Zhao Gongming

Zhao Gongming (Chinese: 趙公明), also known as Zhao Gong Yuanshuai (Chinese: 趙公元帥; lit. 'Lord Zhao the Marshal'), is a god of wealth in Chinese folk religion. 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 (Chinese: 破除迷信全书; lit. 'Comprehensive Book for Eradicating Superstition') that he was a creation of the Song era.
During the Han Dynasty, the Daoist book Record of Canonical Texts (典籍實錄) states that Zhao Gongming is the 'essence of the sun'.
During the Jin Dynasty, the Records of the Search for Spirits (搜神記) recorded: "The Heavenly Emperor appointed three generals, Zhao Gongming and Zhong Shiji, each to supervise the subjugation of spirits and the retrieval of human souls".
According to the Biographies of Deities and Immortals (列仙全傳), Zhao Gongming served as the leader of the eight ghostly legions, roaming throughout the mortal realm and causing the violent deaths of countless people. The Grand Supreme Elder Lord (Taishang Laojun) commanded Master Zhang to address this.
According to the religious compendium Sanjiao Soushen Daquan, Zhao Gongming lived during the late Warring States period. When the King of Qin founded the Qin empire, he withdrew to the 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, Zhang Tianshi practiced the art of making pills of immortality and asked the Jade Emperor to send a god to protect him. The Jade Emperor sent Zhao Gongming and conferred upon Zhao the title of "Zhengyi Xuantan Marshal" (Chinese: 正一玄坛元帅). 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.
The Annotated Compilation of Langya Gold and Stone Inscriptions (琅琊金石輯注) states the origin of the God of Wealth, known by the surname Zhao Minglang and the courtesy name Gongming. In a distant era, when the heavens bore ten suns, the Emperor commanded the archer Hou Yi to shoot down nine of them. Eight of these suns descended into the sea and were transformed into immortals, known as the Eight Immortals of the Sea. The remaining sun fell upon Tiantai Mountain, taking the form of a stone known as the Sun Stone. Its essence later assumed human form. As he matured, he journeyed to Emei Mountain to cultivate and acquire the arts of immortality.
During the conflicts between the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, Prime Minister Wen Zhong of the Zhou Dynasty invited him to descend from his mountain abode and assist in the battle. However, the Zhou forces faced defeat, and Zhang Jiya subsequently killed Zhao Gongming. After his death, Zhang Jiya posthumously deified him as the God of Wealth. He was further honored with the title of Xuantan Zhenjun (玄壇真君), and his essence returned to Tiantai Mountain. There, his true spirit merged with the stone, resulting in the unification of his divine essence with the stone.
In his divine role, Zhao Gongming governs the celestial beings responsible for wealth, the deities associated with the reception of treasures, emissaries for wealth attraction, and the officials of prosperity. His divine duties center on bestowing prosperity and blessings upon the mortal realm. Subsequently, a temple was established at the base of the sacred stone to honor him, and Tiantai Mountain was also renamed Mount Cai (財山).
In Fengshen Yanyi, Zhao Gongming was a Taoist hermit with magical powers and a close friend of General Wen Zhong. Through Wen Zhong, King Zhou of Shang sought the assistance of Zhao Gongming. Zhao was killed in a battle against Luya Daoren, who was aiding the Zhou in overthrowing the Shang. Seeking revenge for their brother, Zhao Gongming's three younger sisters, Zhao Yunxiao, Zhao Qiongxiao, and Zhao Bixiao, were also killed in the war.
Later, during a visit to the temple of Yuan Shi, Jiang was rebuked for causing Zhao Gongming's death. Following orders, Jiang carried Zhao's corpse into the temple, expressed his remorse 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 responsibilities include bestowing blessings of auspicious happiness and warding off criminals. 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 accumulating valuables; and Yao Shaosi, the god of profitability. He and his four disciples are collectively referred to as the "five directions" among the Chinese gods of wealth.
According to the official website of the Zhouzhi County government in Xi'an City, Zhao Gongming was born and raised in Zhaodai Village, Jixian Town, Zhouzhi County, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province. A fragmentary stele about Zhao Gongming's deeds was engraved in Zhaodai Village in the ninth year of the Wanli Ming Dynasty (1581). The inscription states: "To the northeast of Shuo Jingtai, there is a village called Zhao Dacun. There used to be the Xuan Tan Temple, and the God of Wealth was born there."
There are many temples dedicated to Zhao Gongming in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
The Mount Tiantai Temple of the God of Wealth is located in Taolu Town, Rizhao City. It is dedicated to the God of Wealth, Zhao Gongming. According to tradition, the 15th day of the third lunar month is celebrated as the birthday of the God of Wealth, Zhao Gongming. Before and after this day, many people from the surrounding areas visit Tian Tai Shan to seek blessings and pay their respects. On April 9, 2017, the first annual Rizhao Mount Tiantai Temple of the God of Wealth Festival was held.
In Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, there exists a street known as Cai Shen Temple Street. Following the passing of Zhao Gongming, his spirit ascended to the Investiture of the Gods platform. Subsequently, Jiang Ziya conferred upon him the title of 'God of Wealth,' entrusting him with the responsibility of overseeing matters related to wealth and prosperity throughout the land. The three sisters could never forget their affection for their senior brother. Consequently, they constructed a temple dedicated to the God of Wealth in a sunlit location at the base of Jieshi Mountain. This temple served to honor Zhao Gongming and express their profound love for him. Over time, people from various regions seeking good fortune and prosperity congregated in the vicinity of the God of Wealth temple. Gradually, this area evolved into a bustling street, now recognized as Cai Shen Temple Street in Changli City.
In Zhouzhi County, Xi'an, on the eastern bank of the Tianyu River, a cultural area dedicated to the God of Wealth, Zhao Gongming, known as the God of Genuine Wealth, has been established.
In the northern regions, on the second day of the first lunar month, people hold ceremonies to worship the God of Wealth. Each household conducts a ceremony to honor the wealth deity they received on New Year's Eve, often in the form of roughly printed images. In practice, these images are burned as part of the ritual. At noon on this day, it is customary to eat dumplings, known as "Yuanbao Tang" (元寶湯), symbolizing prosperity. Offerings for the ceremony typically include fish and lamb. In Beijing, prominent businesses conduct grand worship ceremonies, offering the 'Five Big Offerings,' which consist of a whole pig, a whole lamb, a whole chicken, a whole duck, and live red carp. These offerings are made with the hope of achieving prosperity and wealth.