Suiren

Suiren is the legendary inventor of artificial fire-making and is venerated as Suiren the Divine Fire Ancestor (Suihuang). In remote antiquity, humans ate raw flesh and drank unboiled water, suffered frequent illness, and lived short lives. According to legend, Suiren observed birds pecking at the suimu tree—a kind of flammable wood—and noticed sparks igniting upon impact. Inspired, he broke off a branch of the suimu tree and drilled it into another piece of wood until fire was born. Thereafter, humanity learned to roast food, warm themselves, illuminate darkness, and drive away ferocious beasts—bringing the raw-and-unboiled era to an end and marking a pivotal leap forward in civilisation. The Han Feizi records: 'A sage arose, drilled wood to make fire, transforming foul-smelling raw food; the people rejoiced and made him sovereign over all under heaven, bestowing upon him the title Suiren.' To this day, the Suiren Mausoleum in Shangqiu hosts uninterrupted incense offerings, and locals hold an annual Sacred Fire Ceremony, during which fire is ritually rekindled—the eternal transmission of the flame symbolising the unbroken continuity of civilisation.