Shennong - The First Deity Of The Five Grains

Shennong is a mythical ruler of Ancient China and a deity in Chinese religion. He is thought to have taught the ancient Chinese their method of agriculture as well as their use of herbal drugs. He is thought to have died as a result of his research, after experimenting on his own body with the 'yellow flower of a weed', which after he consumed the flower, ruptured his intestines before had time to take an antidote. Thus it is believed he gave his life for humanity, and has received special honor through his worship as the 'Medicine King'.

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The Deity

In popular religion, it is believed that the sacrifice of cows or oxen to Shennong is inappropriate, instead pigs or sheep are accepted. Fireworks and incense are also used, especially near his birthday which is on April 26 in the Lunar year. Shennong is a very important figure in the history of culture, especially with regards to mythology and popular culture.

Communal worship of Shennong at the Great Temple of Yandi Shennong
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The Pharmacist

It is said that Shennong tested hundreds of herbs in his research. There is literature attributed to him, which lists the various medicinal herbs, such as lingzhi, that were discovered by Shennong. It is considered to be the earliest Chinese pharmacopoeia, and includes 365 medicines derived from minerals, plants, and animals. Shennong is credited with discovering hundreds of medical and poisonous herbs by personally testing their properties, which was crucial to the development of traditional Chinese medicine.

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The Legend

Legend holds that Shennong's body was transparent, and could thus see the working of the herbs once he had taken them. It is also believed that tea, which acts as an antidote against the poisonous effects of some herbs, is also said to have been discovered by him. This discovery is believed to have been made when there were burning tea leaves in a fire and the hot air rising from the fire carried the ash to a cauldron of boiling water, and from this water Shennong first tasted the flavor of tea. Shennong is also associated with certain geographic locationsincluding Shennongjia, in Hubei, where the ladder which he used to climb the mountains is supposed to have transformed into a forest. The Shennong Stream flows from here into the Yangtze River.

A statue of Shennong
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Chinese medicine reminds us that the entire universe is interconnected. No matter who you are and where you live, you are a part of an organic system that has many different parts which must work in harmony. The basic cause of illness and disease is being out of harmony with your environment. Our work is aimed at rebalancing the self so that you can live a long and happy life.
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