Cai Shen
Cai Shen ( Chinese 財神 , Pinyin Cáishén , W.-G. Tsai2 Shen2 , Cantonese : Choy Sun, Hakka : Choy Sin) is the Chinese god of wealth. Other forms of address for him are Zhao Gongming ( Chao Kung-ming ) or Bi Gan ( Pi-kan ).
Cai Shen was initially a Chinese folk hero, was later deified and worshiped by local followers and admirers and then also worshiped as a god in Daoism and Amitabha Buddhism .
Cai Shen's name is often called during the Chinese New Year celebrations . In pictures he is often shown riding a black tiger with a golden staff in hand. He is also depicted with iron weapons.
Various versions of Cai Shen's political affiliation and subsequent becoming god have been spread. Whether he is an authentic historical figure is unclear, but the vast majority of stories agree that Cai Shen lived during the early Qin dynasty . It is believed that he had a wife who went by the family name Chen (陈) (Cantonese: Chan and Hakka: Chin). His son is Quan (泉). After Bi Gan was killed by his nephew, King Di Xin of Shang , Bi Gan's wife and son fled to the woods. His death marked the end of the Shang Dynasty . Quan was later honored by King Wu of Zhou ( Zhou Dynasty ) as the ancestor of all who bear the name Lin.
References
Web links
- The God of Wealth Calls , Report of the worship of Cai Shen at the 2010 Chinese New Year in Wuhan.