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

Yang Ren was a character from the classic Ming Dynasty novel 'Fengshen Yanyi'. A high-ranking official within the Shang Dynasty, Yang Ren held the title of Grand Counselor. After Jiang Ziya committed 'suicide' so that he could quietly retire from the increasingly corrupt Shang court, Yang Ren became suspicious and began to investigate the matter.

Taking what he had learned to King Zhou of Shang, his logic and conclusions angered the king, who immediately demanded Yang Ren's eyes be gouged out as punishment. After his eyes were removed, Yang Ren lay on the floor in shock and horror, covered in his own blood, and would have bled out had the 'superiorman' Insouciant of Mount Green Top, Purple Cave not intervened. With his Ýellow Kerchiefed Genie, he blew on Yang Ren's eyes sockets and gifted him with a pair of hands that had eyes within their palms.

Declaring that Yang Ren's fate was not to end here and that the will of heaven still had plans for him, Insouciant took Yang Ren under his wing as his disciple. Yang Ren would eventually be deified at the end of the novel as the deity of Jiazi Taisui Shen.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

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Anandajoti

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