Erlang Shen

Erlang Shen is a Chinese protective deity commonly portrayed as a three-eyed warrior accompanied by a celestial dog and carrying a three-pointed, double-edged spear.

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Li Bing: Li Bing was a Qin-era administrator associated with the construction of the Dujiangyan irrigation system. Some traditions identify Erlang Shen as Li Bing’s son, linking the deity to flood control.
Third eye: A third eye is an additional eye depicted on the forehead in religious art and mythology. Erlang Shen’s forehead eye signifies extraordinary perception and helps identify him in images.
Sun Wukong: Sun Wukong is the supernatural monkey hero of Journey to the West, famous for rebellion and magical transformations. Their battle contrasts Sun Wukong’s transformations with Erlang Shen’s perception and tactical skill.
Flood control: Flood control comprises measures that reduce the damage caused by overflowing rivers and other high water. Erlang Shen’s legends cast him as a force that subdues dangerous waters.
Dujiangyan: Dujiangyan is an ancient irrigation system in Sichuan that regulates the Min River without a dam. The system’s legendary construction is tied to Erlang Shen’s water-control stories.
Xiaotian Quan: Xiaotian Quan is the celestial dog who accompanies Erlang Shen in Chinese mythology. The dog is his closest companion and a recurring ally in battle.
Investiture of the Gods: Investiture of the Gods is a mythological novel about the fall of the Shang dynasty and the naming of new gods. This narrative tradition presents Erlang Shen among the divine warriors of a cosmic conflict.
Water deity: A water deity is a divine figure associated with rivers, rain, seas, or control of water. His flood-fighting stories place him within a broad tradition of water-related divinities.
Guanjiangkou: Guanjiangkou is a place in Sichuan associated with Erlang Shen’s worship and legends. Local traditions locate his cult near the Min River and Dujiangyan.
Three-pointed, double-edged spear: A three-pointed, double-edged spear is a polearm with a central blade and two side prongs. This distinctive weapon is one of Erlang Shen’s standard identifying attributes.