Erlang Shen (Lord Qingyuan Miaodao) — Divine Office, Birthday & Legend

Divine Office

Possesses a celestial third eye on his forehead, enabling him to discern the true forms of demons and evil spirits across the Three Realms
Accompanied by the howling heavenly hound Xiaotian Quan, he captures demons and monsters and slays malevolent beings
Controls floods and suppresses disasters, subduing flood-dragons and binding serpentine demons to protect the Guankou region
Serves as the celestial judicial deity entrusted with apprehending lawless gods and demons

Origin & Legend

Erlang Shen ranks among the most renowned martial deities in Chinese folk religion. His mythological persona synthesizes multiple historical and legendary heroes famed for slaying dragons and controlling floods—including Li Bing’s second son, a Qin-era governor of Shu Commandery; Zhao Yu of the Sui dynasty; and Deng Xia of the Jin dynasty. Later literary masterpieces such as Journey to the West and Investiture of the Gods recast him as Yang Jian, disciple of the immortal Yuding Zhenren, endowed with seventy-two transformations, a celestial third eye on his forehead, the loyal heavenly hound Xiaotian Quan, and the iconic three-pronged, double-edged spear—aided by the Seven Sages of Meishan. His exploits include assisting King Wu in overthrowing the Shang dynasty, capturing the Monkey King Sun Wukong, and cleaving mountains to rescue his mother. Revered since the Song dynasty, he received imperial bestowal of the title 'Lord Qingyuan Miaodao'. The Erwang Temple in Guankou, Dujiangyan, serves as his ancestral temple. Honoured in Sichuan for his flood-control achievements, he is venerated as the divine protector ensuring balanced rainfall and bountiful harvests; devotees also invoke him for exorcism, household protection, and the suppression of demonic forces.