Murong

Murong
File:Murong.jpg Depiction of Murong in the Underworld
Goddess of the Underworld
Transliterations	媄容 (Ventzi) Муронг (Shintzi)
Religion	Namorese folk religion (Txoism)
Parents	Taiyi
Children	Sikun Kashen Hoshen Rishen Ninshen Na
Consort	Songte (former) Harashen (current)

Template:Namorese mythology Murong (媄容, Муронг) is the Txoist goddess of the underworld. In Namorese mythology, Murong is regarded as the daughter of Taiyi, the former ruler of the universe, as well as the first wife of Songte, the current ruler. She is the mother of several major gods — Sikun, Kashen, Hoshen, Rishen, and Ninshen — and one illegitimate child, Na, who is believed to be the first woman on Earth.

Murong's affair with Harashen, another surviving member of Taiyi's clan, ended her relationship with Songte and led to her expulsion to the underworld, where she has lived with Harashen since. As such, many Txoists consider Murong to be a disgraced deity and associate her with temptation and sexual intercourse. However, Murong is still venerated for giving birth to Na, which supposedly allowed human life to continue and the human population to multiply.

Mythology

Marriage with Songte

Murong is a daughter of Taiyi, the former ruler of the universe. Her birth was met with disappointment from Taiyi, whose had hundreds of daughters and hoped he would have a son who could eventually succeed him as ruler. Despite her age, Murong was described by the Book of Gods as having an unparalleled beauty that attracted even the most stubborn of men. Thus, Taiyi decided to find someone who would marry Murong and become his heir. He demanded that anyone who was qualified to marry Murong must destroy Kosan, a mountain so large that none could see its entirety from any distance.

Many tried to destroy Kosan but failed. Finally, Songte, a price from the kingdom of Daifu, came to destroy the mountain. When Murong saw Songte, she announced that her celibacy had ended, signaling her belief that Songte would take her hand in marriage. Indeed, Songte miraculously destroyed Kosan and married Murong with Taiyi's consent.

Not so long after Murong and Songte left for Daifu, Taiyi learned that he was destined to die at the hands of his son-in-law and tried to end the marriage. Disguising himself as Songte, Taiyi crept up to Murong and took her back to his palace while Songte was hunting in the wilderness. Murong's abduction enraged Songte, who waged war on Taiyi and eventually killed him. Most members of Taiyi's clan were killed with the exception of Murong, her sister Vangmu, and her cousin Harashen, who did not participate in the fighting and were thus considered by Songte to be innocent.

Affair with Harashen

Murong gave birth to five gods, among them Rishen and Hoshen, who had a son named Tin who resided on Earth. While Tin freely roamed the Earth and exploited its resources, his loneliness drove him to ask Murong for a wife. Murong, who had sympathy for Tin, appealed to Songte for a daughter who could accompany Tin on Earth. However, Songte refused, arguing that Tin already had the entire Earth to himself and was not entitled to marry. Unplacated by Songte, Murong turned to Harashen. The two had sex and Murong gave birth to Na, the first woman. Tin married Na and fathered several children, guaranteeing the continuation of human life.

When Songte discovered Murong's affair, he renounced his marriage with Murong and banished her and Harashen to the underworld. He also punished Tin, Na, and their children by depriving them of their immortality. Afterwards, Songte married Vangmu.