Why did Bai Jian, despite his relatively undistinguished achievements, become the first deity sealed by Jiang Ziya in the legend of Feng Shen Yi Yan? How did he acquire his divine position? Bai Jian, also known as Bai Gong, is a figure from ancient Chinese legends. In the novel Feng Shen Yi Yan, he is revered as the "first deity to be sealed," yet his deeds are not particularly outstanding compared to other figures. So, how did Bai Jian, with his relatively minor achievements, become the first deity sealed by Jiang Ziya? And how did he acquire his divine position? Legend has it that Bai Jian was originally an ordinary soldier who, due to his bravery in battle, was recognized and taken under Jiang Ziya's wing. Under Jiang Ziya's command, Bai Jian participated in numerous battles, but did not achieve particularly noteworthy military feats. Tragically, Bai Jian perished in battle, leaving Jiang Ziya deeply mournful. To commemorate this loyal soldier, Jiang Ziya specifically named him the "General of Manifestation" and proclaimed him the "first deity to be sealed." Bai Jian's appointment as the "General of Manifestation" stems from ancient Chinese folk beliefs. In Chinese folklore, soldiers who perish in battle are venerated as "Generals of Manifestation." This belief originates from ancient soul-summoning customs, where it was believed that the spirits of slain soldiers would turn into ghosts and harm society. To pacify these ghosts, they were appointed as generals, granting them official positions and titles, preventing them from wandering as disembodied spirits. Bai Jian's appointment as the "General of Manifestation" also carries the meaning of soul-summoning. In ancient Chinese soul-summoning rituals, the names of the deceased were called to bring their spirits back. In Feng Shen Yi Yan, after his spirit returned, Bai Jian was named the "General of Manifestation" by Jiang Ziya, which also carries the meaning of soul-summoning. Through this process, Bai Jian's spirit was allowed to rest peacefully, no longer wandering as a harmful ghost. Although Bai Jian is known as the "first deity to be sealed," his divine position is not particularly significant. In Feng Shen Yi Yan, he is described as the "General of Manifestation," primarily responsible for protecting and escorting during battles. Unlike other deities in the novel who possess formidable magical powers or divine abilities, Bai Jian's duties do not involve overseeing spiritual affairs between heaven and earth. However, Bai Jian's status as the "first deity to be sealed" reflects the ancient Chinese folk belief in honoring valiant soldiers and mourning the deceased. Besides Bai Jian, many other characters in Feng Shen Yi Yan are also venerated as "Generals of Manifestation." For instance, Huang Feihu, Yang Jian, Nezha, and others are all esteemed as such. Most of these characters were valiant warriors who perished in battle. Although they may not have achieved the status of "first deity to be sealed" like Bai Jian, they are still respected as "Generals of Manifestation," tasked with protecting and escorting the Zhou dynasty's armies during battles. Although Bai Jian's achievements may not be as prominent as other deities, his position in Feng Shen Yi Yan cannot be overlooked. His appointment as the "first deity to be sealed" reflects the ancient Chinese folk belief in honoring valiant soldiers and mourning the deceased. Although his divine position is not particularly prominent, it carries significant cultural and historical value. In traditional Chinese culture, Bai Jian has become a symbolic figure representing loyalty, bravery, and mourning.

　　Disclaimer: The above content is sourced from the internet and the copyright belongs to the original author. If there is any infringement of your original copyright, please inform us and we will delete the relevant content as soon as possible.