Shennong, often referred to as the “God farmer” or the “God peasant”, holds a significant place in Chinese spiritual culture. He is regarded as a mythical sage, revered for his healing abilities and ruling over prehistoric China. Shennong is sometimes called the Wugushen, meaning “five grains,” or Wuguxiandi, which translates to “the first deity of the five grains.” His teachings are fundamental, encompassing the beginnings of agriculture, the use of medicinal herbs, plant-based treatments, and acupuncture.
The Legendary Shennong
In the realm of Chinese mythology, Shennong is often credited with pioneering numerous agricultural tools and methods, including the hoe, plow, and irrigation systems, as well as techniques for preserving seeds and modernizing trade through organized farmer’s markets. Furthermore, he is believed to have enhanced the medicinal understanding of pulse diagnosis, developed practices like moxibustion—burning mugwort on targeted body parts—and established the harvest thanksgiving rituals known as the Zhaji Sacrificial Rite.
Shennong is dated back to approximately 2737 to 2697 BC, coinciding with the legendary origin of Chinese medicine around 5,000 years ago. Despite this, documented use of herbal medicine appears much later, notably with “The Shennong Herbal,” a compendium that emerged about 1,800 years ago. According to legend, Shennong’s birthplace is positioned slightly northeast of the historic capital Xi’an, nestled in the Hua Shan mountains. Some suggest the Fufeng County area, where evidence of ancient civilization has been unearthed.
The Fire Emperor
Initially known as “Yan Di,” or the Fire Emperor, Shennong is attributed with various monikers throughout history. He is referred to as the “Red Emperor,” as fire symbolizes his patronage. Chinese legends recount that he instructed the populace on the effective use of fire for agriculture.
Described with an array of attributes, he is often depicted as having a bull’s head atop a human body, which symbolizes the deep connection between agriculture and the water buffalo commonly used in farming across China, especially in rice cultivation. One legend of his birth depicts him as a divine being, capable of speech after three days and plowing fields by age three.
Shennong’s Teachings
As the protector of medicinal herbs, Shennong was imagined to have a transparent stomach, reflective of his quest for understanding the effects of various plants on health. By consuming hundreds of herbs, he researched their healing properties. Texts like the Huainanzi illustrate that before Shennong’s arrival, people were frail and impoverished, lacking the skills for self-sufficiency. He transformed their diets, encouraging a transition from reliance on meat and wild foods to cultivating grains and vegetables.
The “Divine Farmer’s Herb-Root Classic,” a landmark manuscript associated with Shennong, was compiled around the end of the Western Han Dynasty, approximately 2000 years after his supposed timeline. This foundational work catalogs various herbs, categorizing them as “superior,” “medium,” and “inferior”—based on their health effects, toxicity levels, and healing capabilities.
A Legacy of Discovery
In one tale, Shennong is credited with the discovery of tea. As the story unfolds, he held burning leaves above a fire, which were unexpectedly carried by a gust into a cauldron of boiling water, revealing tea’s beneficial properties.
According to legend, Shennong met his demise through his relentless experimentation with herbs. Reportedly, he ingested a toxic yellow flower, which ruptured his intestines before he could consume an antidote.
The Second of Three Sovereigns
If one considers Shennong as more than a myth, he is recognized as one of the “three sovereigns”—a triumvirate of divine rulers of ancient China. Believed to have shared wisdom with Fu Xi and the Yellow Emperor, he was an integral part of the narrative surrounding Chinese medicinal and alchemical knowledge and even contributes to the mythos surrounding the guqin, an ancient stringed instrument.
Celebrated on his lunar birthday every April 26th, Shennong’s veneration includes fireworks, incense offerings, and sacrifices involving livestock. Today, he is honored as a guardian of farmers, rice merchants, and practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine.
Conclusion
Shennong’s mythos intertwines agricultural advancement with medicinal tradition, establishing a legacy that resonates throughout centuries in Chinese culture.
