Deified image of Yang Jian (Erlang Shen)
Deified image of Yang Jian (Erlang Shen) · 2014A later devotional image, not a historical portraitPhoto Dharma from Penang, MalaysiaSource·CC-BY

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Yang Jian杨戬

Chan SectFiction

Disciple of the Immortal Yuding, possessing seventy-two transformations, a chief general of Xiqi who attained sainthood with his physical body.

DIRECT FIGURES
46
RELATION RECORDS
58
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Yang Jian, and the people around them.

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

01
MENTORSHIP

Mentorship

Teachers, disciples and transmission

1 figure · 1 record
02
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

1 figure · 1 record
03
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

2 figures · 3 records
04
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

17 figures · 20 records
13 more in the complete record
05
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

13 figures · 15 records
9 more in the complete record

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

FeatureWhy Demons in Journey to the West Almost Always Have Powerful Backers: Fact vs. FictionSun Wukong's battles against demons in Journey to the West follow a striking pattern: monster spirits originating as celestial mounts or divine attendants are invariably spared and reclaimed by their heavenly masters, whereas wild demons lacking celestial backers are routinely struck dead by his golden staff. This dichotomy forms a defining narrative feature of the novel. Drawing upon the hundred-chapter text of Journey to the West, the historical record Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, and the mythological epic Investiture of the Gods, this article examines the past lives of the pilgrim team, the celestial bureaucracy, and the divergent fates of demons, revealing the literary logic behind Ming Dynasty mythological writing.
Event · Mythic timeHavoc in HeavenExcluded from the Peach Banquet, Sun Wukong stole peaches, wine and elixirs. Heavenly troops and Laozi's furnace failed to stop him before the Buddha intervened.

In fiction · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · Investiture of the Gods · Journey to the West

Under the tutelage of the Immortal Yuding at the Golden Glow Cave on Yuquan Mountain, he had seventy-two transformations. Aiding Zhou, he repeatedly used transformations to break sieges, eliminate demons, and cleverly capture enemy generals, attaining sainthood with his physical body.

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.

  1. Literature / legend

    Investiture of the Gods

    45 profile notes
    33 relations48 verified quotations
    • Jiang ZiyaorderYang Jian
    • Yang JiansubordinateJiang Ziya
    • Yang JianescortJiang Ziya
    • Yang Jianfellow disciple and comradeLi Jing
    Verified original text · 48
    1. 子牙又令杨戬、土行孙、郑伦各拈一阄

      order · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 68

    2. 杨戬,你可引战

      command · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 90

    46 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

    Open work page

  2. 1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

    Open work page

  3. Literature / legend

    Journey to the West

    4 profile notes
    9 relations10 verified quotations
    • Yang JiancaptureSun Wukong (Monkey King)
    • Sun Wukong (Monkey King)battleYang Jian
    • Yang Jianaid in battleSun Wukong (Monkey King)
    • Sun Wukong (Monkey King)ask for helpYang Jian
    Verified original text · 10
    1. 被七圣一拥按住,即将绳索捆绑

      capture · Journey to the West, ch. 6

    2. 后观世音举二郎真君同他义兄弟追杀,他变化多端,亏老君抛金钢琢打中,二郎方得拿住。

      capture · Journey to the West, ch. 7

    8 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

    Open work page

History vs. fiction

Yang Jian's master and identity differ between the two books

  • In Chapter 040 of "Investiture of the Gods," Yang Jian is a disciple of the Chan sect's Yuding Zhenren, assisting King Wu of Zhou in the campaign against King Zhou. In Chapter 006 of "Journey to the West," he is the Jade Emperor's nephew, Erlang Shen, who heeds summons but not commands, residing at Guanjiangkou. According to "Investiture of the Gods, Chapter 040," the former text states: "弟子乃玉泉山金霞洞玉鼎真人门下,姓杨,名戬;" According to "Journey to the West, Chapter 006," the latter text says: "乃陛下令甥显圣二郎真君,见居灌洲灌江口,享受下方香火。他昔日曾力诛六怪,又有梅山兄弟与帐前一千二百草头神,神通广大。奈他只是听调不听宣,"

Relationship network

36 figures · 155 links
Yang JianYang JianJiang ZiyaJiang ZiyaSun Wukong (Monkey King)Sun Wukong (Monkey King)Li JingLi JingGuanyinGuanyinNezhaNezhaKing WuKing WuWen ZhongWen ZhongJade EmperorJade EmperorTu XingsunTu XingsunDeng ChanyuDeng ChanyuKong XuanZhao GongmingYunzhongziYunxiaoNüwaLü YueYuding ZhenrenYuan HongZhang KuiHuanglong ZhenrenYu HuaLongxuhuXin HuanYu YuanYuyi XianBixiaoChang HaoWu LongMa YuanMo LihongHanzhi XianMo Li ShouZhou XinNine-Headed ConsortYu De
historyliteraturedual
Open full atlas →

To keep this page fast, the 40 most important records are shown here.View all 58 relationships in the atlas →

Sources: Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 鬼二十五; Investiture of the Gods, ch. 40; Journey to the West, ch. 6; Investiture of the Gods, ch. 41; Journey to the West, ch. 7; Investiture of the Gods, ch. 42; Journey to the West, ch. 28; Investiture of the Gods, ch. 43

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.