Zhong Kui aka Ghost Catcher Zhong Kui or Master Zhong Kui (鐘馗), according to myth, he was born in early Tang Dynasty (生于唐初年間).
According to research and records, in Tang Dynasty, there's no such a character known as Zhong Kui, but a type of root-plant (根類植物) with the name Zhong Kui (仲葵). During that Era, such a type of root-plant is being dig-out, dry and then use as a form of Spiritual Object to ward-off negative entities, etc (驅魔避邪之用).
From there, the folks started to create stories and myth on such a root-plant and in-order for the story to reach all other places in the whole China, one of the Taoist Priest "humanize (人格化)" it into a human form, which later known as Master Zhong Kui.
In myth, Zhong Kui was a scholar who join-in the Imperial Examination in the Imperial Court (唐年間京師會考), but due to his appearance, his Office Title of Top Scholar was being taken-off, upon the humiliation and bias-ness, he killed himself in the Palace - just in front of the Emperor.
After passing-on, his soul was being summoned to Heaven and knowing that he's innocent, Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝) bestowed him with the title of "Capturing of all Negative Entities and Uphold the Rights of Justice" (it is a form of opposing force against the Imperial Ruling at that Era).
From then, Zhong Kui necame an Official Ghost Catcher (驅魔天師鐘馗).
