Chinese Gods and Folklore Character Glossary

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Hsi-Fang San Sheng - Three Saints from the West
The group of Hsi-Fan San Sheng is known as the Three Saints from the West. They include O-Mi-To-Fu in the center, Ta Shih Chih on his left hand and Guanyin on his right. This Trinity is widely revered as deities who can save people after death by bringing them to the Western Heaven. The images often cannot be differentiated, but their usual characteristics are that Ta Shih Chih holds a lotus flower with a long stem, Kuanyin holds a vase and O-Mi-To-Fu has a swastika on his chest.

Kuan Yu
Kuan Yu (Guan Yu, Kwan Kung), AD 160-219, is the best known god and revered through out all Chinese communities. A historical hero and warrior, he is all things to all Chinese, not only prayed to for protection and prosperity, but also to solve all problems: personal, domestic, national and universal. He is often prayed to by policemen to help deliver justice and for courage, and businessmen for prosperity.

Lohans
Lohans are the Worthy Ones or Enlightened Beings. They are semi-deities, saints who have achieved enlightenment through Buddhist practices and now await the arrival of Maitreya who will return to Earth after several millennia at which time the Luohans will assemble and collect together all the relics of Sakyamuni, the Buddha, for final cremation. All will then pass into perfect Buddhahood.

Lu Yu
Lu Yu (733-804) wrote the first comprehensive work on tea known as the Ch’a Ching or Tea Classic. Tea drinking had become widespread and he began to investigate the process and its history. He began writing The Tea Classic in 760 and the book was published in 780 making him an instant celebrity.

Men Shen - Door Gods & Household Protectors
Men Shen, the Door Gods or Door Generals, are regarded as the Spirit Guardians of an entrance to a home, temple or other place. They are either painted or carved on temple doors or are printed on paper and pasted on the outside of front doors. They are normally shown as fierce, heavily armed soldiers holding a long-handled axe or sword and standing in a threatening pose. They stay on watch guarding against demons and permit the family to sleep peacefully without being troubled by dreams of demons.

Mi-Lo-Fu
Mi-Lo-Fu is the successor to Sakyamuni (the Buddha) and is one of the most important Chinese Buddhist deities. He is both a Buddha and a bodhisattva. He is the Buddha of the Future or the Buddhist Messiah, and currently is a bodhisattva waiting in the Tushita Heaven, the place where future Buddhas live, for the time to appear as Buddha in this world. In obedience to Sakyamuni’s instruction, he will descend to establish the great era of peace. He usually is depicted as having a bald head, long ears, a smiling face, and a very big belly. Sometimes he is shown as a bodhisattva wearing a crown and jewelry.

Pa Hsien - The Eight Immortals
The Pa Hsien, also known as 8 immortals, are a group of eight gods that have been recognized since the thirteen century AD, and have developed individually over previous centuries. The Eight are a colorful, cheerful, mixed bunch, heroes and heroines of a multitude of adventures, travels and escapades, who use their magic to counter all evil influences. The Eight are:

-Chang Kuo-lao
-Lu Tung-pin
-Chung-li Chuan
-Li Tieh-Kuai
-Lan Tsai-ho
-Ho Hsien-ku
-Han Hsiang-tsu
-Tsao Kuo-chiu

Pu Hsien Pusa
Pu Hsien is one of the twelve divine Buddhist teachers. He is the Bodhisattva of Universal Grace and Compassion. He was claimed by the Lama or Tantric school of Buddhism as the founder of yoga. In Tibet he was called Kuntuzombo. He is usually shown sitting on a white elephant.

Puxian
The god of universal knowledge and bounty and represents compassion and the law of Buddha. He is usually standing at Shakyamuni’s right with Manjushri at the left. He usually appears as a bodhisattva with a crown, princely robes and jewelry and often rides an elephant.

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