Journey to the West characters

Indian philosopher and the founder of Buddhism (623 or 563 BCE – 543 or 483 BCE)

Laozi (, ; ), formerly Latinized as Laocius, was a legendary Chinese philosopher considered to be the author of the Tao Te Ching (Pinyin: Dào Dé Jīng), one of the foundational texts of Taoism. Modern scholarship generally regards his biographical details as later inventions and his opus a collaboration of various writers, with the name Laozi, literally meaning 'Old Master', likely intended to portray an archaic anonymity that could converse with Confucianism. Traditional accounts addend him as , born in the 6th-centuryBC state of Chu during China's Spring and Autumn period (). Serving as the r

6th century BCE Chinese general and military strategist

thumb|Schist Greco-Buddhist art|Greco-Buddhist statue of Maitreya, [[Gandhara, 3rd century]]

mythical character from Journey to the West

Nüwa, also read Nügua, is a mother goddess, culture hero, and/or member of the Three Sovereigns of Chinese mythology. She is a goddess in Chinese folk religion, Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. She is credited with creating humanity and repairing the Pillar of Heaven.

the highest god of many Taoist sects, overseeing the universe through administration of a celestial bureaucracy mirroring ancient and medieval China's

thumb|right|The Nine Devas, Khleang style of Angkor. thumb|200px|Navagraha, Sun at the center surrounded by the planets, Painting by Raja Ravi Varma The navagraha (, Nine planets) are nine heavenly bodies and deities that influence human life on Earth according to Hinduism and Hindu mythology. The term is derived from nava ( "nine") and graha ( "planet, seizing, laying hold of, holding"). The nine parts of the navagraha are the Sun, Moon, planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and the two nodes of the Moon.

Mazu or Matsu is a sea goddess in Chinese folk religion, Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. She is also known by several other names and titles. Mazu is the deified form of Lin Moniang (), a shamaness from Fujian who is said to have lived in the late 10th century. After her death, she became revered as a tutelary deity of Chinese seafarers, including fishermen and sailors.

Guanyin () is a common Chinese name of the Bodhisattva associated with compassion known as Avalokiteśvara (). Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin, which means "[The One Who] Perceives the Sounds of the World". Originally regarded as male in Indian Buddhism, Guanyin has been more commonly depicted as female in China and most of East Asia since about the 12th century. Due to sociogeographical factors, Guanyin may also be historically depicted as genderless or androgynous. On the 19th day of the sixth lunar month, Guanyin's attainment of Buddhahood is celebrated. Guanyin has been incorporated in othe

Budai is a nickname given to the historical Chinese monk Qieci () in the Later Liang Dynasty, who is often identified with and venerated as the future Buddha Maitreya in Chan Buddhism and Buddhist scripture. With the spread of Chan Buddhism, he also came to be venerated in Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.

Buddhist gods

general concept of a king of dragons as appearing in Chinese, Japanese, Hindu and Buddhistic mythology and folklore

character of the novel Journey to the West

mother goddess in Chinese religion and mythology

Nezha (, Nézhā) or sometimes Nezha the Crown Prince (, ), is a protection deity in Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Chinese folk religion. His official Taoist name is "Marshal of the Central Altar" (). He was then given the title "Third Lotus Prince" () after he became a deity.

Chinese deity of death

character of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West

central character in the novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en

Taoist deification of Canopus, the brightest star of the constellation Carina; symbolizes happiness and longevity

A Tudigong () is a kind of Chinese tutelary deity of a specific location. There are several Tudigongs corresponding to different geographical locations and sometimes multiple ones will be venerated together in certain regions.

guardians of the Underworld appearing in Chinese mythology

deification of Laozi in the Taoist pantheon

Chinese deity associated with flood control

character from the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West

Mahamayuri ( ("great peacock"), Kǒngquè Míngwáng, , , Gongjak Myeongwang), or Mahāmāyūrī Vidyārājñī is a bodhisattva and female Wisdom King in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. In the latter tradition, Mahamayuri is a popular practice in both the Chinese and Japanese forms of Vajrayana. She is also the name of one of the five protective goddesses in Buddhism.

Journey to the West character

deity in Chinese folk religion

character in the novel Journey to the West

Traditional Chinese fivefold deity

thumb|250px|Baigujing Baigujing () is a demon from the 16th-century novel Journey to the West. The name is translated into English as White Bone Spirit in the William John Francis Jenner translation. Baigujing is a shapeshifting demoness, and in her true form she is depicted as a skeleton.

the old mother of Mount Li

Qianliyan is a Chinese sea and door god. He usually appears with Shunfeng'er as a guardian of the temples of the sea goddess Mazu.

character in the Chinese novel Journey to the West

a figure in Chinese mythology and a god in Chinese folk religion

deity in Chinese folk religion and Taoism

Characters in Chinese folklore

'''Shunfeng'er''' is a Chinese sea and door god. He usually appears with Qianliyan as a guardian of the temples of the sea goddess Mazu.

fictional character

deity

250px|thumbnail|right|Jinzha