Tu Di Gong

Tu Di Gong is the Chinese earth god who protects local communities and specific geographic areas. He is considered one of the most universally worshipped deities in Chinese folk religion. He acts as a guardian of villages, towns, and individual neighborhoods.

Shrines to Tu Di Gong can be found in homes, businesses, and at the borders of villages throughout Chinese communities worldwide. He is often depicted as a kindly, elderly man. The worship of a local earth god ensures peace and prosperity for the immediate area.

He acts as a low-ranking official in the heavenly bureaucracy, akin to a local magistrate. In this system, he reports the deeds of the people to higher-ranking gods, like the City God. This reflects the bureaucratic structure of ancient Chinese governments applied to the divine realm.

Tu Di Gong is frequently worshipped alongside Tu Di Po, who acts as his wife and is known as the earth grandmother. Together, they manage the earthly affairs of their designated community. They are often seen as a divine, elderly married couple looking after the people.