There are three types in Buddhism
1. Raising the sword
2. Raising the sword
3. Standing the sword (held by Zhou Cang )
Guan Gong, the God of Wealth
In fact, there is only one kind, the one holding the knife (knife facing down)
There are also those holding the knife (upward), then Not the God of Wealth
It is a kind of statue of Emperor Guan1. Who is the God of Wealth?
Who is the "God of Wealth"? According to the "Bang of Gods", the God of Wealth's surname is Zhao and his name is Gongming. He originally practiced Taoism in Luofu Cave in Mount Emei. Because he helped Zhou attack King Wu, he was named "The God of the Golden Dragon Ruyi Zhengyi Dragon and Tiger Xuan Altar True Monarch" after his death, and commanded the "Zhaobao Tianzun", "Nazhen Tianzun", "Zhao Tianzun" There are four subordinates: "Wealth Envoy" and "Benefit Immortal Official". Their duties are all related to finances. The God of Wealth worshiped by Taoism is also Zhao Gongming. According to Taoist legends, Zhao Gongming was originally from Zhongnan Mountain. He had lived in seclusion in the mountains since the Qin Dynasty and practiced Taoism intensively. After his achievements, the Jade Emperor named him "Marshal Zhengyi Xuantan", or "Zhao Xuantan" for short. In the old days, the God of Wealth worshiped in the Temple of Wealth and every household had a fierce appearance, with a black face and thick beard, eyes wide open in anger, an iron crown on his head, a steel whip in one hand, a gold ingot in the other, and a black tiger under his body. , so it is also known as the "Black Tiger Mysterious Altar". Legend has it that the commander-in-chief of Zhao Gong was responsible for eradicating plagues, driving away diseases and warding off disasters. Whenever there are grievances that are difficult to redress, he will uphold justice; when people buy and sell to seek wealth, he can make people profit. No one else can replace him, so the people regard him as the God of Wealth.
2. How to worship the God of Wealth?
The God of Wealth can also be divided into civil and military gods. Different families that believe in literature and martial arts have their own divisions. People who believe in literature worship the God of Wealth, and people who believe in martial arts worship the God of Wealth in martial arts. Although the ways of civil and military affairs are different, they all have their own fortunes to make. It is said that the God of Wealth is worshiped by wealthy people, but if people without money worship it, it will not bring about magical effects. There is a folk story about "the God of Wealth Bodhisattva divorced his wife": In the past, the God of Wealth in the Temple of Wealth was always accompanied by a dignified and beautiful Goddess of Wealth. Later, this kind-hearted female Bodhisattva suddenly disappeared. It turned out that she was divorced by the God of Wealth. Why did the God of Wealth divorce his wife? It starts with a beggar. There was a beggar who was so poor that he had nowhere to go. He passed by an ancient temple begging for food. After entering the temple, he did not worship any Bodhisattva. He only touched the statue of the God of Wealth, bowed his head, and prayed to the God of Wealth to grant him wealth. When Marshal Zhao Gong saw that he was a beggar, he thought to himself that he was reluctant to light incense and why he came to ask for money? There are so many poor beggars in the world, can I help them? But the beggar thinks exactly the opposite. He thinks that the God of Wealth will always help the poor. If the rich don't care about food and clothing, what's the use of asking for money? Then he kept praying. At this time, the God of Wealth Queen felt sympathy and wanted to wake up her husband, the God of Wealth, from his nap, and persuade him to be kind and give some charity to the beggar. But the God of Wealth ignored him, yawned twice and closed his eyes. Although she is the Goddess of Wealth, the power of wealth is in the hands of her husband. How can he give money to the beggar if he doesn't give his consent? The empress had no choice but to take off her earrings and throw them to the beggar. The beggar suddenly felt something dropped on the shrine. When he saw it was a pair of gold earrings, he knew they were given by the God of Wealth. He hurriedly kowtowed and shouted, "Kowtow to the God of Wealth Bodhisattva." When the God of Wealth opened his eyes, he found that the Empress had actually given the love gift he had given her to the poor beggar. He was so angry that he drove the God of Wealth out of the shrine. Since then, for hundreds of years, no poor person has become rich by worshiping the God of Wealth.
3. What should we pay attention to?
a. The Wen God of Wealth should face the inside of his house, while the Wu God of Wealth should face the outside of the house or the door.
b. The seating orientation of the gods and Buddhas: the gods and Buddhas should face the gate: please take a look at the temples and Taoist temples. Psychologically stop evil spirits from entering the house!
c. Not toward the toilet, the door, or the dining table.
d. When honoring the God of Wealth, you must be first, and when setting off firecrackers, you must be the last. Legend has it that if you want to make a fortune, the firecrackers should be fired until the end to be considered sincere.
e. To be the first to benefit the market, you must get up early to welcome it.
f. Whenever you receive the God of Wealth, you must offer a sheep head and a carp. Offering a sheep head means "auspicious" and offering carp is the picture. "Fish" and "yu" are homophonic, which makes the poem auspicious.
