Tudigong

Tudigong is a Chinese tutelary deity associated with specific locations, serving as both the land's and people's guardian. They appear as elderly men with long beards and are venerated in various traditions including folk religion, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Ranking below City Gods, they often represent individuals honored for their community service.

In rural areas, Tudigong may have a companion, Tudipo, who manages the distribution of blessings. Festivals in Taiwan celebrate these deities on specific lunar dates, featuring ritual operas. Temples dedicated to Tudigong are widespread across China and regions like Tibet, Taiwan, Macau, and Hong Kong.

Historically, the Ming dynasty's Hongwu Emperor was born in a Tudigong shrine, though many temples were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and later rebuilt. Examples of notable temples include Checheng Fu'an Temple and Zhushan Zinan Temple.