Hòutǔ
后土
Goddess of Earth
Types |
Shén |
Attributes |
Earth |
Groups |
Five Phasal Gods |
Literature
Pre-Qin and Han – Histories. Discourses of the States – Discourses of Lǔ Part 1
先秦两汉·史书《国语·鲁语上》
Gònggōng was the chief of the Nine Provinces, and his son was Hòutǔ. Hòutǔ was able to bring balance to the Nine Provinces, thus he was enshrined and worshipped as the God of Earth.
共工氏之伯九有也，其子曰后土，能平九土，故祀以为社。
Pre-Qin and Han – Ancient Classics. Classic of Mountains and Seas – Classic within the Seas
先秦两汉·经典文献《山海经·海内经》
Gònggōng begot Hòutǔ, Hòutǔ begot Yēmíng, Yēmíng begot the calendar (Twelve months in a year).
共工生后土，后土生噎鸣，噎鸣生岁十有二。
Pre-Qin and Han – Confucianism. The Classic of Rites – Proceedings of Government in the Different Months
先秦两汉·儒家《礼记·月令》
The Center is associated with Earth. The heavenly stems governing this month are Wù and Jǐ. The ruling emperor is Huángdì, and the associated god is Hòutǔ. The corresponding creatures are scaled beings (fish and reptiles). The associated musical note is Gōng, and the pitch-pipe that governs the season is Huángzhōng. Its number is five. Its taste is sweet, and its scent is fragrant. Sacrifices are offered at the central axis of the house, and the heart is the first organ honored in ancestral rituals.
中央土。其日戊己。其帝黄帝，其神后土。其虫裸，其音宫，律中黄钟之宫。其数五。其味甘，其臭香。其祠中溜，祭先心。
Pre-Qin and Han – Misc Schools. Huáinánzǐ – Instructions on Astronomy
先秦两汉·杂家《淮南子·天文训》
The Central corresponds to Earth. It is governed by Huángdì, assisted by Hòutǔ, who holds the cord to regulate the four directions. Its celestial body is Saturn, its beast is the Yellow Dragon, its musical note is Gōng, and its associated days are Wù and Jǐ.
中央，土也，其帝黄帝，其佐后土，执绳而制四方；其神为镇星，其兽黄龙，其音宫，其日戊己。
Pre-Qin and Han – Misc Schools. Huáinánzǐ – Instructions on Timing and Seasons
先秦两汉·杂家《淮南子·时则训》
The extreme center stretches from Kūnlún eastward, ending at the twin Héngshān. It is where the Sun and Moon travel, where the Yangtze and Han rivers originate, the land of the common people, where the Five Grains thrive. The regions of Lóngmén, the Yellow River, and the Jì river intersect here. It is the land where the Xīrǎng was used to dam the great flood. Extending east to Jiéshí, this territory, governed by Huángdì and Hòutǔ, spans 12,000 lǐ.
中央之极，自昆仑东绝两恒山，日月之所道，江汉之所出，众民之野，五谷之所宜，龙门、河、济相贯，以息壤堙洪水之州，东至碣石，黄帝、后土之所司者，万二千里。
Han. The Great Commentary on the Book of Documents, Volume 3 – Zhou Traditions – Treatise on the Five Phases
汉《尚书大传·卷三·周传·洪范五行传》
At the absolute center of the world, from the center of Kūnlún to the plains of Dàshì, it is governed by Emperor Huángdì and administered by the goddess Hòutǔ.
中央之极，自昆仑中，至大室之野，帝黄帝，神后土司之。
Games
