YU
HUANG
Real
Name: Yu Huang Shang-Ti
Occupation: God of Heaven, former Emperor of China (c. 2195 BC)
Legal Status: Citizen of Celestial Ta-Lo
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of
Yu-Huang except as a figure
in Chinese legend and mythology.
Other Aliases: Shang-Ti, Yu-Ti, Yu Di, Huang Ti, Da-Yu, Mu King, Mu Gong,
Tung Wang Ku, Tung Wang Kung, Dong Wang Gong, Dong Wang Mu, The Yellow Emperor,
The Jade Emperor, The August Emperor In Jade, Jade August One, Hu Yuang (alternate
spelling),
Known Relatives: Yuang-Shi (father), Fu Pao (mother), Sien Tsan
Mu (sister), Xi Wang Mu
(wife), Ba Niang, Qi Gu Niang, Song Zi Niang, Wang Mu Niang, Meng Po
Niang, Chih Nu Niang (daughters), Chen-Kuei (son), Er Lang (nephew), Ching-Te (foster father,
deceased), Pao-Yueh (foster mother, deceased), Yen Ti (foster brother, deceased)
Affiliations:
The Gods of China,
The Council Elite,
The Yu-Di
Base of Operations: Celestial Ta-Lo, formerly K'un-L'un Mountain
First Appearance: Thor I #300
History: There is very little known of how Yu Huang became ruler of the Chinese Gods
as many of the stories about him are fragmentary and often conflict
each other. He was possibly the son of Yuang Shi Tian Long, the ruler of the
gods of China. According to Chinese myth, Yu Huang raised by mortal
parents named Ching Te and Pao Yueh possibly to protect him from the battle
between Gong Gung, the water god, and Zhu Rong, the fire god, for control
The first Emperors of China were the San Huang, who ruled between 2953 BC to around 2200 BC. These emperors were members of the Xian who departed their earthly reigns when their rules came to an end. Fu-Xi, the god of earth, was first to rule from 2953 to 2838. According to myth, he had created mankind from mud with the help of his wife, Nugua, goddess of water. Fu-Xi was also one of the San Hsing or gods of fortune who bestowed good luck. His reign was taken over by Shen-Nung, god of agriculture, who showed mortal man how to farm and create food. when his reign ended in 2698 BC, Yu Huang was meant under unrevealed circumstances to replace him. Believing he was not worth, Yu-Huang refused the throne and granted his mortal brother, Yen Ti, Emperor of China, before disappearing into the wilderness for an ascetic existence to attain physical perfection. In his absence, Yen-Ti gave mortal man commerce and showed them how to make and build cities.
Around 2195 BC, Yu Huang returned to take his role as Emperer of China. He was first among the Wu Di, Five Emperors who helped to create the Chinese Empire by uniting its feuding houses. He was opposed in ascension by Chi-Yu, the god of war and son of Shen Nong, who was supported by Chi Zong Zi, the god of rain, and Fei Lian, the god of wind, who created fog to blind him from returning to China, but Yu-Huang defeated him by inventing the compass and the help of Ba Niang, the goddess of drought, who created winds that blew the fog away. Yu Huang succeeded his foster brother as Emperor, and became the greatest of the emperors of Ancient China. After his rule was over on Earth, he retired to Ta-Lo where he became ruler of the gods of China assisted by Dong Yo Da-di, the god of the east, as his vizier and advisor.
On Earth, Yu Huang passed on the throne of China to a mortal emperor named Chuan Hsing. His great-grandson, Gun (also named Kun), succeeded Chuan Hsing and used a spell from heaven to eliminate the floods created by Gong Gung. He was followed by Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun. Following emperors were mortal under resulting dynasties, such as Xia, Shang and Zho Dynasties.
Yu Huang and the Xian were worshipped far longer than any of the other gods of Earth, such as the Olympians or the Anunnaki. Worship of the Xian became known as Taoism. Possibly because of elements of Buddhism infiltrating their worship rites, they developed peaceful ties with the Hindu Gods and the Gods of Japan. Sometime around 1000 AD, Yu Huang met with the ruling gods of Earth's pantheons to discuss the threat of the Third Host Of Celestials who threatened to sever the dimensional passages of their realms to Earth unless they promised not to interfere with their plans to judge humanity's worthiness. Representing the gods of Earth, Zeus, Odin and Vishnu confronted the Celestials and promised that the gods of Earth who no longer traffic with human beings. Yu Huang respected this decision and since then, the Xian have had very little to do with their former worshippers although many of their rites and ceremonies are still practiced well into modern years. In the wake of Ragnarok among the Norse Gods, Thor came to Yu Huang seeking a portion of the life energies to restore the Asgardians. Believing Thor to have defeated a threat to all gods and recalling his pact with Odin, Yu Huang graciously granted the needed energies to him that the Asgardians might be restored.
In
recent years, Odin was slain while battling another powerful menace to Earth and
Thor had to take his place on the throne of Asgard. Yu Huang was present with
the Council Elite when Thor was called before them as his worthiness to join the
council, but Thor
failed one of the tests put forth to judged his worthiness and was not allowed
to take his father's seat in the council.
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 350 lbs.
Eyes: Green
Hair: Black, partially Silver
Strength Level: Yu Huang possesses superhuman strength to lift (press) 50
tons under optimal conditions, although in his youth, his strength was
significantly greater, possibly in the Class 75 range.
Known Superhuman Powers: Yu Huang possesses the conventional physical
attributes of the Xian or gods of China. Like all of the Chinese Gods, he is
extremely long-lived, but he is not immortal like the Olympian Gods. He has aged
very slowly since reaching adulthood and cannot die by any conventional means.
He is immune to all Earthly diseases and is resistant to conventional injury. If
he were somehow wounded, his godly life force would enable her to recover with
superhuman speed. It would take an injury of such magnitude that it dispersed a
major portion of his bodily molecules to cause him a physical death. Even then,
it might be possible for a god of significant power, such as Zeus or Odin or for
a number of Chinese gods of equal power working together to revive him. Yu Huang
also possesses superhuman strength and his Xian metabolism provides him with far
greater than human endurance in all physical activities. (The flesh and bone of
the Chinese Gods is about three times as dense as similar human tissue,
contributing to their superhuman strength and weight.)
Yu Huang has nearly infinite ability to tap into and manipulate mystical and
elemental energies inherent in the universe. Very few of these powers have been
exhibited, but he may be equal in power to Odin and Zeus. He can control and
alter the weather, transport people and objects over incredible distances or
across dimensions and cast his voice and likeness into other realms. He can also
manipulate energies on a cosmic scale and create shields and weapons at will.
Yu Huang also has great sensory awareness and can "read" a person at a moment's notice. He is telepathic, capable of sending mental messages over incredible distances, as well as empathic. Because of his expertise, he can not be deceived.
Abilities: Yu Huang has great knowledge of Eastern history, philosophy and magical lore, especially of Chinese origin. He has memorized the preaching of Confucius, Buddha and other Eastern sages and often dispenses wisdom and knowledge to those willing to ask for it.
Base
of Operations: In
Chinese Mythology, Ta-Lo was located or accessed by a dimensional nexus at the top of Mount
K'un-L'un
in Western China. K'un-L'un is also the home of a
Comments: Yu Huang has appeared in Marvel Comics; he has yet to appear in DC comics.
This bio involves several stories and legends attributed to Yu Huang; the exact chronology and motivations in some of these tales is subjective.
Clarifications:
Yu Huang should not be confused with:
Yu-Ti
of K'un L'un, uncle of Iron Fist, aka the August Personage in Jade, @