Ping Sien Si - 032 Zhao gong ming (15515629603)

Zhao Gongming (), also known as Zhao Gong Yuanshuai (), is the martial god of wealth in

Chinese folk religion Chinese folk religion, also known as Chinese popular religion comprehends a range of traditional religious practices of Han Chinese, including the Chinese diaspora. Vivienne Wee described it as "an empty bowl, which can variously be filled ...

. Zhao Gongming is the most notable among various forms of Caishen, and his birthday is commemorated on the fifth day of the first lunar month. He appears for the first time in the classic Chinese novel, '' Fengshen Yanyi'' (封神演义), contrary to claims in ''Pochu Mixin Quanshu'' () that he was a creation of the Song era.

Legends

Sanjiao Soushen Daquan

According to the religious compendium, ''Sanjiao Soushen Daquan'', Zhao Gongming lived during the late

Warring States period The Warring States period () was an era in History of China#Ancient China, ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded ...

. When the King of Qin founded the

Qin empire The Qin dynasty ( ; zh, c=秦朝, p=Qín cháo, w=), or Ch'in dynasty in Wade–Giles romanization ( zh, c=, p=, w=Ch'in ch'ao), was the first dynasty of Imperial China. Named for its heartland in Qin state (modern Gansu and Shaanxi), the ...

he withdrew to Mount Zhongnan which is located in present-day Shaanxi Province in Northwest China. There he cultivated Tao and attained the highest state of spiritual enlightenment. During the

Eastern Han Dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by th ...

, Zhang Tianshi practiced the art of making pills of immortality and asked the

Jade Emperor The Jade Emperor or Yudi ( or , ') in Chinese culture, traditional religions and myth is one of the representations of the first god ( '). In Daoist theology he is the assistant of Yuanshi Tianzun, who is one of the Three Pure Ones, the th ...

to send a god to protect him. The Jade Emperor sent Zhao Gongming and conferred upon Zhao the title of "Zhengyi Xuantan Marshal" (). After this, he became known as "Zhao Xuan." He was said to have the ability to control thunder and lightning, ward off plagues and disasters, and generate wealth and treasure.

Fengshen Yanyi

In '' Fengshen Yanyi'', Zhao Gongming was a Taoist hermit with magical powers who was a close friend of General Wen Zhong. Through Wen Zhong,

King Zhou of Shang King Zhou (; ) was the pejorative posthumous name given to Di Xin of Shang () or King Shou of Shang (), the last king of the Shang dynasty of ancient China. He is also called Zhou Xin (). In Chinese, his name Zhòu ( 紂) also refers to a horse c ...

was able to engage the help of Zhao Gongming. Zhao was killed when fighting

Jiang Ziya Jiang Ziya ( century BC – century BC), also known by several other names, was a Chinese noble who helped kings Wen and Wu of Zhou overthrow the Shang in ancient China. Following their victory at Muye, he continued to ser ...

who was helping the Zhou overthrow the Shang. Zhao Gongming's three younger sisters

Zhao Yunxiao Yunxiao Niangniang (), also known as Zhao Yunxiao, is a Chinese goddess of childbirth. She is the oldest of the Sanxiao Shengmu (Holy mothers of three skies, 三霄聖母) or Sanxiao Niangniang (Ladies of three stars, 三霄娘娘). Sanxiao Niangn ...

Zhao Qiongxiao Qiongxiao Niangniang (), also known as Zhao Qiongxiao, is a Chinese goddess of childbirth. She is the second of the Sanxiao Shengmu (Holy mothers of three skies, 三霄聖母) or Sanxiao Niangniang (Ladies of three stars, 三霄娘娘). Sanxiao ...

, and

Zhao Bixiao Bixiao Niangniang (), also known as Zhao Bixiao, is a Chinese goddess of childbirth. She is the youngest of the Sanxiao Shengmu (Holy mothers of three skies, 三霄聖母) or Sanxiao Niangniang (Ladies of three stars, 三霄娘娘). Sanxiao Niang ...

were also killed by Jiang Ziya during the war. Later, during a visit to the temple of Yuan Shi, Jiang was rebuked for causing Zhao Gongming's death. As ordered, Jiang carried Zhao's corpse into the temple, apologized for his misdeed, extolled Zhao's virtues, and deified Zhao Gongming as the Genuine God of the Profound Dragon Tiger Altar. As a deity, Zhao's duties are to bring the blessings of auspicious happiness and chase criminals away. Zhao Gongming has four assistant gods: Chen Jiugong, the god of attracting wealth; Xiao Sheng, the god of collecting treasures; Cao Bao, the god of collecting valuables; and Yao Shaosi, the god of profitability. He and his four disciples are also known as the "five directions" of the Chinese gods of wealth.

References

{{reflist Chinese gods Investiture of the Gods characters Deities in Taoism