Tu Di Gong, "the Earth God"

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on September 8, 2015.)

A Tu Di Gong platform under a tree in Nanshan, Shenzhen, Guangdong

One of the most ubiquitous--yet often unnoticed--of all deities is the so-called "Earth God," known in Chinese as Tu Di Gong (土地公).

The Three Star Gods: Fu, Lu, and Shou

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on September 21, 2015.)

Fu, Lu, and Shou (R to L) at San Yuan Gong, Guangzhou

You might see three strange-looking men on a table somewhere in a Daoist folk temple, or they may be painted on a wall. One looks like a scholar; another wears the headpiece of a high government official; and the third has an oddly bulging forehead. These are the three deities known together as "Fu Lu Shou," said to be the earthly manifestations of three "stars" (one is actually a planet) and representing aspects of a good life.

The Nine-Dragon Screen Walls

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on January 11, 2015.)

Nine-dragon screen wall at Fayu Temple, Putuo Shan

A common feature at many temples is the screen wall. These may have started as simple privacy devices, to prevent casual passersby from looking into the courtyards of everything from small homes to palaces. The tradition is ancient; in the Analects [3:22], Confucius wrote, "The princes of the states have a special ritual screen at their door…"

Wong Tai Sin

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on August 7, 2017.)

Stone Sheep at Wong Tai Sin Temple, Hong Kong

There once was a shepherd boy named Huang Chuping. From a poor family, he was no stranger to hunger, and began working at eight years old. Seven years later, while tending his sheep near his home in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, he was fortunate enough to meet a Daoist immortal on Red Pine Mountain. This master led him into a cave where he remained practicing for forty years.

Tai Sui, the Year Gods

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on August 28, 2017.)

The Tai Sui (Year Gods) at Man Mo Temple, Hong Kong

Quite a few people in the world are able to identify themselves--at least partially--in the Chinese astrological system. They can say, "I was born in the Year of the Sheep," or "I'm a Snake in the Chinese Zodiac."