The Culture and Stories Behind Kitchen God Worship

(i) The Sad Legend from Henan

In Henan, the custom of worshipping the Kitchen God on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month comes with a sad folk legend. In ancient times, there was an elderly couple who had only one son. Due to poverty, they had no choice but to send their son to work in a coal mine. On his way to the mine, the old man encountered a barefoot person who told him that he was sent by Yama to reclaim one hundred miners at the mine. The old man was anxious and begged him to spare his son. The barefoot person generously agreed, instructing him not to tell anyone else. When the old man saw his son, he pretended to be ill, keeping his son close and unable to go down the mine.

Soon after, an accident occurred in the coal mine, and the old man quickly brought his son back home. Three years passed, and on the night of the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month, the old man could not resist telling his wife about this incident. Unbeknownst to them, the Kitchen God overheard this conversation. On the evening of the twenty-third day, after ascending to heaven, the Kitchen God reported this matter to the Jade Emperor. Enraged, the Jade Emperor immediately punished the barefoot person and took away the old man's son. Therefore, every year on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, people offer sweet sugar to the Kitchen God, hoping that he will not speak ill of human affairs when reporting to the heavenly palace. Over time, people began to worship the Kitchen God on this day.

(ii) The Legend of Zhang Zao Wang

It is said that in ancient times, there was a family surnamed Zhang, with two brothers. The elder brother was a mason, while the younger brother was a painter. The elder brother was skilled in building stoves and was often invited by both the east and west streets, all praising his high-level craftsmanship. Over time, he became famous within a thousand miles, respectfully called "Zhang Zao Wang". Not only was Zhang Zao Wang highly skilled, but he also loved to meddle in others' affairs, advising quarrelsome daughters-in-law and scolding cruel mothers-in-law, acting like an elderly senior. Neighbors would come to him whenever they had problems, and everyone respected him greatly.

Zhang Zao Wang lived to be seventy years old and passed away on the evening of the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month. After his death, the Zhang family fell into chaos because Zhang Zao Wang was the head of the household, and his brother only knew poetry and painting. He had never managed household affairs despite being in his sixties. His sons and daughters-in-law were arguing about dividing the family, leaving the painter helpless and constantly worried. One day, he finally came up with a good idea. On the anniversary of Zhang Zao Wang's death on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, late at night, the painter suddenly woke up the whole family, claiming that his elder brother had appeared. He led the entire family to the kitchen, where the dark kitchen wall faintly revealed the appearance of Zhang Zao Wang and his deceased wife under the flickering candlelight. Everyone was stunned. The painter said, "In my dream, I saw my elder brother and sister-in-law become immortals, and the Jade Emperor appointed him as the 'Nine Heaven Eastern Kitchen Command Kitchen God'. You have been lazy and discordant, disrespectful and disobedient, disturbing the household gods. My elder brother knows you are fighting over dividing the family and is very angry. He plans to report to the Jade Emperor and punish you on New Year's Eve." Hearing this, the sons and daughters-in-law were terrified and immediately knelt down, kowtowing and offering sweets that Zhang Zao Wang loved, pleading for forgiveness from the Kitchen God.

From then on, the previously quarrelsome brothers and daughters-in-law no longer dared to cause trouble, living peacefully and harmoniously. This story spread widely among neighbors. Actually, the Kitchen God on the kitchen wall on the night of the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month was painted by the painter beforehand. He used the appearance of his elder brother to scare his sons and daughters-in-law, which unexpectedly worked.