The Fire-emperor

Shen Nung, the God of Agriculture, also adds to his other functions those appertaining to the God of Fire, the reason being that when he succeeded the Emperor Fu Hsi on the throne he adopted fire as the emblem of his government, just as Huang Ti adopted the symbol of Earth.  Thus he came to be called Huo Ti, the ‘Fire-emperor.’  He taught his subjects the use of fire for smelting metals and making implements and weapons, and the use of oil in lamps, etc.  All the divisions of his official hierarchy were connected in some way with this element; thus, there were the Ministers of Fire generally, the officers of Fire of the North, South, etc.  Becoming thus doubly the patron of fire, a second fire symbol (huo) was added to his name, changing it from Huo Ti, ‘Fire-emperor,’ to Yen Ti, ‘Blazing Emperor,’

CHAPTER IX

Myths of Epidemics, Medicine, Exorcism, Etc.

The Ministry of Epidemics

The gods of epidemics, etc., belong to the sixth, ninth, second, and third celestial Ministries.  The composition of the Ministry of Epidemics is arranged differently in different works as Epidemics (regarded as epidemics on earth, but as demons in Heaven) of the Centre, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, or as the marshals clothed in yellow, green, red, white, and blue respectively, or as the Officers of the East, West, South, and North, with two additional members:  a Taoist who quells the plague, and the Grand Master who exhorts people to do right.

With regard to the Ministry of Seasonal Epidemics, it is related that in the sixth moon of the eleventh year (A.D. 599) of the reign of Kao Tsu, founder of the Sui dynasty, five stalwart persons appeared in the air, clothed in robes of five colours, each carrying different objects in his hands:  the first a spoon and earthenware vase, the second a leather bag and sword, the third a fan, the fourth a club, the fifth a jug of fire.  The Emperor asked Chang Chue-jen, his Grand Historiographer, who these were and if they were benevolent or evil spirits.  The official answered:  “These are the five powers of the five directions.  Their appearance indicates the imminence of epidemics, which will last throughout the four seasons of the year.”  “What remedy is there, and how am I to protect the people?” inquired the Emperor.  “There is no remedy,” replied the official, “for epidemics are sent by Heaven.”  During that year the mortality was very great.  The Emperor built a temple to the five persons, and bestowed upon them the title of Marshals to the Five Spirits of the Plague.  During that and the following dynasty sacrifices were offered to them on the fifth day of the fifth moon.

The President of the Ministry