Yi - Yi

A master archer in ancient Chinese mythology and legend. According to the "Zuo Zhuan," Yi seized control from the King of Xia and ruled the country of Youjiu (present-day Shandong Province), but was killed by his retainers for his misrule and his devotion to hunting. However, according to the "Huainanzi," during the reign of Emperor Yao, ten suns appeared at the same time, turning the earth into a scorching hot world, and Yi, under the orders of Emperor Yao, shot down nine of them. Also, according to the "Shan Hai Jing," Yi relieved the suffering of the people by exterminating monsters under the orders of the Heavenly Emperor. Originally a heroic deity of the eastern peoples, he was transformed into an evil ruler who enjoyed hunting and was lavish with skillful archery in the later mythology of the Central Plains. There is also another legend that says that the elixir of immortality given to him by the fairy Queen Mother of the West was stolen by his wife, Heng'e, making it difficult to systematize the myth of Yi.

[Kiyoji Ito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国古代神話伝説中の弓の名人。『左伝(さでん)』によると、夏(か)王から支配権を奪って有窮国(ゆうきゅうこく)（現在の山東(さんとう／シャントン)省地方）に君臨した羿は、狩猟にひたって悪政を敷いたため家臣に殺される。しかし『淮南子(えなんじ)』によれば、堯帝(ぎょうてい)のとき、10個の太陽が同時に出たために地上が炎熱の世界となったので、堯帝の命を受けた羿はそのうちの9個を射落としたという。また『山海経(せんがいきょう)』によれば、羿は天帝の命令によって怪物を退治するなど、民衆の苦しみを救ったという。元来東方民族の英雄神であったものが、後の中原(ちゅうげん)の神話のなかで巧みな弓をおごって狩猟にひたった悪徳君主に姿を変えたものであろう。ほかに、仙女西王母(せいおうぼ)から与えられた不死の薬を妻の恒娥(こうが)に盗まれたという別の伝承もあり、羿神話の体系化は困難である。

［伊藤清司］

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