4. Is there anything special about the New Year?
a, grab the road
On the fourth day of the first lunar month - midnight, prepare sacrifices, cakes, fruits, incense and candles, etc., and sing gongs, drums and burn incense to worship the God of Wealth. . The fifth day of the first lunar month is the birthday of the God of Wealth. In order to win the market, it is first received on the fourth day of the lunar month, which is called "grabbing the road head", also known as "receiving the God of Wealth".
b, drink road wine
On the fifth day of the first lunar month - at 0:00, open the doors and windows, burn incense, set off firecrackers, light fireworks, and welcome the God of Wealth. After receiving the God of Wealth, everyone also drinks Lutou wine, often until dawn. Everyone is full of hope of getting rich and hopes that the God of Wealth can bring gold and silver to their homes and make them rich in the new year.
c, Sending the poor
The sixth day of the first lunar month - "Sending the poor" is a very distinctive folk custom in ancient my country. Its meaning is to offer sacrifices to poor ghosts (poor gods). It is said that every year on this day, people drink wine and worship in the streets. Thousands of households and thousands of doors look at it, and no one is left poor. When sending a message to the poor, you should not only prepare a symbolic car and boat for the "poor ghost" (knot willows for a cart, tie grass for a boat), but also bring dry food to the "poor ghost". Abandon the thoroughfare (throw it on the road) to relieve the poor. The God of Wealth is one of the benevolent gods commonly worshiped by Chinese people. Every New Year, every household hangs a statue of the God of Wealth, hoping that the God of Wealth will bless them and bring good fortune. Ji, symbolizes peace; profit, symbolizes wealth.
Life in this world is both safe and wealthy, and naturally perfect. This sincere wish has become a common psychology among people. The psychology and pursuit of seeking wealth and receiving blessings are fully reflected in a series of folk activities during the Spring Festival to worship the God of Wealth.
The Spring Festival is the most grand folk festival in China. Among them, there is an important folk activity on New Year's Eve - welcoming the God of Wealth. On New Year's Eve, the whole family sits together and eats dumplings (dumplings symbolize the ingots given by the God of Wealth). After eating the dumplings, the whole family stays up all night, waiting to receive the God of Wealth. The "God of Wealth" is actually a crudely printed image of the God of Wealth. This image of the God of Wealth is printed on red paper, with a line drawing of the god in the middle, and auspicious words such as "Add children to bring wealth" and "Pray for peace" are written on both sides. Those who "send the God of Wealth" are some poor children or street vendors. They buy statues of the God of Wealth at low prices and go through the streets and alleys, selling door to door: "Here comes the God of Wealth!" The head of the household must not say "no", but You have to say politely: "Excuse me, please come in quickly." You can buy one for a few coppers, and no matter how poor you are, you will be rewarded with a sticky bean bag in exchange for one. On a New Year's Eve, you can sometimes receive more than a dozen "God of Wealth" cards. This is to ask for good luck "when the God of Wealth comes home, the more you go, the better." This custom still continues in some areas of China. During the Spring Festival, some beggars go to the village to beg for money from door to door. After the owner gives them money, they paste a picture of the God of Wealth on the wall in front of the owner's house. According to records, in the old days, there was a custom of sticking up the God of Wealth around Zhangjiagang in northern Jiangsu: they carved the pattern of the God of Wealth on yellow paper and posted it on other people’s doors. The steamed buns come and the cakes are steamed. If the God of Wealth sticks it low, the owner's family will have good luck in the new year. If the God of Wealth sticks it not too high or too low, the owner's money will cover the floor." The owner replied: "It depends on wealth."
In addition to welcoming the God of Wealth, it is also essential to worship the God of Wealth. Every Spring Festival, people all over the country worship the God of Wealth with different methods. During the Spring Festival in northern areas, every family invites the God of Wealth back, enshrines his statue, burns incense and offers offerings. In the early morning of the second day of the first lunar month, the statue of the God of Wealth is burned. During the sacrificial ceremony, a congratulatory message is recited while performing the ritual: "The fragrant red lamps are bright, the gods are here, they are aware of the suffering, and they give wealth to the people. The poor devils stay away, the wealth is prosperous, and over time, the door is filled with gold." A folk song from the Qing Dynasty goes: "On the second day of the new year, , a big sacrifice was made to the God of Wealth, incense candles were lit, wine was poured, and roosters, pig heads, and live carps were served. After the family, old and young, saluted, the sound of firecrackers shocked the world. "The ceremony was very solemn. The content of the offerings to the God of Wealth in the South is particularly particular. The offerings are divided into three tables: the first table is for fruits, with oranges, indicating a broad business; the second table is for cakes, mostly rice cakes, which means that every year is high, and the cakes are placed on top. There are holly branches, which means evergreen pines and cypresses; the third table is the main banquet, which has pig heads, whole chickens, whole ducks, whole fish, etc., which has the auspicious meaning of attracting wealth and making fish leap. During the sacrifice, the host lights incense and candles, and everyone bows and worships. Everyone is full of hopes of getting rich and prays for great wealth in the new year. All over the country, there are traces of worshiping the God of Wealth, and the status of the God of Wealth in people's minds can be seen from this.
