The other day, my wife sent me a photo of our home renovation, announcing that the altar in the living room had been installed. When I opened the image, I was stunned. While I’ve seen many rural household altars, one spanning nearly nine meters is exceptionally rare.

Upon closer inspection, this custom-made altar stretches across the entire back wall of the living room, occupying half of its surface area.

This differs significantly from the traditional setups in our hometown, where most families opt for a modest altar less than two meters wide, centered on the living room’s main wall. Ours, however, is several times larger than the standard size.

Originally, I preferred not to have a physical altar at all—a simple wall decal or hanging painting would suffice. There was no need for such formality, let alone extravagance. But elderly folks in rural areas are easily persuaded, and this is what we ended up with.

As for the elders’ aesthetic sensibilities, there’s little to be said.

Since it’s already done, let’s explore the significance behind this altar. After all, we’ll likely be looking at it for decades to come. If even I don’t understand its purpose, it’ll be awkward when relatives and friends visit.

Arrangement of Deity Tablets

Examining the altar closely, aside from the central section dedicated to ancestral worship—similar to conventional setups—there are 12 additional deity tablets placed on the sides and lower tier, some of which combine multiple deities.

1. Left Side: Deities Tied to Livelihood and Production

   • Lady Xiong
   • Master Huainan
   • Master Dukang
   • Marshal Zhao Gongming

2. Right Side: Universal Deities

   • Lord Guan (Guan Yu)
   • Guanyin Bodhisattva
   • Lord Siming (Kitchen God)

3. Lower Tier: Foundational Guardian Deities

   • The Seven Sacred Lords
   • The Seven Sacred Ladies
   • Emperor Xuanwu
   • Lady Ruiqing
   • Lord Xinglong (Local Land God)

Deity Explanations

Among these 11 deities, Marshal Zhao Gongming, Lord Guan, and Guanyin Bodhisattva are the most widely recognized. The others, however, are lesser-known and often carry strong regional characteristics. Here’s a breakdown:

Lady Xiong

A distinctly Hunan-centric deity with multiple interpretations:

1. Wife of the Yellow Emperor
   The Yellow Emperor, a legendary ruler and Taoist patriarch, hailed from the Youxiong tribe. His wife, Lady Xiong, is linked to sericulture and agriculture.

2. Wife of Fuxi (Nuwa)
   Nuwa, the creator goddess in Chinese mythology, is revered as the mother of the Chinese people and the consort of Fuxi, another cultural hero.

3. Mother of Taoist Immortal Chenmu (Unverified)
   Online claims suggest Lady Xiong was Chenmu’s mother, though no historical evidence supports this.

4. Wife of Taoist Figure Xiong Anshi (Unverified)
   Another unsubstantiated theory ties her to a supposed Taoist named Xiong Anshi.

Master Huainan

A regional deity associated with tofu-making. Identified as Liu An, the Han-era prince who invented tofu and later became a Taoist immortal (“Lord of the Grand Ultimate”).

Master Dukang

Patron deity of winemaking. Dukang, also known as Shaokang, was a Xia dynasty ruler credited with reviving the dynasty’s prosperity (“Shaokang Restoration”).

Marshal Zhao Gongming

The Taoist God of Wealth. Originally a thunder deity, Zhao evolved into a financial patron, celebrated on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

Lord Guan (Guan Yu)

The deified general Guan Yu, elevated to “Saintly Emperor Guan” during the Ming dynasty. Revered for loyalty and martial prowess, he’s a Taoist and folk religion staple.

Guanyin Bodhisattva

The Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, central to East Asian devotion. Known for answering pleas of the suffering, her name was shortened during the Tang dynasty to avoid Emperor Taizong’s name taboo.

Lord Siming (Kitchen God)

A fusion of the traditional Kitchen God and the Taoist “Life-Controller.” Unlike other tablets, his inscription is dark-colored, symbolizing his role as a celestial scribe reporting household deeds to heaven.

The Seven Sacred Lords & Ladies

A uniquely Hunan enigma. Possible origins include:

1. Meishan Seven Sages: Retainers of the god Erlang, linked to Sichuan folklore.
2. Big Dipper Personified: Referenced in Sui dynasty texts as the “Seven Star Lords.”
3. Weaving Maidens: Possibly the Seven Sisters from the Cowherd-Weaver Girl myth, worshipped for protection and matchmaking.

Emperor Xuanwu

The Taoist “Dark Warrior,” a powerful northern deity associated with water and exorcism.

Lady Ruiqing

The Land Goddess, wife of the Earth God. Symbolizing auspiciousness, she’s often depicted with two sons: “Wealth-Bringing Boy” and “Treasure-Inviting Lad.”

Lord Xinglong

The Land God (Tudi Gong), a grassroots guardian of local prosperity. Though low in Taoist hierarchy, he’s deeply venerated in folk religion.

Note: Regional deity names and roles may vary. Some interpretations blend history, myth, and local oral traditions.