Need some East Asian mythological names

[Ogedei_the_Mad]

As some of you might already know, I've been making a mod that's inspired by East Asian folklore and mythology. I don't have too much trouble with getting Chinese mythological names (since I can simply ask my relatives about that), but some good info on Mongol and Korean mythology and folklore is kind of hard to come by. Pantheon.org doesn't give much except for rudimentary lists of a couple of names. I need some names of mythological and folkloric figures (preferably kings and heroes). I also need some names for Japanese folkloric and mythological heroes. Japanese folklore is a bit easier to find (as I have learned a bit of Japanese folklore and I can read Japanese at an intermediate level), but I'm still having a bit of trouble coming up with names for Military Great Leaders and Scientific Great Leaders.

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Lessee.....

Here are some Japanese Heroes of Legend and folklore:

Momo Taro (a boy who was born from a peach and who slays some demon prince, to paraphrase it a bit)

Miminashi Ho-Ichi (a blind Japanese Bard from a fairy tale who sings the Ballad of the Battle of Dan no Ura so well that the restless ghosts of the defeated warriors listen to his singing and playing)

Yagyu Jubei: One of the most famous Japanese Kensai of all time... He actually existed, but much of his life is shrouded in legend and mystery, and it is near-impossible to separate the fact from fiction of his life.

Yagyu Akane: Jubei's younger sister, and an accomplished swordswoman, nearly her brother's equal in that area.

Sasuke: A legendary Ninja (can't remember his family name) who was responsible for creating the Ninja code of conduct and giving the Ninja a good rep. Again, while he existed, he is so legendary that it is impossible to separate fact from fiction about his life as well.

Hon'ibo Shusaku: The greatest Go player in Japanese history.... He'd make a good SGL....

That's all I can come up with for now.... Unless you want to use some of the stuff from Japanese Manga/anime....

 

[Ogedei_the_Mad]

Thanks for the reply. I also got some info from 7ronin so now my list has enough leaders listed.

The hard part now would be figuring out Korean and Mongol folk heroes...

 

[Kyriakos]

The grey wolf is prominent in mongolic mythology

 

[Ogedei_the_Mad]

Does anyone know what "Grey wolf" is in Mongolian then?

I found one name of a Mongol hero (Erkhii Mergen), but it doesn't seem that there's much documented on the internet about Mongolian legendary heroes. Same goes for Korean.

 

[Onza]

Ogedei, I'd be happy to help with the Mongol erquest... but I long lost connection with my bei Menggu pengyou :-/. And I myself know too little about the cultural traditions of one line of my anscestors :-( No mythology, names or language :-(.

Anyway, there two things that are certain: the folklore realm must focuse on horseman hero(-es), (called 'baatyr' in Mongolian) and his/their fights for justice/a beloved woman. Possibly includes long-distance travels and overcoming huge difficulties most likely related to attaks of powerfull evil spirits and fights with unjustful and evel Kings. - Folklore of many peoples of this region is quite similar even if the peoples themselves are of different origine but live similar lives.

As far as their spiritual culture is concerned - the Mongols practice Lamaism or Vajrayana Buddhism of the Tibetan origin - with all respective pantheon of Mahayan buddhism with its numerous gods, goddesses and spirits as well as different personalized Buddha aspects; - but in Mongolia the ancient powerfull substrate of native Mongolian shamanism is still alive and holds power. The Shamans may be influential characters on a local scale even today. I know that in the Russian Federation shamanism of the Central Asian peoples (like the Tyvas or the Buryats - actually Northern Mongols) has been experiencing some restoration during the last decade.

In the US, the MACAssociation holds a Chinggis Qan ceremony annually, a continuation of the cult of Chinggis Qan, held in the Ezen Qoroo region of Ordos. This ritual was started in the United States by teachers Gombojab Hangin and C'orj'i Lama in 1988 and is usually held either in late summer or early fall.

You might also be interested in the "Great Mongols" webpage:
http://www.mongols.com/

And some legend about horse and music (both being hugely important for the steppe peoples of the Central Eurasia) - with names.
http://www.mongols.com/culture.htm

The page on the Mongolian shamanism
http://www.mongoliantravel.com/shamanism.asp

Bayartai ! (bye)

 

[Onza]

Khalkha
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The Khalkha, or Halh (Халх [χɑɬχ]) in modern Khalkha Mongolian, is a subgroup of the Mongols. They comprise the majority of the population of the independent state of Mongolia. The standard language of that country is based on their dialect.

