The Legend of the God of Wealth

The God of Wealth, known as Thần Tài, is a deity who brings luck, prosperity, and wealth to households. To this day, he is revered and worshipped by the people.

The belief in this deity stems from the fear of natural phenomena that people could not explain at the time.

Thần Tài, according to folk beliefs, is a deity that brings wealth and fortune. (Illustrative image).

This also reflects a mindset of gratitude towards the natural phenomena surrounding them, which create a living environment and lead to a prosperous and peaceful life.

Who is Thần Tài?

Thần Tài originates from the worship practices of the Chinese who immigrated to Vietnam long ago, possibly due to Vietnamese traders conducting business with China. Generally, only those involved in commerce are familiar with and worship Thần Tài.

Today, this practice has expanded as everyone must manage their finances and work for additional income to support their families. Even state employees are allowed to engage in business, leading many families to worship Thần Tài.

Thần Tài is seen as a deity who brings wealth and prosperity to families. Whenever undertaking significant tasks, one often sees the household praying to Thần Tài. This worship is most commonly found in businesses, where altars to Thần Tài are typically positioned facing the door.

On the occasion of Thần Tài’s Day, we present to readers various stories collected from folklore to help explain the reasons behind this belief.

The Origin of Thần Tài through Legends

When exploring the origins of Thần Tài, many legends describe this deity. The most common narratives come from Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, and Tibetan legends. They are as follows:

According to Chinese Legends

There was a merchant named Au Minh who, while passing by Thang Thao Lake, received a maid named Nhu Nguyen from the water god. Au Minh took Nhu Nguyen home, and his business prospered. However, one New Year’s Day, for some reason, Au Minh hit Nhu Nguyen. Frightened, she hid in a pile of garbage and vanished. From that day on, Au Minh’s business declined, and he soon became bankrupt and destitute. It turned out that Nhu Nguyen was the embodiment of Thần Tài. Since then, people have set up altars to worship this deity in the corner of their homes, facing outward.

This is why during the three days of the Lunar New Year, we should not sweep trash out of the house. According to the tale of Au Minh and Nhu Nguyen, it is believed that sweeping trash could also sweep away Thần Tài, leading to unsuccessful business endeavors. The practice of placing Thần Tài’s altar in the corner originates from this story.

According to Vietnamese Legends

Thần Tài has a long-standing presence in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. He is regarded as a type of earth deity responsible for protecting villages, managing land, and ensuring that people are healthy and prosperous.

When the Vietnamese began to clear land, they faced numerous challenges and difficulties. This led to the belief that deities were always watching over them. These deities became a solid spiritual support on the path of cultivation and livelihood.

The earth deity is believed to protect crops, ensuring a bountiful harvest, while also watching over the wealth and riches of the people.

According to Indian Legends

In Indian legends, Thần Tài is said to originate from the Bodhisattva known as Nhân Yết Đà Tôn Giá, who is one of the Eighteen Arhats. He was often seen catching snakes and carried a large cloth bag on his back while searching for venomous snakes in the forest. He would remove the venomous fangs of the snakes before releasing them.

Therefore, some depictions of Thần Tài show him standing with a large bag in hand, arms raised towards the sky, and a smile on his face, symbolizing success, luck, and contentment.

According to Tibetan Legends

The origin of Thần Tài is also recorded in Tibetan legends. In Tibetan Buddhism, there are five Thần Tài, also known as the Five Colored Gods of Wealth. These include the White God of Wealth, Yellow God of Wealth, Blue God of Wealth, Red God of Wealth, and Black God of Wealth.

The Yellow God of Wealth is the leader of the deities. He oversees wealth in the North and is revered the most among the Gods of Wealth.

The origin story of the Yellow God of Wealth varies, but it is known that he protected the Buddha from the disturbances of demons.

He is the Great Bodhisattva who has achieved five paths and ten grounds. When the Buddha was teaching the Great Prajna Paramita Sutra at Griddhakuta Mountain in the Rajgir region of Central India, demons appeared and caused landslides on the sacred mountain.

At that moment, the Yellow God of Wealth displayed bravery, using his own body to protect the Buddha and beings, ensuring their safe return.

Later, the Yellow God of Wealth was entrusted by the Buddha to use the Dharma to enlighten the hungry and impoverished, guiding them along the path of Buddhism. The Buddha also appointed him as the Great Protector to safeguard all lineages.

The Legend of the 10th Day of the Lunar New Year

The statue of Thần Tài in Vietnam is modeled after Tài Lộc Chân Quân. (Illustrative image).

The story goes that Thần Tài only exists in heaven and not on earth; he is the deity who governs money and wealth.

Once, while drinking, Thần Tài got so drunk that he fell to earth. Unfortunately, he hit his head on a rock and fell unconscious. The next morning, people saw a man dressed like a performer and thought he was mad.

Seeing this, they stripped Thần Tài of his clothes and sold them. When Thần Tài woke up without clothes, he couldn’t remember who he was due to the head injury.

Having lived in heaven, Thần Tài did not know how to work on earth and wandered around begging for food. He eventually came to a house that sold chickens, ducks, and roasted pigs, which was struggling with business. The owner invited Thần Tài in to eat.

Thần Tài was treated to a meal, and he enjoyed it, especially the roasted pork and duck. Interestingly, when he ate there, customers began flocking in. The owner found this strange and invited Thần Tài to eat every day.

On the other hand, a restaurant that used to have many customers suddenly lost them all after Thần Tài began dining at the other establishment.

In business establishments, altars to Thần Tài are typically placed facing the door.