The origin of the God of Wealth is quite difficult to determine, and the gods worshiped vary from time to time and place to place. The God of Wealth is generally believed to include the so-called "Right God of Wealth" Zhao Gongming, "the God of Literary Wealth" Bigan and Fan Li, the "God of Wu Wealth" Guan Yu, the "God of Partial Wealth" Wulu Shen, Lishi Xianguan, and the "Quasi God of Wealth" "Liu Haichan." These gods of wealth can be divided into two categories: literary gods of wealth and martial gods of wealth. The most well-known god of wealth is Zhao Gongming, the "right god of wealth".
1. Zhao Gongming - the God of Wealth in the World
The God of Wealth worshiped by the world, the one with the greatest influence is Zhao Gongming. According to the "Complete Collection of Searching Gods of Three Religions", Zhao Gongming has many powers and infinite changes. He can drive away thunder and lightning, summon rain and wind, reduce plague and cut malaria, and save lives and relieve disasters. There is an old saying that "the marshal's merits are extremely great". If you are against buying and selling and seeking wealth, as long as you pray to Zhao Gongming, everything you wish will be fulfilled. Therefore, the people regard him as the God of Wealth. In the old New Year paintings, most of the images of Zhao Gongming are wearing an iron crown, holding a treasure whip, a black face and a thick beard, astride a black tiger, and a ferocious face, so people also call him the God of Wealth.
Folk legends about Zhao Gongming have a long history. As early as the Jin Dynasty, in Qian Bao's "Sou Shen Ji", Zhao Gongming was one of the underworld gods who specialized in taking human lives. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Tao Hongjing recorded in "Zhen Gao" that Zhao Gongming was the god of plague that caused human diseases. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, "The Origin of the Three Religions Searching for Gods" records that in June of the eleventh year of Emperor Wen's reign in the Sui Dynasty, five strong men appeared in the sky, wearing green, red, white, black and yellow robes, each holding an object. : One person holds a ladle and a jar, another person holds a leather bag and sword, another person holds a hammer, another person holds a fan, and another person holds a fire pot. Emperor Wen asked Taishi Juren: "Who are they? What kind of disasters are they in charge of?" Zhang Juren reported: "They are the powerful men of the five directions. They are the five ghosts in the sky and the five plague gods in the world: Zhang Yuanbo for Spring Plague, Liu Yuanda for Xia Plague, Zhao Gongming of Autumn Plague, Zhong Shigui of Winter Plague, and Shi Wenye of Zhongpeng are in charge of plagues in the world. These are diseases caused by the movement of heaven and earth. " Emperor Wen asked, "How can we stop the plague and protect the world from it?" Zhang Juren replied: " Plague is a disease sent from heaven and cannot be stopped.” So many people died from the plague that year. At that time, Emperor Wen ordered the erection of a temple, and on June 27, he conferred the title of general on the five powerful men.
Zhao Gongming’s plague ghost character became more specific in "The Complete Biography of Immortals", but he changed from one of the five plague ghosts to one of the eight ghost commanders: Yuan and Ming Dynasties There are eight ghost commanders, each leading hundreds of millions of ghost soldiers, walking around the human world.
Liu Yuanda led the ghost soldiers to cure miscellaneous diseases, Zhang Boyuan led the ghosts to cure plague, Zhao Gongming led ghosts to cure dysentery, Zhong Ziji (Zhong Shigui) brought sores and swelling to the world, Shi Wenye cured cold diseases, Fan Juqing cured acidity and infertility, Yao Gong cured the five poisons, and Li Gongzhong cured madness. The charming red eyes have brought many disasters and diseases to the world, taking away the lives of all people and wasting countless lives.
It was not until the publication of "The Romance of the Gods" that Zhao Gongming was no longer full of evil, ghostly and pestilential auras like in the past. On the order of Yuanshi Tianzun, Jiang Taigong canonized the gods according to the jade talisman and gold, and named Zhao Gongming as the "Golden Dragon Ruyi Zhengyi Dragon Tiger Xuantan True Monarch". His responsibility is to specialize in gold and silver treasures and welcome good fortune. From then on, Zhao Gongming began to take charge of the world's wealth and became the God of Wealth. Zhao Gongming's wealth can make people benefit, harmonious, and get rich. This is in line with the world's desire for wealth. Therefore, people widely worship Zhao Gongming, and his original appearance as the god of underworld, plague, and ghost commander has been gradually forgotten. Zhao Gongming, the god of wealth worshiped by the people, all wears helmets and armor, a war robe, a whip, a black face and a thick beard, and a powerful image. There are often cornucopias, large ingots, orbs, corals and the like around, which further enhances the effect of abundant wealth.
