God of Wealth (Cai Shen)

Introduction

In the small hours of the fifth day of the first lunar month, shops all over Taiwan wake almost as one. Firecrackers go off up and down the street as every business flings open its doors to 'welcome the God of Wealth.' The guest of honor is Cai Shen Ye, and the form most Taiwanese greet is the martial god of wealth Zhao Gongming, also known as Xuantan Zhenjun. Add his four generals of the east, west, south, and north, and together they make the 'Five-Route God of Wealth,' symbolizing money rolling in from every direction. His job description is the bluntest of any deity's: he handles cash. Merchants pray for booming business, office workers for a raise, lottery players for a windfall — and Taiwanese pray in a wonderfully practical way, bringing their bankbooks, business cards, and receipts to the temple to be passed through the incense smoke, or queuing at Zhushan Zinan Temple in Nantou to borrow 'prosperity money' as seed capital, a custom that draws millions of visits a year. To soak up the wealth energy, head to Beigang Wude Temple in Yunlin, the founding ancestral temple of the Five-Route God of Wealth, where the 'Heavenly Treasury' furnace — said to be the largest in the world — is a sight in itself.

Legend & Origin

Zhao Gongming's story is set down in The Investiture of the Gods — and, tellingly, he began on the losing side. In the last days of the Shang dynasty, Zhao Gongming had cultivated for years on Mount Emei and commanded formidable Taoist arts. When the Zhou rose in rebellion, he was called down to defend the Shang; riding a black tiger and wielding an iron whip, he left Jiang Ziya's army helpless. In the end Jiang Ziya resorted to a secret curse, the 'Nail-Head Seven-Arrow Book,' and drained Zhao Gongming of his life force — a master brought down not on the battlefield but by treachery.

When the time came to enthrone the gods, Jiang Ziya weighed the whole of Zhao's life: he had backed the wrong side, yes, but he was loyal, righteous, and deeply accomplished. So he was crowned Zhenjun of the Mysterious Altar and given command of four generals — attracting wealth, bringing treasure, gathering gems, and turning profit. He lost the war and won a thousand years of incense. The most important god of wealth in the Chinese world is a loyal, honorable man who lost and yet came out ahead — a reminder to everyone who prays here that what the God of Wealth respects is money earned the right way.

Worship Guide

Offerings here lean into wealth and good omens: fa-gao 'prosperity cake,' pineapple (which sounds like 'fortune arriving'), oranges (for great luck), apples (for peace), and gold-ingot-shaped pastries are especially fitting, with 'God of Wealth gold' for the spirit money. Business owners often set out five fruits beside the cash register.

The most distinctly Taiwanese approach is to bring your bankbook, business cards, or receipts to the temple and pass them through the incense smoke for a blessing. You can also cast moon blocks at Zhushan Zinan Temple to borrow NT$600 in prosperity money as seed capital — just remember to pay it back with interest the following year.

Key dates: the 'welcoming the God of Wealth' opening on the fifth day of the first lunar month, and the zuoya rituals on the 2nd and 16th of each month. Pray for honest earnings and a thriving career — and if it's crooked money you're after, don't bother asking.

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.