Zhao Gongming, the God of Wealth

 

Zhao Gongming, the God of Wealth

 

When Agudengba and the coachman Azhuo were chatting about the folk activity of welcoming the God of Wealth during the Spring Festival, the coachman Azhuo said to Agudengba: On the fifth day of the first lunar month, China has a festival to receive the God of Wealth. What’s interesting is that I asked many Chinese Man, who is the God of Wealth? Almost no one can explain it clearly.

Agudenba smiled and said:

In the minds of Chinese people, there are several gods of wealth, such as Bigan and Fan Li, the "literary gods of wealth", Guan Yu, the "martial god of wealth", Wulu Shen, Lishi Xianguan, the "partial god of wealth", and Liu Haichan, the "quasi-god of wealth". 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 "righteous god of wealth".

Zhao Gongming is the god of wealth in the world. Among the gods of wealth worshiped by the Chinese, the most influential one 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, call for rain and wind, bring down plague and cut malaria, save life 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 main god of wealth.

In the old Chinese New Year paintings, the image of Zhao Gongming is mostly 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, it was said that Zhao Gongming was one of the underworld gods who specialized in taking human lives. Later, Zhao Gongming was also called the god of plague that caused human diseases. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, five powerful men appeared in the air, wearing green, red, white, black and yellow robes, each holding an object: one holding a ladle and jar, one holding a leather bag and sword, one holding a hammer, and the other holding a sword. A fan and one person holding a fire pot. They are the five ghosts in heaven and the five plague gods in the world: Zhang Yuanbo for Spring Plague, Liu Yuanda for Summer Plague, Zhao Gongming for Autumn Plague, Zhong Shigui for Winter Plague, and Shi Wenye, the General Manager of Zhong Plague, who are in charge of plagues in the world. Plague is a disease sent from heaven and cannot be stopped. So many people died from the plague that year. At this time, Emperor Wen thought how to stop the plague and save the world from the plague? So he ordered the erection of a temple and the edict to make the powerful men from the five directions generals.

Zhao Gongming led a group of ghosts to infect the human world with dysentery, bringing many disasters and diseases to the human world, taking away the lives of all people. But after the publication of "The Romance of the Gods", the Zhao Gongming described in the book is no longer full of evil, ghostly and plaguey spirits like in the past. When Jiang Taigong was ordered by the Emperor of the First Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty to canonize gods according to the jade talisman and gold, he named Zhao Gongming as the "True Monarch of the Golden Dragon Ruyi Zhengyi Dragon and Tiger Xuantan". His responsibility was to handle 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.

Agudengba smiled at the carriage driver A Zhuo and said: Chinese Taoism will be praised to the sky, let Mr. Zhao make the company rich, let people benefit and harmonize, and make a fortune. This is in line with the world's desire for wealth, so folk Taoists widely Zhao Gongming was worshiped, but his original appearance as the god of the underworld, the god of plague, and the commander of ghosts was gradually forgotten. Zhao Gongming, the god of wealth worshiped by the people, all wears armor, a war robe, and a whip. He has a black face and a thick beard, and has a powerful image. There are often cornucopias, large ingots, orbs, corals and the like around, which further enhances the effect of abundant wealth. The gods and Buddhas of Taoism and Buddhism gradually merged together.

Agudengba sang a short ballad "Zhao Gongming, the God of Wealth":

 

The god of plague, Zhao Gongming,

The plague ghost spreads dysentery,

Prevent disasters and spread diseases,

Take ten thousand lives.

 

Emperor Wen ordered a temple to be erected.

The Heavenly Lord conferred the title of True Lord,

The God of Plague becomes the God of Wealth,

Holding the whip brings financial resources.

 

There is a cornucopia in the dream,

Wish you good luck and receive blessings,

Respect Zhao Gongming,

Giving money is God.