2. Bigan - the just and unintentional Uncle Zhou
In the old days, the God of Wealth was divided into civil and military people, and people who valued literature and martial arts each had their own affairs. The people who are good at literature worship the God of Wen and Wealth, and the people who are good at martial arts worship the God of Wealth and Wealth. Although their ways of civility and martial arts are different, they all have their own wealth. In addition to Zhao Gongming, the God of Wu and Wealth, there is also Bi Gan, the God of Wealth and Wealth. In folk New Year paintings, the statue of Bigan is dressed as a civil official, wearing a prime minister's gauze hat, five long beards, holding a wishful thinking in his hand, wearing a python robe, and carrying ingots at his feet. The dress of the God of Wen and Cai is similar to that of Tian Guan. The difference between the two is that Tian Guan has a kind look and a smile on his face, while the statue of Bi Gan, the God of Wen and Cai, has a serious face and a clear face.
According to historical records, Bigan was the uncle of King Zhou of Yin and a loyal minister. At that time, King Zhou of Yin Dynasty was tyrannical and immoral, debauched and unruly. According to "The Romance of the Gods": King Zhou listened to Daji's evil words, inflicted torture and killed his admonishing ministers. Although ministers such as Shang Rong and Bigan remonstrated directly, King Zhou never repented. After the Lutai was completed, King Zhou believed Daji's lies and wanted to meet the fairies and fairies. Daji came up with a plan. On the night of the 15th, she invited all the demon foxes in Xuanyuan Tomb to turn into fairies, gods, and fairies to Lutai for a banquet, where they could enjoy the Emperor's Nine Dragons Banquet and confuse King Zhou. At the table, the fox smelled bad. The demon fox, who had little kung fu, actually showed his tail. Uncle Bigan, the king of Zhou at the banquet, saw it very clearly. After the banquet, he informed King Wucheng Huang Feihu of the situation. After investigation, it was found that all the demon foxes were vixens from Xuanyuan's tomb. Bigan and Huang Feihu led the troops to block the demon fox's cave and set fire to burn all the foxes to death. Bigan also made a coat of unburnt fox skin and presented it to King Zhou in the severe winter, in order to confuse Daji's heart and prevent her from being in peace with the king. When Daji saw that her coats and robes were all made of the furs of her descendants, her heart was cut with a knife. She hated Bigan deeply and vowed to dig out his heart.
One day, King Zhou was having breakfast with Daji and Xinna witch Ximei*, when he suddenly saw Daji vomiting blood and unconscious. Ximei said that it was Daji's old illness that relapsed, and Linglong's heart had to be treated with decoction. He also deduced that Wei Yabiqian was the heart of Linglong's seven orifices. King Zhou was anxious to ask Bigan for his condolences. Bigan angrily said: "The heart is the master of the body. It is hidden in the lungs and sits in the six leaves and two ears. It is immune to all evils and will die if it invades. If the heart is right, the hands and feet will be right; if the heart is not right, the hands and feet will not be right. The heart is not right. It is the spiritual seedling of all things, the root of the changes in the four phenomena. My heart is hurt, how can I survive! Although the old minister is dead, he is just a virtuous person. I listen to the words of the enchantress Xin Na, and give me a heart-breaking gift. Misfortune, I am afraid that if Bigan is here, the country will be there, Bigan will die, and the country will die!" King Zhou said angrily: "If you ask your ministers to die, you will be unfaithful if you don't die. If you don't obey your orders, you will be punished by the warriors. Take the sword and get the heart!" Bigan cursed Daji, and after bowing eight times at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, he took the sword and disembowelled her, threw the heart to the ground, walked out of the fifth gate, and mounted his horse.
First, when Jiang Ziya left Chaoge, he went to the Prime Minister's Mansion to say goodbye. Seeing that Bigan's complexion was gloomy, he knew that he would be in trouble in the future, so he gave Bigan a magic talisman and told him to turn it into ashes and take it down in times of crisis. , guaranteed to be safe. It would be difficult for Bi Gan to know his friends before entering the court, so he drank the talisman water left by Jiang Ziya, so he could move forward without bleeding after having his heart cut open. Later, it was said that Bigan did not die after taking Jiang Ziya's elixir, but came to spread the treasure among the people. Bigan was upright and loyal by nature, fair and selfless, and after his heart was hollowed out, he became a careless person. It is precisely because of his carelessness and impartiality that he was regarded as the God of Wealth by future generations. It was said at that time that people who did business under the protection of Bigan were impartial, fair transactions, and did not deceive each other. Therefore, Bigan was widely praised and respected by the world.
3. Fan Li - Tao Zhugong who made money
Fan Li is also a god of literature and wealth. He was an outstanding politician, thinker and strategist during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. He was also a big businessman who made money in a wise way.
Fan Li, also known as Shao Bo, was a very talented person and had the ability to think independently when he was young. Later, he was worshiped as a scholar-bureaucrat by King Gou Jian of Yue. When the State of Yue was defeated by the State of Wu, Fan Li and the King of Yue went to attack the King of Wu Fu Chai. After returning to China, he assisted the King of Yue to enrich the country and strengthen its army, and finally defeated the Kingdom of Wu. After the defeat of Wu, the monarchs and ministers of Yue held a banquet to celebrate their victory. Everyone was happy, but Gou Jian was the only one who showed no joy. Fan Li looked at this small detail and realized the big picture: the King of Yue fought for the territory and did not hesitate to kill his ministers. Now that he got what he wanted, he did not want to attribute it to his ministers. So Fan Li resolutely resigned from his post and retired to the King of Yue. He led his family and entourage in a small boat and sailed across the East China Sea to the State of Qi.
