Kang Jinlong () is a star deity in traditional Chinese mythology and astrology. He is associated with Kang, the second of the Twenty-Eight Mansions (二十八宿) of the Azure Dragon (青龙). Kang represents the neck of the Azure Dragon and is associated with the dragon's form and power.
Kang Jinlong was also regarded as a wind spirit and a dragon deity who could fly and control the weather. Ancient Chinese sources describe him as the "essence of the dragon" and associate him with water and thunder.
Astronomy In Chinese astronomy, the Neck Mansion (亢宿亢宿, Kàng Xiù) is located in the modern Western constellation of Virgo. The mansion itself is an asterism composed of four primary stars: Kappa Virginis (κ Vir), Iota Virginis (ι Vir), Phi Virginis (φ Vir), and Lambda Virginis (λ Vir). These stars form the "neck" of the great Azure Dragon. During the Qing dynasty, the asterism was expanded to include twelve additional stars.
The Neck Mansion holds a significant position as the second station in the Azure Dragon's sequence, following the Horn Mansion (角宿, Jiǎo Xiù) and preceding the Root Mansion (氐宿, Dī Xiù). Its appearance in the night sky was traditionally associated with agricultural activities and seasonal changes.
Form Kang Jinlong's true form is that of a dragon and represents the shape of the star mansion in the ancient Chinese conception of the night sky. Kang Jinlong is associated with the element of metal (金), which is further divided into yin and yang. The deity has been depicted in both male and female forms, associated with its yin and yang aspects.
Records
According to the Beidou Gu Fa Wuwei Jing (北斗牿法武威经), Volume 55 of the Wushang Huanglu Dazhai Licheng Yi (无上黄箓大斋立成仪), and Volume 3 of the Daomen Dingzhi (道门定制), the Star Lord of the Kang Mansion governs strong winds in the human world. He is said to reside in the Kaihe Palace, located to the north of the Chen direction (辰北), where he is responsible for receiving those who attain the Dao and complete their path to immortality. He oversees the Gui–Mao (癸卯) pairing from above and is linked to the Gou (姤) hexagram, while from below, he is connected to the Jia–Chen (甲辰) pairing and corresponds to the Cui (萃) hexagram. Furthermore, within the Kang (Neck) Constellation, there is said to be a celestial force of 90,000, composed of Spirit Officials (靈官 Língguān), Divine Immortals (神仙 Shénxiān), and celestial soldiers and horses under his command.
According to the Yunji Qiqian (云笈七签), the celestial official Yi (乙) is a yin spirit under the authority of Lord Kang. There are four yin spirits, with the surname Fu and the given name Sima. They are described as having horse heads and bare red bodies, dressed in crimson silk garments, and armed with swords. All are under the command of the Lord Kang.
In Investiture of the Gods, Li Daotong, who died in the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, was subsequently deified as the Kang Star.
A passage from the Daoist encyclopedia states:
There are two passages about Lord Kang in the Daoist text Dongshen Wuxing Zhuxiu Riyue Hunchang Jing (太上洞神五星诸宿日月混常经), which state:
Appearance in Journey to the West Kang Jinlong appears twice in the classic 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West. In Chapter 65, Kang Jinlong is depicted as one of the celestial protectors dispatched by the Jade Emperor to rescue the protagonist, Sun Wukong, who is imprisoned inside magical Golden Cymbals (金铙, jīn náo) wielded by the Yellow-Browed Demon at the Little Thunder Sound Temple (小雷音寺). Kang Jinlong leads a contingent of star deities and heavenly generals, forming a celestial vanguard against the demon forces. To assist in the rescue, Kang Jinlong uses his divine dragon horn to discreetly bore a small hole in the cymbals without breaking them entirely, so as not to alert the demon. Sun Wukong then transforms into a tiny form and escapes through the hole.
Kang Jinlong appears again in a later episode when Sun Wukong and his companions encounter a trio of formidable rhinoceros demons: the King of Cold Protection (辟寒大王), the King of Heat Protection (辟暑大王), and the King of Dust Protection (辟塵大王). After repeated failed attempts to defeat them, Sun Wukong calls upon the assistance of celestial forces. Kang Jinlong, along with other stellar deities, descends to join the battle. In this episode, Kang Jinlong’s horn is described as possessing a special power capable of breaking the demons’ magical defenses.
Temple One of the most notable representations of Kang Jinlong is found at the in Zezhou County, Shanxi Province, China. The temple, first constructed during the Northern Song dynasty in 1076, houses a collection of 28 clay sculptures representing the Twenty-Eight Mansions, created by Yuan dynasty artist Liu Yuan (also known as Liu Luan).
The statue of Kang Jinlong stands approximately 1.92 meters tall and depicts the deity as a fierce, dynamic female figure with flowing garments and a commanding expression.
In popular culture
In the acclaimed 2024 game Black Myth: Wukong, Kang Jinlong is depicted as a fallen female star god who has succumbed to lust and darkness, becoming a villain. The game's depiction of the character draws heavily from the Yuan dynasty sculptures at the Jade Emperor Temple, sparking renewed public interest in this celestial figure and the rich mythology of the Twenty-Eight Mansions. This resurgence has contributed to increased cultural tourism at the temple.
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