Tradition / Region: Chinese Mythology
Alternative names: Golden-Horned King, Silver-Horned King
Category: Cave dweller, Demon
The Myth
King Jinjiao and King Yinjiao are two powerful demon brothers who rule the Lotus Cave on Pingdingshan. They appear as formidable demon kings and possess a collection of magical weapons and treasures, including the Seven Star Sword, a gourd capable of absorbing and dissolving people, a jade bottle, a golden rope, and a banana-leaf fan that can produce the Samadhi Fire.
The two brothers were originally servants of Laozi and were responsible for guarding his alchemy furnace. They eventually stole several of his magical treasures and fled to the mortal world, where they established themselves as demon kings in the Lotus Cave.
When Tang Sanzang and his companions passed through the region, the two demon kings attacked them. They first defeated Sun Wukong and trapped him beneath three mountains before capturing Tang Sanzang.
The brothers later attempted to destroy Sun Wukong by using their magical gourd. They managed to suck him inside, intending for its supernatural power to dissolve him. Sun Wukong, however, escaped from the gourd before it could destroy him.
After escaping, Sun Wukong turned the magical weapon against its owners. He used the gourd to absorb both King Jinjiao and King Yinjiao, defeating the two demon kings with the very treasure they had used against him.
Sources
“金角大王和银角大王 (King Golden Horn and King Silver Horn).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/金角大王和银角大王