Fan Li and his son cultivated land on the coast of Qi State. Soon after they worked diligently to manage property, they accumulated hundreds of thousands of gold in their family property. When the people of Qi heard that he was a good man, they asked him to be his minister.
Fan Li sighed: "If you stay at home, you will get a lot of gold, and if you live in an official position, you will get a minister. This is the ultimate commoner. It is ominous to be honored for a long time." So he returned the seal and distributed all the money to his friends and neighbors. Taking the most valuable items with him, he left Qidu secretly and quietly came to Taodi. Fan Li believed that Tao was located in the middle of the world and was a necessary thoroughfare for transactions. From this, he could get rich. He considered it a guarantee for the rest of his life. From then on, he lived there and called himself Tao Zhugong. ("Tao" refers to the land of pottery, or is a cryptic word for "escape"; "Zhu" is said to be a symbol of a rich man, or refers to someone who has been a high official; "Gong" is said to be a respectful title for elders and peers, or He said that he had been a duke). Fan Li and his son accumulated tens of thousands of wealth by farming, raising livestock, and doing business, and became Taodi's tycoons. Later, the two families divided the wealth among the people. Everyone in the world praised Tao Zhugong and worshiped him as the God of Wealth.
Tao Zhugong’s business wisdom has always been admired by the people, so many business and wealth-making techniques are entrusted to Tao Zhugong’s name. For example, "Eighteen Do's and Don'ts in Business": In business, one must be diligent and avoid laziness; prices must be set clearly and avoid ambiguity; expenses must be frugal and avoid luxury; credit must be recognized by the person and avoid excessive use; goods must be inspected and avoid excessive use; Be cautious and avoid sloppiness; employ people in an upright manner and avoid distortion; be careful about the advantages and disadvantages and avoid confusion; goods must be trimmed and avoid being sloppy; deadlines must be agreed upon and avoid being sloppy; transactions must be timely and avoid delays; money must be prudent and careful. Be careful not to be confused; be responsible when dealing with matters and be careful not to make false promises; be sure to check accounts and be careful not to be lazy; be humble in acceptance and be careful not to be irritable; be quiet in your intentions and be careful not to be rough; be polite in your speech and be careful not to be impetuous... The 18 avoidances are mostly for businessmen. Speaking from experience, he was named Tao Zhugong, which shows that he, as the God of Wealth, has a wise image in the minds of folk businessmen. Fan Li worked hard throughout his life and accumulated tens of thousands of dollars. He was good at business and financial management, and was able to spread money widely. Therefore, it is natural for him to be called the God of Wealth and Wealth.
4. Guan Yu - Guan Gong based on loyalty and trustworthiness
Guan Gong, also known as Guan Yu, is a household name in China, a figure well known to women and children. In modern times, more and more people regard Guan Gong as the almighty protector, the god of industry and the god of wealth. The author of "Folk New Year God Statue Picture Exhibition" said: "Guan Gong is regarded as the god of martial arts, the god of wealth and the god of protecting merchants. When people have disputes, they ask for his insight and judgment. During droughts, people also ask for rain and medicine for sick people. They are regarded as the most powerful person to drive away evil spirits and evil spirits."
According to a legend recorded in Xu Dao's "Tongjian of the Immortals of the Past Dynasties": Guan Gong's previous life was originally the "Old Dragon of Jie Liang". During the reign of Emperor Heng of the Han Dynasty, there was a severe drought in Hedong for several years, and the old dragon was eager to pity everyone. , that night the clouds and mist arose, and water from the Yellow River was drawn up to bring it down. The Jade Emperor saw that the old dragon violated the destiny of heaven and took the sealed water without authorization, so he ordered Tian Cao to kill him with a magic sword and throw his head to the ground. Pu Jing, a monk in Jie County, found a dragon head by the stream. He put it in a vat in the middle of the hut and chanted sutras and mantras for nine days. When he heard a sound in the vat, he looked up and saw nothing. To the east of the stream, there was a treasure pond in Jie Liang Ping Village. Li Guanyi's family has a baby born, named Shou. He learned from a teacher when he was young and named him Changsheng. Later, he named himself Yu with the courtesy name Yunchang. According to "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Guan Yu was born as a villain and relied on his power to dominate others, so he killed the villain and then traveled around the world. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, he formed a "Taoyuan sworn brotherhood" with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, vowing to fight for life and death, and fought together with the rebels to fight for supremacy in the world. In the fifth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao sent troops to defeat Liu Bei. Liu Bei defected to Yuan Shao. Cao Cao captured Guan Yu and regarded Guan Yu as a loyal man and worshiped him as a partial general. Later, Cao Cao realized that Guan Yu had no intention of staying for a long time, so he used a large amount of gold, silver, jewelry, high-ranking officials, and beautiful women to bribe him, but Guan Yu was not moved by money and fame at all. When Guan Yu learned that Liu Bei was at Yuan Shao's place, he immediately made a gold seal and went through five passes and killed six generals to find Liu Bei. Liu Bei proclaimed himself King of Hanzhong and named Guan Yu the leader of the Five Tiger Generals. Cao Cao was furious when he learned about it, and planned with Sima Yi to unite with Sun Quan to attack Jingzhou. Liu Bei worshiped Guan Yu as the "former general" and the governor of Jingxiang County, and ordered him to take Fancheng. Guan Yu divided his troops from Jingzhou to capture Fancheng. Unfortunately, he fell into Lu Meng's plan and lost Jingzhou. He walked to Maicheng at night, was defeated and captured, and died unyieldingly. "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" later recorded: After Guan Yu's death, his ghost lingered until he shouted over Yuquan Mountain in Dangyang County, Jingzhou: "Give me my head back!" Pu Jing, an old monk on the mountain, heard this: "The past is not what it is today. Yes, let's not discuss anything... Now that the general was killed by Lu Meng, he shouted, "Give me my head back." But who should I ask for the heads of Yan Liang, Wen Chou (all killed by Guan Yu) and so on? "Guan Yu suddenly realized, then? Convert to Buddhism.