After a while, the shopowner prospered, but he noticed that Thần Tài did nothing but eat delicious food, often with his hands, and he smelled bad because he liked to wander without bathing.

Thinking that Thần Tài might scare away customers, and seeing food wasted on a beggar, the owner decided to chase him away.

The once-busy restaurant across the street now sat empty. Seeing Thần Tài being chased away, they invited him in to eat. Just like before, customers flocked to this restaurant.

Seeing this, everyone vied to invite Thần Tài to their shops to draw in customers, which is why the saying “Thần Tài knocks at the door” emerged.

When the locals saw that Thần Tài had no clothes, they took him to buy new ones. They led him back to the shop where his clothes had been sold. After putting on his clothes and hat again, Thần Tài suddenly remembered everything and flew back to heaven.

People regard the God of Wealth as a treasure, establishing altars to worship him, where he is often depicted as a wandering beggar in tattered clothes.

The day the God of Wealth ascends to heaven is on the 10th day of the first lunar month. Therefore, every year and every month, households observe the 10th as the day of the God of Wealth.

The Day of the God of Wealth

For many people engaged in business, the Day of the God of Wealth is extremely important. This day is not only a time to thank the God of Wealth for his blessings over the past year, but it is also a day to wish for a change in fortune and to seek prosperous business opportunities.

In 2024 (Year of the Dragon), the Day of the God of Wealth falls on the 10th day of the first lunar month, which corresponds to Monday, February 19, 2024.

Typically, on this day, people buy gold to wish for good luck and prosperity in their business endeavors. As a result, gold prices tend to be slightly higher than usual, but it is important not to overly indulge in the belief that one must buy gold on this day, as it can create market distortions.

On the Day of the God of Wealth, many families also choose to purchase additional feng shui items like gemstones or statues of the three-legged toad to hope for a prosperous and fortunate year.

Not only do people buy gold, but they also acquire God of Wealth figurines on this day, especially business owners, to wish for financial success and smooth transactions.

The Significance of Worshipping the God of Wealth

In Vietnam, the God of Wealth is represented by Tài Lộc Chân Quân, characterized by white hair and beard, holding a gold ingot, with a joyful and benevolent expression.

The God of Wealth embodies the spiritual and cultural aspects of the Vietnamese people in particular and Southeast Asian countries in general. While the imagery and stories may vary, the shared aspiration remains the same.

Worshipping the God of Wealth is believed to ensure smooth business operations, good fortune in commerce, and the encounter of helpful individuals, leading to career success and development.

Offerings to the God of Wealth

For those preparing offerings for the God of Wealth for the first time, there may be confusion about what the offerings should include. In reality, daily and monthly offerings are quite simple and mostly depend on the devotee’s intentions. However, the offerings on the 10th day of the first lunar month are particularly important, and according to Vietnamese customs, the offerings should be more elaborate, including the following:

• Candles.
• Incense.
• 3 cups of water.
• 3 cups of rice wine.
• Rice (must be ordinary rice).
• Paper money.
• Clean salt.
• Cigarettes.
• A three-part offering: including boiled pork (must have fat, lean meat, and skin), 3 boiled eggs, and 3 shrimp.
• Fresh flowers (such as yellow chrysanthemums or gerbera daisies).
• Small change.
• A plate of sweets.
• Betel and areca (1 areca nut, 1 betel leaf).
• Steamed sticky rice with mung beans.

Depending on the region, the offerings to the God of Wealth may differ. For instance:

In many places, people also buy shrimp and crabs during the Day of the God of Wealth. Shrimp and crabs symbolize the water element and are part of the three-part offering. As a result, shrimp and crab prices often soar close to the 10th day of the first lunar month, yet they remain in high demand. These offerings are believed to bring luck and prosperity to the household.

In the three-part offering to the God of Wealth, duck eggs are essential. Duck eggs represent feathered creatures that soar in the sky, symbolizing the heavenly element. Thus, on the Day of the God of Wealth, people strive to select large, round duck eggs for their offerings, aiming for wealth and prosperity.

Roast pig is also a significant offering on the Day of the God of Wealth. Roast pig is a dish favored by the God of Wealth, as legend has it that he enjoyed this dish during his time on Earth. Therefore, on this day, people typically offer roast pig to invoke blessings from the God of Wealth.

People in the Southern region believe that offering grilled snakehead fish on the Day of the God of Wealth will bring much luck and prosperity to the household. Since snakehead fish is a local delicacy, offering it to the deities expresses gratitude to nature, which in return, will bless them with favorable weather.

Prayer for the God of Wealth

Namo Amitabha Buddha!

Namo Amitabha Buddha!

I bow to the nine directions of Heaven, all Buddhas of the ten directions.

I respectfully bow to the Holy Earth and all the deities.

I respectfully bow to the East Kitchen God.

I respectfully bow to the God of Wealth.

I respectfully bow to all deities and local spirits governing this land.

The faithful devotee is… residing at…

Today is the day… of the month… in the year…

The faithful devotee sincerely prepares incense, flowers, offerings, money, tea, fruits, and other items to present before the altar, respectfully inviting the God of Wealth to descend.

I humbly ask the God of Wealth to be compassionate, descend before the altar, witness my sincerity, accept the offerings, and bless the faithful devotee with security, prosperity, good fortune, flourishing family life, increasing wealth, spiritual enlightenment, and fulfillment of all wishes.

We humbly offer this sincere prayer before the altar, respectfully asking for your blessings.

Why Buy Gold to Wish for Wealth on the Day of the God of Wealth?

How to Offer on the Day of the God of Wealth, 10th Day of the First Lunar Month