The Contrasting Two Faces of Chiwoo Cheonwang in Novels and History

Comparative Analysis of Chiwoo (蚩尤) Across Novels, History, and Mythological Records

• Understanding the hero figure in Lee Woo-hyuk’s novel 『Chiwoo Cheonwanggi』
• Comparing the contrasting images of Chiwoo in historical records such as 『Records of the Grand Historian』 and 『Classic of Mountains and Seas』
• Exploring how Chiwoo has been adopted and transformed in Korean folklore and modern culture

The Endless Mystery of the God of War

Chiwoo Cheonwang is an exceptionally multifaceted and fluid figure in East Asian history and mythology. In Chinese official histories, he is recorded as a brutal rebel who opposed the Yellow Emperor, the founder of Chinese civilization, while simultaneously being a powerful war deity worshiped by emperors praying for victory in battle. For the Korean people, he has become the archetype of a guardian spirit (dokkaebi) who drives away evil spirits in folk beliefs, and in modern times, he has been revived as a national hero symbolizing the greatness of the nation. Thus, Chiwoo embodies conflicting identities as a monster, traitor, god of war, revered ancestor, and contemporary national icon—a truly enigmatic figure.

Lee Woo-hyuk’s epic fantasy novel 『Chiwoo Cheonwanggi』 represents the pinnacle of attempts to reconstruct Chiwoo’s complex and contradictory legacy into a modern narrative. This work goes beyond a simple fantasy novel; it is a conscious act of ’re-mythologizing’ that recreates the fragmented and sometimes hostile historical figure of Chiwoo into a consistent and heroic national narrative for contemporary Korean readers.

In this post, we will comprehensively examine how the novel’s portrayal of Chiwoo Cheonwang interacts with historical records and folk traditions, illustrating how literary imagination, history, and mythology collectively shape a multifaceted portrait of one figure.

『Chiwoo Cheonwanggi』: Creating a New Hero

Lee Woo-hyuk begins his story by completely overturning Chiwoo’s negative image in historical records. The novel rebirths Chiwoo as the ideal progenitor of the Korean people and a hero with moral depth.

The Heroic Portrait in the Novel: Brothers Chiwoo Cheon and Chiwoo Bi

The novel centers on twin brothers Hee-ne (later Chiwoo Cheon) and Na-rae (later Chiwoo Bi). Especially the elder brother Chiwoo Cheon is depicted as a principled leader with deep reflection and warm humanity, in stark contrast to the “brutal” rebel described in Chinese texts. He agonizes over protecting his beliefs and people but never takes life lightly and even shows mercy to his enemies. The author projects the Korean founding ideal of “Hongik Ingan (弘益人間)” onto Chiwoo Cheon, elevating him beyond a mere war hero to the ideal ancestor of the nation.

A World Forged by Myth: The Zhushen Tribe vs. the Zhina Tribe

The narrative of 『Chiwoo Cheonwanggi』 is set around 2700 BCE in Northeast Asia, portraying the conflict between the protagonist brothers’ tribe, the “Zhushen Tribe (珠申族),” and the “Zhina Tribe (支那族)” led by Gongsun Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor). This framework gives the story a grand scale of ethnic struggle for ancient hegemony, deeply engaging readers. The author skillfully weaves real historical and mythological elements such as ancient Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations and Turkic mercenaries into the fantasy narrative, adding depth and credibility.

The Battle of Zhuolu: Overturning Historical Records

At the climax, the Battle of Zhuolu (涿鹿大戰), the author attempts the most dramatic reinterpretation of history. In the novel, Chiwoo Cheonwang defeats Gongsun Huangdi’s forces decisively with overwhelming strategy and leadership. This directly contradicts the official Chinese historical record, which states the Yellow Emperor won. Through this, the author completes the narrative of Chiwoo Cheonwang ascending as the legitimate ruler of the Korean people, ‘Jaoji Hanwoong (慈烏支桓雄),’ firmly establishing him as a victor rather than a defeated foe.

The Many Faces of Chiwoo in History and Myth

So what does Chiwoo look like in actual historical and mythological records? Unlike the novel, his image is highly contradictory and complex.

