The fifth day of the Lunar New Year is one of the important traditional festivals in China, and this day has rich folk customs and significance. Among them, receiving the God of Wealth is one of the most well-known customs on this day. In Chinese folk, there are many gods of wealth, each with its own characteristics, and the fifth day of the Lunar New Year is the day when they descend to the world. This article will introduce in detail the custom of receiving the God of Wealth on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, as well as the common God of Wealth in Chinese folk, in the hope that readers can have a deeper understanding of the connotation of this traditional culture.
1. The custom of receiving the God of Wealth on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year
The fifth day of the Lunar New Year is the day to welcome the God of Wealth, and a series of celebrations are held on this day to pray for good fortune and career in the new year. On this day, every household will set off firecrackers and burn incense to worship, and merchants will hold a grand festival to win the favor of the god of wealth.
In the custom of receiving the God of Wealth, there is an important link that is to "welcome the God of Wealth". According to Chinese folk tradition, the fifth day of the first lunar month is the birthday of the "road god". "Lutou God" is the abbreviation of the god of wealth in charge of the five roads in Chinese folk beliefs. On this day, the "road god" will descend on the earth and bring wealth and good luck to people. In order to welcome the arrival of the "roadhead god", people will set up altars in their homes or shopping malls, set off firecrackers, and burn incense to worship. In some places, a grand procession will be organized to welcome the God of Wealth, beating gongs and drums, singing and dancing to celebrate.
In addition to "welcoming the God of Wealth", there are some other customs. For example, people in some places will eat dumplings or rice cakes on this day, which means "fortune and treasure" and "step by step". In addition, some businesses will also give out red envelopes to employees on this day to show good luck and prosperity.
2. The common god of wealth in Chinese folk
In Chinese folk, the belief in the God of Wealth has a long history, and there are different objects of worship of the God of Wealth in various places. Here are a few common Chinese folk gods of wealth::
1.Zhao Gongming: Zhao Gongming is one of the most popular gods of wealth in Chinese folk, also known as "Marshal Zhao Gonggong" or "Zhao Xuantan". He holds ingots in one hand and an iron whip in the other, which can drive away evil people and protect peace. In the eyes of merchants, Zhao Gongming was the god who could best represent wealth, so they often worshipped the idol of Zhao Gongming in their shops in order to prosper in business and wealth.
2.Guan Gong: Guan Gong is the honorific title of Guan Yu, a famous military general in Chinese history. He was seen as the embodiment of loyalty, as well as a protector of merchants and a source of wealth. In the eyes of businessmen, Guan Gong is the patron saint of wealth, able to bless them with smooth careers and wealth growth. As a result, many merchants will place the statue of Guan Gong in a prominent position so that Guan Gong can guard their business.
3.Land Gong: The land lord is the god in charge of the land in Chinese folk beliefs. In rural areas, farmers worship the deity of the land lord in the fields and pray for a good harvest and a full barn of grain. In the city, merchants will also worship the idol of the land lord in their stores in order to prosper in business and wealth.
4.Maneki-neko: The maneki-nekomi is a belief image of Japanese origin that depicts a cat waving its front paws. In Chinese folklore, the beckoning cat is regarded as a mythical beast that can attract wealth and good luck. Some merchants will place the statue of the beckoning cat at the door or inside the store in order to prosper in business and wealth.
5.Mazu: Mazu is a Chinese folk deity who rules the sea. In coastal areas, fishermen worship the statue of Mazu in order to ensure a safe voyage and a good harvest of fish and shrimp. In the eyes of merchants, Mazu was also regarded as the patron saint of wealth. As a result, many merchants also worship the idol of Mazu in their stores in order to prosper their business and increase their wealth.
These gods of wealth have a wide base of belief in Chinese folklore, and people worship and pray to them during the ceremony of receiving the god of wealth. During the worship, people would offer offerings such as incense, wine, and fruits to the God of Wealth as a sign of respect and piety. At the same time, firecrackers and incense will be burned to pray for the favor and protection of the God of Wealth. On this night, fireworks and firecrackers are set off to welcome the arrival of the God of Wealth. In addition, there are other festivities such as dragon and lion dances, opera performances, etc.
III. Conclusion
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the God of Wealth is one of the important parts of traditional Chinese culture, which not only reflects people's yearning and pursuit of wealth and a better life, but also reflects people's awe and gratitude for nature and history. In today's society, although the development of the economy and the improvement of living standards have made people's pursuit of wealth more urgent, but the traditional belief and culture still have important significance and value, it is not only a kind of spiritual sustenance, but also a kind of moral norms and cultural inheritance, which can guide people to establish correct values and outlook on life, and promote social harmony and development. Therefore, we should respect and inherit these traditional cultural practices, and at the same time, we should also pay attention to their integration and development with modern society, so that they can be used in modern society.