Malaysia / China: Carving of the peacock spirit Kong Xuan, depicting his role in the 16th Century Ming Dynasty novel Fengshen Yanyi ('Investiture of the Gods'). From Ping Sien Si Temple, Pasir Panjang Laut

Kong Xuan is a character from the classic Ming Dynasty novel 'Fengshen Yanyi'. Based on Mahamayuri from Buddhist myth, Kong Xuan was a peacock spirit who took human form to serve as King Zhou of Shang's general. Kong Xuan was said to have possessed five different rays of light which could sweep his enemy into a void, making him an incredibly deadly foe.

When King Wu of Zhou, founder of the Zhou Dynasty, rebelled against the tyrannical King Zhou of Shang, Kong Xuan fought the rebel army in the Golden Cock Range, where his rays of light caused great difficulty for King Wu's armies. Not even King Wu's mightiest generals and heroes, deities such as Nezha and Erlang Shen, could stand up to him.

In the end, Kong Xuan was defeated by Candi, a Buddha from the West. After his defeat, Kong Wuan reverted to his original form as a giant peacock, and became Candi's mount.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

Anandajoti

Credit:

Pictures From History