Yin Hong is a character of Investiture of the Gods. Wikidata gives his Chinese label as Yin Hong, describes him as a character of the novel and records the Shang as the dynasty of the setting, so the title stays this name.[1][2]
Identity
The Chinese Wikipedia article says Yin Hong is a well-known guardian deity of Daoism, enfeoffed as Marshal Weili Yade, deputy official of the earth-office Year Star, and popularly called Little Marshal Yin, whose task is to assist his elder brother Yin Jiao. In the myth he is said to be the second legitimate son of King Zhou of Shang, a prince of the Shang.[2]
In Investiture of the Gods
In the novel Yin Jiao and Yin Hong are sons of Empress Jiang. Yin Jiao is the crown prince and Yin Hong a commandery prince. After Daji contrives the death of Empress Jiang, the two princes are condemned to death for plotting to kill the king. They ask Huang Feihu for help and are taken out of Chaoge by the brothers Fang Bi and Fang Xiang, but are caught again by Yin Poba and Lei Kai. Before the execution, Guangchengzi saves Yin Jiao and Chijingzi saves Yin Hong. The two immortals meant to raise the princes into helpers of King Wu of Zhou and Jiang Ziya, to help King Wu overthrow the Shang, so they teach them magic and give them divine weapons. Yin Hong receives the purple-ribbon immortal robe, the yin-yang mirror and the water-and-fire blade, and Yin Jiao the sky-turning seal, the soul-dropping bell and the male-and-female swords. The two also swear a terrible oath to raise up the Zhou and conquer the Shang, on pain of a cruel death, and go down the mountain to help King Wu and Jiang Ziya.[2]
On the way Yin Hong meets Shen Gongbao, Jiang Ziya's bitter enemy. Shen Gongbao baits him with family feeling and persuades him to join the Shang camp. Yin Hong's magic is strong and at first troubles the Zhou army badly, but in the end his own teacher Chijingzi captures him with the Taiji diagram. He is burned inside the diagram until his body turns to ashes. After his death he is made the spirit of the star of the five grains.[2]
Basic facts
- Identity: character of Investiture of the Gods, second son of King Zhou[1][2]
- Death year: 1100 BC, as recorded by Wikidata for the character[1]
- Realm of the setting: Shang[1]
- Divine posts: Marshal Weili Yade, popularly Little Marshal Yin; in the novel the spirit of the star of the five grains[2]
- Appears in: Investiture of the Gods[2]