Guan Yu was loyal, courageous, and steadfast throughout his life, and was highly believed by Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Guan Yu was extremely prominent and had the title of "King of Martial Arts" and "Sage of Martial Arts". As a result, Guan Yu was regarded by the world as having "all-powerful" magical powers such as Si Ming Lu, assessing imperial examinations, curing diseases and eliminating disasters, exorcising evil and avoiding evil. Among the people, All walks of life paid homage to Emperor Guan, the "Almighty God". The reason why people regard Guan Gong as the God of Wealth is probably because Guan Yu is not moved by gold and silver treasures, which is in sharp contrast to some people in the world who are greedy for profit and have no righteousness.
People in the world, especially merchants, admire Guan Gong's loyalty and trustworthiness, and hope that Guan Gong will be their patron saint to make money. In addition, people hope that merchants will stick to integrity in transactions and regard Guan Gong as a just man to maintain the traditional moral order.
5. The God of Five Ways and the Immortal Official of the Lucky City - the partial God of Wealth who attracts wealth
The Civil and Military God of Wealth is the so-called God of Wealth among the people. In addition, there is also the God of Wealth, which is based on the location of the statue where the God of Wealth is located. The folk God of Wealth often refers to the God of Wealth who is known as the "Five Gods". In "The Romance of the Gods", the Five Gods of Wealth refer to Marshal Zhao Gong, Zhaobao Tianzun Xiao Sheng, Nazhen Tianzun Cao Bao, Wealth Envoy Chen Jiugong and Lishi Immortal Official Yao Shaosi.
"Five Road God" also refers to the road head and the walking god. Yao Fujun, a native of the Qing Dynasty, said: "The Five-Road God is commonly known as the God of Wealth. In fact, it is the god of the Five Sacrifice Gates. Anyone who goes out in the five ways will get wealth." The five-road god refers to the five directions of east, west, south, north, and center, which means there are five ways to go out. God bless you with good luck and fortune. The Five Gods of Wealth are all gods of auspiciousness and are also common images in folk auspicious New Year pictures. They are deeply loved and worshiped by people. The fifth day of the first lunar month every year is the birthday of the God of Wealth. As soon as it lights up every day, everyone in urban and rural areas can hear bursts of firecrackers. In order to be the first to receive the God of Wealth, businesses usually hold a welcoming ceremony on the fourth night of the Lunar New Year, prepare fruits, pastries, pig heads and other sacrificial supplies, and invite the God of Wealth to drink. At that time, the host holds incense and candles and goes to the five Gods of Wealth halls in the southeast, northwest, and middle to receive the God of Wealth. After the five Gods of Wealth have received them, they hang up the paper horse of the God of Wealth, light the incense and candles, and everyone worships. After worshiping, the paper horse of the God of Wealth is burned.
In the early morning of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, people rushed to open the door, beat gongs and drums, and set off firecrackers to welcome the God of Wealth. After taking over the God of Wealth, everyone gathers together to eat Lutou wine until dawn when the business opens. It is said that "business will be prosperous and financial resources will be prosperous" for a year. There is a vivid description in Cai Yun's "Wu Zhu" of the Qing Dynasty: five days to make money, five days to seek, and one year's wish to be fulfilled in one time. Beware of welcoming the gods early elsewhere and rushing to grab the road overnight. The so-called "grabbing at the head of the road" means rushing to meet the God of Wealth on the five roads. People rush to set off firecrackers early in the hope of getting rich.
