Lu Ban
魯班
The patron saint of craftsmen and builders — the legendary master carpenter.
Origin Story
The Master Craftsman
Lu Ban was born in the state of Lu (modern Shandong Province). From a young age, he showed extraordinary skill in woodworking. According to legend, he could carve a wooden bird that flew for three days without landing. He served the state of Chu and designed many famous structures, including siege engines, bridges, and palaces.
Lu Ban (c. 507–444 BCE) was a legendary Chinese carpenter, inventor, and engineer of the Spring and Autumn period. He is revered throughout China as the patron saint of craftsmen, builders, and engineers. His name remains synonymous with master craftsmanship — the phrase "Lu Ban's ingenuity" is still used to praise skilled work.
Powers & Symbols
Attributes & Artefacts
Click each card to reveal the details behind Lu Ban's divine attributes.
Magical Artifacts & Weapons
Lu Ban's Divine Arsenal
The legendary weapons and treasures wielded by Lu Ban — each with its own origin story, powers, and mythological significance.
Historical & Cultural Meaning
Beyond the Myth
The Five Famous Inventions
Lu Ban is credited with inventing or perfecting the carpenter's square, the saw, the plum-bob (plumb line), the ink marker, and the wooden bird. These tools transformed Chinese construction and are still in use today. The "Lu Ban square" (鲁班尺) is a measuring tool still used by carpenters in East Asia.
Legendary Tales
Many stories tell of Lu Ban's ingenuity. One famous tale describes how he used an ingenious mechanical device to capture a rival master's pet goose. Another tells of his test of skill against Mozi (a contemporary philosopher) — Lu Ban designed elaborate wooden contraptions, while Mozi defended them with simple logic. Each proved mastery in different ways.
Patron of Craftsmen
After his death, Lu Ban was deified as the patron saint of carpenters and builders. Carpenter's guilds throughout Chinese history venerated him. The Lu Ban Festival (鲁班诞) on the thirteenth day of the sixth lunar month is celebrated by craftspeople. Many traditional Chinese buildings have small Lu Ban shrines for the protection of the structure.
Mythology Network
Connections & Relationships
Lu Ban is woven into a larger web of gods, creatures, and legends. Explore the connections below.
Lu Ban
魯班
Cang Jie
The inventor of Chinese writing — who created the script after studying the traces of animals.
Huang Fei Hu
The Flying Tiger — Zhou's bravest general who defected from Shang for honor.
Tong Meng
The General of Connecting Heaven — Zhou's chief military commander.