The Investiture of the Gods(封神演义):
In Chinese, it is pronounced as: fēng shén yǎn yì，Written as:

“The Investiture of the Gods” is a renowned mythological novel from ancient China, generally believed to have been written by Xu Zhonglin during the Ming Dynasty. Set during the final years of the Shang Dynasty, the novel blends history, mythology, and folklore to tell the story of King Zhou, the last ruler of the Shang Dynasty, whose tyrannical rule led to his downfall, and how King Wu of Zhou, with the help of Jiang Ziya, overthrew the Shang Dynasty to establish the Zhou Dynasty.
In the twilight years of the Shang Dynasty, King Zhou, under the influence of his favored concubine Daji—a fox spirit sent by Nüwa to punish him for his tyranny—imposed brutal policies that made life miserable for his people. Jiang Ziya, a disciple of Yuan Shi Tian Zun from Mount Kunlun, was commanded to descend from the mountains and assist King Wen of Zhou and his successor, King Wu, in their rebellion against the Shang Dynasty. To restore balance between the heavens and the earth, Yuan Shi Tian Zun devised a plan to invest gods, designating a group of immortals and generals who would be enshrined in The List of Invested Gods after their deaths.
Key Characters:
– Nezha: Son of Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, who possesses divine powers and takes part in the battles against the Shang Dynasty.
– Yang Jian (Er Lang Shen): A Divine General with a third eye, and a key aide to Jiang Ziya.
– Lei Zhenzi: The foster son of King Wen, endowed with the power of thunder.
– Wen Zhong (Wen Tai Shi): A loyal minister and fierce general of the Shang Dynasty, who strenuously defended its rule.
– Various Immortals: The novel also features many other immortals and yaoguai, who participate in an epic battle between gods and demons.
After a series of strategic maneuvers and battles, the Shang Dynasty is overthrown and the Zhou Dynasty is established. Jiang Ziya, following the arrangements of The List of Invested Gods, rewards the heroes, fulfilling their heavenly mandate.
“The Investiture of the Gods” artfully combines real history with mythological stories, adding a rich legendary element to the narrative. Many of the novel’s plots and characters reflect the ideas and beliefs of Taoism.