Under Dayan Khan, the Khalkha was organized as one of three tümen of the Left Wing. Dayan Khan installed the fifth son Alchu Bolad and the eleventh son Geresenje on the Khalkha. The former became the founder of the Five Khalkha of Southern Mongolia and the latter became the founder of the Seven Khalkha of the Northern Mongolia. Mongolian chronicles called Geresenje as "Khong Tayiji of the Jalayir," which indicates that the core part of the Khalkha were descendants of the Jalayir tribe.

The Five Khalkha consisted of five tribes called Jarud, Baarin, Khunggirad, Bayaud and Öjiyed. They lived around the Shira Mören valley east of the Khingan Mountains, but were conquered by the Manchus. The Five Khalkha except for the Jarud and the Baarin were organized into the Eight Banners. Note that Khalkha Left Banner of Juu Uda League and Khalkha Right Banner of Ulaanchab League were offshoots of the Seven Khalkha.

The Seven Khalkha extended to central Mongolia, absorbing the Uriyangkhai, who rebelled after Dayan Khan's death. Geresenje's descendants formed the houses of Jasaghtu Khan, Tüshiyetü Khan and Chechen Khan. They preserved their independence until they sought help from the Kangxi Emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty when they were expelled by the Dzungar leader Galdan in 1688. In 1725 the Yongzheng Emperor gave Tsering independence from the house of Tüshiyetü Khan. It was the beginning of Sayin Noyan Aymagh.

The Khalkha led the Mongol independence movement in the 20th century. After enduring countless hardships, they established the independent state of Mongolia in northern Mongolia.

 

[Onza]

Mongolian noun for "grey wolf" is - "Chono"

 

[Onza]

Here, have a look at the page linked below.

I think there is everything you would need to learn about the mythology and folklore of the Mongols and the neighboring Central Asian people.

http://www.buryatmongol.com/mythology.html

 

[Ogedei_the_Mad]

Thanks. That info is very helpful.

 

[TeLinHuang]

Well......

Don't know if you would interested, but anyway, here are some Chineses ones:

[Note: Pin-yin in mandarin (name in Chinese)]

1, Fu-xi, Ru-wa (伏羲, 女&#23207[Two gods]

Fu-xi is a male God, and Ru-wa is a Godness. Some said they are husband and wife, and some said they are brother and sister. In Chinese mythology, Ru-wa plays a more important role. First, she created human from mud, and later, she used "Five colours stones" to repair the heaven, which was demaged during the war between the Fire God and Water God, in order to stop the endless rain that cause massive flooding. After that, Ru-wa used up all her power and fall into eternal sleep. Fu-xi, created the Ba-gau (八&#25499 and writthe Yi-jing (易&#32147, and started the Chinese culture, so as the civilization.
In addition, their upper body is human, lower body is snake.

2, Yuan-shi Tian-zun (元始天&#23562

One of the three Gods of the Taoism, he is the Emperor of the Heaven, also know as the "Jade Emperor (玉皇大&#24093". However, he is not that important amoung the common (non-taoist) Chinese. Sometimes we (Chinese) just call him "The Heaven".

3, Huang-di (黃&#24093

Also known as the "Yellow Emperor", one of the five great Kings of the ancient Chinese, believed to be live aroung 2000BC. Defeated the Eastern Tribe leaded by Chi-you (蚩&#23588 and established the rule of Chinese over the land. Memorized as the common ancestor of all Chinese. In the legend, he also invented a machine that always show the south direction (with the help of gears) in order to help his army in positioning during the war against Chi-you.
It is also belived that he is half dragon half human. That's where the name "descendant of the dragon" come from.

4, Yin-di (炎&#24093

Also Know as the "Fire Emperor", once allied with Huang-di during the war against Chi-you, and later defeated by Huang-di. Another common ancestor of all Chinese.

5, Xing-tian (刑&#22825

A fellow warrior of another important pre-historical King, Yin-di. When Yin-di was defeated, he challenged Huang-di. In the fight, he lost his head but he grew another set of eyes, ears, mouth,etc on his body and continue. He was defeated finally and trapped, but not killed. His weapon is a great axe and retangleur shield.

