The king of the second of the Taoist hells, the hell of thieves and murderers. It is believed to be a large lake of ice. Chu Jiang is honored on the first day of the Third Moon.
She was the daughter of Yu-huang, a Jade Emperor of China (High God of China). One day she left the heavens to bathe. While she bathed a cowherd took her clothes, after being told to do so by his ox (who is also his guardian spirit). Chih Nu was unable to return to the heavens without them so she married the cowherd. They had two children, and seven years later she found her clothes and returned to the heavens. The cowherd asked what to do and his ox told him how to get to the heavens. Chih Nu confessed that she was the wife of the cowherd and he was made immortal. The cowherd and Chih Nu became gods of two separate stars and could only meet on the seventh month of the seventh year.
Chinese protective deities. They ward off disasters and catastrophes and protect the inhabitants of cities under their care, who may also supplicate them. In periods of drought, they provide rain. They grant plentiful harvest and ensure the affluence of the citizens.
The Cheng-huang also guide the souls of the departed to Heaven. A Taoist priest who wishes to help the soul of a dead person out of Hell, must first inform the protective deity of the city by submitting a document.
The Cheng-huang tradition dates back to ancient times and was adopted by Taoism, which admitted these city protectors to the ranks of its most important deities.
One of the Ba Xian, the eight immortals of Chinese myth. He was the brother-in-law of an emperor from the Song Dynasty. Cao Guo-jiu himself lived an exemplary life, but his younger brother became a murderer. In shame, he retreated to the mountains where he lived a very long life as a hermit. Lu Dong-bin, another immortal, taught Cao how to attain perfection and within a few days he became an immortal.
Cao Guo-jiu is the patron of actors. He is frequently portrayed holding a pair of castanets.
The Chinese god of prosperity, both of religious Taoism and in the syncretist folk religion. He has various magical powers, such as warding off thunder and lightning, and ensuring profit from commercial transactions.
As a historical figure he is identified as Zhao Xuan-tan (Chao Hsüan-t’an), “General Zhao of the Dark Terrace”, from the Qin Dynasty. He attained enlightenment on top of a mountain. He also assisted Zhang Dao-ling on his search for the life-prolonging elixir.
Cai-shen is usually portrayed riding on a black tiger. He has a black face and a thick moustache. On his head he wears a cap made of iron and he holds a weapon, also made of iron.