I just want to confirm this with folks here, Zhong Kui, the mythical demon catcher (the one who was disfigured by demons, passed the imperial exams as the top guy, then was denied the honor because of his disfigurement, killed himself, awoke in the underworld and became the Emperor of hell’s official demon catcher); he was not a real person right? Not like Matsu who was a real woman (probably) and then became deified and the legends grew up around her. Zhong Kui was strictly “made up”.
I am pretty sure that is right, but one of the accounts has all kinds of biographical data that made it seem like Zhong Kui started off as a real person.
take care,
Brian