A2Z 2026 Xiwangmu

Xiwangmu (Chinese) Xiwangmu, aka Queen Mother of the West The first historical information on Xiwangmu can be traced back to Shang dynasty oracle bone inscriptions that record sacrifices to a “Western Mother.” Even though these inscriptions illustrate that she predates organized Taoism, she is most often associated with Taoism. The growing popularity of the Queen Mother…

A2Z 2026 Jiang Yuan

Jiang Yuan (Chinese) Jiang Yuan at Her Temple Jiang Yuan (Chinese: 姜嫄) is an important figure in Chinese mythology and history. She is recorded as having lived during ancient Chinese history. Jiang Yuan was the mother of Houji (aka Qi) who is a culture hero and revered as the god of millet and, by extension, agriculture. Jiang Yuan’s personal name was not recorded….