Su Hu

Su Hu

Su Hu (蘇護) is a Chinese mythological figure and a character in the 16th-century classic novel Fengshen Yanyi. He is depicted as the marquis of Jizhou and a general of the Shang dynasty under King Di Xin. He is the father of Su Quanzhong and Su Daji. In the novel, after an armed conflict between his forces and the Shang army, he presents Daji to Di Xin as part of a peace settlement.

Origin

Although Su Daji is regarded as a historical figure, the historicity of Su Hu and Su Quanzhong has been questioned, and they are generally considered semi-fictional characters. Neither is mentioned in early historical records or ancient inscriptions. According to sources such as the Guoyu and the Records of the Grand Historian, Daji is identified only as the daughter of a noble of the Yousu clan [zh]. After Di Xin conquered the Yousu clan, she was presented to him as a concubine. These sources do not record the names of Daji's father or brother. Nevertheless, through the development of Chinese folklore and oral traditions, Su Hu and Su Quanzhong became established as legendary figures, and tombs traditionally associated with them can still be found in China today.

Fengshen Yanyi

Depictions of Fengshen Yanyi characters. From left: Nezha, Yang Jian, Su Hu, Huang Feihu.

In Fengshen Yanyi, Su Hu is one of the eight hundred marquises serving King Di Xin and ruling over Jizhou. During the customary summer assembly at the Shang court, he becomes disillusioned by what he perceives as corruption among the king's ministers and refuses to comply with their demands. His actions incur the hostility of the influential ministers Fei Zhong and You Hun.

At Fei Zhong's urging, Di Xin demands that Su Hu present his daughter, Su Daji, to the royal court. Su Hu refuses and returns to Jizhou to prepare for war. Di Xin dispatches a coalition led by Chong Houhu and Ji Chang to suppress the rebellion. While Ji Chang seeks a peaceful resolution, Chong Houhu launches an attack in an effort to gain the king's favor.

After his son Su Quanzhong is captured, Su Hu resolves to commit suicide along with his wife and daughter rather than surrender. Ji Chang persuades him to abandon this plan and instead present Daji to Di Xin in order to spare the people of Jizhou. During her journey to the Shang court, Daji is possessed by a fox spirit, setting in motion the events that ultimately lead to the fall of the Shang dynasty. Su Hu later joins the forces of King Wu of Zhou in the campaign against the Shang. He continues to participate in subsequent campaigns before being killed by Yu Zhao at Tongguan Pass. After his death, Jiang Ziya appoints him as one of the four Dongdou Xingguan (East Star Officials; 东斗星官).

Tomb

In Jiaozuo, the Lianzhu Tomb is identified as the burial site of Su Hu and Su Quanzhong. According to the old county annals and folklore, after Su Hu and his son were forced to sacrifice Su Daji, they turned against the Yin dynasty and sided with Zhou. They were subsequently killed in the ensuing war and laid to rest in this tomb. Located in the northeast of Xiaonanzhang Village, 3 kilometers north of Wen County, the tomb gained attention in August 1968 when a collection of 23 bronze artifacts was unearthed from a pit over half a meter deep below the surface. A hundred meters to the west of Lianzhu Tomb is Yuntuan Tomb, which is the tomb of Zheng Lun, the general of Su Hu. Suwang Village in the north of the county is said to be the home of Su Hu.

Worship

Statue of Sufu Er Wangye at Gangfu Temple

Su Hu is worshipped in Chinese folk religion and known as the Sufu Er Wangye (The Second Duke of the Su Mansion, 蘇府二王爺). He is enshrined in the Jing'an Temple (景安宮) in Guanmiao District and Gangfu Temple in Xitun District, Taiwan.

Notes

  1. ↑ The other three are Jin Kui, Ji Shuming, and Zhao Bing.

References

  1. 1 2 Creation of the Gods. New World Press. 1992. ISBN 978-7-80005-134-0.
  2. ↑ 《封神榜》之冀州候刺妖. 今日头条 (in Chinese). 24 November 2021.
  3. ↑ 封神演義 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 三民書局股份有限公司. 24 July 2020. ISBN 978-957-14-5915-8.
  4. ↑ 《史记·殷本纪》：殷帝辛「好酒淫乐，嬖于妇人。爱妲己，妲己之言是从。」
  5. 1 2 Chew, Katherine Liang (2002). Tales of the Teahouse Retold: Investiture of the Gods. iUniverse. ISBN 978-0-595-25419-4.
  6. ↑ 文法封神榜: LS063. 倍斯特. 1 September 2016. ISBN 978-986-92855-7-5.
  7. ↑ 封神榜 (in Chinese). 一個人. 18 March 2014.
  8. ↑ ShiDeHuangNiu, Pu (20 May 2020). Legend of Demon Master Kunpeng: Volume 1. Funstory. ISBN 978-1-64935-400-6.
  9. ↑ 封神演义. Xin shi jie chu ban she. 2000. ISBN 978-7-80005-486-0.
  10. ↑ 焦作市文物志 [Jiaozuo Cultural Relics] (in Chinese). 中州古籍出版社. 2005. ISBN 978-7-5348-2578-1. 据旧县志与民间传说,此家为殷商名臣苏护、苏全忠父子墓。苏护父子被迫献出苏妲己后,反殷投周,伐战争中皆阵亡,葬于此。【小南张商墓】位于温县城北 3 公里小南张村东北。 1968 年 8 月在距地表半米多深的土坑内出土一批青铜器,共 23 件。 [According to the old county annals and folklore, the Xiaonanzhang Shang Tomb is the resting place of Su Hu and Su Quanzhong, father and son, who were renowned officials during the Yin and Shang Dynasties. After being compelled to sacrifice Su Daji, they turned against the Yin dynasty and aligned themselves with the Zhou. Unfortunately, they met their demise in the ensuing war and were laid to rest in this tomb. Situated in the northeast of Xiaonanzhang Village, 3 kilometers north of Wen County, in August 1968, a batch of 23 bronze wares were unearthed from a pit more than half a meter deep below the surface.]
  11. ↑ 中外歷史美人之謎: 德威文化371 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 德威國際文化事業. 1 May 2009. ISBN 978-986-6498-22-0. 溫縣城內有蘇護、蘇全忠父子墓,即聯珠塚,今尚存大部。聯珠塚西百米有雲團塚,爲蘇護大將鄭倫之墓,在今實驗小學院內,已不沒。縣北的蘇王村,傳說爲蘇護的家。 [In Wen County, there are the tombs of Su Hu and Su Quanzhong, the father and son, namely Lianzhu Tomb, most of which still exist today. A hundred meters to the west of Lianzhu Tomb is Yuntuan Tomb, which is the tomb of Zheng Lun, the general of Su Hu. Suwang Village in the north of the county is said to be the home of Su Hu.]
  12. ↑ 蘇府二王爺的由來與事蹟. 隨意窩 Xuite日誌. 4 May 2012.
  13. ↑ 習俗百科／三府、五府千歲 王爺組合為何都是奇數. Yahoo (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 17 February 2020.