The Grand Master of the Taoists was trying to stay the ravages of a pestilence, but he could not conquer the devils which caused it.  Under these circumstances he appealed to the three brothers and asked their advice as to what course to adopt.  T’ien Yuean-shuai had a large boat built, called ‘Spirit-boat.’  He assembled in it a million spirits, and ordered them to beat drums.  On hearing this tumult all the demons of the town came out to listen.  T’ien Yuean-shuai, seizing the opportunity, captured them all and, with the help of the Grand Master, expelled them from the town.

Besides the canonization of the three T’ien brothers, all the members of their families received posthumous titles.

The Dragon-boat Festival

This is said to be the origin of the dragon-boats which are to be seen on all the waterways of China on the fifth day of the fifth moon. [21] The Festival of the Dragon-boats, held on that day, was instituted in memory of the statesman-poet Ch’ue Yuean (332-296 B.C.), who drowned himself in the Mi-lo River, an affluent of the Tung-t’ing Lake, after having been falsely accused by one of the petty princes of the State.  The people, out of pity for the unfortunate courtier, sent out these boats in search of his body.

Chiang Tzu-ya

In the wars which resulted in the overthrow of the tyrant Chou Wang and his dynasty and the establishment of the great Chou dynasty, the most influential generalissimo was Chiang Tzu-ya.  His family name was Chiang, and his own name Shang, but owing to his descent from one of the ministers of the ancient King Yao, whose heirs owned the fief of Lue, the family came to be called by that name, and he himself was known as Lue Shang.  His honorific title was T’ai Kung Wang, ’Hope of T’ai Kung,’ given him by Wen Wang, who recognized in the person of Chiang Tzu-ya the wise minister whom his father T’ai Kung had caused him to expect before his death.

The Battle of Mu Yeh

Chiang Tzu-ya was originally in the service of the tyrant Chou Wang, but transferred his services to the Chou cause, and by his wonderful skill enabled that house finally to gain the victory.  The decisive battle took place at Mu Yeh, situated to the south of Wei-hui Fu, in 1122 B.C.  The soldiers of Yin, 700,000 in number, were defeated, and Chou, the tyrant, shut himself up in his magnificent palace, set it alight, and was burned alive with all his possessions.  For this achievement Chiang Tzu-ya was granted by Wu Wang the title of Father and Counsellor, and was appointed Prince of Ch’i, with perpetual succession to his descendants.

A Legend of Chiang Tzu-ya

The Feng shen yen i contains many chapters describing in detail the various battles which resulted in the overthrow of the last tyrant of the Shang dynasty and the establishment of the illustrious Chou dynasty on the throne of China.  This legend and the following one are epitomized from that work.