The Investiture of the Gods [Xu Zhonglin] | Chapter 5: Yun Zhongzi Presents a Pinewood Sword

Xu Zhonglin (1560 - 1630) was a Chinese novelist, believed to be the author of the famous novel Fengshen Yanyi.
About the author:
He was born in Nanjing (then known as Yan Tian Fu) during the Ming Dynasty.
His courtesy name was Zhongshan Yizhi.
Some sources suggest that he wrote Fengshen Yanyi as a dowry for his daughter.
In addition to Fengshen Yanyi, other works attributed to Xu Zhonglin include Journey to the West, Sequel to Journey to the West, Twice-Repeated Journey to the West, and Southern Song Dynasty Three Great Masters Biographies.
About Fengshen Yanyi:
Content: Fengshen Yanyi revolves around the war between the Shang and Zhou dynasties, along with many mythological and legendary elements of Chinese culture.
Characters: The novel features many famous characters such as Nezha, Jiang Ziya, Shen Gongbao, King Zhou,...
Value: Fengshen Yanyi is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of China, highly regarded for its literary, historical, and cultural value. The novel has been translated into many languages and adapted into numerous films, television series, and video games.
Opinions about the author:
While Xu Zhonglin is considered the author of Fengshen Yanyi, there is still much debate on this matter.
Some believe the true author of Fengshen Yanyi is Lu Xixing, or that it was a collective work by several different authors.
However, Xu Zhonglin is still recognized for his significant contribution to the collection, compilation, and completion of Fengshen Yanyi.
Conclusion:
Xu Zhonglin was a talented writer, and while there is no definitive proof, he is widely regarded as the author of the renowned novel Fengshen Yanyi. Fengshen Yanyi is a work of immense literary, historical, and cultural value, deeply influencing Chinese culture and many other countries.
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