Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神) is the Earth Deity worshipped by Chinese folks. In China and Taiwan, he is addressed as Tu Di Gong (土地公) or Tu Di Shen (土地神）. In South East Asia, he is often called Da Bo Gong (大伯公) - The Great Grand Uncle. In Indonesia, he is known as Dewa Bumi. In Ryukyu - Japan (日本琉球), he is known as 土帝君(トゥティークー).
In ancient time, Chinese Folks pray to Earth God for the abundance of crops, grains , healthy livestocks etc. In this modern era, Earth God is prayed for prosperity, wealth ,safety and happiness. Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神) is also revered as one of the Chinese Gods Of Wealth. He can even be sought after to Win The Lottery / 4D, if You know the way.
Within the celestial pantheon, Tu Di Gong occupies a unique position, as he is at the same time the lowest ranking official in the bureaucracy, yet also the most commonly worshiped deity. Almost every homes of the Chinese Folks in South East Asia, has an altar of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神) in the main hall / living room.
Today, many Chinese Young Adults still pray to him but without knowing the origin, the legends , the way to pray , and the power of him. This is the article to share with You the knowledge and information of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神).
The Talisman Of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神)
While You have been praying to Your Tua Pek Kong at home for many years and have not been Striking The Lottery (4D / Toto) You may need this Talisman.
The Talisman Of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神) is drawn and then empowered with the secret "hand seal" of invoking Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神), while chanting the sorcery incantation of welcoming Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神).
The Talisman Of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神), is to be placed on the wall of the altar of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神). It can use to spiritually activate the altar of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神), if the Statue / Figurine is not consecrated (Light Opening - 开光) . This talisman can also be kept inside the wallet / purse / bag.
Note: " Protection All In One" Talisman can be used to activate /empower the altar of different deities, including altar of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神). Talisman of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神) can only be used to activate / empower the altar of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神)
Paper Talismans of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神) are also being burnt with Chinese Joss Papers, during Zuo Ya (作牙) - ( means prayers of every 2nd & 16th Day Of Every Chinese Lunar Month for wealth / business success by the bosses) and also being burnt on the important celebration days of revering Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神).
To seek lottery numbers ,such as 4D, You can tie the Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神) Talisman on a cup, filled with numbers (0 to 9), and use the "Shake Cup" Method to seek 4D Numbers. If the Talisman is placed on the altar, You shall face the Tua Pek Kong Altar and apply the "Shake Cup" Method to seek 4D Numbers. When You seek 4D Numbers, You must always light up incense sticks / cones.
Ancient Historical Records of worshiping the Earth Deity / Spirit
According to Ancient Books of Kan-Yu (Feng Shui), there existed ceremonial rites of worshiping the earth and village. Because the Earth carries and gives birth to everything, on which the five cereals grow to feed the people, therefore, the Chinese since ancient time have been honouring the heaven and respecting the earth.
据古籍堪舆书记载：中国古代就有奉土祭社的礼俗。因为土地载万物，又生养万物，长五谷以养育百姓，所以中国人历来尊天而亲地奉祀土地。
In the Unofficial Commentaries on the Book of Rites (礼记外传),wrote "a country takes the people to be its foundation, and the masses regard food as their heaven. So when the emperor founds the country and governs the people, he commands to first set up the altar of the soil. Due to the wide earth and rich cereal crops and the impossibility to worship every inch of the earth, altars are set up to worship the Earth in countries and cities".
《礼记外传》 称“国以民为本，民以食为天，故建国君民，先命立社，地广谷多，不可遍祭，故於国城之内，立坛祀之”。
The section of "Sacrificial Rites" of the Book of Rites (礼记.祭法) has a commentary which says, "people from superior officials down, including scholar-officials and commoners, lived in groups. A village was established where there were more than 100 families, will set up a shrine to worship the Earth".
《礼记》之《祭法》篇注称；“大夫以下包士庶，成群聚而居，满百家以上，得立社”。
The section "Records of the Five Agents" （汉书·五行志） of the History of the Han Dynasty says, "25 families composed a village". The ancient Chinese with the understanding of "the Earth is so wide that it is impossible to worship all over it, so the soil was piled up into an altar in order to repay its contribution". Therefore, when a shrine was built in a village to worship the earth god, it is also known as village god.
