According to the Historical Records of Henan Prefecture, in the year 1350 during the Yuan dynasty, the Red Turban Army made an attempt to attack the Shaolin Monastery. A monk who worked in the kitchen came out to defend the monastery brandishing a large chan (a wooden shovel used to mix rice in the gigantic monastery woks) that was ablaze in flames. A manifestation of the Kinnara King appeared, and the fierce looking deity scared away the Red Turbans. The monks later erected a worship hall in his honor, and he was given the honorific title The Bodhisattva King of the Kinnaras.

Image: Woodblock illustration of the Kinnara King (Jinnaluo Wang Pusa) from Historical Records of Shaolin Monastery (少林寺志 Shaolinsi Zhi)