A tutelary deity is a god or goddess who is a guardian or protector of a specific place, geographic site, lineage, occupation or a home and its inhabitants. Main Chinese Tutelary Deities are Tudi Gong (the local Earth Deity), Cheng Huang Gong (City God of individual cities) and Matsu (Protectress of the Seas).As guardians of individual homes and families, the Kitchen God and his wife fit into this category.
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While most families have had prints or paper-cuts of the Kitchen God (Zao Shen) with or without his wife above their stove, carved images were owned by wealthier families. The Kitchen God is syncretic as a Taoist, Popular Religion and Buddhist tutelary deity, protector of the home who was responsible for making sure there was…
This small antique-Chinese-wood-carving represents Mazu, which translates as “Mother Ancestor,” the tutelary deity “Protector of the Sea” who protects seafarers and is very popular among Taiwanese, Fujianese, and Cantonese sea cultures. This syncretic cult figure is the most imortant ofthe female Taoist-Deities and continues to be worshipped by Taoist, Buddhist and Popular Religion followers. In…
Tudi Gong is the Chinese Earth or Land God referred to by many names and often fondly referred to by commoners as “Grandpa.” He is a syncretic deity and tutelary deity, responsible for administrating and protecting the affairs of small towns and villages, especially issues concerning agriculture or wealth, and is believed to control the…
Mazu is the Goddess of the Sea who protects seafaring populations and coastal populations and a tutelary deity venerated as the “Protector of the Sea.” A syncretic deity, she embraced by all Chinese peoples, in written traditions of the imperial Chinese hierarchy who officially deified her and built sanctioned monuments and temples to her since…
After her death at age 28, Mazu was immortalized as a cult figure and worshipped as a one of the tutelary Taoist deities as “the Protector at Sea” among seafarers in coastal China and was worshipped especially by older women. In oral legends, she was the daughter of a Buddhist fisherman, revered for her filial…
Mazu has many names and titles. In China she is Mazu (Matsu) meaning ‘Ancestor Mother’ or ‘Eternal Mother’ and on southern China she is affectionately called ‘Ā-mā’ meaning ‘grandmother’ or ‘mother.’ In Taiwan she is ‘Holy Heavenly Mother’ and the ‘Empress of the Heavens’ and ‘Tianhou,’ Daughter of the Dragon. She is the most worshiped female Taoist…
While most families have had prints or paper-cuts of the Kitchen God (Zao Shen) with or without his wife above their stove, carved images were owned by wealthier families. The Kitchen God is syncretic as a Taoist, Popular Religion and Buddhist tutelary deity, protector of the home who was responsible for making sure there was…
While most families have had prints or paper-cuts of the Kitchen-God (Zao Shen) with or without his wife above their stove, carved images were owned by wealthier families. The Kitchen-God is syncretic as a Taoist, Popular Religion and Buddhist tutelary deity, beloved among house-gods as protector of the home. He observes the family’s behavior and…
Finely detailed and carved from dense wood, this Kitchen God and his Wife monitor the members of the home from their perch above the stove. On Chinese New Year Zao Shen reports to the Jade Emperor in Heaven and a positive report bringsblessings and good fortune, while and unfavorable one brings misfortune. Family members often smear honey on his mouth to sweeten the report. Near mirror images they wear layered gold officials’ robes with decorative sashes and symbolically hold a hu tablet. They are in excellent condition and add positive chi and enhance feng shui. Kitchen Gods especially pairs are now rare and very collectible and make unique wedding and house gifts.
Mazu represents different ideologies among two distinct Chinese economic groups: the masses of devotees who adore her in oral traditions as the humble provincial deity “Goddess of the Sea” versus the imperial followers who revere her in written tradition as the sanctioned “Empress of Heaven.” Two centuries after her death she was imperially sanctified, transforming…
Nuo Chinese-Opera performances are religious dramas and operas as well as secular entertainment based on historic events, folktales, or literature that are still popular among ethnic groups along the Yangtze River. The two types of performances include the grand Nuo ceremony held by the royal court during national holidays, and local performances exemplified by this…
Mazu has been one of the most popular Taoist-deities in southeastern coastal China since the early Song dynasty, a syncretic goddess revered by followers of Buddhism and Popular Religion and one of the Great Chinese Goddesses (Irvin). Mazu was a legendary young female shaman named Lin Mo who used her powers to save seafarers and…
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