Tsao Fu
Encyclopedia
Tsao Fu in ancient Chinese Mythology
, was an exceptionally skilled charioteer, who is said to have lived around 950 B.C.
The Chinese tell the story of the Emperor
Mu Wang, who was determined to visit paradise. He wanted to taste the peaches of immortality
there. He found a very brave charioteer named Tsao Fu, who drove eight amazing horses with great skill. Tsao Fu was afraid of nothing—he carried the emperor across the Earth and into the heavens. The emperor finally reached Mount K’uen Lun and tasted the peaches of immortality. His brave charioteer Tsao Fu was carried up to the stars, where both he and his eight horses can be seen among the stars of the constellation
Cepheus
. The star
Zeta Cephei
is specifically named after him.
Another story, explained Tsao Fu as a horseman who brought the emperor Mu Wang to see the Goddess of the West, arrive arriving they learnt of an invasion of China, and immediately left to defend the country. After the victory, for Tsao Fu's services the Emperor granted Tsao Fu (Zao Fu) a city for his descendants, called Zhao (Chiu)(趙) City. He is considered the ancestor of the people of the surname Zhao
(Chiu) 趙. Tsao Fu's clan returned to the annuals of Chinese history, coming to power in the Warring States period, forming the Zhao State (趙). After the distruction of the state, its people's emmigranted all over the sinosphere
through to Korea, Japan, Vietnam, however till today throughout history the Zhaos remain one of the largest surname, splitting into many clans and families.
Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology is a collection of cultural history, folktales, and religions that have been passed down in oral or written tradition. These include creation myths and legends and myths concerning the founding of Chinese culture and the Chinese state...
, was an exceptionally skilled charioteer, who is said to have lived around 950 B.C.
The Chinese tell the story of the Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
Mu Wang, who was determined to visit paradise. He wanted to taste the peaches of immortality
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
there. He found a very brave charioteer named Tsao Fu, who drove eight amazing horses with great skill. Tsao Fu was afraid of nothing—he carried the emperor across the Earth and into the heavens. The emperor finally reached Mount K’uen Lun and tasted the peaches of immortality. His brave charioteer Tsao Fu was carried up to the stars, where both he and his eight horses can be seen among the stars of the constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
Cepheus
Cepheus (constellation)
Cepheus is a constellation in the northern sky. It is named after Cepheus, King of Aethiopia in Greek mythology. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations.-Stars:...
. The star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
Zeta Cephei
Zeta Cephei
Zeta Cephei is a star in the constellation of Cepheus. Zeta Cephei marks the left shoulder of Cepheus, the King of Joppa ....
is specifically named after him.
Another story, explained Tsao Fu as a horseman who brought the emperor Mu Wang to see the Goddess of the West, arrive arriving they learnt of an invasion of China, and immediately left to defend the country. After the victory, for Tsao Fu's services the Emperor granted Tsao Fu (Zao Fu) a city for his descendants, called Zhao (Chiu)(趙) City. He is considered the ancestor of the people of the surname Zhao
Zhao
Zhao may refer to:* Zhao , a Chinese surname* Zhao , a historical Chinese state in the Warring States Period* Zhao , a historical Chinese state in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period...
(Chiu) 趙. Tsao Fu's clan returned to the annuals of Chinese history, coming to power in the Warring States period, forming the Zhao State (趙). After the distruction of the state, its people's emmigranted all over the sinosphere
Sinosphere
In areal linguistics, Sinosphere refers to a grouping of countries and regions that are currently inhabited with a majority of Chinese population or were historically under Chinese cultural influence...
through to Korea, Japan, Vietnam, however till today throughout history the Zhaos remain one of the largest surname, splitting into many clans and families.