Presentation Schedule
The Chinese God of War: The Transformation of Chiyu’s Image (104339)
Session Chair: Min-Chia Young
Monday, 11 May 2026 16:45
Session: Session 4
Room: Room G408 (4F)
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Chiyu is a legendary warrior in Chinese mythology, known and venerated as the God of War during the Qin and Han period (221 B.C.-220 A.D.). Even the First Emperor of Qin and Emperor Gaozu of Han offered sacrifices to him before engaging in wars. When Yellow Emperor decapitated this ferocious clan leader in the Battle of Zhuolu, the world fell into chaos. People began to invoke Chiyu’s image to repel social upheavals and noxious influences. However, Chiyu’s image gradually transformed from a shamanistic snake-like beast to a dynastic lion-like warrior, thereby legitimizing his nobility and political adaptation. Employing diachronic textual exegesis of primary sources, such as Shanhaijing and Shiji, alongside linguistic analysis of epithets and iconographic study of Han dynasty bronzes and reliefs, this article demonstrates that Chiyu's image transformation closely reflects evolving Chinese cultural contexts and folk beliefs aimed at promoting social welfare.
Authors:
Min-Chia Young, Shu-Te University, Taiwan
About the Presenter(s)
Dr MIN-CHIA YOUNG is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Shu-Te University in Taiwan
See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule
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