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Queen Mother of the West西王母

Archaic BeingsHistory × Fiction

Ruler of the Jade Pool, in charge of the celestial calamities and the five destructive forces.

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DIRECT FIGURES: 20
RELATION RECORDS: 28
SOURCE WORKS: 14

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Queen Mother of the West, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

MENTORSHIP

Mentorship

Teachers, disciples and transmission

2 figures · 2 records

Mao Jun
Queen Mother of the West→Mao Junteach classics
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王母愍其勤志，告之曰……
Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
Lady Wei
Queen Mother of the West→Lady Weitransmit scriptures
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传《玉清隐书》四卷，以授华存
Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙十一

KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

1 figure · 1 record

Longji Princess
Longji Princess—Queen Mother of the Westmother-daughter
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素色云界旗是我母亲那里有
Investiture of the Gods, ch. 65

ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

2 figures · 2 records

King Mu of Zhou
King Mu of Zhou→Queen Mother of the Westguest at
Read the original source
遂宾于西王母，觞于瑶池之上。
Liezi, 周穆王篇
Emperor Shun of the Youyu clan
Emperor Shun of the Youyu clan→Queen Mother of the Westaudience
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西王母来朝
Bamboo Annals, 今本-五帝纪

THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

17 figures · 23 records

Emperor Wu of Han2
Queen Mother of the West→Emperor Wu of Hangive peach
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以五枚与帝
Records of Myriad Things, 史补
King Mu of Zhou2
King Mu of Zhou→Queen Mother of the Westgive gift
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好献锦组百纯，□组三百纯
Tale of King Mu, 卷三
the Yellow Emperor
Queen Mother of the West→the Yellow Emperorgive talisman
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王母遣使者，被玄狐之裘，以符授帝
Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
Nanji Xianweng2
Nanji Xianweng→Queen Mother of the Westrequest banner
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特恳圣母，恩赐聚仙旗
Investiture of the Gods, ch. 65
King Mu2
King Mu→Queen Mother of the Westmeet
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王西征昆仑丘，见西王母。
Bamboo Annals, 今本-周纪
Xie Ziran2
Queen Mother of the West→Xie Zirandemote rank
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为不肯居长林，被贬一阶
Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙十一
Emperor Ai of Han
Emperor Ai of Han→Queen Mother of the Westsacrifice
Read the original source
民又会聚祠西王母
Book of Han, 哀帝纪

Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

FeatureOne Myth, Six Books, Six AccountsThe same ancient myth often appears in different versions in different books. In the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the Queen Mother of the West has a leopard's tail and tiger's teeth, while in the Tale of King Mu, she hosts a banquet at the Jasper Pool and sings in response. The cause of Nüwa mending the sky is mentioned in the Huainanzi but not in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. This article places several such discrepancies side by side, each labeled with its source book and chapter.FeatureA Shanhaijing Bestiary Lineage: Why One Name Can Have Many BodiesModern bestiaries often give each creature one fixed design and canonical profile. Classic of Mountains and Seas works differently: a name may carry different bodies in different chapters, while a being can be predator, medicine, omen, divine official or actor in war. Its 'lineage' is therefore first a network of textual variants and functions, not a tidy biological family tree.

In history · Records of the Grand Historian · History of Song

A goddess worshipped by the people with song and dance; folk worship with song and dance, and prophecies were transmitted in writing. A mythological figure, shaped like a human, with a leopard's tail and a tiger's head, dwelling in a cave, with three-legged crows as messengers.

