Fu Xi – 扶羲

Fu Xi is the first of three noble emperors, the San Huang, in Chinese mythology (1). According to folklore he ruled from 2952 to 2836 BC (116 years) or from 2852 to 2737 BC (115 years) (2).

Fu Xi taught mankind arts, such as fishing, the breeding of silk worms, and taming wild animals. He also invented music, and, most importantly, the eight trigrams, which are said to be the basis of all Chinese writing. Also attributed to him is the invention of casting oracles by the use of yarrow stalks. Fu Xi is also said to have invented the one hundred Chinese family names, and ordered that marriages may only take place between persons bearing different family names (3).

Fu Xi is represented as a human being with the body of a snake. He’s married to his sister Nu Wa, the creation Goddess. In Taoist temples he is usually portrayed holding a panel on which the eight trigrams are inscribed. They represent the heavens.