The Earth God
Tourists visiting Zhangjiajie often see small stone huts made of a few slate slabs by the mountain paths, with statues inside—these are the Earth Gods worshipped by the Tujia people. Besides the Official God and the Grain God, the Tujia especially revere the Earth God. Old records state: "The Earth God is a village deity, worshipped everywhere in lanes and villages, in stone chambers or wooden houses."
This article has been compiled from historical materials on 'Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network' (33519.com · Specialty Foods / Cuisine / Customs section). Prices, business hours, administrative divisions, and statistical data mentioned in the text may already be outdated. Before traveling, please refer to the latest announcements from merchants, scenic areas, and local competent authorities; the parts involving folk legends and folk customs are local historical and cultural anecdotes, provided for cultural reference.
The Earth God
Anyone traveling in Zhangjiajie can often see, along mountain paths, small stone houses made of a few slabs of stone, with statues enshrined inside—these are the Earth Gods worshipped by the Tujia people.
Besides worshipping the Official God and the Five Grains God, the Tujia people especially revere the Earth God. Old gazetteers record: "The Earth God is a village deity, worshipped everywhere in village lanes, either in stone chambers or wooden houses. Some have no statue, but a wooden board about a chi long and two cun wide inscribed with the name of such-and-such Earth God; those with statues have one with white hair and beard called Earth God, and one with coiled hair called Earth Goddess. They are offered paper, candles, wine, or a rooster. It is commonly said that if the Earth God is efficacious, tigers and leopards will not enter the territory. It is also said that upright and just elders of the village become Earth Gods after death. There are various Earth Gods—Garden Earth God, Green Sprout Earth God, Longevity Earth God... and for household use there are also Pen Hollow Earth God, Temple God Earth God, and so on, all named according to their location." The Tujia people are very devout toward the Earth God; in Tujia areas every village, every stockade, even every household builds one or more Earth God temples—they are everywhere, seen at every turn. There are many kinds of Earth God temples, such as the Local Earth God, Mountain Spirit Earth God, Bridge Earth God, Heavenly Gate Earth God, and so on. The Tujia people, at festivals and seasons, on the first and fifteenth of the month, when slaughtering pigs and sheep, at weddings and funerals and celebrations, all must sacrifice to the Earth God. The forms of Earth God temples are also varied: some are finely carved from marble, some are simple structures of four rough stone slabs, or natural cave shelters used as Earth God temples. Before the Earth God temples are written couplets such as "Earth can produce all things, land can bring a thousand blessings," "Bless this region with peace, four seasons of safety," "The Earth God is fair, the Earth Goddess is kind." The Tujia people sacrifice to the Earth God hoping that he, as lord of the locality, will bless them with abundant harvests and thriving livestock, and also protect the whole stockade in peace, averting disasters and driving away evil to guard the village. On the other hand, it reflects the Tujia people's sense that land is important, that it is a god who can "produce all things and bring a thousand blessings," and the ethnic psychology of a god who grants land to a people who long for land, love land, cherish land, and are industrious, brave, and striving. For example, in worshipping the Heavenly Gate Earth God, around every Qingming, the whole stockade raises funds, buys a pig's head, sweets, and fruits; before dawn, one person from each household, bringing the old and young, climbs to a high mountain peak, faces the east, greets the morning glow, and asks the Tima to chant incantations and perform rites, kneeling and bowing, to ensure favorable weather and peace for the region. The Earth God must not be offended; whoever offends him, once he opens his mouth, ghosts, evil spirits, and monsters will make trouble, spoiling crops and livestock. Hence the saying: "If the Earth God does not open his mouth, the wildcat dares not bite the chicken."