五营神将 – Five Battalion Spiritual Generals

The “五营神将five-battalion spiritual generals” are also called “五营元帅 five-battalion marshals”, “五营神兵 five-battalion spiritual soldiers”, etc., following we refer to as “五营 Wuying”, the five-battalions.

In Taoism and Chinese folk beliefs, these are important guardian deities to protect temples and villages. The five battalions are divided into five divine armies, namely “东营九夷军 Jiuyi Army in Dongying”, “南营八蛮军 Baman Army in Nanying”, “西营六戎军 Liurong Army in Xiying”, “北营五狄军 Wudi Army in Beiying”, and “中坛三秦军 Sanqin Army in Zhongying” to defend against demons and evil.
Among the five battalions, Marshal Zhongtan is the main one. He leads the other battalion heads,  together they are called the “五营神将 Wuying Shenjiang”, five-battalion spiritual generals.

中營 Central Battalion
Named “李哪吒 Li Nezha”, also known as “李將軍 General Li”, “李元帥 Marshal Li”, “中壇元帥 Marshal Zhongtan”, “太子爺Tai Zi Ye”, “羅車公Luo Che Gong”; He is in charge of the five battalions, the chief-in-command, who is also an important member of the “三十六關將 thirty-six generals”, was given the title of “李天君 Li Tianjun, Marshal of the Central Altar of Taibao in the Heavenly Survey”. The battalion flag is yellow. Marshal Zhongtan leads the five battalions of horses and soldiers. There are 3,400 horses and 30,000 soldiers assigned to “中營Zhongying”

東營 Eastern Battalion
His name is “張基清 Zhang Jiqing”, also known as “張將軍 General Zhang”, “張元帥 Marshal Zhang”, and “張聖者 Saint Zhang”; the commander in charge of “東營 Dongying” and “九夷軍 Jiuyi Army” is also one of the thirty-six generals. The battalion flag is green. “東營 Dongying” was assigned with 9,000 horses and 90,000 soldiers. The head of the soldiers, “胡其銘 Hu Qiming”, is in charge of all the soldiers and horses.

南營 Southern Battalion
Named “蕭其明 Xiao Qiming”, also known as “蕭將軍 General Xiao”, “蕭元帥 Marshal Xiao”, “蕭聖者 Saint Xiao”; the commander in charge of “南營 Nanying” and “八蠻軍 Eight Barbarian Army” is also one of the thirty-six generals, and the battalion flag is red, 8,000 horses and 80,000 soldiers are assigned to the “南營 Nanying”. The head of the soldiers, “蔡坤軍 Cai Kunjun”, is in charge of all the soldiers and horses.

西營 Western Battalion
Named “劉武秀 Liu Wuxiu”, also known as “劉將軍 General Liu”, “劉元帥 Marshal Liu”, “劉聖者 Saint Liu”; the commander in charge of “西營 Xiying” and “六戎軍 Six Rong Army”, is also one of the thirty-six generals, and the battalions flag is white, 6,000 horses and 60,000 soldiers are assigned to the “西營 Xiying”. The head of the soldiers, “金記宿 Jin Jisu”, is in charge of all the soldiers and horses.

北營 Northern Battalion
Named “連忠宮 Lian Zhonggong”, also known as “連將軍  General Lian”, “連元帥 Marshal Lian”, “連聖者 Sage Lian”; the commander in charge of “北營 Beiying” and “五狄軍 Wu Di Army” is also one of the thirty-six generals. The battalions flag is black, 5,000 horses and 50,000 soldiers are assigned to the “北營 Beiying”. The head of the soldiers, “王直元 Wang Zhiyuan”, is in charge of all the soldiers and horses.

Written by 玄門君XuanMenJun