Among the gods of wealth worshiped by the people, whether it is Marshal Zhao Gong or the God of Blessings, they are always accompanied by the Immortal Official of Lishi (one of the five gods). Therefore, the Immortal Official of Lishi It can be said that he is an out-and-out God of Wealth. Regarding the origin of Lishi Immortal Official, it is recorded in "The Romance of the Gods": Lishi Immortal Official's real name is Yao Shaosi, and he is the apprentice of Zhao Gongming, the God of Wealth. He was later named the God of Good Luck and Good Luck by Jiang Ziya. The so-called "profit market" has three meanings: first, it refers to the profits obtained when doing business; second, it refers to good luck and luck; third, it refers to festive or festive money such as lucky money, etc. People believe in him because they hope that the God of Wealth in Deli City will bless their lives with happiness and everything goes well. In modern times, when the New Year comes, some people, especially businessmen, put pictures of the Lucky City and the Immortal Officials on their doors, accompanied by a boy who attracts wealth. The couplet reads: "The boy who attracts wealth has arrived" and "The Immortal Officials of the Lucky City have arrived." ", which is a metaphor for prosperity and good fortune.
6. Liu Haichan - the quasi-god of wealth who distributes money to help the poor
Among the many gods of wealth believed in by Chinese folk, there is one type that can only be regarded as the quasi-god of wealth, which means He has not been titled as the God of Wealth, but because this god can bring people a certain amount of wealth and assumes some of the responsibilities of the God of Wealth, people regard him as the God of Wealth. Liu Haichan is one of the most representative quasi-gods of wealth. The God of Wealth in Tibetan Buddhism
Belief in the God of Wealth in Tibetan Buddhism is very common, and there are many types, including the Yellow God of Wealth, the Black God of Wealth, the White God of Wealth, the Red God of Wealth, etc. Tibetans in Tibet and Qinghai offer offerings to pray for wealth.
1. The King of Treasures
The King of Treasures is one of the four heavenly kings of Buddhism, also known as Bishamonten. He is the protector of the north and is also responsible for wealth. He is called kuberd in Sanskrit. It means benefactor of wealth and is the guardian of all wealth in the world. The Heavenly King holds a treasure-producing ferret in his left hand and a treasure banner in his right hand. When the treasure banner is rotated, jewels are produced, so it is also called the Treasure Heavenly King.
2. Huang Caishen
Huang Caishen is derived from the four heavenly kings, the multi-knowledge king. Tibetan secrets believe in his function as a treasurer separately, called "Zanbulu". Because of his golden color, he is called the Yellow God of Wealth. The image shows the upper body exposed and the lower body wearing a skirt. The left hand holds a big meerkat with jewels in its mouth, symbolizing treasure. There is a white conch on his left foot, symbolizing that he can enter the sea to retrieve treasures. Tibetans worship him very much, just like Zhao Gongming in Han Dynasty.
3. Black God of Wealth
The Black God of Wealth evolved from the ancient Indian God of Wealth (Sanskrit name Kubela). The body is blue-black, naked, with two arms on one side and three eyes on the face. It has a prone naked man under its feet. The left hand holds a large skunk, which symbolizes treasure. The right hand holds a skull bowl, symbolizing happiness.
4. The White God of Wealth
The White God of Wealth is another god of wealth in Tibetan Buddhism. He rides on a dragon, has three eyes, opens his mouth, and holds a hand in his left hand. Trident, holding a short stick in the right hand, sometimes holding a rope with both hands in front of the chest. This God of Wealth is also more common in Lama temples.
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<文财神>
文财神, also known as Caibo Xingjun, is the god of wealth and wealth. The statues and portraits are all dressed as civil servants, with a prime minister's gauze hat on their head, a white face and long hair, five long beards, a wishful thinking in their hands, a python robe, and ingots on their feet. It has the meaning of attracting wealth, so gamblers and businessmen admire it. . The main literary gods of wealth include Bigan and Fan Li.
1. Bigan
Bigan was the uncle of King Zhou of Yin. He was loyal and upright. He was disemboweled by King Zhou because of his outspoken advice. Folk legend: Bigan glared at King Zhou, plucked off his heart, threw it on the ground, walked out of the palace, came to the people, and scattered the treasures. Because he has no heart, acts fairly and impartially, he is deeply loved by people and is respected as the God of Wealth and Wealth. Because of his impartiality and selflessness, he is also known as the "Justice God of Wealth".
2. Fan Li
Fan Li was an important minister of the Yue King Gou Jian in the Spring and Autumn Period. After helping Gou Jian achieve hegemony, he feared that the rabbit would die and the dog would be cooked. He bravely retired and went to Qi to do business and made a fortune. He became extremely rich and named himself Tao Zhugong.
He was philanthropic, and repeatedly distributed all his wealth to friends and old friends, and regarded money very lightly. He is intelligent, upright, generous, righteous, and helpful to the world. He has the noble character of God, so he is respected by the world and is regarded as the God of Wealth. Because of his resourcefulness, he is called the "God of Wisdom and Wealth".
God of Wealth. Zhao Gongming, the god of martial arts and wealth who has always been very popular in China, is often worshiped as the god of house control. Another martial god of wealth is Emperor Guan, who is often regarded as the "all-powerful god".
