The House Witch: Your Complete Guide to Creating a Magical Space with Rituals and Spells for Hearth and Home - Arin Murphy-Hiscock 2018

Tsao Wang
Hearth and Home Deities

Tsao Wang is the Chinese god of the hearth, also known as the kitchen god. An image of Tsao Wang (and sometimes his wife) is kept in the kitchen, usually above or near the stove, symbolic of the god’s presence. Incense is burned in his honor regularly, or other offerings are made. Tsao Wang is said to keep watch over the family through the year, and his wife records the good things said by each family member. The week before Chinese New Year, Tsao Wang is said to leave the hearth to report to heaven on the family’s doings. Because a good report is desired, it is customary to offer sticky sweets to Tsao Wang, as well as wine and money in order to make his journey comfortable. The report Tsao Wang makes will determine if the family will be assigned good or bad luck for the coming year.

China and Japan have several customs and traditions surrounding hearth and home, often revolving around honoring family, ancestors, and hearth spirits. As they can’t all be included here, you could do your own research to explore how much these cultures respect the spirits associated with the sacred space of home and the various traditions ranging from feasts and specific foods to offerings and festivals.

During the period when Tsao Wang is gone, the image is turned to face the wall, or if it is paper, it is burned. Before Tsao Wang returns, the house must be cleaned thoroughly to banish any ill luck or negative energy that is present, with every member of the family or resident of the house helping to ensure good fortune in the coming year. (The house must not be cleaned in the days immediately following the New Year, or the good luck may be lost.) The image is then turned right way round again to symbolize his return, or a new image is brought in to replace the one that was burned. A special meal is then prepared to welcome him back to the hearth.