Hall of Wealth Deities

Centre: Zhao Gongming, the martial wealth deity

Riding a black tiger and carrying an iron whip, Zhao Gongming subdues demons, protects the Way and upholds fair trade. He is regarded as the foremost wealth deity and stands for firm principles, order and the protection of wealth.

How he became a deity: Zhao Gongming first appeared in Daoist stories of the Wei and Jin periods as a general of the underworld or a plague deity. The Ming novel *Investiture of the Gods* portrays him as a practitioner from Luofu Cave on Mount Emei who comes down the mountain to help the royal court. When Jiang Ziya assigns divine offices, he gives Zhao the title “Perfect Lord of the Golden Dragon, Wish Fulfilment, Orthodox Unity, Dragon and Tiger, and the Mysterious Altar.” His four attendants are the Heavenly Worthy Who Summons Treasure, the Heavenly Worthy Who Receives Valuables, the Envoy Who Brings Wealth and the Immortal Official of Profitable Trade. Together they oversee wealth and fair dealing in the human world.

Why people worship him as a wealth deity: With his dark face, thick beard, iron whip and black tiger, Zhao Gongming is a powerful protector. Merchants knew that making money was one thing and keeping it was another. They wanted protection from theft and dishonest dealings. His care for fair trade also made him a natural figure to turn to for honest business and a steady livelihood.

Left: Fan Li, the civil wealth deity

Holding a feather fan and bamboo scrolls, Fan Li is remembered as the “sage of business.” He made and gave away his fortune three times, knowing when to act and when to step back. He stands for good judgment, an understanding of changing conditions and generosity.

How he became a deity: Fan Li was a real statesman of the state of Yue during the Spring and Autumn period. He helped King Goujian endure hardship, defeat Wu and restore his kingdom. Once the task was done, Fan Li understood that a ruler might turn against those who had helped him. He left public life and took to the sea. Under the name Tao Zhugong, he went into business. He built a fortune three times, gave it away three times to poor people and distant relatives, and was able to start again each time.

Why people worship him as a wealth deity: Fan Li set out an early body of Chinese business advice, including the idea of selling when prices are high and buying when they are low. His standing as a wealth deity comes from his conduct and business sense, rather than supernatural powers. He showed how judgment and foresight could create wealth, and how a wealthy person could remain courteous and generous. For merchants, he became an example of both wisdom and good character.

Right: Satoshi Nakamoto, the cyber or geek wealth deity

Shown as a faceless, cloaked figure, or a figure formed from light and shadow, Satoshi holds a disc bearing the hash of the Genesis Block. This figure stands for new ways of establishing trust, decentralised ownership and wealth created through technology.

Creating a new source of wealth: Satoshi opened the way to a Web3 and digital asset economy worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Many early participants gained a level of wealth they had never had before, and parts of the crypto community came to regard him as a godlike figure.

Changing how trust works: Traditional wealth deities protect the spirit of an agreement. Satoshi's approach puts trust into a protocol through mathematics and code—“Code is Law”—so that intermediaries no longer need to take a cut.

An anonymous figure who lets wealth go: Satoshi's anonymity and apparent willingness to leave a vast fortune untouched echo Fan Li's generosity across the centuries. In this portrayal, he created wealth without becoming its servant. Prayers before his image express hopes of sharing in technological change, recognising new opportunities and turning understanding into a livelihood.