· Dong Wanggong (King Father of the East)
Xiwangmu and the Dongwanggong form a deeply interconnected divine pair in Daoist cosmology, symbolizing the essential harmony of yin and yang. While Xiwangmu originates from ancient mythology as an autonomous deity, Dong Wanggong emerged later as a yang counterpart, and from the Eastern Han period onward, he began to appear alongside Xiwangmu in artistic creations, such as tomb reliefs and murals.
Then, his status within the Daoist pantheon was formally elevated by the Eastern Jin Daoist master Ge Hong. In his work Zhen Zhong Shu, Ge Hong presents a Daoist cosmological narrative in which the Primordial Mother first gives birth to Fusang Dadi—Dong Wanggong—and then to Taizhen Xi Wang Mu, Xiwangmu establishing their roles as cosmic complements.
This relationship is visually reinforced through shared symbols. One of the most striking examples is found in the murals of the Sanqing Hall at Yongle Palace. One of the most esoteric yet significant elements is the trigram associated with Dong Wanggong, representing the eastern direction and the wood element in the Five Phases theory. The appearance of this trigram on the Xiwangmu’s necklace subtly underscores their interdependence: just as metal (Xiwangmu’s element) flourishes through interaction with wood (the King Father’s element), so too does her celestial authority resonate through their yin-yang unity.
Additionally, symbolic items such as the sun and moon fans further express this cosmological pairing. The Xiwagmu’s left-hand fan depicts the sun—representing Dong Wanggong—while his right-hand fan bears a moon motif, signifying her. This symbolic reciprocity reflects their governance over the celestial cycle: she rules over the moon setting in the west, while he presides over the sun rising in the east.