The Emperor Yao, in the twelfth year of his reign (2346 B.C.), one day, while walking in the streets of Huai-yang, met a man carrying a bow and arrows, the bow being bound round with a piece of red stuff.  This was Ch’ih-chiang Tzu-yue.  He told the Emperor he was a skilful archer and could fly in the air on the wings of the wind.  Yao, to test his skill, ordered him to shoot one of his arrows at a pine-tree on the top of a neighbouring mountain.  Ch’ih shot an arrow which transfixed the tree, and then jumped on to a current of air to go and fetch the arrow back.  Because of this the Emperor named him Shen I, ’the Divine Archer,’ attached him to his suite, and appointed him Chief Mechanician of all Works in Wood.  He continued to live only on flowers.

Vanquishes the Wind-spirit

At this time terrible calamities began to lay waste the land.  Ten suns appeared in the sky, the heat of which burnt up all the crops; dreadful storms uprooted trees and overturned houses; floods overspread the country.  Near the Tung-t’ing Lake a serpent, a thousand feet long, devoured human beings, and wild boars of enormous size did great damage in the eastern part of the kingdom.  Yao ordered Shen I to go and slay the devils and monsters who were causing all this mischief, placing three hundred men at his service for that purpose.

Shen I took up his post on Mount Ch’ing Ch’iu to study the cause of the devastating storms, and found that these tempests were released by Fei Lien, the Spirit of the Wind, who blew them out of a sack.  As we shall see when considering the thunder myths, the ensuing conflict ended in Fei Lien suing for mercy and swearing friendship to his victor, whereupon the storms ceased.

Dispels the Nine False Suns

After this first victory Shen I led his troops to the banks of the Hsi Ho, West River, at Lin Shan.  Here he discovered that on three neighbouring peaks nine extraordinary birds were blowing out fire and thus forming nine new suns in the sky.  Shen I shot nine arrows in succession, pierced the birds, and immediately the nine false suns resolved themselves into red clouds and melted away.  Shen I and his soldiers found the nine arrows stuck in nine red stones at the top of the mountain.

Marries the Sister of the Water-spirit

Shen I then led his soldiers to Kao-liang, where the river had risen and formed an immense torrent.  He shot an arrow into the water, which thereupon withdrew to its source.  In the flood he saw a man clothed in white, riding a white horse and accompanied by a dozen attendants.  He quickly discharged an arrow, striking him in the left eye, and the horseman at once took to flight.  He was accompanied by a young woman named Heng O [22], the younger sister of Ho Po, the Spirit of the Waters.  Shen I shot an arrow into her hair.  She turned and thanked him for sparing her life, adding:  “I will agree to be your wife.”  After these events had been duly reported to the Emperor Yao, the wedding took place.