Kong Xuan () is a character in the Chinese novel Fengshen Yanyi. He is a peacock spirit who serves as a military commander of King Zhou and becomes one of the principal opponents of the forces of King Wu of Zhou. Chinese scholars have associated the character with the Buddhist Peacock Wisdom King (孔雀明王), identified with Mahamayuri.
Kong Xuan is known for his five-colored divine light (五色神光), which he uses to capture opponents and magical weapons. He is eventually defeated and subdued by Zhunti Daoren (准提道人), who takes him to the West.
In Fengshen Yanyi
Kong Xuan first appears as a commander at Sanshan Pass. After the defeat of the other Shang forces, King Zhou sends him to stop the Zhou army at Jinji Ridge. Kong Xuan establishes his camp on the ridge and prevents the Zhou army from advancing.
At Jinji Ridge, Kong Xuan commands several officers, including Chen Geng, Sun He and Gao Jieneng. After several of his officers are defeated, he personally enters the fighting. The novel describes him as a mounted general who carries a large sword and uses five-colored light in battle.
Kong Xuan also argues with the Zhou commanders over the legitimacy of their campaign against Shang. When Jiang Ziya accuses him of opposing Heaven's mandate, Kong Xuan rejects the argument that the Zhou victory is predetermined and continues to support King Zhou.
Five-colored light
Kong Xuan's principal ability is his five-colored divine light. The novel describes five rays of light that he releases from behind him. The light is used to capture people, weapons and magical objects.
During the fighting at Jinji Ridge, Kong Xuan uses the light to capture Hong Jin and the God-Sealing Whip. He later uses it against several Zhou commanders. During a night attack on his camp, he captures Nezha and Leizhenzi with the yellow and white rays.
Kong Xuan also defeats Randeng Daoren in their encounter. Randeng Daoren attempts to use the Twenty-Four Dinghai Pearls and a golden alms bowl against him, but Kong Xuan captures both with his divine light.
The five-colored light also defeats Lu Ya Zhenren's attempt to attack Kong Xuan with the Flying Immortal-Slaying Saber. Lu Ya escapes by transforming into a rainbow.
The novel does not give a detailed explanation of the five colors as a system of the Five Elements. Later interpretations have nevertheless associated the ability with Buddhist peacock imagery and the Peacock Wisdom King.
Defeat by Zhunti
After the fighting at Jinji Ridge, Zhunti Daoren comes to confront Kong Xuan. Zhunti tells him that he has a connection with the West and invites him to abandon the war and accompany him to the Western Paradise. Kong Xuan refuses and attacks him with his sword.
Zhunti uses the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree to knock Kong Xuan's sword and golden whip away. Kong Xuan then releases his red light and captures Zhunti. Zhunti responds by revealing a supernatural form with eighteen arms and twenty-four heads. He subsequently subdues Kong Xuan and orders him to reveal his original form.
The novel's description of the encounter associates Kong Xuan with the imagery of a Buddhist Mingwang (明王). A poem in the narrative describes Kong Xuan as being known as a Mingwang beneath a bōsuō tree. Kong Xuan is ultimately subdued by Zhunti and taken to the West.
Buddhist background Chinese scholars have associated Kong Xuan with the Buddhist Peacock Wisdom King (孔雀明王), also known as Mahamayuri. In Fengshen Yanyi, Kong Xuan is ultimately revealed in peacock form, and a poem in the novel describes him as a Mingwang (明王).
The Peacock Wisdom King belongs to the Mahāmāyūrī Vidyārājñī tradition of Buddhist literature and is represented as a peacock deity. Scholars have therefore compared the figure with Kong Xuan, particularly because of Kong Xuan's peacock form and his association with Mingwang imagery.
Other folktale
Kong Xuan also appears in later Chinese folklore independently of his role in Fengshen Yanyi. A recorded story, Kong Xuan and the Lacquer Treasure (孔宣与漆宝), tells of Kong Xuan as a peacock spirit associated with a lacquer tree. Zhunti encounters and subdues him and subsequently makes him a disciple.
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