China names its Mars rover Zhu Rong after mythical god of war
- Legendary character had the face of man, body of a beast and rode on two dragons
- Zhu Rong is ‘revered as the earliest god of fire in traditional Chinese culture, symbolising the use of fire to illuminate the earth and bring light’, space administration says
In Chinese legend Zhu Rong was a formidable character who had the face of man, body of a beast and rode on two dragons. He brought fire from heaven to the world and in wars hurled it at his enemies. In ancient China, his name was once used as the title for the minister of defence.
In one of the many battles he fought, Zhu Rong ran into Gong Gong, the lord of water. Gong Gong was breaking rules and Zhu Rong had received an order from heaven to get rid of him. A massive war broke out, which Zhu Rong won.
But the war destroyed one of the pillars preserving balance and stability in the universe. After the war, natural disasters and chaos sent the human world into complete darkness.
“Zhu Rong is revered as the earliest god of fire in traditional Chinese culture, symbolising the use of fire to illuminate the earth and bring light,” the space administration said in a statement on Saturday.
“The first Mars rover was named Zhu Rong, and it means to ignite the fire for interstellar exploration in our country, and guide mankind to continue exploration and self-transcendence in the vast starry sky.”