Chiyou

*Chiyou*
Chiyou
	Chiyou as depicted on a tomb relief of the Han Dynasty
Traditional Chinese	蚩尤
Simplified Chinese	蚩尤
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	chīyóu
Wade–Giles	Chʻih1-yu2
IPA	[ʈʂʰí.jǒʊ]
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping	ci1 jau4
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese	/t͡ɕʰɨ ɦɨu/
Old Chinese
Zhengzhang	/*tʰjɯ ɢʷɯ/

Chiyou (蚩尤; Old Chinese (ZS): *tʰjɯ-ɢʷɯ) is a mythological being that appears in Chinese mythology. He was a tribal leader of the Nine Li tribe (九黎) in ancient China.^[1] He is best known as a king who lost against the future Yellow Emperor during the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors era in Chinese mythology.^[1]^[2]^[3] According to the Song dynasty history book Lushi, Chiyou's surname was Jiang (姜), and he was a descendant of the Flame Emperor.^[4]

For some Hmong people, Chiyou or Txiv Yawg^[5] was a sagacious mythical king.^[6] He has a particularly complex and controversial ancestry, as he may fall under Dongyi^[1] Miao^[6] or even Man,^[6] depending on the source and view. Today, Chiyou is honored and worshipped as the God of War and one of the three legendary founding fathers of China.^{[dubious – discuss]}

According to legend, Chiyou had a bronze head with a distinct metal forehead.^[7] He had four eyes and six arms, wielding terrible sharp weapons in every hand, similar to a description of fangxiangshi.^[8] In some sources, Chiyou had certain features associated with various mythological bovines: his head was that of a bull with two horns, although the body was human, and his hindquarters were those of a bear.^[8] He is said to have been unbelievably fierce, and to have had 81 brothers and many followers.^[8] Historical sources often described him as 'bold leader',^[4] as well as 'brave'.^[9] Some sources have asserted that the figure 81 should rather be associated with 81 clans in his kingdom.^[10] Chiyou knows the constellations and the ancients spells for calling upon the weather. For example, he called upon a fog to surround Huangdi and his soldiers during the Battle of Zhuolu.

^ ^a ^b ^c 戴逸, 龔書鐸. (2003) [2002]. 中國通史. 史前夏商西周. Intelligence press. p. 32. ISBN 962-8792-80-6.
^ Lee, James (2006). James Lee Astrology guide 2006 English edition. World publishing co. p. 318. ISBN 962-432-503-0.
^ Greg Woolf (2007). Ancient civilizations: the illustrated guide to belief, mythology, and art. Barnes & Noble. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-4351-0121-0.
^ ^a ^b Luo Mi (罗泌). Lushi. 后记四：蚩尤传.
^ Hmong: Zid Yeus; Xong: Puob Youl; Laotian RPA White Hmong: Txiv Yawg /tsi ʝaɨ/
^ ^a ^b ^c Ya Po Cha (2010). An Introduction to Hmong Culture. McFarland. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-7864-4951-4.
^ 戴逸, 龔書鐸. (2003) [2002]. 中國通史. 史前夏商西周. Intelligence press. p. 32. ISBN 962-8792-80-6.
^ ^a ^b ^c 王恆偉. (2005) (2006) 中國歷史講堂 #1 遠古至春秋. 中華書局. ISBN 962-8885-24-3. p 11-13.
^ 司马, 迁. 史记. 五帝本纪.
^ Ya Po Cha (2010). An Introduction to Hmong Culture. McFarland. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-7864-4951-4.

[tonsi1-1] 戴逸, 龔書鐸. (2003) [2002]. 中國通史. 史前夏商西周. Intelligence press. p. 32. ISBN 962-8792-80-6.

[JLAS-2] Lee, James (2006). James Lee Astrology guide 2006 English edition. World publishing co. p. 318. ISBN 962-432-503-0.

[Woolf2007-3] Greg Woolf (2007). Ancient civilizations: the illustrated guide to belief, mythology, and art. Barnes & Noble. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-4351-0121-0.

[lushi2-4] Luo Mi (罗泌). Lushi. 后记四：蚩尤传.

[5] Hmong: Zid Yeus; Xong: Puob Youl; Laotian RPA White Hmong: Txiv Yawg /tsi ʝaɨ/

[Yapo-6] Ya Po Cha (2010). An Introduction to Hmong Culture. McFarland. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-7864-4951-4.

[tonsi12-7] 戴逸, 龔書鐸. (2003) [2002]. 中國通史. 史前夏商西周. Intelligence press. p. 32. ISBN 962-8792-80-6.

[history12-8] 王恆偉. (2005) (2006) 中國歷史講堂 #1 遠古至春秋. 中華書局. ISBN 962-8885-24-3. p 11-13.

[shiji2-9] 司马, 迁. 史记. 五帝本纪.

[Yapo2-10] Ya Po Cha (2010). An Introduction to Hmong Culture. McFarland. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-7864-4951-4.

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