The Kitchen God
In Chinese folk religion and Chinese mythology, the Kitchen god, named Zao Jun (Chinese: 灶君; Mandarin Pinyin: Zào Jūn; Jyutping: Joe3 Gwan4; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chàu-kun or Chàu-kun-kong (灶君公); literally "stove master") or Zao Shen (Chinese: 灶神; pinyin: Zào Shén; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chàu-sîn; literally "stove god or stove spirit"), is the most important of a plethora of Chinese domestic gods that protect the hearth and family. In addition he is celebrated in Vietnamese culture as well.
It is believed that on the twenty third day of the twelfth lunar month, just before Chinese New Year he returns to Heaven to report the activities of every household over the past year to the Jade Emperor (Yu Huang). The Jade Emperor, emperor of the heavens, either rewards or punishes a family based on Zao Jun's yearly report.
Read more about The Kitchen God: The Story of Zao Jun, Worship and Customs, Family, Zao Jun in Literature, In Popular Culture
Famous quotes containing the words kitchen and/or god:
“And you’re too fired up to go to sleep, you sit at the kitchen table. It’s really late, it’s really quiet, you’re tired. Don’t wanna go to bed, though. Going to bed means this was the day. This Feb. 12, this Aug. 3, this Nov. 20 is over and you’re tired and you made some money but it didn’t happen, nothing happened. You got through it and a whole day of your life is over. And all it is—is time to go to bed.”
—Claudia Shear, U.S. author. New York Times, p. A21 (September 29, 1993)
“Mama may have, papa may have,
But God bless the child that’s got his own!”
—Billie Holiday [Eleanor Fagan] (1915–1959)