God of Wealth (Cai Shen)

Introduction

The God of Wealth is one of Taiwan's most worshipped deities among business people. The martial form, Zhao Gong Ming, is most popular, though civil wealth gods Bi Gan and Fan Li are also revered.

His job is straightforward — managing money. Businesses pray for prosperity, investors for profits, employees for raises, and lottery players for jackpots. The 5th of the 1st lunar month ('Welcoming the Wealth God') sees all businesses open with firecrackers.

Taiwan recognizes 'Five Paths of Wealth' — wealth spirits from all cardinal directions plus the center, symbolizing income from all directions.

Taiwanese worship style is remarkably practical: devotees bring invoices, bankbooks, business cards, even stock statements to be blessed. The 'prosperity money' system lets worshippers borrow small amounts as wealth charms.

Legend & Origin

Zhao Gong Ming's story is detailed in 'The Investiture of the Gods.' He was a Taoist cultivator on Mount Emei during the late Shang Dynasty. When ordered to aid the Shang against the Zhou revolution, he rode a black tiger wielding an iron whip, nearly defeating the entire Zhou army.

Jiang Ziya eventually used a secret curse to drain his life force. After the Shang fell, Jiang Ziya was tasked with deifying worthy spirits. Despite Zhao's loyalty to the wrong side, his righteousness and skill earned him the title of Marshal of the Mysterious Altar, commanding four wealth-bringing spirits.

Thus Zhao Gong Ming became the Chinese world's most important God of Wealth — depicted with a black face, thick beard, riding a black tiger, holding a golden whip and treasure bowl.

Worship Guide

Offerings emphasize 'wealth symbolism': ingot-shaped cakes, prosperity cakes (fa gao), apples (peace), pineapples ('ong lai' = 'prosperity comes'), and oranges (great luck). Devotees bring bankbooks and business cards for blessing.

Zhushan Zinan Temple's famous 'prosperity money' system lets visitors borrow NT$600 by casting moon blocks, returning the money with interest the following year.

Festivals

The 5th of the 1st lunar month ('Welcoming Wealth God') is the key festival. Businesses fire crackers at midnight and burn spirit money. Opening for business on this day is called 'Breaking the Five,' symbolizing a prosperous start to the year.

Famous Temples

⛩️ Beigang Wude Temple 🔗

Yunlin County

The ancestral temple of the Five Paths God of Wealth in Taiwan. Its massive 'Heavenly Treasury' furnace is claimed to be the world's largest, symbolizing abundant wealth.

⛩️ Zhushan Zinan Temple Details →

Nantou County

Though dedicated to the Earth God, it's revered as a wealth temple due to its efficacy. The tradition of borrowing prosperity money draws crowds year-round.

⛩️ Hongludi Nanshan Fude Temple Details →

New Taipei City

Devotees come to exchange 'mother money' — swapping large bills for coins to keep in wallets as wealth charms. The giant Earth God statue is a northern Taiwan landmark.