1. Zhao Gongming
Zhao Gongming was originally the Taoist god of the underworld and one of the five plague gods. He can also drive away thunder and lightning, call for wind and rain, eliminate plague and prevent disasters. In the Ming Dynasty, he was named the "Golden Dragon Ruyi Zhengyi Dragon Tiger Xuantan True Monarch" by Jiang Taigong in "The Romance of the Gods". He had jurisdiction over the four gods of attracting treasures, collecting treasures, attracting wealth, and making money, and he truly became a god of wealth. It was quickly accepted by the people and respected as the God of Wealth. Legend has it that his eyes were gouged out and he would not look at others with a snobbish eye. Therefore, he distributed the wealth among the people in the fairest way and was called the "Justice God of Wealth." Among the folk gods, the most prominent one is Zhao Gongming.
2. Guan Gong
Guan Gong is the omnipotent god. He was regarded as the "Martial Saint" in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and has the reputation of "the first person of loyalty through the ages." Because merchants respected Guan Gong's loyalty and faith, they regarded him as the patron saint of the business world and worshiped him as the god of wealth, in order to establish a transaction order based on "integrity" in the business world. Because Guan Gong is trustworthy and righteous, he is also called the "Loyal and Righteous God of Wealth".
Chen Jiugong, the messenger of wealth, and Yao Shaosi, the immortal official of Lishi, are the five gods. They specialize in gold and silver treasures and welcome good fortune. The Five-Way God of Wealth is a common image in folk auspicious New Year pictures, and is most worshiped in the Jiangnan area.
The Five-Road God also refers to the Road God and the Walking God. People pray that people will get wealth if they go east, west, south, north, and middle, so the Five-Road God is also called the Road God.
The Little God of Wealth is mainly beneficial to the City Immortal Official, Lucky Boy, Bangs, and Hehe Wealth God. These gods of wealth often appear in the form of boys, and often hold treasure trays or hold ingots, wishful thinking, etc. beside them to wait in front of the civil and military gods of wealth, hence their name.
1. Lishi Immortal Official
Lishi Immortal Official is a little god of wealth popular among the people. He is the apprentice of Zhao Gongming, named Yao Shaosi. In "The Romance of the Gods" He was named the Immortal Official of the City of Lishi who welcomes auspiciousness and accepts treasures. "Lishi" means good luck and good fortune in common proverbs, and also refers to the profits from trading. The Immortal Official of the Lucky City is the most popular among businessmen. Every New Year, the Immortal Official of the Lucky City must be posted on the door for good luck and wealth.
2. Liu Hai
His real name is Liu Cao, nicknamed Haichanzi, and he was a poor Taoist priest during the Five Dynasties period. Because toad is a mascot that wards off evil spirits and bestows wealth, it is rumored among the people that "bangs play with golden toad" and "bangs play with money". Legend has it that the golden toad vomits money and scatters money wherever its bangs go to help the poor, so it is called the "living god of wealth".
3. Hehe God of Wealth
"Hehe" is not the god of wealth, but the god of joy. Taking the meaning of "harmony brings wealth", the folk evolved the god of marriage into the god of reunion. And eventually evolved into the God of Wealth.
1. The Seventh General Manager of Jinyuan
The local god of wealth enshrined in Jiangsu and Zhejiang since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. A legendary figure who is said to be an anti-Japanese hero. The people hope that these heroes who have benefited the local area can still exert their "residual heat" after death and continue to protect the local people, build temples to worship them, and worship on the second and sixteenth day of every month, which is called Baili City.
2. Shen Wansan
It is said that in the early Ming Dynasty, Shen Wansan rescued a frog and released it. He got an earthen basin by the pond. His wife accidentally put a coin in the basin, and suddenly she saw that the basin became So it is with the overflowing of coins, and the testing of gold and silver. So the world has wealth. Because Shen Wansan had a cornucopia, he was also regarded as the God of Wealth.
Conclusion:
In the folk belief in the God of Wealth, the God of Wealth is not just a single individual, but a group. In other words, the God of Wealth appears in the folk in the form of a group. Worshiping the God of Wealth was initially a custom among businessmen, and was later imitated by other citizens and villagers. Since the rise of the God of Wealth in the Southern Song Dynasty, the God of Wealth has multiplied from generation to generation and gradually formed a very impressive group of Gods of Wealth, with complete categories and each performing their own duties. The literary gods of wealth include Bigan, Fan Li, and Emperor Wenchang; the martial gods include Zhao Gongming and Guan Gong; the various gods of wealth include the five-way god and the five-manifestation god. Hehe God of Wealth,?D God of Wealth divorces his wife - not thinking about the poor
The birthday of God of Wealth Among the gods in heaven and earth, the most popular one is probably the God of Wealth. Although the title of the God of Wealth is limited, wealth can communicate with the gods, he has a great reputation and has a wide range of connections, so few people are willing to make trouble with him. ! By the way, let me tell you the birthdays of the Gods of Wealth: Marshal Zhao (the fifth day of the first lunar month, another saying is July 22nd); the Five Gods of Wealth (the fifth day of the fifth lunar month); the boy who attracts wealth (the twentieth day of the first lunar month); the rich lady (the twenty-third day of the fifth lunar month) ); Guandi (May 13). Remember to offer a stick of incense to the God of Wealth at that time. The chance of being favored should be no lower than the chance of winning a sports lottery ticket.