Golden-Haired Hou

In addition to the mythological depictions, there is another folk belief surrounding the Golden-Haired Hou (金毛犼). According to this superstition, the Golden-Haired Hou is not a divine or mythical creature but rather a type of jiangshi (僵屍, "hopping vampire" or reanimated corpse) that has reached an advanced stage of cultivation. It is said that a jiangshi initially has white hair, and after about 500 years, its hair turns black. After another 500 years, it can cultivate itself further, and its hair turns golden, at which point it is called a Golden-Haired Hou.^[1]

Initially described as resembling a dog, there are also legends that portray the Hou as a natural enemy of dragons, specifically preying on their brains. However, other accounts suggest that the Hou's appearance is more akin to that of a qilin (麒麟), a benevolent and auspicious creature in Chinese mythology.^[1]

In Journey to the West, the Golden-Haired Hou is the mount of Guanyin. One day, he accidentally came across a scene where he overheard the situation involving Mahamayuri, who had cursed a young prince of the Kingdom of Purpuria (朱紫國). The prince had a hobby of hunting and had accidentally killed two of Mahamayuri's followers. In response, Mahamayuri declared that as retribution, the prince would suffer from lovesickness for three years.^[2]

Years later, after the prince had grown up and ascended the throne, the Golden-Haired Hou took advantage of his caretaker falling asleep and escaped to the mortal realm. There, he transformed into the demon lord Sai Taisui (賽太歲) and took up residence in Unicorn Mountain's Xiezhi Cave (麒麟山獬豸洞), where he commanded a group of lesser demons. Sai Taisui abducted the Golden Sage Queen (金聖皇后), one of the king's favorite consorts, and forced her to marry him. Without the lady, the king got sick for three years. However, the queen was protected by a magical robe gifted by a deity, rendering her untouchable by any mortal or demon. Frustrated, Sai Taisui demanded that the kingdom offer him palace maids as tribute.^[2]

Sai Taisui possessed a treasure known as the Purple Gold Bell (紫金鈴), crafted by Taishang Laojun. The bell had three golden chimes: shaking the first released a 300-zhang blaze of fire, the second emitted a 300-zhang cloud of smoke, and the third unleashed a 300-zhang storm of yellow sand. Sai Taisui engaged in multiple battles with Sun Wukong. During their final confrontation, Sun Wukong stole the Purple Gold Bell, leaving Sai Taisui at a disadvantage. Ultimately, Guanyin intervened to subdue Sai Taisui. She also used the Tight-Fillet Spell (緊箍咒) to compel Sun Wukong—who had attempted to keep the treasure for himself—to return the Purple Gold Bell.^[3][4]

In Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi), the Golden-Haired Hou is depicted as Jinguang Xian (金光仙, "Immortal of Golden Light"), a disciple of the Jie Sect (截教). Due to conflicts between Huoling Shengmu (火靈聖母) and Guang Chengzi, exacerbated by the scheming of Shen Gongbao, tensions escalate between the Jie Sect and the Chan Sect (闡教), ultimately leading to war. During the Battle of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation (萬仙陣), Jinguang Xian oversees the "Four Symbols Formation" (四象陣) to confront the disciples of the Chan Sect and the Zhou army. However, Cihang Zhenren (慈航道人, the precursor to Guanyin Bodhisattva in the narrative) defeats Jinguang Xian, forcing him to reveal his true form as the Golden-Haired Hou. Subsequently, the Golden-Haired Hou becomes the mount of Cihang Zhenren.^[5][6]