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Sakakibara Yasumasa (1548-1606) was a daimyo of the late Sengoku and early Edo Period serving under the Tokugawa clan. Yasumasa was considered one of the Tokugawa clan's greatest military commanders, and was labeled as one of its 'Four Guardian Kings' (Tokugawa-shitenno), bearing the court title of 'Shikibu-Sho'.<br/><br/> Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536/1538-1598) was a preeminent daimyo of the same era, and regarded as Japan's second 'great unifier'. He brought about the end of the Warring States Period, and ruled during a preiod known as the Momoyama Period, named after Hideyoshi's castle.<br/><br/> Japan went through various cultural advances under Hideyoshi's rule, such as the edict that only the samurai class could bear arms, as well as the construction and restoration of various temples in Kyoto. He also infamously ordered the execution of twenty-six Christians by crucifixion.
Amaterasu, sometimes called by her full name Amaterasu-omikami, is one of the most important deities in the Shinto religion. Goddess of the sun and the universe, Amaterasu's name means 'shining in heaven', while her full name translates to 'the great august kami (god) who shines in the heaven'.<br/><br/> Amaterasu was born from the left eye of the creator god Izanagi as he purified himself from his attempt to save his wife Izanami from the underworld, Yomi. Her brother and later husband, the moon god Tsukuyomi, was born from Izanagi's right eye, while her other brother, the storm god Susanoo, was born from washing the nose. She ruled the heavens alongside her husband until a dispute led to Tsukuyomi being split and sent away, separating night from day.<br/><br/> She also had a great rivalry with her hotheaded brother Susanoo, and after he rampaged through her rice fields and tossed a flayed pony at her loom, as well as killing one of her advisors, Amaterasu fled into a cave and hid herself. With her gone, the sun disappeared and the people suffered, and she was eventually lured out of the cave, while Susanoo was banished from Heaven.<br/><br/> Amaterasu had in her possession three items which she would bequeath to her descendant Ninigi, one of the first emperors of Japan. These items would become the Imperial Regalia of Japan. Amaterasu is still worshipped to this day, with shrines to her scattered throughout Japan.
In Taoism, a <i>xian</i> is used to describe an enlightened person, almost always immortals. They have, through self-reflection and devotion, reached a state in Taoism where they have attained spiritual and physical immortality, usually also involving methods such as alchemy, breath meditation, <i>qigong</i> and <i>tai chi</i>.<br/><br/><i>Xian</i> are often described as superhuman and with a variety of magical and supernatural abilities, such as immunity to heat and cold, flight, and superhuman speeds. Some can survive on just air and dew, or can use their magic to bring death or grant life.
Known by many names, Jiang Ziya was a Chinese noble and sage who played a criitical role in the overthrow of the Shang Dynasty and the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty afterwards. The last ruler of the Shang Dynasty, King Zhou of Shang, was a tyrannical and depraved man corrupted by his possessed concubine Su Daji. After having dutifully served in the Shang court for twenty years, he found King Zhou's reign insufferable, and feigned madness to be excused from court life.<br/><br/> He was eventually found and recruited by King Wen of Zhou, reportedly at the age of seventy-two, after Jiang Ziya agreed to serve him. Given the title of Jiang Taigong Wang ('The Great Duke's Hope') and appointed as prime minister, he served King Wen's son, King Wu, after the former died. Once the people of Shang Dynasty had had enough of King Zhou's tyrannical rule and rose up against him, Jiang Ziya led an army to overthrow him, defeating the Shang army at the Battle of Muye in 1043 BCE. The Shang Dynasty fell, and the Zhou Dynasty rose in its place to rule over all of China.<br/><br/> He is also a prominent character in the Ming Dynasty classic novel 'Fengshen Yanyi', where he has mystical powers and is considered the archrival of Su Daji. After King Zhou's death, Su Daji was captured as she attempted to flee and executed on the order of Jiang Ziya himself. He is considered by some as the most famous Prime Minister in Chinese history, and one of the world's greatest strategists.
Li Tieguai, also known as Tieguai Li and born as Li Yuan, is a Chinese mythological character and one of the Eight Immortals. Though he is often portrayed as being ill-tempered and irascible, he is benevolent and kind to the poor, sick and the needy, curing and alleviating the pain of others with special medicine from his magical gourd. Li Tieguai was said to have been born during the Yuan Dynasty.<br/><br/> In Chinese folklore, Li Tieguai was said to have originally been Laozi's apprentice, which would have put his birth some time in the sixth century BCE rather than during the Yuan Dynasty. Either way, he is said to have devoted himself to religious contemplation for 40 years, overcoming various tests and tasks Laozi set for him eventually becoming an immortal.<br/><br/> Li Tieguai was said to have been a handsome man once, but during his path towards immortality, there was an incident when his spirit left his body and ascended to Heaven to meet other immortals. While away, his body was cremated, and when Li's spirit returned, he had to enter the corpse of an ugly and disheveled homeless beggar who had just recently starved to death. Li Tieguai is the second most popular of the Eight Immortals, and associated with medicine.