The Legend of Zhong Kui Slaying Demons: Chapter One

Ah, the world’s corruption—what can be done?

Countless evils spring from the human heart.

They think the netherworld holds only ghosts,

Unaware demons thrive in the mortal realm.

Idle brushstrokes, wasted time—

Can anyone escape the demon’s taint?

If one can purge all demonic traits,

Keep the sword sharp on the stone.

This poem begins by reflecting on humanity's shared origin, all endowed with the Three Powers and Five Elements at birth, indistinguishable in essence. Yet, as people grow, they become shaped by mundane habits and temperaments, diverging in their dispositions. The arrogant become frivolous; the earnest, pedantic. The miserly cling to every coin, while the boastful spout nonsense. Their grotesque forms and ghostly auras breed countless nicknames, turning the bright world into a half-shadow of the Underworld. Is this not lamentable? Now, I propose a method to dispel these demons and awaken your senses. In the Tang Dynasty, on Zhongnan Mountain, lived a scholar named Zhong Kui, styled Zhennan. With a leopard-like head, round eyes, an iron-colored face, and bristling whiskers, his appearance was fearsome. Yet his inner brilliance shone: every stroke of his brush produced literary gems, and his character was upright, unyielding to evil. During Emperor Dezong’s reign, when the imperial exams were held, Zhong Kui bid farewell to his kin and journeyed to the capital. Along the way, he endured hunger, thirst, and weary travels until he reached Chang’an, a city of imperial grandeur: > Mount Hua stood sentinel, the Wei River coiled like a dragon. Palaces towered into the clouds; pavilions clustered between mountains and streams. Officials in brocade robes and crimson shoes exuded authority. Scholars in flowing sashes and fine robes radiated dignity. The streets teemed with名利之徒 (seekers of fame and fortune), laborers, and farmers. Children somersaulted in the dust; elders chatted idly in the sun. Zhong Kui marveled at the sights until he reached an inn. The innkeeper, startled, exclaimed, “I’ve seen many travelers, but never one as fearsome as you!” Zhong Kui smiled, “Though my face is ugly, my heart is pure. Prepare a clean room for me to rest before the exams.” After settling in and dining, his servant Zhao Dingyuan reported, “Tomorrow’s exam registration costs two taels of silver.” Zhong Kui asked, “Why so much?” Zhao explained, “The annual fees include 1.2 taels for the exam paper, 0.1 tael for inscription, 0.5 tael for submission, and 0.2 tael for registration—totaling two taels.” Zhong Kui paid the sum, and Zhao reminded him, “Submit the documents tomorrow and prepare for the exam. Do not delay.” The next day, after submitting his paperwork at the **Ministry of Rites**, Zhong Kui encountered a crowd around a fortuneteller. The seer had eyes like the moon and a silver tongue, capable of discerning loyalty from treachery. Dressed in a folded头巾 and straw sandals, he resembled ancient sages. This was Yuan Youchuan, great-grandson of Yuan Tiangang. After others finished, Zhong Kui approached, “I seek your guidance.” The seer, struck by Zhong’s imposing yet strange demeanor, studied him intently. “Your天庭饱满 (high forehead) and地阁方圆 (strong jaw) portend great nobility,” he said, “but the inky hue between your brows foretells doom within ten days. Beware.” Zhong Kui replied, “A gentleman confronts misfortune directly. A true man lives upright—fate is in heaven’s hands. Why fear?” He thanked the seer and departed. During the exam, Zhong Kui effortlessly composed five **《瀛洲待宴》** poems and a **《鸚鵡》** essay, praised by examiners Han Yu (**Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel**) and Lu Zhi as “a genius unmatched since Li Bai and Du Fu.” They selected him as the top candidate, awaiting imperial confirmation. On the day of the **金殿傳臚 (palace ceremony)**, Emperor Dezong, upon seeing Zhong Kui’s appearance, frowned, “Our empire selects officials based on appearance, speech, calligraphy, and judgment. How can this hideous man be our top scholar?” Han Yu knelt, “We judged solely by his writing, not his looks. His verses rival the greatest. Talent lies not in appearance—consider Yan Ying (a dwarf prime minister) and Zhou Chang (a stammering advisor). To judge by looks would be folly, as Confucius warned: *‘Judging by appearance, I misjudged Ziyu.’*” Before the emperor could reply, Prime Minister Lu Qi interjected, “A top scholar must be both learned and handsome. Among three hundred candidates, surely there is another.” Zhong Kui, enraged, struck Lu Qi with his笏板 (ceremonial tablet), disrupting the court. The emperor ordered his arrest. In a fit of despair, Zhong Kui seized a guard’s sword and自刎 (committed suicide). Emperor Dezong, realizing his error, exiled Lu Qi and posthumously honored Zhong Kui as the **Demon-Quelling God**, tasked with eradicating邪祟 (evil spirits) across the land. Ascending to heaven, Zhong Kui journeyed southeast until he spotted a forbidding city: > 陰風慘慘，黑霧漫漫 (Gloomy winds howled; black fog swirled). Chains rattled; tortured souls wailed. Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced demons escorted Cao Cao; ghosts of traitors like Wang Mang reappeared. A judge of the **酆都城 (Ghost City)** intercepted him. Zhong Kui explained his mission, and the judge, astonished, escorted him to the **森羅殿 (Hall of Supreme Darkness)**. The **King of Hell** (Yan Jun) greeted him, “While the Underworld has many ghosts—poisoned souls, suicides, drowned spirits—the greatest evils dwell in the mortal realm. Evil resides in the heart: the wicked are human in form but demonic in nature.” He showed Zhong Kui a scroll listing 36 types of demons:謅鬼 (liars),奸鬼 (traitors), and others, scattered across繁华之地 (繁华都市) and rural areas. To aid Zhong Kui, the King of Hell assigned two lieutenants: Xian Yuan (a scholarly but impoverished strategist) and Fu Qu (a mighty warrior with unfulfilled potential), along with 300 ghost soldiers. He also gifted Zhong Kui the **白澤 (Bai Ze)**, a mythical beast once named Bo Pi, who sought redemption for past sins. As they departed, a bat-like spirit offered to guide them, revealing its origin as a mole transformed after drinking from the **奈何桥 (Bridge of Helplessness)**. With this companion, Zhong Kui vowed to purge the world of evil. *To be continued…* **Notes for English Readers:** - **Cultural Nuances:** - **Three Powers (三才):** Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. - **Five Elements (五行):** Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water. - **Zhong Kui:** A legendary figure in Chinese mythology, renowned for combating evil spirits. - **Yuan Tiangang:** A Tang Dynasty astronomer and diviner. - **奈何桥 (Bridge of Helplessness):** A mythical bridge in the Underworld where souls drink Mengpo’s tea to forget their past lives. - **Historical Context:** - **Tang Dynasty Exams:** Focused on poetry and literary composition, unlike earlier dynasties’ emphasis on Confucian classics. - **吏部左侍郎 (Vice Minister of Personnel):** A high-ranking official overseeing civil service appointments. - **Figurative Language:** - Phrases like “豹頭環眼” (leopard-like features) and “筆動時，篇篇錦繡” (his writing shines like brocade) are translated to preserve vivid imagery while ensuring clarity. This translation balances fidelity to the original text with readability, providing cultural footnotes where necessary to bridge East-West literary traditions.