Eventually, this god was divided into a group of gods. Apparently, the root cause for the separation was the division of rich Chinese officials into two groups – military and civilian. So, Tsai Shen Yeh was also divided into two groups. Sometimes for security, people would worship both at once: a military commander and civil dignitary.
One of the most revered military gods of wealth was Guan Yu. Another one was Guo Ziyi – a famed military leader and nobleman. According to legend, the goddess Zhi Nu foretold his glorious fate, which was long life and prosperity as a heavenly spirit. Zhi Nu is the “heavenly weaver” who weaved the night sky; she is the prophetess and patroness of lovers.
Ever since she foretold his fate, Guo Ziyi began to receive honors and rank, and became a very successful warrior. His sons and in-laws also obtained high ranks, and one of his sons even married a princess.
The Chinese also venerated Zhao Gong-min as a military and civilian god of wealth. He was offered sacrifices by the Chinese on an altar placed on the north terraces of homes.
The main civil god of wealth was Bigan. This god had a real prototype – an honest and noble sage who tried to influence a petty and cruel ruler. Despite the threat of the death penalty, Bigan continued to defend his beliefs. Then the infuriated ruler said: “I heard that the heart of a sage has seven openings. I want to make sure!” He ordered that Bigan’s chest be split and that his heart be removed. Since then, this martyr started to be revered by the Chinese for his faithfulness and steadfast beliefs.
It’s hard to say how Bigan became a god of wealth. He was very popular among the people. His name was sworn to when buying goods as a promise to pay, which could have given birth to the belief that this person’s spirit will help increase honest wealth.
Any Tsai Shen Yeh god of wealth would typically have a wife, Tsai-mu (“Mother of wealth”) and be followed by the god of coins – a man called Liu Hai. Liu Hai was an official, who did not become rich, and led a modest and dignified life. According to legend, he miraculously eliminated greed – he lowered his belt with a gold coin into a well where a “greed-toad” lived. The toad grabbed the coin with its mouth, and Liu Hai pulled it out, as the frog could not open its greedy mouth. Therefore, the god of coins was sometimes depicted standing on a toad.
The gods of wealth were also represented as dragons made of coins, as coin-spitting dragons, horses that bring treasures, and wonder trees that grow coins – just shake the tree, and the coins will fall like autumn leaves.
If you wish to bring wealth to your own home, you can obtain an image of Tsai Shen Yeh (gods of wealth), and place it in the Health and Family zone, which lies on the east side of your home or any of its rooms.
