On the fourth day of the New Year, local deities including the God of Wealth
begin to return to their earthly stations after a lengthy stay in Heaven. They
are welcomed back with firecrackers and offerings of burnt money.
The fifth day of the New Year celebration finds many Chinese families staying
home. This day is called "Po Woo". It is a day to welcome the God of Wealth. The
God of Wealth, called Marshal Zhao, is believed to bring people a big fortune.
It's recorded in Fengshen Bang (a list of the names of different gods in
traditional Chinese legends) that a man named Zhao Gongming trained himself
according to a religious doctrine in Luofu Cavity on Emei
Mountain and he became immortal during the Shang
Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC). When Emperor Zhou Wu (the first
emperor of the Zhou
Dynasty) led troops to campaign against Shang's emperor (a tyrant and the
last emperor of the Shang Dynasty), Zhao stood with the tyrant and died in the
war.
After his death, his soul was charged with being the deity looking after the
distribution of fortune and happiness. Four demi-gods named Zhaobao,
Nazhen, Zhaocai and Lishi, were assigned to him, their responsibilities all
related to the granting of fortune. Thus, Zhao became the god for
fortune-seeking people to venerate and to make sacrifices to.
On the fifth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, every household hurries to
welcome him by exploding firecrackers or burning joss sticks. No one visits
families and friends on the fifth day because it will bring both parties bad
luck.
Worshipped by the people from all walks of life in
China, the God of Wealth has a great influence. People also greet the God of
Wealth late on the eve of the Spring Festival. On the occasion, incense is burned and sacrifices are offered. The
image of the God is put up in all households, hoping to have a better harvest
and a better income in the new year. There is a jingle among the populace in
northern China, "To open the door at the fifth geng (daybreak) on New Year's Day
and to meet the God of Wealth gladly. A gold horse is tethered to a tree of
money, and a gold figure stands in the treasure basin".
