The Plague God is a popular deity in Taoism, worshipped by the Chinese people as the god in charge of plagues. The worship of the Plague God stems from the fear of plagues. Plague, referred to simply as "wen" (pestilence) or "yi" (epidemic) in ancient times, is an acute infectious disease. In ancient times, with poor medical conditions, people were extremely terrified of this dreadful disease and easily thought it was caused by ghosts and gods. Therefore, they prayed to gods for protection.
The Plague God worshipped in Taoism is said to have originated in the Sui and Tang dynasties. According to The Comprehensive Records of the Origins of the Three Teachings and Search for Gods, in June of the 11th year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (596 AD), five powerful warriors appeared in the air, about three to five zhang (a unit of length, approximately 3.3 meters) above the ground. They wore robes of five different colors, each holding an object in their hands. One held a spoon and a jar, another a leather bag and a sword, another a fan, another a hammer, and the last a fire pot.
Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty hurriedly asked Zhang Juren, the Grand Astrologer: "Who are these gods? What disasters or blessings do they preside over?" Zhang Juren replied: "These are the five directional warriors, known as the Five Ghosts in heaven and the Five Plagues on earth. They are Zhang Yuanbo (Spring Plague), Liu Yuanda (Summer Plague), Zhao Gongming (Autumn Plague), Zhong Shigui (Winter Plague), and Shi Wenye, the chief in charge of the Mid-Plague. Now, a plague disaster is impending from heaven, and there is no way to escape it." That year, a plague indeed broke out, and many people died from it.
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Thus, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty built a temple to worship them. On June 27th, he issued an edict, conferring the title of "General" on the five directional warriors. The warrior in the green robe was named "Xiansheng General" (Manifesting Holiness General), the one in the red robe "Xianying General" (Manifesting Response General), the one in the white robe "Ganying General" (Inspiring Response General), the one in the black robe "Gancheng General" (Inspiring Achievement General), and the one in the yellow robe "Ganwei General" (Inspiring Power General). He also designated the 5th day of the 5th lunar month as the festival for sacrificing to the Five Plagues.
The Tang Dynasty inherited the Sui Dynasty's practice of worshipping the Five Plague Gods. It is said that later, Zhenren Kuangfu (a Taoist master) traveled to this place and subdued the Five Plagues in the Five Plague Temple, taking them as his subordinates. Since then, Taoism has incorporated them into its pantheon as Taoist Plague Gods.
