Statuette in bronze of the Prince of Millet, Hou Ji.
Click on image for full size
Image courtesy of Musee Guimet, Paris, france.
Hou Ji
Hou Ji was originally a Chinese hero of royal descent. His ancestor was
Huang Di. Tang, the founder of the Shang dynasty (c. 1600-1066 B.C.), made
him Prince of the Millet. He was said to be also the ancestor of the Zhou
dynasty (1066-221 B.C.) that followed the Shang.
After bringing the
knowledge of agriculture to the Chinese, Hou Ji was worshipped as a god of
the Earth or god of cereals.
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