In fiction · Liezi · Records of Myriad Things · Book of the Later Han · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · Investiture of the Gods · Classic of Mountains and Seas · Researches into Lost Records · In Search of the Supernatural · New Book of Tang · Book of Han

Dwelling in a cave, with a leopard's tail and tiger's teeth, skilled at whistling, with disheveled hair and a jade ornament, in charge of the celestial calamities and the five destructive forces, with three green birds fetching food for her. Ruler of the Jade Pool, bestower of the Immortal Gathering Banner.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

Literature / legend
Records of Myriad Things
2 profile notes
1 relations1 verified quotations
- Queen Mother of the West→ give peach →Emperor Wu of Han
Verified original text · 1
1. 以五枚与帝
  give peach · Records of Myriad Things, 史补
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Literature / legend
Investiture of the Gods
1 profile notes
3 relations3 verified quotations
- Nanji Xianweng→ request banner →Queen Mother of the West
- Queen Mother of the West→ grant banner →Nanji Xianweng
- Longji Princess→ mother-daughter →Queen Mother of the West
Verified original text · 3
1. 特恳圣母，恩赐聚仙旗
  request banner · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 65
2. 有四对仙女高捧聚仙旗，付与南极仙翁
  grant banner · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 65
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
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Official history
Book of Han
7 profile notes
3 relations3 verified quotations
- Emperor Ai of Han→ sacrifice →Queen Mother of the West
- Yang Xiong→ imagine →Queen Mother of the West
- Grand Empress Dowager→ shrine →Queen Mother of the West
Verified original text · 3
1. 民又会聚祠西王母
  sacrifice · Book of Han, 哀帝纪
2. 想西王母欣然而上寿兮
  imagine · Book of Han, 扬雄传_ch. 87上
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
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Official history
Book of the Later Han
4 profile notes
0 relations0 verified quotations
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Literature / legend
Huainanzi
2 profile notes
0 relations0 verified quotations
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Literature / legend
Liezi
1 profile notes
1 relations1 verified quotations
- King Mu of Zhou→ guest at →Queen Mother of the West
Verified original text · 1
1. 遂宾于西王母，觞于瑶池之上。
  guest at · Liezi, 周穆王篇
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Literature / legend
Tale of King Mu
3 profile notes
3 relations3 verified quotations
- King Mu of Zhou→ give gift →Queen Mother of the West
- King Mu of Zhou→ guest at →Queen Mother of the West
- Queen Mother of the West→ banquet →King Mu of Zhou
Verified original text · 3
1. 好献锦组百纯，□组三百纯
  give gift · Tale of King Mu, 卷三
2. 自群玉之山以西，至于西王母之邦三千里
  arrive state · Tale of King Mu, 卷四
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
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Literature / legend
Classic of Mountains and Seas
3 profile notes
2 relations2 verified quotations
- Three Green Birds→ provide food →Queen Mother of the West
- Queen Mother of the West→ take food →Three Green Birds
Verified original text · 2
1. 为西王母取食
  provide food · Classic of Mountains and Seas, 海內西經
2. 三青鸟主，为西王母取食者
  take food · Classic of Mountains and Seas, 西山經
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Official history
Records of the Grand Historian
2 profile notes
1 relations1 verified quotations
- Sima Xiangru→ mentioned in poem →Queen Mother of the West
Verified original text · 1
1. 吾乃今目睹西王母皬然白首。
  mentioned in poem · Records of the Grand Historian, 司马相如列传
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Literature / legend
Researches into Lost Records
4 profile notes
1 relations1 verified quotations
- King Mu of Zhou→ give gift →Queen Mother of the West
Verified original text · 1
1. 西王母乘翠凤之辇而来
  meet · Researches into Lost Records, 卷三
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Official history
History of Song
1 profile notes
0 relations0 verified quotations
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Literature / legend
In Search of the Supernatural
2 profile notes
0 relations0 verified quotations
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Literature / legend
Romance of Sui and Tang
1 profile notes
0 relations0 verified quotations
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Literature / legend
Extensive Records of the Taiping Era
12 profile notes
13 relations15 verified quotations
- Queen Mother of the West→ give peach →Emperor Wu of Han
- Emperor Wu of Han→ sought Dao →Queen Mother of the West
- Queen Mother of the West→ give talisman →the Yellow Emperor
- King Mu of Zhou→ give gift →Queen Mother of the West
Verified original text · 15
1. 西王母降于汉宫
  降临 · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
2. 王母暂来也
  teach doctrine · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙三
13 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
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Official history
New Book of Tang
1 profile notes
1 relations1 verified quotations
- Wang Rong→ sacrifice →Queen Mother of the West
Verified original text · 1
1. 又以房山有西王母祠，数游览
  sacrifice · New Book of Tang, 藩镇镇冀传
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Official history
Bamboo Annals
3 profile notes
3 relations4 verified quotations
- Emperor Shun of the Youyu clan→ audience →Queen Mother of the West
- King Mu→ meet →Queen Mother of the West
- Queen Mother of the West→ meet →King Mu
Verified original text · 4
1. 西王母来朝
  audience · Bamboo Annals, 今本-五帝纪
2. 王西征昆仑丘，见西王母。
  meet · Bamboo Annals, 今本-周纪
2 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
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History vs. fiction

