Earth God’s Birthday 2023: Date, Background, Facts, Activities

According to the Chinese calendar, the birthday of the Earth Gods falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month and is primarily celebrated in Taiwan. The date this year is February 21. The Earth God, also known as Tudi Gong or Tudi Shen, is one of the numerous Taoist Earth deities. He is known as the “Lord of the Soil and the Earth.” On Tudi Gong’s birthday, many devotees visit temples dedicated to him to seek his blessings due to his reputation for generosity. The devotees pay homage to Tudi Gong by burning incense and presenting food, wine, and flowers.

It is believed that the blessing of Tudi Gong brings harmony and prosperity to a community.

The background of Earth God’s Birthday

Tudi, or Tudi Gong, is a deity in Taoism and other Chinese religions. Tudi Gong is portrayed as an elderly man with a white, flowing beard who wears a golden hat and a red or yellow robe. He is holding a wooden shaft and a gold ingot in his hands.

There are shrines dedicated to Tudi Gong in every city and town in Taiwan. In the past, when villages were primarily agricultural, people prayed to the Earth god for a bountiful harvest. Nowadays, people pray for prosperity and health. Tudi is also thanked for the land when a deceased person is buried, invoking the Earth God. In contrast to other deities, Tudi Gong shrines in the home are placed beneath the altar or the front door.

Devotees visit nearby temples on this day to pray and make offerings, including the traditional Taoist gifts of longevity noodles and red tortoise cakes. Longevity noodles are long, unbroken noodles that are cooked and consumed without a bite in the middle. Red tortoise cakes (or Ang Ku kueh) are cakes made of rice skin and a sweet filling, shaped to resemble the shell of a tortoise. Both of these foods represent longevity and prosperity.

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EARTH GOD’S BIRTHDAY ACTIVITIES

Check out Tudi Gong’s temple.

Pray for wealth and prosperity to the Earth God at the Tudi Gong temple or shrine closest to you. It will surely expand your horizons.

Invest extra effort

Visit the largest and oldest Tudi Gong temple in Hengchun, Taiwan, the Checheng Fuan Temple. It is regarded as one of the most auspicious Tudi Gong shrines. It is believed that writing names on a postcard and affixing it to a temple will bring good fortune.

Create a tortoise cake

Learn the recipe for the traditional red tortoise cake. Since it is a laborious task, you can enlist the help of your family and turn it into a fun activity.

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• The birthday of the Earth God is not a recognised holiday.
• Tudi Gong has a wife named Tudi Po, who is not worshipped as fervently as her husband. The Jade Emperor sent Tudi Po to keep her husband in check, as Tudi Gong had a tendency to grant all the wishes of his followers.
• The shrines of Tudi Gong are said to protect the area in which they are located.
• The shrine or image of Earth God is placed beneath the altar or at the front door to ward off negative energies.
• The tallest statue of the Earth God is located 984 feet above sea level in Zhonghe Hongludi.

EARTH GOD’S BIRTHDAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2022	March 4	Friday
2023	February 21	Tuesday
2024	March 11	Monday
2025	March 1	Saturday
2026	March 20	Friday