The Rain Master 雨神 God of Rain

The Rain Master, also known as the "God of Rain" and other names, is a deity in Taoism responsible for controlling rain. The belief in the Rain God, like that of the Wind God, has a very early origin. The "Zongbo" chapter of Rites of Zhou states: "Sacrifice to Sizhong, Siming, Fengshi (Wind Master), and Yushi (Rain Master) with burnt offerings." Cai Yong of the Eastern Han Dynasty, in Duduan, said: "The Rain Master is the star Bi. Its image is in the sky and can bring rain." The star Bi is one of the seven western constellations in the twenty-eight lunar mansions, which should be regarded as the Rain God in the form of a star.

In addition, there are also figures regarded as the Rain God. Qu Yuan's Tianwen (Heavenly Questions) says: "Pinghao brings forth rain." Wang Yi of the Han Dynasty annotated: "Ping refers to Pingyi, the name of the Rain Master." Fengsu Tongyi (Comprehensive Meaning of Customs) states: "The Zuo Zhuan of the Spring and Autumn Period says that the son of Gonggong is the master of Xuanming." Xuanming is also a name for the Rain Master. Sou Shen Ji (Records of Searching for Spirits) mentions: "Chisongzi was the Rain Master during the time of Shennong." Sanjiao Yuanliu Soushen Daquan (Comprehensive Records of Searching for Gods in the Origins of the Three Teachings) even regards a divine bird as the Rain Master, stating: "The Rain Master is Shangyang. Shangyang is a divine bird with one foot, which can grow large or small; when it sucks water, even the vast sea can dry up. It is the god of the Rain Master."

After the Tang and Song dynasties, the worship of the Dragon King gradually replaced the position of the Rain Master. As early as the Qin and Han dynasties, the worship of the Rain Master was included in the national sacrificial rituals. Tang Huiyao (Compilation of Tang Institutions) records that the worship of the Rain Master was elevated to a medium-level sacrifice, and "each prefecture should set up an altar" to worship together with the king. In Taoist temples, the statue of the Rain Master is often depicted as a strong man with a black beard, holding a basin in his left hand containing a dragon, and his right hand in a posture as if sprinkling water, known as "Yushi Chen Tianjun" (Rain Master Lord Chen). The birthday of the Rain Master is the 20th day of the 11th lunar month.