Yunzhong Jun (Cloud God)

The 'Jiu Ge' section of the 'Chu Ci' ('Songs of Chu') contains a hymn dedicated to the ritual worship of the Cloud Deity: 'Bathing in orchid-scented waters and anointing myself with fragrant herbs, I don my brilliant robes, radiant as blossoms. The divine presence coils gracefully and remains with us—its luminous radiance boundless and unceasing.' Yunzhong Jun, identified as the Cloud Deity Fenglong (or, in some interpretations, Bingyi), governs the movement of clouds and the descent of rain, thereby nurturing all living beings. Worshippers prepared for his arrival by bathing in orchid-infused water and donning sumptuous ceremonial attire; they beheld him 'riding a dragon-drawn chariot in imperial robes, soaring freely and roaming at will', traversing the heavens atop a cloud-chariot drawn by dragons—appearing and vanishing mysteriously, leaving devotees entranced and yearning. Since clouds and rain directly determined the success or failure of agriculture, the people of Chu venerated Yunzhong Jun with exceptional reverence, earnestly praying that he would linger among them and grant bountiful harvests.