The Chinese deity of earth, Hutu, is an important part of Chinese religion. In ancient China, he was worshipped as the spirit of humanity and national earth god. He was distinguished from local earth gods called Tudi Gong. He was also revered as the spirit of deceased emperors and empresses. In the 14th century, he was transformed into a female deity. Today, the female version of Hou Tu is the central figure in many temples.
Hou Tu
The Chinese deity of earth, Houtu, was first worshipped by Emperor Wudi around 113 bce. This deity is associated with both soil and harvest and is considered to be the patron deity of both. It is also known as Dimu or Mother Earth. In addition to being the patron deity of soil, Houtu is the head of all Tu Di Gong worldwide.
The heavenly court of the Jade Emperor mimics the earthly court. It has a royal family, a bureaucracy, and parasitical courtiers. This structure of the pantheon reflects the Chinese political system. Each dieties in the pantheon is responsible for overseeing a specific department. For example, Cheng Huang is responsible for overseeing the military, while Tu Di Gong is responsible for looking after the earthly paperwork.
In ancient China, the deities of the earth were often depicted as married couples. They were believed to be close to humans and interacting with them. In every major city, there was a City God appointed by the imperial government. The city’s administrative seat would have a temple dedicated to the City God.
Chinese popular religion recognizes three realms in the cosmos. Heaven and Earth are two of them, and each is home to many important gods and deities. One of the most important of these deities is the Kitchen God, or “Hearth God.” The Kitchen God was considered the family’s guardian and the intermediary between the family and the other gods.
Jade Emperor
The Jade Emperor ruled Heaven and Earth for many years, but never visited it personally. During this time, he decided that he wanted to know how animals on Earth looked, so he invited them to come visit him in heaven. The most handsome animal was the Cat, but the Rat was worried he would look ugly next to him.
As a result, people began dying of thirst and hunger. The Dragons then used their bodies to capture water from the sea and brought rain to the earth. As people prayed to the Jade Emperor, he discovered what the dragons were doing and became angry. People prayed to the Jade Emperor, but he became angry with them, as they had intervened without his blessing.
The Jade Emperor is also considered an anthropomorphic representation. He embodies the virtues of wisdom and morality, and is a guardian of the land. According to legend, he was a disciple of the Primordial Heaven-honoured One. His authority is passed on to another god called the Dawn of Jade of the Golden Gate.
The Jade Emperor is considered an important deity in Chinese culture. The Jade Emperor’s birthday is celebrated on the ninth day of the Lunar calendar, and is an integral part of the Chinese New Year. Every year, members of the palace household have to present themselves to the Jade Emperor, often on New Year’s Day. The major gods in the Chinese pantheon also come to pay homage to him. The Jade Emperor rewards good deeds with promotions, and punishes evil ones with a reduction in their heavenly rank.
Cheng Huang
In Chinese mythology, Cheng Huang is a Chinese deity that oversees the fortunes of human beings. The deity is also the judge of the dead and looks over a city’s fate. He often appears in the dreams of community members and reveals evildoers.
Cheng Huang was usually a local official in the past, a person that served his community well. Cities could change their local Cheng Huang by dismissing the old one and welcoming a new protector to the temple. The new deity was often welcomed with a celebratory festival.
In some versions of Chinese mythology, Cheng Huang can take on the form of an old woman. She formerly resembled a ferocious monster, but was later transformed into a deity, losing her beastly attributes. She is sometimes referred to as a ‘grandmotherly’ woman, but her powers are the same in both forms. She is said to direct ‘catastrophes of the sky’ and can also cause natural disasters.
Another important Chinese deity is Ao Guang. This sacrificial god is associated with the four seasons and the four cardinal directions. He also rules the waters of Lake Baikal in the north. In addition, Ao Guang rules over the waters of the East China Sea.
The Chinese have a variety of mythologies involving the eight immortals. The eight Immortals are legendary figures in Chinese mythology and fulfill a similar role to saints in Western religions. These immortals are known to provide guidance to people in times of need. This group is particularly powerful in Chinese folk religion, and has a wide variety of representations.
Temples dedicated to the City God are typically closed to the general public. Only local government officials are allowed to visit. However, today people from Taiwan and other countries often visit the temples to make offerings and pay respect to the City God and his wife. The temples are often decorated in a style reminiscent of the typical Chinese palace.
Gong Gong Gong
Hou Tu, the Chinese deity of the earth, was an assistant to the Heavenly Center or Huang Di. He was considered an analogon to the Great Unity and was entrusted with surveying the earth. According to Confucius, Hou Tu was a spirit and was a guiding force for all people. In ancient times, he ruled nine provinces and was revered as a deity of soil.
The word “tu” in Chinese is derived from the image of a bulging heap of earth on the ground. People worshipped the Earth God in Earth God Temples, which were often very small and scattered throughout villages and towns. This may have been a reflection of the Earth God’s humble status.
The first known mention of Gonggong is in the late Warring States period. It appears in the ancient poem Chu Ci. The earth’s axis is tilted to the southeast and the sky to the northwest, which explains the flow of rivers in China and the movement of the sun, moon, and stars in the sky. As the literature becomes more sophisticated, Gonggong’s significance is further elaborated.
Known as the “God of Earth”, Tu Di Gong is a genius loci and is associated with minerals and buried treasure. In addition, he is often worshipped by students seeking to pass examinations. In fact, incompetent examiners used to seek guidance from the earth goddess in order to pass a test.
Uwimana
The story of Uwimana, the Chinese deity of earth hutu, is a story of forgiveness and reconciliation. Her story is fascinating, especially for those who value peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The story begins with a family massacre and ends with a woman named Beata hiding in the bush for months. She scoffed at her husband’s Bible and grenade offerings, gradually twisting her heart against God until she was finally rescued by a white man. She then waited at the edge of a bridge with her surviving child on her back, hoping to kill herself.
After the Hutu-instigated revolt won Rwanda’s independence in 1962, the government’s treatment of the minority Tutsi remained unfavorable. Uwimana’s parents fled the country, and her family eventually settled in neighboring Burundi. They lived in exile and moved frequently due to political unrest. Uwimana eventually found work in a Chinese-run cement plant.
In ancient China, hutu worship began with the worship of the Earth God, a spirit of the earth. This deity was first worshipped by the Han-dynasty emperor Wudi in 113 bce. Later, he was identified with the dual patron deities of the soil and the harvest. The Sheji title, a title conferred on him, allowed him to accept sacrifices.
During ancient times, the Chinese people worshiped many deities, some of whom had more development than others. While some gods were created later than others, all were important in Chinese culture. They were honored in many homes, including those of people living in the present day.
The creation of the world began thousands of years ago. During this time, P’an Ku created the yin and yang principles of the world. In addition to granting life, Nuwa created marriage to enable humans to reproduce. He also gave humans knowledge of fire, writing, and food from the sea, and he taught them how to make good decisions.
