The City God, referred to as "Chenghuang" for short, is a minor deity in
Taoism and serves as the local official in charge of the netherworld.
The origin of Chenghuang can be traced back to the ancient worship of "shui (huang) yong (cheng)" (literally meaning the moat and the city wall), and it is one of the eight gods mentioned in Zhou Gong (also known as Rites of Zhou). Originally, "cheng" referred to the high walls built by digging earth, and "huang" referred to the dry moat around the city. In ancient times, people built cities to protect the safety of the residents inside, so they constructed tall city walls, gate towers, city gates, as well as moats (both dry and water-filled). They believed that there were gods in all things closely related to people's lives and production safety, so Chenghuang was deified as the protective deity of the city.
Taoism incorporated the City God into its pantheon, describing it as a god that eliminates evil, protects the country and defends the nation, and also governs the souls in the underworld. Temple fairs are held at the Chenghuang Temple on every 13th day of the first lunar month (Lantern Festival), 19th day of the fifth lunar month (the City God's birthday), Qingming Festival, 15th day of the seventh lunar month, and 15th day of the tenth lunar month (Festival of Sacrificing to the Orphans). These temple fairs are large in scale, wide in scope, and attract a large number of people.
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This article is part of our comprehensive guide covering all core Taoist philosophies, concepts, and practices — curated from the classic Encyclopedia of Taoism.
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About the Author
Paul Peng
Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is the curator of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.
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