The image transformed from a half-beast deity to a female immortal of the Jade Pond.

based on factThe transformation of the image of the Queen Mother of the West
According to the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas, Western Mountains, Second Sequence', the Queen Mother of the West 'looks like a human, with a leopard's tail and tiger's teeth, and is good at whistling; her hair is disheveled and she wears a jade ornament; she is in charge of the calamities and punishments of heaven and the five residual evils.' Initially, she was a half-beast deity in charge of punishment, killing, and disasters. However, in the 'Tale of King Mu', volume 3, it is recorded that King Mu of Zhou went on a western expedition and 'met the Queen Mother of the West at the Jade Pond' and feasted and exchanged poems with her. At this time, her image had evolved into a dignified and peaceful female immortal. By the Ming Dynasty, in novels such as 'Investiture of the Gods', she further evolved into the Golden Mother of the Jade Pond who holds the banner of gathering immortals.

Relationship network

21 figures · 40 links

historyliteraturedual

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give peachQueen Mother of the West → Emperor Wu of HanlitRecords of Myriad Things, 史补 Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一 Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙三
Original text (3)
1. 以五枚与帝
  Records of Myriad Things, 史补
2. 西王母降于汉宫
  Original relation: 降临 · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
3. 王母暂来也
  Original relation: teach doctrine · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙三
sought Dao← Emperor Wu of Han → Queen Mother of the WestlitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙三
Original text (1)
1. 帝下席跪诺
  Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙三
give talismanQueen Mother of the West → the Yellow EmperorlitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
Original text (1)
1. 王母遣使者，被玄狐之裘，以符授帝
  Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
give gift← King Mu of Zhou → Queen Mother of the WestlitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 伎巧二 Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙二 Researches into Lost Records, 卷三 Tale of King Mu, 卷三
Original text (4)
1. 好献锦组百纯，□组三百纯
  Tale of King Mu, 卷三
2. 西王母乘翠凤之辇而来
  Original relation: meet · Researches into Lost Records, 卷三
3. 觞西王母于瑶池之上
  Original relation: 觞之 · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 伎巧二
4. 又觞西王母于瑶池之上
  Original relation: 觞于瑶池 · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙二
guest at← King Mu of Zhou → Queen Mother of the WestlitLiezi, 周穆王篇 Tale of King Mu, 卷四
Original text (2)
1. 遂宾于西王母，觞于瑶池之上。
  Liezi, 周穆王篇
2. 自群玉之山以西，至于西王母之邦三千里
  Original relation: arrive state · Tale of King Mu, 卷四
banquetQueen Mother of the West → King Mu of ZhoulitTale of King Mu, 卷三
Original text (1)
1. 乙丑，天子觞西王母于瑶池之上。
  Tale of King Mu, 卷三
sacrifice← Emperor Ai of Han → Queen Mother of the WestlitBook of Han, 哀帝纪
Original text (1)
1. 民又会聚祠西王母
  Book of Han, 哀帝纪
give ringQueen Mother of the West → Emperor ShunlitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
Original text (1)
1. 王母遣使授舜白玉环
  Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
imagine← Yang Xiong → Queen Mother of the WestlitBook of Han, 扬雄传_ch. 87上
Original text (1)
1. 想西王母欣然而上寿兮
