Lords of the Three Mountains

The Lords of the Three Mountains (Chinese: 三山國王; pinyin: Sānshān Guówáng, also Kings of the Three Mountains, Three Mountain Kings or Sam Shan Kwok Wong) originate as guardian deities from the Jieyang region of Guangdong. They do not refer to “people,” but rather to the deified spirits of three mountains within Jieyang — Jin Mountain (巾山), Ming Mountain (明山), and Du Mountain (獨山). This is a prominent mountain‑god tradition in eastern Guangdong, including the Teochew (Chaozhou) and Meizhou areas.

There are many legends about the Lords of the Three Mountains. One version says that they were three generals serving under Emperor Wen of the Sui dynasty. After their deaths, they were venerated by later generations in recognition of their outstanding military achievements. During the Song dynasty, it is said that the three generals manifested their divine power to help the Song emperor repel enemy forces. Believing them to be incarnations of mountain gods, the emperor granted them the title “Three Mountain Kings.”

The belief is widespread among Teochew and Hakka communities in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. It is said that during the Song dynasty, the three were granted the title of “kings,” after which Hakka, Teochew, and Haifeng‑Lufeng people regarded them as their protective deities. In iconography, the First King (Jin Mountain) has a white face, the Second King (Ming Mountain) a red face, and the Third King (Du Mountain) a black face.

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