Chinese Records: Rebel in 『Records of the Grand Historian』 vs. Sorcerer in 『Classic of Mountains and Seas』

The most influential record about Chiwoo is Sima Qian’s 『Records of the Grand Historian (史記)』. It defines Chiwoo as the “most brutal (最爲暴)” rebel who rose up when the reign of the Flame Emperor declined. Ultimately, the Yellow Emperor unified the world by capturing and killing him on the plains of Zhuolu, portraying Chiwoo as a barbaric force threatening civilized order.

In contrast, the mythological collection 『Classic of Mountains and Seas (山海經)』 depicts Chiwoo not as a political rebel but as a supernatural being. He summons the Wind God (Fengbo) and Rain Master (Yushi) and raises thick fog to attack the Yellow Emperor’s army. Although defeated by the drought goddess Ba sent by the emperor, his mystical powers left a lasting impression.

The Paradox of Worship: God of War, Lord of Soldiers

The most intriguing point is that the defeated rebel Chiwoo was worshiped as the supreme God of War (兵主) in Chinese history. 『Records of the Grand Historian』 notes that Qin Shi Huang, who unified China, worshiped Chiwoo as one of the “Eight Gods (八神).” Even Liu Bang, founder of the Han dynasty, prayed to Chiwoo before his final battle against Xiang Yu and built a shrine for him in the capital after victory. This paradox reveals the pragmatic ancient mindset that, despite ideological opposition, Chiwoo’s formidable martial power was essential for victory.

Adoption on the Korean Peninsula: Private Histories and Folk Beliefs

In Korea, Chiwoo was adopted and transformed in a completely different way from China. In the private historical text 『Hwandan Gogi (桓檀古記)』, Chiwoo is portrayed as ‘Jaoji Hwanung,’ the 14th Hwanung of the ancient Korean kingdom of Bae Dal, a great heroic ancestor who won all 73 battles against the Yellow Emperor. (Note: 『Hwandan Gogi』 is considered a forgery by mainstream historians.)

In folk tradition, his powerful and fearsome image became a symbol of national protection.

• Dukje (纛祭): Worshiped as a war deity in state rituals during the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, praying for victory in war.
• Dokkaebi and Gwimyeonwa (鬼面瓦): Chiwoo’s image with a “bronze head and iron forehead” became the prototype of the dokkaebi (Korean goblin) that drives away evil spirits, and is linked to the demon-faced roof tiles (gwimyeonwa) that ward off evil energies from buildings.

This tradition continues into the 21st century as the official emblem of South Korea’s national football team supporters, the ‘Red Devils,’ where Chiwoo is reborn as a modern icon symbolizing indomitable spirit.

Comparative Analysis: How Is Chiwoo Remembered?

Comparing Chiwoo’s attributes across the novel and various records clarifies how each narrative serves different purposes in portraying him.

This table shows how Lee Woo-hyuk systematically overturns the negative traits from 『Records of the Grand Historian』 (brutal rebel, loser), combines the victorious narrative from 『Hwandan Gogi』, the mystical powers from 『Classic of Mountains and Seas』, and the protective image from Korean folklore to create his own complex hero.

Conclusion: A Heroic Narrative Revived in Modern Times

The story of Chiwoo Cheonwang is a product of history continuously reinterpreted according to the perspectives and needs of those recording it. Which image of Chiwoo resonates most with you?

• Key Summary 1: In Chinese official history, Chiwoo is a defeated rebel against the Yellow Emperor but paradoxically worshiped as the most powerful god of war.
• Key Summary 2: On the Korean Peninsula, he was adopted as a national guardian deity (Dukje) and a folk symbol against evil (Gwimyeonwa, Dokkaebi), and today he is the icon of the ‘Red Devils.’
• Key Summary 3: Lee Woo-hyuk’s novel 『Chiwoo Cheonwanggi』 successfully recombines these contradictory records into a modern Korean identity, creating a narrative of a wise, merciful, and victorious hero.

Thus, myth and history are not fixed pasts but are often recreated to meet present needs. The story of Chiwoo Cheonwang reminds us of the enduring power of compelling narratives today.