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home. There was a guardian of the front door, for example, and
a protector of the bedchambers. Another local god oversaw the
lives of wives and mothers in their homes, and still another helped
husbands and fathers succeed in their professions.
The most important of these household gods was the kitchen
god, Zao-shen. He did much more than just oversee the kitchen
itself, as explained by historical researcher Emily Mark:
Zao-shen was responsible for the happiness of the home
and the prosperity of the family, but this depended on their
behavior and values. Every month Zao-shen left the home
to report to the local gods and spirits on the family’s con-
duct. If they had behaved well, he was instructed to in-
crease their riches and happiness; if they had behaved
badly, he was told to withdraw riches and happiness.
“Riches” meant not only material wealth but comfort and
well-being, which was further assured by his warding off
evil spirits.
3
Civilization’s Overseers
More universal and powerful were a number of gods who over-
saw large aspects of human civilization and its institutions.
Yan-di, for instance, oversaw fire and its many uses by people;
Yan-wang was the god of death and
the afterlife; Caishen was the deity of
wealth; Guan-yin was the goddess of
mercy and compassion; Kuan-ti was in
charge of war; Tian held up the sky; and
Yue Lao was the god of love.
Yue Lao’s most famous myth was also one of the favorite folk-
tales told by the ancient Chinese. One evening a man named Wei
Gu noticed an old man reading a book by the light of the moon.
Wei did not realize that the old man was the love deity Yue Lao.
When Wei asked the old man what he was reading, the answer
Kuan-ti
The god of war
