hong Kui is a legendary ghost-quelling figure from Chinese folklore with a pretty intense origin story. He was a genius scholar who got top honors in the imperial exams, but the emperor denied him the title just because of his fearsome appearance. In a rage, Zhong Kui ended his own life, but the judge of the underworld recognized his worth and appointed him the king of ghosts, tasked with hunting down evil spirits. That's why his image, often looking furious and brandishing a sword, is used as a powerful guardian on gates and in homes to ward off evil and bring good fortune.