《汉书·五行志》又称“旧制，二十五家为一社”。由此可见，所谓社，就是地方最小的行政单位。中国先民因“土地广博，不可遍敬，故封土为社而祀之，以报功也”。所以以社为单位立庙供奉的土地神又叫“社神”。
According to Ancient Books of Kan-Yu (Feng Shui), the Village Spirit was at the beginning, nameless. After the Eastern Jin Dynasty (东晋), charitable and upright officials were taken to be the Earth Spirit among the people, therefore the spirit was personalized and named.
据古籍堪舆书记载：社神初无姓名。后慢慢演变，便有了特定身份。
Taoist Scripture records of worshiping the Earth Spirit / Deity
The section "On Village Spirits" of "The Book of Major Daoist Numinous Spirits and Ghosts" quoted Laozi's Catalogue of Ghosts and Spirits of Heaven and Earth (老子天地鬼神目录), saying, "the Village Spirit of the capital was an upright subject of Heaven. It was Yin (阴) on the left side and Yang (阳) on the right side, and named Huang Chong (黄崇). It was a native of Li Yang (历阳), Jiu Jiang (九江) of Yang Zhou (杨州).
东晋以後，汉族民间以生前行善或廉正之官吏为土地神。《老子天地鬼神目录》曰“京师社神，天之正臣，左阴右阳，姓黄名崇。本杨州九江历阳人也。
Ranked as Zhi Wan Shi (秩万石), he governs the great divinities of famous mountains on Earth under Heaven, and all the other Village Spirits serve him as his subject". After the Ming and Qing dynasties, celebrities were often taken to be the local Earth Spirit among the people. For example, it is said that the Earth Spirit worshiped by the Imperial Academy and by the Ministry of Civil Personnel in the Qing dynasty was Han Yu(韩愈), a great literati of the Tang dynasty. The area around the Imperial College in Hangzhou was the hometown of Yue Fei (岳飞), so the Imperial College venerated Yue Fei as the Earth Spirit. Today the Earth Granny is often worshiped as a supplement in the temples of the Earth Spirit. This custom originated around the Southern Song dynasty.
秩万石，主天下名山大神，社皆臣从之”。明清以后汉族民间又多以名人作为各方土地。例如：清代翰林院及吏部所祀之土地，传为唐代大文人韩愈。杭州太学一带，原是岳飞的故乡，於是太学就奉岳飞为土地神。
Earth Deity became a Minor Deity in the ranks of Taoist Gods
According to Ancient Books of Kan-Yu (Feng Shui), after the Eastern Jin Dynasty (东晋), with the gradual perfection of the bureaucratic system from the central authorities to the basic level in feudal countries, the Earth Deity, which is only able to govern the native soil, gradually evolved into a minor deity of the lowest rank among Taoist Deities.
据古籍堪舆书记载：自东晋以後，随着封建国家从中央到基层的官僚制度的逐渐完善，土地神也演变成为在道教神阶中也逐渐等级化，退变细化为管理本乡本土的最低级的小神。
The very 1st record that a human died and raised to the level of Earth Deity
Throughout thousands of years , during different dynasties and in different parts of China, there were many good men of virtues who passed on and being worshiped by Chinese Folks as God Of Earth. The very 1st person whom was revered as Gods Of Earth was Jiang Zi Wen (蒋子文).
Volume Five of “Investigations into the Divine”(搜神记) says that Jiang Zi Wen (蒋子文), a native of Guang Ling (广陵), died for pursuing thieves. After Sun Quan of the Eastern Wu wielded power, Jiang Ziwen (蒋子文) presented his spirit on a road and said, "I should be the Earth Spirit of this place to benefit you people". Here to "benefit you people" means to bless the safety of houses, the birth of babies into families, and the thriving of the domestic animals on the native land and to being just. Often there is an antithetical couplet in the temples of the Earth Spirit in the south of China, which says, "the grandpa handles affairs fairly, while the grandma gives advice earnestly".
