Hou Yi is a mythological Chinese archer, also known as Shen Yi or simply Yi, usually given the title Lord Archer. Some traditions describe him as a god of archery or as an immortal, a xian, who descended from heaven to help humankind, while other tellings portray him as only half divine or as fully mortal. His wife Chang'e is a resident deity of the moon, and their linked story places Hou Yi within the wider body of Chinese solar and lunar myth. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Attestation
Veneration TodayActively venerated in a living tradition 1 HistoricityNot a historical person: a divine or other-than-human being 1 Function
Domain / Function Belief
TheologyPolytheistic: many gods 1 Sources
1. The Facts on File Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend
Anthony S. Mercatante, revised and expanded by James R. Dow, Facts on File
2. Hou Yi, Structured Record (Wikidata Q)
Wikipedia, "Hou Yi"
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.