Champions and Supernatural Mounts in Creation of the Gods (Part 1)

An article inspired by the War Beast Rider challenge . Creation of the Gods , better known by its Chinese title Fengshen Yanyi (封神演义) , is one of China's great mythological fantasy novels. Set against the legendary fall of the Shang dynasty and rise of Zhou, it features a vast cast of hundreds of kings, generals, immortals, spirits, demons and future gods. Among this enormous cast is a remarkable group of warriors and immortals accompanied by supernatural mounts: qilin, divine oxen, celestial birds, magical tigers, extraordinary camels, and other fantastical creatures that defy easy classification. Some serve primarily as extraordinary means of transportation, while others possess supernatural abilities of their own: flying through the heavens, racing at impossible speeds, generating fire, clouds or smoke, crossing the sea, or frightening both soldiers and ordinary warhorses on the battlefield. This series explores some of the most memorable warriors and immortals accompanied by supernatural mounts, looking at their allegiances, powers, magical weapons, and the extraordinary creatures they ride. Explaining Shang, Zhou, Chan Sect and Jie Sect There are two different kinds of affiliation. Shang and Zhou describe which political side a character fights for; Chan Sect and Jie Sect describe their supernatural lineage or school. The two often correspond, but not always. A character may change political allegiance without changing his supernatural background, while others become involved for personal reasons rather than loyalty to either dynasty. Shang is the ruling dynasty at the beginning of the novel, governed by King Zhou of Shang from his capital at Chaoge. As the king becomes increasingly tyrannical and the dynasty loses Heaven's favor, opposition gathers around the western state of Zhou , led first by King Wen and later by King Wu. Much of the novel follows Zhou's campaign to overthrow Shang and establish a new dynasty. Chan Sect (阐教) and Jie Sect (截教) are two major supernatural traditions whose disciples become deeply involved in the war. Chan Sect, led by Yuanshi Tianzun, generally supports the Zhou cause. Many Jie Sect immortals, whose supreme master is Tongtian Jiaozhu, enter the conflict on behalf of Shang. About Combat Tiers Combat tiers used in these profiles are broad editorial estimates rather than canonical rankings. A complete comparison of the featured characters appears in Part 5 of this series. CHAN SECT MEMBERS AND ZHOU CHAMPIONS 1. Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun 文殊广法天尊 Sect / Background: Chan Sect; disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun War Camp: Zhou War Beast: Azure Lion (青狮) Combat Tier: A Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun is one of the important immortals of Chan Sect and the figure whom the novel retrospectively connects with Manjusri Bodhisattva . His famous Azure Lion does not accompany him throughout the entire story. During the climactic Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, the Jie Sect immortal Qiu Shouxian is subdued and forced to reveal his original form as a lion. The lion is then given to Wenshu as his mount. Wenshu subsequently rides it directly into the great battle. Weapons & Magical Skills: Advanced Daoist cultivation, swordsmanship, supernatural transformations and powerful magical treasures. Notable Feat: One of the Chan immortals capable of directly confronting Jie Sect's high-level formation masters. Why He Stands Out: The combination of a composed spiritual master and a gigantic predatory lion captures one of Fengshen Yanyi 's recurring ideas: serenity and terrifying supernatural power existing in the same figure. 2. Puxian Zhenren 普贤真人 Sect / Background: Chan Sect; disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun War Camp: Zhou War Beast: White Elephant (白象) Combat Tier: A Puxian Zhenren is another major Chan Sect immortal and is later associated by the novel with Samantabhadra Bodhisattva . During the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, Lingya Xian is defeated and transformed back into his original white-elephant form. He becomes Puxian's mount, and Puxian rides the elephant when Chan Sect launches its full assault on the formation. Weapons & Magical Skills: High-level Daoist arts, swordsmanship, supernatural manifestations and powerful magical treasures. Notable Feat: Participates in the final battle against Tongtian Jiaozhu's gathered immortals. Why He Stands Out: Few mounts convey sheer physical scale as effectively as Puxian's enormous celestial elephant. 3. Cihang Daoren 慈航道人 Sect / Background: Chan Sect; disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun War Camp: Zhou War Beast: Golden-Haired Hou (金毛犼) Combat Tier: A Cihang Daoren is the Fengshen Yanyi figure later associated with Guanyin . Like Wenshu and Puxian, Cihang receives the famous mount relatively late in the novel. During the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, Cihang defeats Jinguang Xian , who is forced to resume his original form as a Golden-Haired Hou. Yuanshi Tianzun then assigns the beast to Cihang as a mount. The novel explicitly groups the three together: Wenshu on the lion, Puxian on the elephant and Cihang on the Golden-Haired Hou as they charge into the final formation. Weapons & Magical Skills: Advanced Daoist cultivation, the Three-Treasures Jade Ruyi, supernatural manifestations and transformation techniques. Why Cihang Stands Out: Cihang's terrifying golden beast creates a striking contrast with the compassionate Guanyin identity later associated with the character. 