Perhaps you’ve heard of the lowest-ranked divinity in Chinese folk religion. That divinity is the Tudigong. We’re standing before the \u571f\u5730\u7237\u6469\u5d16\u9020\u50cf\u9057\u8ff9. It is here that the Lord of the Land watches over us.
The Tudigong, also known as the Lord of the Land or God of the Soil. They’re the tutelary deities of specific locations. The \u571f\u5730\u7237\u6469\u5d16\u9020\u50cf\u9057\u8ff9 is a testament to this ancient belief. There are many Tudigongs. They correspond to different geographical locations. Sometimes, people venerate multiple ones in certain regions.
These deities are guardians of both places and people. They appear in Chinese folk religion, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. The typical image is that of an old man. He usually has a long beard. The most important thing to remember is that a Tudigong’s power is limited. It is confined to their specific location. The Tudigong of one place is not the Tudigong of another.
They are ranked below City Gods. They are above landlord gods in the divine hierarchy. Local communities often revere people who served them greatly. After death, they may become a Tudigong.
Moving to a new place involves a ritual. People say goodbye to their old Tudigong. Then they worship the new one. Think of these deities as appointed officials. Each one is assigned to a specific area. Houtu is the overlord of all Tudigongs. She also oversees mountain gods, City Gods, and landlord gods.
Tudigong goes by many names. These include Lord of the Land and God of the Land. They are also known as Lord of the Earth. Other names include Lord of the Soil and Soil-Ground Father. Some call them Great Elder Lord or simply Elder Lord. The term Tua Pek Kong is common in South East Asia. It is used as a replacement for Tudigong.
Commoners often call their local Tudigong “grandfather”. This shows their close connection to the people. Tudigongs are believed to have come from the Sheshen belief system. Sheshen are Chinese deities linked to the soil.
The character for soil originally meant divinity. Sacrifices to Sheshen eventually became sacrifices to Tudigong. The earliest known sheshen was Gou Long. He was appointed as a god of the soil. This was done by Zhuanxu.
Tudigongs grew from land worship. Before City Gods became popular, land worship had a strict hierarchy. The emperor, kings, and commoners could only worship the land gods within their area. The highest land deity was Houtu.
Since the 14th century, Tudigongs have been popular among villagers. They are seen as grassroots deities. Some say this was due to an imperial edict. The Hongwu Emperor of the Ming dynasty was reportedly born in a Tudigong shrine. The image of a Tudigong is simple. He is a smiling, white-bearded man in plain clothes. His wife looks like a normal old lady.
Tudigong temples are common. You can find them across China, Tibet, Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong. Spirit houses are often called Tudigong Houses. They represent a link to the landlord deity.
During the Cultural Revolution, many Tudigong shrines were destroyed. But many have been rebuilt. As we stand here at the \u571f\u5730\u7237\u6469\u5d16\u9020\u50cf\u9057\u8ff9, remember the long history. Remember the enduring belief in the Lord of the Land. He protects and blesses the community.