The main Chinese god of wealth is Caishen, who can be used in feng shui to promote prosperity. While there are several Chinese gods of wealth, Caishen is honored during New Year's Day celebrations and revered in Taoism.
Chinese God of Wealth
As a revered god of wealth, Caishen is honored during the Chinese New Year. Believers seek his blessings for a prosperous year. His image can be found in various art forms. He is depicted as a true god with many attendants who serve as bearers for his belongings that include gold ingots, coins, jewels, and foods.
Who Is the Most Powerful Chinese God?
Caishen is considered the most powerful of the gods. One legend tells how Buddha made Caishen the supreme ruler of wealth and good fortune. As such, he has the ability to bestow good fortune and wealth to anyone he desires. Caishen has various names, such as Zhang Gong Ming and different spellings, depending on the region or country, such as Chai Shen Yeh and Cai Shen. It is believed that Caishen protects followers from financial losses and disasters.
History and Stories Cashion, God of Wealth
There are many stories and various versions of the stories of Caishen, the Chinese god of wealth. The Chinese mythological accounts of Caishen portray him riding on the back of a black tiger. As the fabled god of wealth, he always carries a club or stick made of gold that has the power to transform iron into gold. Many of the stories about Caishen claim he was a true alchemist and understood how to transform metals into gold.
Who Is Cai Shen?
Many of the stories about the god of wealth, Caishen (Cai Shen) attribute the success of many Chinese historical pivotal politicians and military figures to his reincarnation as those individuals. For example, the legends of Bi Gan, uncle by marriage of King Zhou of Shang. Bi Gan was the son of King Wen Ding and tried to school his corrupt nephew in changing his ways. However, King Zhou was controlled by his aggressive thirst for power. The King eventually had his uncle executed. It wasn't very long before the nephew king paid the karmic price by losing his wealth and his Shang Dynasty. While the Taoists immortalized Bi Gan, honoring him as a Taoist deity, Zi, Bi Gan was later deified as Cai Shen.
Chinese God of Fortune
Caishen is known as the god of fortune, god of wealth, and god of prosperity. Another story of how he became a god is found in the novel written during the Ming dynasty, Fengshen Yanyi, the story of how a hermit Zhoa Gongming used magic to bolster the failing Shang Dynasty during the 12th century BCE. Using black magic, Zhao was murdered by an arrow shot through the heart of his straw effigy. His murderer was required to carry Zhao's body to the temple and proclaim all of Zhao's virtues. Later, Zhao was canonized as Caishen, god of wealth.
Chinese New Year's Celebration and Caishen
You can incorporate Caishen in your feng shui celebration of the Chinese New Year. Traditionally, you can perform a ritual of receiving the god of wealth into your home. The most auspicious time to receive Caishen is usually on New Year's Eve.
Preparation Before Chinese New Year's Eve
Days before, you'll begin cleaning your home. You want to get rid of all clutter. If you have doors or windows in need of repairs, you need to complete these prior to New Year's Eve. The windows should be clean inside and out. The door should be well lit, so replace any burned out light bulbs.
Caishen Arrives on New Year's Day
Ideally, Caishen is greeted with the arrival of the new year. This when he arrives, so it's best to perform this ritual just at the time of the New Year is ushered in.
Dress for the Occasion
Once you have everything cleaned, it's time to get ready for New Year's Eve. You will dress up; after all, you're greeting the god of wealth and fortune and you want to honor him.
Before midnight, you should prepare to invite Caishen into your home:
- Set three candles on the dining table and light them. (Don't leave burning candles unattended.)
- Light three sticks of your favorite incense.
- Open the main entrance windows and/or doors to allow Caishen to enter your home, bringing the auspicious chi with him.
- Stand facing the open doorway or looking out the open window(s).
- Bow three times as though greeting Caishen.
- You can recite your favorite prayer or mantras three times, if you desire.
- Formally invite Caishen into your home, bringing wealth and prosperity to you for the New Year.
- Simply state that the god of wealth, Caishen is welcome to enter your home and join you and your family/friends for a New Year's feast.
- You can then close the windows and doors signifying that the god of wealth has entered your home.
Feast and Celebration
Some people prepare a feast to share with the god of wealth on New Year's Eve. They set a place for him at the head of the table where they and their family/friends dine, celebrating the Chinese New Year.
Feng Shui Application for Chinese God of Wealth
In feng shui applications, you can use an image of the god of wealth, Caishen to attract money, good fortune, wealth, and prosperity. When you place the god of wealth, Caishen in your home or office, it is believed that you will come into a sudden windfall and reap all the joys of wealth luck.
Best Depiction of Caishen
There are many depictions of the god of wealth, but the most widely used one in feng shui shows him riding or sitting on a black tiger while holding a Ru Yi scepter in one hand and a gold ingot in the other.
How to Activate Wealth Sector With Caishen
You can place a figurine, painting, or wall hanging of the god of wealth in the southeast (wealth) sector of your home. You can choose a wood element if you prefer to activate the wood element that governs the southeast sector.
Place God of Wealth in Your Sheng Chi Direction
You can set Caishen in your personal wealth direction. This is known as your Sheng Chi direction and is determined by your Kua number. You can calculate your Kua number and then find your four best directions, including your Sheng Chi direction.
North Sector for Career Boost
You can also place a Caishen statue in your office to give your career that needed boost. The best placement is one that is elevated and preferably directly behind your desk. You want the god of wealth overlooking you to provide protection of your career. The god of wealth will also elevate your career to give you a greater position of authority and power.
A Few Feng Shui Rules for Caishen Placement
You will either place the god of wealth in the southeast sector of your home or office, or in your personal Sheng Chi direction. Once you determine where you wish to place your Caishen depiction, you need to ensure you correctly place it to ensure you benefit from his good graces.
- Never set Caishen on the floor or below eye level since these placements are considered disrespectful.
- The higher you can place Caishen, the greater the respect you pay to him and the greater your wealth will be.
- Place the god of wealth, Caishen in your living or foyer/entrance.
- Never place Caishen in the bathroom, bedroom, laundry room, kitchen, basement, or attic.
Feng Shui and the Chinese God of Wealth, Caishen
You can use the Chinese god of wealth, Caishen in feng shui applications to attract greater wealth into your life. Once you place the statue or painting, make sure you keep it dusted and in good condition to ensure your good fortune continues.
