Zhong Kui
A fierce face, a protective heart, a sword against evil.
The demon queller
Zhong Kui protects homes and drives away harmful spirits. His fierce eyes, unruly beard, official cap, and sword are familiar in Chinese painting and seasonal customs. Images were displayed to avert evil, including at the New Year and, in later practice, the Dragon Boat Festival. His formidable appearance serves a protective purpose.
A legend and a later office
Shen Kuo's Dream Pool Essays preserves the famous story of Emperor Xuanzong dreaming of Zhong Kui defeating a troublesome ghost, followed by a painting associated with Wu Daozi. The tale belongs to the deity's literary and artistic history. Later drama and popular accounts also appoint him a judge who punishes evil. That judicial role should be distinguished from his older identity as a demon-quelling protector. The modern Four Judges arrangement combines several separate traditions rather than reproducing an ancient fixed roster.
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