Tudigong

A Tudigong () is a kind of Chinese tutelary deity of a specific location. There are several Tudigongs corresponding to different geographical locations, sometimes multiple ones will be venerated together in certain regions. They are tutelary (i.e. guardian or patron) deities of locations and the human communities who inhabit it in Chinese folk religion and Taoism. They are portrayed as old men with long beards. The definitive characteristic of Tudigongs is that they are limited to their specific geographical locations. The Tudigong of one location is not the Tudigong of another location They are considered to be among the lowest ranked divinities, just below City Gods ("God of Local City"), and above landlord gods. Often, a specific person who did a great service to their local community will be seen as becoming a Tudigong after their death. When people move from one location to another, they will say goodbye to their local Tudigong and worship the one of the new location The deities are considered to have a kind of appointed position like an alderman, with different deities being appointed to different areas. Houtu is the overlord of all the Tudigongs ("Lord of Local Land"), Sheji ("the State"), Shan Shen ("God of Mountains"), City Gods ("God of Local City"), and landlord gods worldwide. Tudigongs go by a variety of names, including Tudigong () or Tudishen (), also known simply as Tudi () and translated as Lord of the Earth, Other names of the god include: Tugong (土公 "Lord of the Soil"); Tudiye (土地爺 "Soil-Ground Father"); Dabogong (大伯公 "Great Elder Lord") or Bogong (伯公 "Elder Lord"); Sheshen (社神 "God of the Soil") or Shegong (社公 "Lord of the Soil"); This word may be confusing as 社 is often used to refer to society or shrines, but the original etymology was linked to soil. Tudijun (土帝君 "Ruler God of the Soil"). Extended titles of the god include: Tudihuofushen (土地或福神 "God who May Bless the Soil"); Fudezhengshen (福德正神 "Right God of Blessing and Virtue") or Fudegong (福德公 "Lord of Blessing and Virtue").