
633:
630:
628:
625:
623:
622:Creation myth
620:
619:
617:
613:
609:
602:
597:
595:
590:
588:
583:
582:
579:
572:
563:
561:
557:
553:
549:
545:
544:Hawkes, David
542:
541:
537:
533:
530:
528:
525:
523:
520:
518:
515:
513:
510:
508:
505:
503:
500:
499:
495:
493:
479:
478:
469:
467:
464:
460:
456:
455:
450:
446:
445:
440:
439:
434:
433:
423:
416:
414:
412:
391:), and Silu (
373:), Guixiang (
334:
328:
327:Wenchang Wang
320:
318:
310:
300:
290:
286:
282:
278:
268:
263:
255:
253:
249:
241:
235:
227:
225:
223:
219:
215:
205:
195:
189:
185:
181:
180:Three Corpses
173:
171:
169:
165:
160:
153:
151:
149:
145:
141:
137:
129:
128:
123:
122:
116:
109:
107:
105:
95:
85:
80:
78:
74:
70:
69:Wenchang Wang
65:
63:
59:
54:
52:
48:
44:
38:
30:
26:
18:
1533:Chinese gods
1504:
1358:Baháʼí Faith
1306:Christianity
1274:Confucianism
1184:
1177:
1170:
1163:
1156:
1138:
1131:
1124:
1112:
1105:
1098:
1091:
1084:
1077:
1070:
1063:
1056:
1049:
1042:
1035:
1028:
1021:
1014:
953:Moving Sands
895:
815:(Fox spirit)
759:Azure Dragon
749:Four Symbols
570:
551:
547:
475:
473:
452:
448:
442:
436:
430:
428:
385:), Sizhong (
367:), Cijiang (
330:
273:
250:
239:
237:
203:
193:
191:
164:yin and yang
161:
157:
147:
143:
139:
135:
133:
125:
119:
103:
93:
83:
81:
66:
55:
40:
24:
23:
1398:Manichaeism
1051:Shenyi Jing
865:Four Perils
764:White Tiger
713:Yan Emperor
470:Pop culture
463:Chu (state)
379:), Siming (
222:Kitchen God
62:Three Worms
58:Kitchen God
1527:Categories
1333:Falun Gong
1311:Protestant
968:Weak River
860:Fox spirit
538:References
449:Nine Songs
309:26 Aquarii
299:24 Aquarii
73:Big Dipper
1454:Northeast
1444:Hong Kong
1437:By region
1378:Dongbaism
1363:Benzhuism
1126:Huainanzi
1023:Shi Yi Ji
963:Red River
813:Huli jing
791:Fenghuang
632:Astrology
285:asterisms
1383:Hinduism
1321:Orthodox
1284:Buddhism
796:Yinglong
703:Shennong
496:See also
321:Wenchang
240:Zhuangzi
218:"ghosts"
204:sanchong
77:Aquarius
51:asterism
1473:Related
1423:Sikhism
1388:Judaism
1368:Bimoism
1030:Bowuzhi
958:Penglai
948:Longmen
896:more...
850:Wuzhiqi
826:(Bixie)
723:Chang'e
698:Youchao
637:Dragons
566:莊子, 至樂
333:Chinese
214:dantian
29:Chinese
1279:Taoism
1118:Chu Ci
999:Xirang
933:Fusang
913:Buzhou
906:Places
885:Tianma
845:Xiezhi
840:Hundun
835:Horses
728:Hou Yi
718:Chiyou
662:Ghosts
558:
548:et al.
532:Ghosts
454:Jiu Ge
438:Jiu Ge
432:Chu Ci
417:Poetry
335::
289:Siming
245:莊子, 至樂
194:sanshi
186:, and
144:Shaosi
127:Jiu ge
84:Siming
42:Sīmìng
39::
37:pinyin
31::
25:Siming
1464:Tibet
1449:Macau
1328:Islam
982:Items
973:Youdu
855:Yeren
824:Pixiu
786:Qilin
733:Kuafu
657:Pangu
444:Chuci
121:Chuci
918:Diyu
830:Nian
808:Bixi
652:Tian
556:ISBN
461:and
341:文昌帝君
148:Ming
142:and
140:Dasi
104:shao
47:fate
1373:Bon
489:少司命
483:大司命
459:Jin
337:文昌王
314:司命二
304:司命一
287:of
146:).
1529::
1408:Mo
989:Gu
550:,
413:.
406:地啞
400:天聾
394:司祿
388:司中
382:司命
376:貴相
370:次將
364:上將
311:,
301:,
209:三蟲
199:三尸
182:,
136:Si
94:da
79:.
53:.
35:;
33:司命
1221:e
1214:t
1207:v
1120:)
1116:(
871:)
867:(
600:e
593:t
586:v
573:)
569:(
451:(
358:文
352:昌
346:王
294:虛
206:(
196:(
102:(
99:少
92:(
89:大
27:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
