Chai Shen,
The God of Wealth
Joey Yap
April 1999
The God of Wealth comes in a different time and direction every year. In order to receive the blessings of the God of Wealth for the coming year, some Chinese families will set up an Altar on the eve of the Lunar Chinese New Year. This altar is usually placed outside of the home and must face a specific direction as determined in the Tong Shu.

The Chinese are extremely particular in this ceremony as a wrong direction or timing would lead them into receiving the 'God of Evil' instead of the God of Wealth. When the right time has come the 'red-crackers' (red firecrackers) are ignited, offerings are made in the form of joss-sticks, burning incense papers, etc., and prayers are offered. There are many other procedures that will require further explanation.

Ultimately, this is tradition. Every member of the family usually enjoys participating in the ceremony.

The reception is usually held past midnight in the Eve of the 1st day of Chinese New Year. Referring to the Tong Shu, Lunar New Year falls on different dates in Januaray or February each year.

It has been determined that in 1999 the God of Wealth is coming in from the Southeast direction. The Other directions are: God of Happiness (NW), God of Nobility (SW), Door of Goodness (also SE), Door of Living (East), Door of Entrance (S), God of Evil (also SW), Five Ghosts (NE) and Door of Death (West). Upon careful inspection of the Tong Shu, we will find that in Southeast Sector (Sun - SE2) and (Si (SE3) are 'Tian Fuu' and the Chen (SE1) is the 'Siao Lei) direction. Thus, the correct orientation for the Reception of the God of Wealth this year is South-East at 120 degrees (Chen -SE1), and the most auspicious time is during the hour of the Ox.

The Tong Shu also states that those born in the Year of the Snake (1989 and 1941) and Year of the Pig (1971) should not receive the God of Wealth 'in' the residence, but in the Temple.

Here is a general outlook of what the Chinese Custom and Tradition of the Reception of the God of Wealth is like. We will take the 1999 Lunar New Year as an example. The eve of the Lunar New Year was on the 27th of January, and the reception ceremony takes place during the auspicious hour of the ox (1.am-3.am). The altar will be set up prior to the auspicious time, but the joss-sticks and candles would not be lit up until then. The necessary items, are fruits (apples, mandarin oranges, a fruit called 'luk-yau'), sweet Chinese candy (symbolize sweetness for the coming year), a Chinese pumpkin (symbolizing abundance), red candles, 3 pieces of 2 feet long Joss-sticks, incense, a picture of the God of Wealth, incense papers and 3 small cups of Chinese wine.

These are just standard items. Different clans of the Chinese people may use different quantities or types of items. All items have to be set up on a table covered with red cloth before the auspicious hour. The table has to maintain a distance of 1,2,3,8 or 9 feet away from the main entrance. It is advisable to move backwards to enter the house when receiving the God of Wealth. It is best to take 3 or 8 steps when positioning the portrait of the God of Wealth. The altar must be set up in the front area of your home, facing the SE direction. Incense papers are best burnt in the front area to your house, to prevent arguments over ownership of sacrifices. And an important thing to note is that it is advisable to write down your name, age, address and wishes for the year on a red paper, which is to be burnt along with the incense paper offerings.

When the auspicious hour arrives, we must first pay respect to the various divinities in our residence such as Quan Yin, Buddha, Kuan Ti, Earth-Gods, etc. This usually takes place inside the house in the family altar. After this, we will make our way to altar that we have set up outside. We will make our wishes and say our prayers to the SE direction. Joss-sticks and incense burners should be offered after that.

The old portrait (last year's portrait) of the God of Wealth will be burnt together as well. After each and every member have made their prayers and inserted their joss-sticks into the incense holder, the red-crackers are lighted. Usually the red-crackers are 3 feet, 8, feet, 9 feet, 18 feet, 32 feet or 100 feet long. I normally prefer the 18 feet red-crackers.

After the fire-cracker session, we will proceed to take the God of Wealth's portrait and 'bring-him-inside' our home. His portrait has to be placed in a proper position. It should not be placed on toilet doors, near garbage bins, dirty clothes, etc. It is best positioned at the South East direction facing Chen-SE1. If not, it can also be placed near the family altar.

The ceremony is completed. The altar outside the home will not be removed until after the 3rd day of Chinese New Year. It will be re-set up or re-arranged again the next day for 1st Lunar New Year Day prayers, and re-arranged again for 2nd Day of the Lunar New Year - 'Hoi-Lin' (Opening the Year).

These are the basic customs and traditions of the Chinese Reception of the God of Wealth. It is quite a standard practice in Asia for most of the Chinese people. Although different Chinese Clans such as Hokkien, Cantonese, or Teo Chew may have slight deviations on the ceremony, the basics remain the same.

Joey Yap, © 1999, All Rights Reserved
[Editors Note: Joey Yap is Co-Founder of the Yap Cheng Hai Feng Shui Centre of Excellence and can also be contacted at his Chinese Feng Shui Consultancy website.]