Shenji Jolen
| Shenji Jolen | |
|---|---|
| File:Shenjijolen.jpg Statue of Shenji Jolen firing an arrow at the sky | |
| Transliterations | 屾吉鳩敛 (Tzihan) Шенджи Джолен (Tzishin) |
| Religion | Namorese folk religion (Txoism) |
| Weapon | Bow and Arrow |
| Texts | Nushenshi |
Template:Namorese mythology Shenji Jolen (Шенджи Джолен, 屾吉鳩敛) was an archer in Namorese mythology best known for his defiance of the demon king Teyu's rule by shooting down nine suns Teyu had created and released into the skies to oppress the mortal world. In reprisal for his actions, Shenji was turned into a crippled old man, stripped of his immortality and banished to the mortal world, where he spent the remainder of his life. Even after banishment, Shenji continued his resistance against Teyu by raising Songte's daughters - Nushen, Vanho and Yenfang - to become warriors. Of the three daughters, Nushen would become the best archer in the universe and kill Teyu as prophesized. Shenji was captured by Teyu and executed right before the Battle of Tanken Lake, which saw Teyu's demise at the hands of Nushen.
Mythology
Shenji Jolen was born and raised in a household of warriors. Spending his youth studying archery, Shenji soon became the best archer of the heavens. He was so skilled that Songte, the ruler of the universe, offered Shenji the position of general in the celestial army. Shenji thus joined Songte's court and led several campaigns to preserve order in the world.
While Shenji was on a hunting mission, Songte's palace was besieged by Teyu's demons and everyone inside - including Songte - was imprisoned by Teyu. As a result, Shenji became one of the few deities who escaped Teyu's usurpation. Initially, Shenji stayed out of Teyu's way by not challenging the new ruler's legitimacy. But as Teyu unfurled the most reprehensible aspects of his character at his subjects, Shenji became increasingly inclined to speak out against him.
Shenji's patience with Teyu finally dissipated when the demon king created nine more suns and released them into the skies. The ten suns produced an unbearable heat that dried up the rivers and seas, melted the mountains and burned the crops, forcing the mortals into sickness and starvation. Vowing to help the mortals, Shenji descended to the top of the Northern Mountains and fired nine arrows into the sky, with each arrow shooting down a sun until there was only one sun left. The mortals celebrated and hailed Shenji as a hero.
Teyu heard the commotion and rushed to the mortal world to see what had happening. When he saw that the suns he had created were destroyed, he angrily demanded an answer from Shenji. Without hesitation, Shenji fired his tenth and last arrow at Teyu, but missed his target. Teyu then transformed Shenji into an old man, depriving him of his immortality and good vision. Shenji bitterly retreated to the mountains. Teyu, who correctly believed Shenji is no longer a threat, refused to pursue him any further.
Shenji spent the next several years wandering in search for warriors who could potentially defeat Teyu. One day, he met a priest who claimed that Vangmu, the consort of Songte, had given birth to three daughters, and that one of them is destined to kill Teyu in battle. Upon learning that Teyu had abandoned the daughters in the mortal world, Shenji excitedly asked for directions to the village where they lived. The priest did so before giving Shenji three weapons - among them the Jinlongkun - that could be used to identify the three sisters and Teyu's destined murderer.
Finally, Shenji arrived at the village where the sisters lived. After the eldest sister, Nushen, held the Jinlongkun with ease and fired all arrows with deadly accuracy, Shenji took the sisters to his abode in the mountains, where he taught them martial arts and archery. Nushen in particular picked up archery very fast and is said to have been a better archer than Shenji was before his failed rebellion against Teyu.
When the sisters grew up, they left Shenji for Namo to compete in a martial arts examination that served as a portal to the court of King Shenvang, although ultimately only Nushen completed that journey.
It wasn't until Nushen became Queen of Nozama and defeated Teyu's demons in multiple encounters when Teyu started paying attention to Shenji Jolen again. Having realized that it was Shenji who facilitated Nushen's rise, Teyu wanted to punish Shenji once and for all by taking his life.
After Nushen rejected an offer by Teyu to recognize his supremacy in turn for his recognition of Nushen's rights to the throne of Nozama, Teyu mobilized a colossal army of five million demons and arrested Shenji Jolen. Teyu thrust a sword past Shenji's chest, instantly killing him. Shenji's body was then torn up into ten thousand pieces and scattered across Tanken Lake.
News of Shenji's death reached Nushen, who mourned the killing of her master by vowing not to eat, drink or marry until Teyu is killed. She would go on to avenge Shenji's death by killing Teyu in the same fashion that Teyu killed Shenji - thrusting a sword which pierced his chest. Following Teyu's example, Nushen proceeded to tear Teyu's corpse into a million pieces and scattered his remains across the Tanken Lake and Mount Daiping.