Feng (mythology)

In Chinese mythology, Feng (simplified Chinese: 封; traditional Chinese: 封; pinyin: fēng) is a figure associated with winds and storms. Often depicted as a fearsome being, its appearance and role vary depending on the source.

One common depiction associates Feng with Fei Lian (simplified Chinese: 飞廉; traditional Chinese: 飛廉; pinyin: Fēi Lián), the Count of Wind. Fei Lian is often portrayed as having the body of a bird, the head of a deer, the tail of a snake, or variations thereof. He is seen as a servant of the wind god Feng Bo (simplified Chinese: 风伯; traditional Chinese: 風伯; pinyin: Fēng Bó), who is responsible for controlling the winds. Therefore, Feng often acts as an agent of these wind deities, carrying out their will and unleashing gusts of wind and destructive storms.

The figure of Feng is not always clearly distinct from Feng Bo or Fei Lian, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably or to refer to different aspects of the same wind deity. In some narratives, Feng represents the untamed and chaotic nature of wind, in contrast to the more controlled aspects represented by Feng Bo.

References to Feng can be found in various classical Chinese texts, including historical records and mythological compendiums. However, the specific details surrounding Feng's identity and attributes are often fragmented and subject to interpretation.