Yi the Grand Archer
Many ancient Chinese mythologies depict gods assisting the people. The Grand Archer Yi, on the other hand, is one of the rare mortals who has aided the gods. His excellent skill in archery distinguishes him. Hou Yi is thought to have lived between the years 2436 and 2255 BC.
Grand Archer Yi, a humanitarian, proceeded on his mission to protect common people from evil activities after destroying the four terrible creatures as ordered by the God of Heaven. Yi made the decision to punish Fengbo (the God of Wind), who had brought about all the mayhem after he one day saw thousands of homes devastated by a gale. Just as Fengbo attempted to blast him away, Yi shot him in the left knee. The sky became clear as Fengbo departed the scene in agony.
Yi's next mission took him to the north, where there was a river god named Jiuying. Jiuying was a nine-headed bird that flipped boats and flooded fields. Yi swam across the flood and into the raging river. Jiuying charged in all directions with its nine razor-sharp beaks, laughing in a crazy baby voice. But Yi remained calm and killed Jiuying with direct hits to the nine heads. Yi then started out for the Yellow River, which was accompanied by rolling mountains of waves. He noticed Hebo (the River God) frolicking in the waves and spreading havoc, so he shot him in the left eye as a warning. After being wounded, Hebo retreated, and the water calmed down.
Over the East Sea, in the distance, lay a valley known as Yanggu. There was a massive Fusang tree where ten of God's children lived. They had three feet each and were golden crows. In other words, they were the suns or sun spirits. They frequently took baths in the valley's Xianchi Pond and took breaks on the Fusang tree's limbs. One of the suns would rise in the sky each day, travel from east to west, and provide warmth and light before retiring to the tree for the day. Turns were taken by each sun. However, one day, as one sun left for duty, the other nine brothers decided to accompany him for fun. Because all ten suns shined at the same time, the earth was burnt, crops withered, and cattle died, while fish and turtles were exposed on a dry river bed.
Emperor Yao gave him some comfort when he asked for advice, assuring him that "the way of heaven corresponds with the will of people." Yi headed off and reached a mountain top, where he told the suns that they had had enough of playing around and that they should stop messing around and return home.
The suns were taken aback that someone dared to punish God's offspring. With all their flames and heat, they flushed and ran for Yi. But Yi was prepared, and he fitted a magical arrow to his bow, warning the suns that if they did not return home, he would shoot them down. The suns disregarded him and set fire to the plants surrounding him. Yi replied quickly, firing three arrows at the suns. His accuracy was flawless, resulting in three fireballs exploding in the sky and three golden crows falling into the sea. The suns were terrified and flew into the sky. Yi didn't stop and filmed two more sundowns. The remaining suns were enraged and attempted to burn Yi.
But Yi maintained his composure and pulled out a quiver of arrows. Four more suns erupted and dropped from the sky in all directions as Yi positioned himself on one knee and fired. The sea attempted to catch the falling golden crows after being startled. Yi was about to fire again when he heard the crowd pleading to stop shooting immediately. Yi shivered as she realized there was only one sun remaining in the sky. The last arrow was placed in his bag as he halted.
God then commanded the suns' goddess mother, Xihe, to mount six dragons and escort the single remaining sun on daily patrols of the sky. The ground cooled and the river resumed its flow. Yi said Yao farewell and traveled eastward, the cheers of the people ringing in his ears.
