Suiren
Chinese · mortal · primordial · Recorded classification
The Chinese Prometheus, with the theft taken out. Suiren does not steal fire from anybody: he works out how to make it, which is a materially different story and a characteristically Chinese one — the culture heroes of this tradition are inventors rather than thieves, and nothing is taken from heaven against its will. The disagreement over drill versus flint is preserved on the record because the sources preserve it.
Domains
- fire
Relations
- companion: YouchaoOne of the Four Clans.Reference treatment of the Four Clans. (secondary)
Sources
- Suiren is the Chinese culture hero credited with the invention of fire-making, by drilling or by striking depending on the account, and one of the Four Clans.: Reference treatments of Suiren and of the Four Clans. (secondary)