《搜神记》卷五称广陵人蒋子文因追贼而死。后蒋子文死后化身为土地神，并显灵於道说：“我当为此土地神，以福尔下民”。这里所指的“福尔下民”，就是指保佑本乡本土家宅平安，添丁进口，六畜兴旺，并且为百姓主持公道。
When Tu Di Gong (土地公) became known as "Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神)"
The title of "Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神)", only appear after Tang-Song Dynasty. Before that, usually people will only use Tu Di （土地） or Hou Tu （后土）. Chinese folks believe that it was given by Heaven to Zhang Fu De due to his loyalty and willingness to sacrify for his life to help the others.
Legend 1 of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神)
Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神) was born in the Zhang family and his named Zhang Fu De (张福德) during Zhou emperor 2nd year, on 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month. He was very intelligent and filial since young. At age 36, he was working as a tax officer. He was an honest and honorable gentleman. He pities the poor suffering folks and always extends his helping hands without fail. He passed away at the age of 102, in the second generation of the Zhou dynasty. After 3 days of his passing, his face didn’t change. A poor neighbor used four piece of huge rock to enclose his dead body. Soon these rocks become flatten and completely cover his body. People see this as an act of deity and soon built a shrine for him. The villagers also didn’t forget all the good deeds that Fu De had done. With time, Fu De soon becomes known as Fu De Zheng Shen.
土地公本名张福德，自小聪颖至孝；三十六岁时，官朝廷总税官，为官清廉正直，体恤百姓之疾苦，做了许许多多善事。一零二岁辞世。死后三天其容貌仍不变，有一贫户以四大石围成石屋奉祀，过了不久，即由贫转富，百姓都相信是神恩保佑，於是合资建庙并塑金身膜拜，因此生意人常祭祀之。亦有说在他死后，接任的税官上下交征，无所不欲，民不堪命。这时，人民想到张福德为政的好处，念念不忘，於是建庙祭祀，取其名而尊为「福德正神」。土地公信仰寄托了汉族劳动人民一种祛邪、避灾、祈福的美好愿望。
Legend 2 of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神)
During the Zhou dynasty, A rich landlord, Master Shang (上大夫), was sent to a remote place to be a government official. As he did not come back for a long tim, his daughter set out to find him. She was accompanied by a faithful male servant, named Zhang Ming De (张明德). On their journey, they were surprised by a snowstorm. Zhang Ming De took off all his clothing to cover the young girl, thus saving her life but unfortunately, Zhang died as a result of it. Immediately after Zhang’s death, in the sky appeared six words “南天門大仙福德正神” (Great Immortal Of The Southern Door Of Heaven, the true Deity that brings Prosperity & Wealth). Master Shang was grateful to Zhang Ming De for saving his daughter life and built a shrine to honor him. Before the end of Zhou emperor era, it was known as Hou Tu but now better known as ‘Fu De Zheng Shen’.
周朝时，一位上大夫的家仆张福德（或张明德），主人赴远他地就官，留下家中幼女，张明德带女寻父，途遇风雪，脱衣护主，因而冻死途中。临终时，空中出现「南天门大仙福德正神」九字，盖为忠仆之封号，上大夫念其忠诚，建庙奉祀，周武王感动之馀说：「似此之心可谓大夫也」，故土地公有戴宰相帽者。
Important Days of Praying To Tua Pek Kong (大伯公) - Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神)
- Birthday - 2nd Day of 2nd Chinese Lunar Month
- Day Of Gaining Tao - 15th Day of 8th Chinese Lunar Month (Chinese Lantern Festival)
- Zuo Ya (作牙) - 16th Day of 8th Lunar Month
*Zuo Ya (作牙) means every 2nd & 16th Day Of Every Chinese Lunar Month, the Chinese Bosses / Shop Owners etc will pray to the Local God Of Wealth - Referring to The Earth God.
