Alien Gods: Huang-Di, Son of Heaven

Proponents of ancient astronaut theories often maintain that humans are either descendants or creations of beings who landed on Earth thousands of years ago. The most popular theory is that human knowledge, religion, and culture came from extraterrestrial visitors in ancient times. Ancient astronauts have been widely used as a plot device in science fiction, but the idea that ancient astronauts actually existed is not taken seriously by most academics.

Arguments can be made that the evidence for ancient astronauts comes from supposed gaps in historical and archaeological records, and they also maintain that absent or incomplete explanations of historical or archaeological data point to the existence of ancient astronauts. The evidence is said to include archaeological artifacts that are beyond the presumed technical capabilities of the historical cultures with which they are associated. This also includes artwork and legends that are interpreted as depicting extraterrestrial contact or technologies.

Notwithstanding these contentions, let us say that there is an axiom to the ancient astronaut theory. Then we need to ask, who were these beings? What did they represent to the inhabitants of earth? Where these beings the ancient Gods of antiquity?

I would like to periodically chronicle my speculation of how the native people interpreted these unknown entities. This edition describes Huang-Di, Son of Heaven.

Huang-Di (2697-2598 B.C.) is considered to be the first emperor of China and the ancestor of all Chinese. Huang Di, or the Yellow Emperor, is referred to as the "Originator of the Chinese Culture", and all people of the Chinese race regard themselves as descendants of Yan Di and Huang Di. According to many sources he was one of the legendary 'Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors'. Chinese scholars have argued whether Huang-Di was “real” or “mythical”. Depending on the source you use he has been described as a god-king, a mythical-king, a real king, a god-like-king, a “son of the heavens” or a half-god. Chinese history suggests that he was real but not human.

A dragon shaped kite is seen flying above the worship ceremony to commemorate 'Huang Di', or the Yellow Emperor, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation at the Huang Di Mausoleum on April 5, 2005 in Xian of Shaanxi Province, China.

Many ancient cultures have kings and rulers that have descended from the skies and referred to as “Gods” and their offspring, as a result from relations to humans, as “half-gods”. Chinese accounts are no different in this respect. According to legend, before Huang-Di was born there was “a radiance from the great star Chi and the Dipper Constellation (Ursa Major)”. His conception was marked by a “thunderclap on a clear day in the skies”. Huang-Di then begins his unification of China and is also credited with being a culture-hero, having brought traditional Chinese Medicine (including acupuncture) to the country. His wife taught the Chinese how to make silk. He was said to live in the Kunlun-Mountains in the heart of Tibet. After he lived and ruled for over 100 years he is said to have prepared his “return to the skies”. Then a Dragon “descended from the sky and took Huang-Di away”. Some sources say that he did not die then but lived another 200 years in the Syuan Yuan stars (the Leo Constellation).

Huang-Di is also said to have authored a book called “Bai Ze Tu” which describes 11520 types of “shapeshifters, monsters, spirits, beings” in the Universe. This book is considered lost. Some sources also cite Huang-Di as having instructed Lao Tzu...the originator of Taoism.

Ancient accounts on Huang-Di refer to him as an inventor of odd mechanical devices. A machine called “the south pointing chariot” helped him win various battles. Another odd device which Huang-Di is supposed to have invented is described as “a tripod”. This “tripod” was 4 meters in height and “100s of energies filled its inside” and made “odd noises”. According to legend this tripod depicted “dragons flying in the clouds”. Furthermore, the tripod was set up at the “Summit Lake Mountain” and “had to be pointed at the Syuan Yuan star” (the brightest star in this Constellation is Regulus). This is also the star Huang-Di is said to be from. Apparently this “tripod” was also able to store data and has recorded the life and times of Huang-Di. Huang-Di’s “Dragon” is not described as some mythological creature but as a device to ascend to “the suns”...a means of transportation and more than three thousand years old.

The works on Huang-Di's life state that the dragon named 'Changhuan' covers an extreme distance in only one day and that any human who rides it can reach the age of two thousand years...a concept consistent with other worldwide legends and accounts of gravitational time dilation in regards to these “vehicles of the Gods”.

When the Huang-Di reached the age of just over a hundred years, he arranged his worldly affairs with his ministers, and prepared for his journey back to the Heavens. The close of his long reign was made glorified by the appearance of a phoenix and a mysterious animal known as the Qilin as tokens of his administration. The life of Huang-Di is celebrated annually by the Chinese people.

What can be extracted from this information? The start of Chinese culture has always been murky...they are a remarkable civilization with an uncommon and mysterious history. If the ancient Chinese were helped by so-called ancient astronauts, it would not take away any of the skill and traditions they have left for subsequent generations.