慈航道人 Taoist goddess Cihang Dashi (Master Cihang)
Ci Hang Zheng Ren (慈航真人Cíháng Zhēnrén Ci Hang 'Compassion Travel/Navigate True-Person/Perfected-Person'), in the novel "The Investiture of the Gods" (封神演義 Fēngshén Yǎnyì; lit. 'Investiture of Gods Dramatization of Doctrines'), is the only female disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun and one of the twelve golden immortals. She lives in Luojia Cave of Mount Putuo (普陀山). Her magic weapon is a clear glass bottle and her mount is a golden roar.
Cihang Zhenren is a Daoist zhenren "Perfected Person" who is identified with the Buddhist bodhisattva Guan Yin. Cihang Zhenren supposedly originated as a Daoist xian "transcendent; immortal" and became a bodhisattva because of his endless willingness and effort in helping those in need.
In some Daoist records, Cihang Zhenren was said to one of the twelve disciples of Yuanshi Tianzun (元始天尊), known as 12 Golden Immortals (十二金仙). In some Daoist temples, under the statute of Cihang Zhenren, there usually is a golden lion with eight additional smaller heads, which is known as the Nine Headed Golden Lion. It is said that the Immortal Cihang Zhenren can appear in the human realm in 32 different human forms (三十二应), some of which are male, others female.
In Taoist Pictorial Form, Ci Hang Zheng Ren (慈航真人) is shown sitting on a Mystical Lion. In 1119, the Song Emperor - Hui Zong (徽宗) conferred her the title "Heavenly Lord Ci Hang Pu Du Yuan Tong Zi Zai" (慈航普渡圆通自在天尊).
There are three anniversaries of Cihang Zhenren that have been celebrated – The first is on the nineteenth day of the Flower Moon (Lunar Second Month). This was the day Cihang Zhenren prayed for the dead to be liberated from hell and blessings for the living (other legends say it was his birthday). The second is on the nineteenth day of the Lychee Moon (Lunar Sixth Month). This was the day he subjugated Ningbo Xianzi (a sea spirit that caused maritime disasters) and successfully gained enlightenment. The third is on the nineteenth day of the Chrysanthemum Moon (Lunar Ninth Month). This was the day Cihang Zhenren achieved immortality.
The Chrysanthemum Month (菊月) - 19th day of 9th Chinese Lunar Month is the day Ci Hang Zheng Ren (慈航真人) completed her final duty and return back to Pu Tuo Luo Qie Mountain(普陀落伽岩潮音洞) to sit on the throne - Gain Immortality.
Zhenren (真人; zhēnrén; lit. 'true or genuine person') is a Chinese term that first appeared in the Zhuangzi meaning "Daoist spiritual master", roughly translatable as "Perfected Person". Religious Daoism mythologized zhenren to rank above xian "transcendent; immortal" in the celestial hierarchy, while Chinese Buddhism used it to translate arhat "enlightened one".
封神演義 is a 16th-century Chinese novel and one of the major vernacular Chinese works in the gods-and-demons (shenmo) genre written during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Consisting of 100 chapters, it was first published in book form between 1567 and 1619; it combines elements of history, folklore, mythology, legends and fantasy. The novel is a romanticised retelling of the overthrow of King Zhòu, the last ruler of the Shang dynasty, by Ji Fa, who would establish the Zhōu dynasty in its place. The story integrates oral and written tales of many Chinese mythological figures who are involved in the struggle as well. These figures include human heroes, immortals and various spirits (usually represented in avatar form like vixens and pheasants, and sometimes inanimate objects such as a pipa). Bewitched by his concubine Daji, who is actually a vixen spirit in disguise as a beautiful woman, King Zhou of Shang oppresses his people and persecutes those who oppose him, including his own subjects who dare to speak up to him. Ji Fa (King Wu of Zhou), assisted by his strategist Jiang Ziya, rallies an army to overthrow the tyrant and restore peace and order.
References
The Greenwood encyclopedia of folktales and fairy tales
Investiture of the Gods (Wiki)
Cihang Zhenren (Wiki)
Zhenren (Wiki)
