The Path of the Wealth God

"If there is a deity in our cultural tradition who has been sincerely loved by all from ancient times to the present, it must be the God of Wealth. Therefore, the most prominent auspicious phrase during the New Year is undoubtedly 'Wishing you prosperity'—the beautiful yearning for wealth has been woven into the fabric of our national identity. Based on this simple and healthy national sentiment, our ancestors optimistically shaped a deity responsible for wealth, the God of Wealth. This deity governs fortune and riches and is widely revered and worshipped as a benevolent figure.

The origins of the God of Wealth are quite complex and vary greatly, as there is not just one but a group of deities, each with different backgrounds. Among the many Gods of Wealth, the most popular and widely worshipped are Fan Li, Bi Gan, Guan Yu, and Zhao Gongming. Most temples dedicated to the God of Wealth enshrine these four figures, which is why they are the most famous and influential.

This book presents the lives of the prototype figures of the God of Wealth in biographical form, clarifying the origins of the God of Wealth culture. It interprets this beloved traditional cultural theme from a historical perspective, guiding readers to draw more auspicious, optimistic, and persevering spiritual inspiration from our nation's rich cultural heritage."

郭晓畅：男，学者、作家，1968年生，山东昌乐人，现居北京。大学期间开始文学创作，发表中短篇小说、散文、随笔、诗歌多篇，出版长篇小说、散文随笔集、报告文学集、理论专著多部。近年致力于创作历史人物系列传记小说，已出版《胡涂县令郑板桥》《狗肉将军张宗昌》《木匠皇帝朱由校》《广陵止息嵇康》《风云大帝——隋文帝杨坚》等5部。共发表、出版作品300万字。

Guo Xiaochang: Male, scholar and writer, born in 1968 in Changle, Shandong, currently residing in Beijing. He began literary creation during university, publishing numerous short stories, essays, and poetry, as well as several novels, collections of essays, report literature, and theoretical works. In recent years, he has focused on writing a series of biographical novels about historical figures, publishing five works including "The Confused County Magistrate Zheng Banchiao," "General Dog Meat Zhang Zongchang," "The Carpenter Emperor Zhu Youjiao," "The Rest of Jikang in Guangling," and "The Great Emperor of Wind and Cloud — Sui Wendi Yang Jian." He has published a total of 3 million words of work.