6, Chi-you (蚩&#23588

Half bull demon, the leader of the Eastern babarian. Defeated by the join force of Huang-di and Yin-di.

Now, "newer gods":

1, Er-lang-shen (二郎&#31070 p.s. ["shen" is "God" in Chinese.]

There are two source of him, first is he was the second son of Li-pin (李&#20912, the governor of Si-chuan during the Qin (&#31206 dynasty (Roughly 220~200BC). He and his father built the famous Du-jiang-yan (都江&#22576,a watershed project that still working well today, which turn Si-chuan(四&#24029 into a fertility provience. In the legend, he killed a wild dragon before building Du-jiang-yan. The Jade Emperor make him a god for this achievement. In the Heaven, he is a general in the Heaven Army, a really strong one.
Another origin in that he is a Taoist warrior during the last days of the Shang(&#21830 dynasty, named Yang-qian(楊&#25129, who helped Zhou-Wu-Wang (周武&#29579, second king of Zhou dynasty (around 1100BC) overthrown the Shang dynasty, as a general in the Zhou force.
The former say is more popular.
In both legends, Er-lang-shen is young man with three eyes, use a three-headed spear as weapon, process an extreem strong super-natural power including flying and shap-shifting, and have a war dog helping him out.
However, like the Jade Emperor, he is not commonly warshiped in temples...

2, Huang dai xian (黃大&#20185

An extremely popular god, and there is a huge temle for him in Hong Kong. One district even named because of the temple. His name is Huang-chu-ping(黃初&#24179 a Herbist during Jin (&#26185 dynasty (the short dynasty right after the Three Kingdoms). He became a god through practicing Taoist theurgy.

3, Lao-zi (老&#23376

The second most important one of the three main Taoist gods, and so as the founder of the Taoist. You could find more information about him from Wikipedia.

4, Kwan-yu (關&#32701

If you know the History of the Three Kingdoms period, or read the historial novel, or ever played koei's Three Kingdoms series, you should be famiar with him. Yes, he is the "brother" of Liu-bi (劉&#20633. Because of his loyality and moral goodness, the Jade Emperor make him a god and let him be a general of his army. Mr. Kwan is now called the "Saint of Martial"(武&#32854, and is warshiped by both police force (mainly in Hong Kong) and gangsters......

There are several more, I'll post them later if you are interested. But basically, all other local Chinese gods are great Taoist monks. After Jin (&#26185 dynasty, almost all gods are from buddhaism, which is very close to indian mythology, so I didn't include them here. Besides, God beasts and demon beasts also played quite important roles in Chinese legends. Just let me know if you are interest.

Addition!!

Xia (&#20448

The chinese word "俠" can roughly refer to personals who adept in martial arts and given to chivalrous conduct. Simailar to European knights, they followed codes of "errantry" (俠&#32681 ,which is greatly influenced by Confucianism, that restrict their behavior. However, xia are not necessary nobles or landowners, not even part of formal military; most of them are civilian martial ark masters. Xia are very popular amount Chinese citizens, even today. This is because of their chivalrous act and the willingness to fight unjust, from corrupting government officers (even the emperor) to road raiders, and defend the country whenever it is in danger.
On the other hand, although xia do contribute the country in some way, the governments of almost all dynasty in the history hold an opposite view on xia than the general public, as xia do not always obey the law. This view is clearly expressed by a quote of a great politician, who lived around 250BC to 205BC, that "scholars perform illegal acts with knowledge, xia violate prohibitions with fighting skill." Although the negative view of the government, xia still keep their position in people's mind. Nowadays, xia has become a symbol of chivalry and courage amount Chinese.

...so what do xia do with mythology?

Actuallu, Ancient Chinese believe there is a life energy called "qi" (&#27683, roughy mean "Aura" in English. And one of the most important part of Chinese martial ark is to practice and enhance "qi" in human body. They believe "qi" can greatly enhance body strenght, and, when it come to the top, will lead to immorality. In ancient tales or novels, we can always see some immoral xia fly arround, saving people from natural hazard, war or government opression.

For othe legend hero (like those in Greeks), I'll post their imformation here when I have time, and if anyone DO interested.

 

[Ogedei_the_Mad]

I'm well aware of Chinese mythology; I'm primarily looking for Mongol and Korean names for now. But I do appreciate having more mythological names to add to the list.