From Pingxiang, Jiangxi Province to Chiayi County, Taiwan Province, the custom of worshiping the land god spreads all over China. In the traditional customs, although the sacrificial rituals are different, the whole event is wonderful and colorful.
The image and origin of the land god (also known as the land god) are derived from historical documents and folk tales. For many people, the image of the old husband in "Journey to the West" is the most familiar. It has a special relationship with the Tang monks and apprentices in Buddhist legends, and some folk tales say that Zhu Yuanzhang was born in the Land Temple, and these legends express the close connection between the land god and the lives of ordinary people from the side.
The belief in the land god stems from the worship of the land, which is a unique emotion of the Chinese. In historical records, the earliest image of the land god dates back to antiquity.
There are various theories about the origin of the land lord, two of the most common versions of which have been circulating for a long time. The first theory holds that the original name of the land prince was Zhang Fude, who was honest and upright, and was respected as "Fu Zhengshen". Another theory originates from the life-saving benefactor of Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu specially built a land temple to commemorate this old farmer.
During the feudal period, from the emperor to the common people, regular ceremonies were held to worship the land lords. The Temple of Earth in Beijing is the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties sacrificed to the land lord. Today, the people still follow this custom steadfastly.
In Taiwan, the second day of the first lunar month of each year is the birthday of the land lord, and a grand celebration is held on that day. The land lord has the ability of the god of wealth, so the merchants will worship the land lord on the second and sixteenth days of the lunar month.
Although these sacrificial activities occupy an important position in traditional culture, with the changes in society and historical and cultural changes, the land temple and the land temple have also appeared in people's field of vision with a new look. All this shows the gratitude of the Chinese people to the land throughout the ages. Therefore, the first or second day of the first lunar month of each year is so solemn.