Ao Run- Chinese GodDeity"Dragon King of the Western Sea"

The Western Palace

Ao Run rules the Western Sea from an underwater palace, the third of four dragon brothers who divide the world's oceans among themselves. His elder brother Ao Guang holds the Eastern Sea, Ao Qin the Southern, and the youngest Ao Shun the Northern. Like his brothers, Ao Run commands full sovereignty within his domain, but the major mythological narratives center on Ao Guang's Eastern Sea, leaving Ao Run to emerge when the brothers act collectively.

The Brothers Unite

Ao Run's role in the great mythological cycles is that of a brother called to stand with his kin. In the Fengshen Yanyi, when Nezha kills Ao Guang's son Ao Bing and strips his dragon sinews, Ao Run joins the other Dragon Kings in descending on the city of Chentangguan, threatening to drown it unless Nezha's father delivers justice. The four brothers carry their grievance to the Jade Emperor's court, an insult to one being an insult to all.

In the Xiyou Ji, the collective humbling takes a different form. When Sun Wukong claims the massive iron pillar from Ao Guang's palace and demands matching equipment, the Dragon Kings scramble to placate him. Ao Guang summons his three brothers, and each surrenders a treasure: Ao Qin offers a phoenix-feather cap, Ao Run his golden chain mail, and Ao Shun a pair of cloud-walking boots. Four divine rulers of the oceans fumbling to dress a monkey.