於土地公生日（土地诞：农历二月初二）或得道日（中秋：农历八月十五日，或八月十六作牙）可在前一晚上行还愿祭典，当日则准备牲礼水果祭品到土地庙坛祭拜。
《诸罗县志.卷之八》：「二月二日，街衢社里敛钱演戏，赛当境土神；盖仿古『春祈』之意。」 《诸罗县志.卷之八》：「中秋祀当境土神，与二月二日同，仿『秋报』也。四境歌吹相闻，谓之『社戏』。会饮赏月，制大饼以象之；士子朱书『元』字，用骰子掷四红夺饼，预取『秋闱夺魁』之兆。」 故所谓春祈秋报即与上述两日相同，现今之祭仪应为旧有社祭习俗之变。
作牙：「作牙」，习俗上旧历每月的初二、十六，商家都祭拜「本地财神」（通常当地财神即为土地公），称之「作牙」，又称「牙祭」、「作祃」。有些地方是朔望（初一、十五）祭拜土地公。
扫墓：民间认为土地神乃墓园之守护，故扫墓前需先祭拜土地神，答谢其看守坟墓之辛劳。
Scripture Of Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神)
福德正神宝诰
叁皇五帝部下。后土真君。以身垂範。荒拓开垦。教织种植。匡王协运。德高望重。雍行乾坤。广济人伦。万姓蒙佑。受敕封为福德正神。秉忠正烈。助国卫民。膺承简命。镇一方而黎民仰瞻。保佑四境。作物丰盈。掌传奏而丹忱上达。义贯九天。善恶昭彰而响应。灵通叁界。功过纠察以分明。修仁见性。巩固金汤奠安稷。佈施群黎。醒世节俭大忠大孝。至显至灵。妇孺老幼。享受天伦。当境土地。后土尊神福德天尊。
福德正神真经
吾是叁皇五帝后土之臣。本境真君。顺天之志。开苍辟地之炳。引人拓植。必配乾坤。唤醒愚民。垦荒教导谆谆。人人敬我。我爱人群。有人问我名何姓。凡是共工氏之子。炎帝子孙句龙。立志精忠威灵淳淳。後世人德高望重。敕封福德正神。镇守金域。管护社稷。保佑四境生灵。流传陶虞。匡扶演正。鉴察人间善恶。直辖各处土治。驱邪缚命。镇压乡里之妖怪。扫庄中之魔精。保障水口恶煞。灵应不相争。若人诵吾经。合境保平安。道路保安宁。士人步青云。亡人早超生。妇孺老幼。宅舍得通亨。六畜并栖稠。千千万万尽旺生。商人念此经。积货倍百年。营业兴隆犹昌盛。每月初二并十六。虔诚来奉敬。庇佑事业发展。财多福不轻。工厂场地有供奉。营运工务定兴盛。八月十五神寿诞。农家鱼民都欢迎。水上船只得风顺。浪静厚利真光荣。农村作物多如意。五穀大丰登。汝等众生听闻。二月初二日是加昇。封为福德正神。金经宝训一卷。句句详明。奉劝凡民立善心。切莫逞强施伪倾。步步皆行平等事。是是非非要和平。若是不敬吾福德。妖魅交缠祸不轻。勤奉吾经训。福禄则来临。赐汝子孙并後代。代代金榜早题名。
赞曰
富贵有门人莫疑。福神喜报汝先知。多多作善多多好。好宅好田好子孙。
世代光昌谁不爱。皇天命我鉴时时。家家有德家家振。拨货消灾默转移。
寿算可添分数理。功名可造学为期。祖宗庇荫留馀庆。苦乐前生报应宜。
土地人民归掌察。分毫赏罚不差丝。去来本是吾先导。速作阴功免受悲。
第一人间孝为先。清操励节感苍天。炎凉世态何须问。密里灵臺要保全。
世世投胎恩怨成。做完恩怨自分行。福神谱出深情曲。解尽愁怀听一声。
愁怀脱离上青云。乐园奇花馥馥芬。醉咏玉楼圆月皎。霞衣舞彩唱仙群。
Related Sites & Articles:
- Earth God Of Wealth - Fu De Zheng Shen (福德正神)
- Chinese Gods Of Wealth