4. Huang Feihu 黄飞虎 Sect / Background: Mortal military aristocrat; former Shang commander War Camp: Zhou, after defecting from Shang War Beast: Five-Colored Sacred Ox (五色神牛) Combat Tier: C+ Huang Feihu begins the novel as one of Shang's greatest military commanders. After King Zhou's increasingly destructive behavior brings tragedy upon Huang's family, he abandons the dynasty and joins Zhou. His famous Five-Colored Sacred Ox is explicitly supernatural. The novel describes it as capable of covering enormous distances and, unlike normal cavalry horses, remaining steady in the presence of terrifying magical beasts. Weapons & Magical Skills: Primarily martial rather than magical; spear and conventional battlefield weapons, exceptional riding and command ability. Notable Feat: Becomes one of Zhou's most important senior commanders after his defection. Why He Stands Out: Huang Feihu remains fundamentally human in a war increasingly dominated by immortals. His sacred ox gives him enough supernatural mobility to stand alongside them. 5. Jiang Ziya 姜子牙 Sect / Background: Chan Sect; disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun War Camp: Zhou War Beast: Sibuxiang (四不像) Combat Tier: B personally; S+ in strategic importance Jiang Ziya is the central strategist of Zhou's campaign and the man entrusted with carrying out the investiture of the Gods. He is not the strongest fighter in the novel. Many of the immortals around him possess greater raw cultivation or more devastating magical treasures. Jiang's true strength lies in divine mandate, leadership and his ability to bring together the people necessary to overthrow Shang. His famous mount is Sibuxiang , literally “Unlike the Four,” an unusual sacred creature that defies simple classification. Weapons & Magical Skills: God-Beating Whip (打神鞭), Daoist spells, protective treasures, military formations and the divine authority granted to him to oversee the Investiture of the Gods. Why He Stands Out: Jiang Ziya is not necessarily the most powerful warrior on the battlefield—He is the central figure around whom the entire supernatural war unfolds. 6. Princess Longji 龙吉公主 Sect / Background: Celestial princess; daughter of the Jade Pool's divine rulers War Camp: Zhou War Beast: Qingluan (青鸾), with other conventional mounts used in some battles Combat Tier: B+ Princess Longji is one of the novel's most prominent female combatants. Although born into the celestial realm, she becomes directly involved in Zhou's war against Shang. She arrives in battle mounted on a Qingluan , one of Chinese mythology's elegant divine birds. She later fights Hong Jin directly, countering his magical escape techniques before the two are eventually united through marriage. Weapons & Magical Skills: Luanfei Sword, magical banners, Five-Element escape techniques, supernatural ropes and other celestial treasures. Notable Feat: Defeats and captures Hong Jin after pursuing him all the way to the North Sea. Why She Stands Out: Longji combines the image of a celestial princess with the practical role of an active field combatant. 7. Huang Tianhua 黄天化 Sect / Background: Chan Sect; disciple of Qingxu Daode Zhenjun War Camp: Zhou War Beast: Jade Qilin (玉麒麟) Combat Tier: B+ Huang Tianhua is Huang Feihu's son, but unlike his father he is raised within the world of Daoist immortals. He rides the visually spectacular Jade Qilin , making him one of Zhou's most recognizable young supernatural warriors. Weapons & Magical Skills: Twin silver hammers, the Heart-Piercing Nail and other treasures learned through Chan Sect training. Notable Feat: Frequently enters direct combat against Shang's supernatural champions and immortals. Why He Stands Out: Young warrior, paired hammers and a brilliantly colored qilin make Huang Tianhua almost a ready-made fantasy hero. 8. Chong Heihu 崇黑虎 Sect / Background: Shang regional lord with supernatural training War Camp: Ultimately Zhou War Beast: Fire-Eyed Golden-Pupiled Beast (火眼金睛兽) Combat Tier: C+/B- Chong Heihu is the younger brother of the Shang-aligned lord Chong Houhu but ultimately chooses a different political path and supports Zhou. He rides the Fire-Eyed Golden-Pupiled Beast . Weapons & Magical Skills: Martial weapons and supernatural techniques, including magical animal-related abilities. Why He Stands Out: Chong Heihu demonstrates how even regional human lords in Fengshen Yanyi can possess mounts and abilities that push them beyond ordinary warfare. 9. Zheng Lun 郑伦 Sect / Background: Supernaturally trained general; disciple of Du'e Zhenren War Camp: Initially Shang; later Zhou War Beast: Golden-Eyed Beast / Fire-Eyed Golden-Pupiled Beast tradition Combat Tier: B- Zheng Lun begins as a general under Su Hu and initially remains loyal to the Shang political order. He eventually enters Zhou service. His most famous supernatural ability is the powerful white qi expelled through his nose, capable of stunning enemies. He rides a golden-eyed supernatural beast into battle. Weapons & Magical Skills: Demon-Subduing Pestle, supernatural nasal breath and strong martial ability. Notable Rival: Chen Qi, whose magical technique mirrors Zheng Lun's but uses yellow qi expelled from the mouth. Why He Stands Out: Zheng Lun and Chen Qi form one of the novel's most entertaining supernatural mirror matches. (To be continued in Part 2) Interested in the world of Creation of the Gods ? If you would like to explore another side of the story, you can also read my Daji: The Fox Spirit of Xuanyuan Tomb series, which retells the story of Daji, King Zhou and the events that set the fall of the Shang dynasty in motion. While this article focuses on the warriors, immortals, and supernatural creatures of the great Shang–Zhou conflict, Da Ji’s story returns us to the royal court of Chaoge and to the woman whose arrival would become inseparable from the dynasty’s downfall.