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Chijingzi (Chinese: 赤精子; pinyin: Chìjīngzǐ; lit. "Master of the Red Essence") is a figure in Chinese mythology who appears in two distinct contexts: as an ancient immortal (guxian) in early Daoist hagiographies, and as one of the "Twelve Golden Immortals" in the 16th-century Ming dynasty novel Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi).
Chijingzi appears in several pre-Ming texts as an ancient immortal (guxian). He is mentioned in early Daoist hagiographies such as the Liexian Zhuan (列仙傳), as well as in later works including the Soushen Ji (搜神記) and the Yuan-dynasty Lishi Zhenxian Tidao Tongjian (历世真仙体道通鉴). The Zhenxian Tidao Tongjian describes him as a legendary teacher who appeared during the reign of Emperor Zhuanxu and expounded the Weiyan Jing (微言经; Scripture of Subtle Words). The Nanyue Zongsheng Ji (南岳总圣集) associates him with the Scripture-Transmitting Altar (传经坛) on Lotus Peak, while other traditions identify him as Xie Yizi (燮邑子). According to these accounts, he descended to Mount Qi to teach the principles of benevolence and trustworthiness before later being invited by the Lord of the West (King Wen of Zhou), to serve as Keeper of the Archives.
According to the Book of Han (Han Shu), during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han (r. 33–7 BCE), the Daoist practitioner Gan Zhongke (甘忠可) submitted a memorial claiming that he had received revelations from a divine manifestation of Chijingzi. As recorded in the Biography of Li Xun (Han Shu, vol. 75), Gan used this claim to support his political proposals. By invoking the symbolism of the "Red Emperor" (Chidi) and its association with the "Fire Virtue" (火德; huo de), he argued that the Han dynasty was approaching a new heavenly cycle. According to scholar Jiang Sheng, the "Chijingzi prophecy", later associated with the Baoyuan Taiping Jing (包元太平經), formed part of early Taiping ("Great Peace") ideology and was used to support political reform during the Western Han period.
Chijingzi is often confused with the deity Chisongzi (赤松子), who is mentioned in the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing). Despite sharing the prefix chi ("red"), they are distinct figures. Chisongzi is traditionally regarded as an ancient immortal and Rain Master associated with the era of Shennong.
In the novel Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi), Chijingzi is one of the Twelve Golden Immortals and a senior disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun. He resides at Cloud-Rising Cave (雲霄洞; Yunxiao Dong) on Mount Taihua and serves as the master of the Shang prince Yin Hong. Chijingzi gives Yin Hong several powerful treasures, including the Yin-Yang Mirror (陰陽鏡), which can kill or revive a person depending on how it is used, and the Bagua Purple-Ribbon Immortal Garment.
Despite his master's guidance, Yin Hong is persuaded by Shen Gongbao to betray the Zhou cause and return to the Shang side. Before accepting him as a disciple, Chijingzi had made Yin Hong swear a blood oath that he would die by fire if he ever broke his promise. After Yin Hong betrays the oath, Chijingzi reluctantly uses the Taiji Diagram (太極圖) to fulfill the vow and execute his own disciple.
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