Shen Gongbao Explained

Shen Gongbao (申公豹) is a major character featured within the famed classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods.[1] Shen Gongbao is a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun, Jiang Ziya's junior fellow apprentice.[2]

Background

The earliest source of the character Shen Gongbao is in the novel Fengshen Yanyi, but according to some scientific theses from the 2000s in China, the portrayal of Shen Gongbao may have originated from the practice of tiger worship in Jinan that existed long before the appearance of the novel Fengsheng Yanyi.[3]

In Fangshen Yanyi, Shen Gongbao is good at communication, persuasion, and magic arts in general. He first appeared as a Yaojing terrorizing the Mysterious Fog Mountain. Then one day, Hongjun Laozu arrived and defeated him. He then took Shen Gongbao to Yuanshi Tianzun at Kunlun Mountain to practice Taoism so he could become a god. Later, Shen Gongbao left Kunlun Mountain to assist King Zhou of Shang to battle the Eastern Kingdom (Xiqui) and regarded Jiang Ziya as his enemy.[4]

Finally, Shen Gongbao was arrested by his master Yuanshi Tianzun. Shen Gongbao was appointed as the General of East Sea in the end. The General of East Sea is one of the gods who manage the East China Sea.[5] [6]

In classical Chinese artwork, Shen Gongbao is frequently depicted as a deity riding a white-foreheaded tiger (白額虎), holding a treasure sword (寶劍) in one hand and a celestial pearl (開天珠) in the other, both possessing the ability to subdue demons. In contrast, in Chinese opera, Shen Gongbao is often portrayed as a deity riding a black panther, with a dark, flowing beard, while one hand is raised high and the other is poised for action.

Film and television

Chinese television

Year English title Chinese title Role Player Notes
1990 The Investiture of the Gods Chinese: 封神榜 Lei Changxi [7]
1999 The Legend of Ne Zha Chinese: 莲花童子哪咤 Chen Tianwen [8]
2001 Gods of Honour Chinese: 封神榜 Joseph Lee Kwok Lun [9]
2006 The Legend and the Hero Chinese: 封神榜之凤鸣岐山 Miao Haizhong [10]
2009 The Legend and the Hero 2 Chinese: 封神榜之武王伐紂
2014 The Investiture of the Gods Chinese: 封神英雄榜 Zhang Mingming [11]
2015 The Investiture of the Gods II Chinese: 封神英雄
2019 Investiture Of the Gods Chinese: 封神演義 (2019年電視劇)|封神演義 Hai Yitian

Chinese film

Year English title Chinese title Role Player Notes
2016 League of Gods Chinese: 3D封神榜
2019 Nezha Chinese: 哪吒之魔童降世 Yang Wei Voice
2020 Jiang Ziya Chinese: 姜子牙 Tutehameng Voice
2022 Chinese: 新神榜:杨戬 Yi Zhao[12] Voice
2022 Chinese: 封神第一部:朝歌风云 Xia Yu

Japanese television

Title Japanese Title Role Player Notes
Fengshen Yanyi Japanese: 封神演義
Fengshen Yanyi Japanese: 封神演義
Fengshen Yanyi Japanese: 封神演義
Fengshen Yanyi Japanese: 封神演義

Notes and References

  1. Book: Xu Zhonglin . Xu Zhonglin . zh:《封神演义》. 2012-12-01 . Jiangxi Arts Publishing House . . 9787548018544 . zh.
  2. Book: Xu Zhonglin . zh:《封神演义》. 2010-01-01 . Changchun Publishing House . . 9787544510806 . zh.
  3. Book: Xu Zhonglin. 1 January 2010. 9787544510806. zh. Changchun. Changchun Publishing House. zh:《封神演义》.
  4. Book: Xu Zhonglin . zh:《封神演义》. 2013-05-01 . China Pictorial Publishing House . . 9787514606966 . zh.
  5. Book: Xu Zhonglin . zh:《封神演义》. 2013-04-01 . Huaxia Publishing House . Beijing . 9787508074986 . zh.
  6. Book: Service . British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring . Summary of World Broadcasts: The Far East. Part III . 1985 . Monitoring Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation . en.
  7. Web site: http://ent.163.com/13/0922/11/99CEKI0V00032DGD.html . zh:揭秘90版《封神榜》主演生存现状 . 2013 . 163.com . zh.
  8. Web site: ⓿⓿ Legends of Nezha (1999) - Singapore - Film Cast - Chinese Movie .
  9. Web site: http://www.laoren.com/lrbmw/lsxbk/284014_2.shtml . zh:陈浩民版《封神榜之忠义乾坤》李国麟扮演申公豹 . 2014 . zh . 2014-03-20 . 2016-08-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160818023120/http://www.laoren.com/lrbmw/lsxbk/284014_2.shtml . dead .
  10. Web site: http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/m/2009-12-14/17412809911.shtml . zh:苗海忠助阵《女神捕》 申公豹转型逍遥侯 . 2009 . Sina . zh.
  11. Web site: http://yule.sohu.com/20140212/n394783241.shtml . zh:申公豹张明明客户端聊《封神榜》 . 2014 . Sohu . zh.
  12. News: Daniels . Robert . 'New Gods: Yang Jian' Review: 'Cowboy Bebop' Without the Bop . The New York Times . 19 January 2023.