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:
“She saw all things except herself serene:
Child, big black woman, pretty kitchen towels.”
—Gwendolyn Brooks (b. 1917)
“Cure yourself of the affliction of caring how you appear to others. Concern yourself only with how you appear before God, concern yourself only with the idea that God may have of you.”
—Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936)