  Book of Han, 扬雄传_ch. 87上
mentioned in poem← Sima Xiangru → Queen Mother of the WesthistRecords of the Grand Historian, 司马相如列传
Original text (1)
1. 吾乃今目睹西王母皬然白首。
  Records of the Grand Historian, 司马相如列传
sacrifice← Wang Rong → Queen Mother of the WestlitNew Book of Tang, 藩镇镇冀传
Original text (1)
1. 又以房山有西王母祠，数游览
  New Book of Tang, 藩镇镇冀传
shrine← Grand Empress Dowager → Queen Mother of the WestlitBook of Han, 天文志
Original text (1)
1. 传行诏筹祠西王母
  Book of Han, 天文志
request banner← Nanji Xianweng → Queen Mother of the WestlitInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 65
Original text (1)
1. 特恳圣母，恩赐聚仙旗
  Investiture of the Gods, ch. 65
grant bannerQueen Mother of the West → Nanji XianwenglitInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 65
Original text (1)
1. 有四对仙女高捧聚仙旗，付与南极仙翁
  Investiture of the Gods, ch. 65
mother-daughter← Longji Princess → Queen Mother of the WestlitInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 65
Original text (1)
1. 素色云界旗是我母亲那里有
  Investiture of the Gods, ch. 65
grant medicineQueen Mother of the West → Xie ZiranlitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙十一
Original text (1)
1. 赐药一器，色黄白，味甘
  Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙十一
demote rankQueen Mother of the West → Xie ZiranlitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙十一
Original text (1)
1. 为不肯居长林，被贬一阶
  Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙十一
teach classicsQueen Mother of the West → Mao JunlitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
Original text (1)
1. 王母愍其勤志，告之曰……
  Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
surrender at homeQueen Mother of the West → Mao JunlitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙十一
Original text (1)
1. 并从王母降于盈室
  Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙十一
transmit scripturesQueen Mother of the West → Lady WeilitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙十一
Original text (1)
1. 传《玉清隐书》四卷，以授华存
  Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙十一
ask each otherQueen Mother of the West → Lady ShangyuanlitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙三
Original text (1)
1. 王母乃遣侍女郭密香与上元夫人相问
  Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙三
jointly managed two qiQueen Mother of the West → DongwanggonglitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
Original text (1)
1. 与东王公共理二气，而育养天地
  Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
audience← Emperor Shun of the Youyu clan → Queen Mother of the WestlitBamboo Annals, 今本-五帝纪
Original text (1)
1. 西王母来朝
  Bamboo Annals, 今本-五帝纪
summon for audienceQueen Mother of the West → Ye JingnenglitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙五十
Original text (1)
1. 应须召叶静能来
  Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙五十
meet← King Mu → Queen Mother of the WestlitBamboo Annals, 今本-周纪 Bamboo Annals, 古本辑校
Original text (2)
1. 王西征昆仑丘，见西王母。
  Bamboo Annals, 今本-周纪
2. 见西王母
  Bamboo Annals, 古本辑校
meetQueen Mother of the West → King MulitBamboo Annals, 古本辑校
Original text (1)
1. 西王母来见
  Bamboo Annals, 古本辑校
provide food← Three Green Birds → Queen Mother of the WestlitClassic of Mountains and Seas, 海內西經
Original text (1)
1. 为西王母取食
  Classic of Mountains and Seas, 海內西經
take foodQueen Mother of the West → Three Green BirdslitClassic of Mountains and Seas, 西山經
Original text (1)
1. 三青鸟主，为西王母取食者
  Classic of Mountains and Seas, 西山經