Queen Mother of the West

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Prominent Taoists Laozi · Zhuangzi Zhang Daoling · Zhang Jiao Ge Hong · Chen Tuan Wang Chongyang
Deities and Immortals Three Pure Ones Jade Emperor · Xi Wangmu Eight Immortals
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Image:Xiwangmu Mural.jpg

Xiwangmu near Kaohsiung, Taiwan

The Queen Mother of the West (Chinese: 西王母; pinyin: Xīwángmǔ; Japanese: Seiōbo), in Chinese mythology, is the ruler of the western paradise and goddess of immortality. She is charged with overseeing the Wall of Heaven. Her official Taoist title is Yaochi Jinmu (瑤池金母), or the Golden Mother of the Shining Lake.

Originally, from the earliest known depictions of her in the "Guideways of Mountains and Seas" during the Zhou Dynasty, she was a ferocious goddess with the teeth of a tiger, who sent plagues down upon the world. After she was adopted into the Taoist pantheon, she was transformed into the goddess of life and immortality.

In popular Chinese mythology, The Queen Mother of the West lived with white cranes and red phoenixes in a golden palace by a lake, where she grew peaches. It was said the fragrance of the peaches of her palace could be smelled miles away, and the fragrance could put even the unhappiest person to sleep. She also possesses a peach tree which, every 3,000 years, produces peaches, known as p'an-t'ao (Chinese: flat peach), that grant immortality. Every 3,000 years she invites all the other gods to partake of a banquet with peaches for dessert.

It has been suggested that the story of Xi Wang Mu is connected with the Queen of Sheba whose mother (a jinni), like Xi Wang Mu, had power over female jinn (genies). According to Persian traditions the Queen of Sheba was the daughter of a Chinese ruler. The Queen of Sheba and Xi Wang Mu both met powerful monarchs, grew fragrant plants, were known by geographical titles (Queen of the South and Queen of the West) and the stories of both queens originate from the same era (ca.1000 B.C.E.)