Introduction of Deity of Happiness (迎喜富貴陽春正神)

 
喜神即是吉祥神或被稱為春神，俗名孫吉祥﹐相傳為三國時期孫權之後裔。

民間傳說喜神原本是拜北斗星神的一個虔誠女子，修道成仙時，北斗星君詢問其所求，女子以手抿口，笑而不答，北斗星君誤以為她祈要鬍鬚，就賜了她長須，因為她笑時呈喜像而封為喜神，因有長須，不再讓凡人看到她的形象，從此喜神專司喜慶，卻不顯神形。

Upon request by the mass, here’s the introduction of Deity of Happiness:

Deity of Happiness aka Deity of the Spring, was born in Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 390), 7th Day of Lunar 1st Month (生于東晉孝武帝太元十五年正月初七日), hometown in Du Zhong Shan (都中山) – now in China Hubei Province Ding Zhou City (今河北省定州市).

Due to Deity of Happiness was born during the Lunar New Year period, her father named her as Sun Ji Xiang (孫吉祥), hoping that after her arrival in the Family, the Family would be blessed with Prosperity & Happiness and the Country would be blessed with Peace & Harmony.

Note: The Sun Family was the descendant of Sun Quan of the Three Kingdom (孫家為三國東吳孫權後裔)

By the age of 12, Sun Ji Xiang was able to memorise all the Classics that her father had imparted to her and by 15, she was able to understand what Ge Xuan’s records (葛玄之聞作).

During the Spring Period of AD 406, after learning from her nanny that Lord Bei Dou aka The Great Dipper Lords of the North were be descending on the 7th Day of Lunar 1st Month to provide blessing to those who were there to usher in their arrival, Sun Ji Xiang set-up an Altar at the backyard garden.

Knowing that she was a girl and not quite suitable to meet up with any Male without the permission from the parent, so Sun Ji Xiang asked her maid to borrow a men’s suit from her Brother. After changing, she sincerely waited for the Lords of Bei Dou to arrive at her mansion.

Just as Sun Ji Xiang was about to doze off, a bright Golden Ray shined onto the Altar and with a shock, Sun Ji Xiang woke up and found out that, the Lords of Bei Dou were standing around the Altar waiting to receive the respect that Sun Ji Xiang was presenting.

Due to Sun Ji Xiang was a young girl whom had not encountered seeing such a big group of men, Sun Ji Xiang was shy, so she covered the lower half of her face and made her respect to the Lords.

Upon seeing Sun Ji Xiang paying respect to them, the Lords started to ask Sun Ji Xiang on what request that she wanted.

Firstly, Sun Ji Xiang requested for prolonging of her Parent’s Life and she was granted.

Secondly, Sun Ji Xiang requested for the Lords to bestowed Happiness to the whole Country and she was granted.

And last, just as Sun Ji Xiang was about to request for her marriage, Sun Ji Xiang smiled out to herself which she accidentally pointed to her mouth. After looking at the action of Sun Ji Xiang, the Lords of Bei Dou thought that Sun Ji Xiang was requested for a bunch of Beards to be transformed onto the Face and within moment, the Lords “granted” Sun Ji Xiang’s request.

Upon completing the 3 requests, the Lords of Bei Dou vanished from the Altar which left for another premises. Seeing that the Lords left without listening to her 3rd request, Sun Ji Xiang was blurred and just as she was standing up, she realised that she got a bushes beard on her face.

Note: This is why, till today, the painting or statue of Xi Shen comes with a Female face but with long beard

With horror, Sun Ji Xiang shouted out loud and fainted.

When she woke up, her parent, nanny and maids were by her side and her mother was sobbing sadly.

With the beard on her, Sun Ji Xiang was sad too. So immediately after she rushed out from her bed, she took a scissors and try to cut the beard off, but with several tries, the beard grew back again.

Exhausted, Sun Ji Xiang gave up and sobbed sadly in her room.

Just as the father was out of ideas on what could be done, a Taoist Priest walked into Sun Ji Xiang’s room. After introduction, the Sun Family paid their respect to Priest Sun Tai (孫泰道人).

At a glance, Sun Tai hold on to Sun Ji Xiang’s hand and told her not to cry as this was fated.

Soon, Sun Tai told them that Sun Ji Xiang was actually the Deity that being put in-charge to lead the Four Seasons (掌管天下四季) and was bestowed to look after all the various types of Peach/Plum Blossoms in the Mortal Realm (看守人間百般桃梅花).

Upon knowing the history of Sun Ji Xiang, the whole family was shocked. Just as Sun Tai was about to leave, Sun Ji Xiang requested Sun Tai to assist her.

With permission granted, Sun Tai handled Sun Ji Xiang a Heavenly Manual and advised her to master it.

With 5 years of hardship in performing her self-training, Sun Ji Xiang attained her Immortal-hood at the age of 22 and was being bestowed with the title of Ying Xi Fu Gui Yang Chun Zheng Shen (迎喜富貴陽春正神).

So when is the Best Timing to Honour Xi Shen?

According to Chinese Customs, the following are the few Dates that the Taoists or Chinese that will honour Xi Shen:

1 – On the 1st Day of Lunar 1st Month aka Spring Festival or Lunar New Year (春節/農曆年)

2 – On the 7th Day of Lunar 1st Month aka Birthday of Human-kinds or Ren Sheng Day (人胜节)

3 – On the 15th Day of Lunar 8th Month aka Mid-Autumn Festival (仲秋節)

According to Taoist Culture, it is important to usher in the Deity of Happiness first before ushering in the Deities of Wealth, without the Blessing of Happiness, no matter how we ushered in the Deities of Wealth, the Deities of Wealth won’t be able to arrive the premises of Oneself and this is why, in the later part of the Taoist History, Deity of Happiness was known as the Leader of the various Deities of Wealth & Prosperity (富貴財神之首領).

Other myths of Xi Shen:

According to the Northern Culture of China, on the 1st Day of Lunar 1st Month (大年初一日), the Direction where Xi Shen appeared, the White Soul Grabber aka Bai Wu Chang (白無常) will also appear.

Why Bai Wu Chang appeared?

There are a few saying, 1st Bai Wu Chang was the subordinate of Xi Shen, which assist in giving the necessary blessing to the other Beings.

2ndly, for those who anyhow make requests on the 1st Day of Lunar New Year, their names will be recorded and when time is up, the necessary retributions will be bestowed upon the individuals.

Whereas in the Southern Culture of China, on the 1st Day of Lunar 1st Month (大年初一日), Deities of Wealth will followed behind Xi Shen, once Xi Shen entered into a premises, the rest of the Deities of Wealth will followed and if all the Deities of Wealth, Prosperity and Happiness entered into the premises of oneself, that year, the person or the family will enjoyed all the necessary blessings that Heaven bestowed on them.