Caishen
财神
The God of Wealth — invoked by every merchant, shopkeeper, and household in the Chinese world.
Origin Story
Who Is Caishen?
Caishen, the God of Wealth, is the most commercially important deity in the Chinese pantheon. He is worshipped by businesses large and small, from street vendors to multinational corporations, and by households seeking financial stability. His image — a bearded man in a red robe holding a gold ingot — is a fixture in shops, restaurants, and homes across the Chinese-speaking world.
The primary identity of Caishen is Zhao Gongming, also known as Marshal Zhao. According to [Investiture](/myths/fengshen-yengyi) of the Gods, Zhao Gongming was a Taoist immortal who fought on the losing side of the Shang-Zhou war. After his death, he was deified by [Jiang Ziya](/gods/jiang-ziya) as the God of Wealth and the leader of the four directional gods of wealth.
Caishen — the God of Wealth, worshipped across the Chinese world
Caishen, the God of Wealth, is one of the most widely worshipped deities in Chinese culture. He dispenses prosperity, fortune, and abundance to the worthy. On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, millions of families and businesses welcome Caishen with firecrackers and incense, hoping to secure his blessing for the year ahead.
Powers & Symbols
Attributes & Artefacts
Click each card to reveal the details behind Caishen's divine attributes.
Magical Artifacts & Weapons
Caishen's Divine Arsenal
The legendary weapons and treasures wielded by Caishen — each with its own origin story, powers, and mythological significance.
Historical & Cultural Meaning
Beyond the Myth
The Many Faces of Caishen
Caishen is not a single deity but a syncretic figure — multiple historical and mythological figures have been merged into the role of God of Wealth. The most prominent is Zhao Gongming (Marshal Zhao), a Taoist [immortal](/gods/buddha-shakyamuni) from Mount Emei who fought in the Shang-Zhou war. But there is also Bigan, a Shang Dynasty official whose heart was cut out, and Guan Yu, who serves as a secondary wealth deity.
In some traditions, there are five Caishen — one for each direction (east, west, south, north, and center). Zhao Gongming is the central Caishen, while the others govern different aspects of wealth: legitimate income, unexpected fortune, agricultural abundance, and profitable trade.
Caishen in Chinese Culture
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year (known as 'Po Wu' or 'Welcome Caishen'), millions of Chinese people worldwide set off firecrackers, burn incense, and open their shops for the first time in the new year — all to welcome Caishen and secure his blessing for prosperity. This is one of the most important rituals of the Chinese New Year.
In businesses, a [Caishen](/gods/caishen) statue is typically placed facing the entrance, to draw wealth in and protect against financial loss. [Red](/symbols/red-envelopes) envelopes (hongbao) given during the New Year are a modern echo of [Caishen](/folklore/caishen)'s gold ingots — a way of distributing his blessing among family and friends.
Sources & References
Primary classical texts: Shanhaijing (山海经, Classic of Mountains and Seas, c. 4th-2nd century BCE) · Fengshen Yanyi (封神演义, Investiture of the Gods, c. 16th century) · Journey to the West (西游记, Xiyouji, c. 16th century) · Records of the Grand Historian (史记, Shiji, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE) · Classic of Mountains and Seas commentary (郭璞注 Shanhaijing, c. 4th century) · Bamboo Annals (竹书纪年, c. 4th century BCE onwards)
Classical translations: Legge, James (trans.). The Sacred Books of the East (1879-1910, 50 volumes covering Chinese classics) · Girardot, Norman J. Myth and Meaning in Early Taoism (University of California Press, 1983) · Werner, E.T.C. A Dictionary of Chinese Mythology (Shanghai: Kelly & Walsh, 1932)
Modern academic references: Birrell, Anne. Chinese Mythology: An Introduction (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993) · Yang, Lihui, and Deming An. Handbook of Chinese Mythology (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005) · Strassberg, Richard E. A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002)
Digital encyclopedias and online resources: Wikipedia — Chinese mythology portal (continuously updated, citations to primary sources) · Encyclopedia Britannica — Mythology and Religion section
Mythology Network
Connections & Relationships
Caishen is woven into a larger web of gods, creatures, and legends. Explore the connections below.
Caishen
财神
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Caishen in the Mythology Network
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