Send Off Poverty
Welcoming the God of Wealth, 财神, has always been a heartfelt wish in every home. No one hopes for the God of Poverty, 穷神, to linger indoors. As the old saying goes, “Send away the poor spirit, and invite the Wealth God in.” This reflects our long-standing belief in clearing old energy to make room for new blessings.
Since ancient days, families would put great effort into sending off the God of Poverty once Chinese New Year began. People believed that if 穷神 stayed in the house, wealth would slip away, and savings would be hard to keep. In traditional stories, the God of Poverty appears in two forms. The male 穷神 is said to be the son of Zhuan Xu, grandson of the Yellow Emperor, known for tearing his own clothes even if they were brand new. The female 穷神, often called Lady Poverty, is known as Jiang Ziya’s wife, who lived a life filled with hardship.
Traditionally, the ceremony to remove the God of Poverty takes place after the 5th day of the Lunar New Year. This day is called 破五, and it aligns with either the 6th day or 正月晦日, the 29th day of the first lunar month. In some years, the almanac may also reveal better dates within the first lunar month, offering families an even more favorable time to carry out this ritual. In Feng Shui belief, the trash that is kept during the first five days of the New Year represents good luck and should not be thrown out too early. But once the fifth day passes, this same rubbish turns into stagnant qi, symbolizing poverty. If not cleared away, it can block the flow of prosperity. This is why the sixth day is also known as “Sending Poverty Soil” (送穷土).
What You Will Need:
- A paper horse
- Paper human figures — one male and one female
- A large bag to hold the rubbish
- Glue or sticky tape
- A marker or a pen
How to Perform the Ritual
On the selected day:
- Sweep your floor and gather all the dirt, dust, and debris.
- Place everything into a plastic bag and tie it tightly. Items like torn clothes or broken objects can also be added, as they carry old and stagnant energy.
- Paste the paper horse and the human figures onto the rubbish bag.
- Write the two characters “穷神” on each of the paper human figures. This symbolizes sending the God of Poverty away with the rubbish.
- Bring the rubbish out of your main door, and if you stay in a high-rise building, out of the building itself.
- Walk a short distance and dispose of it.
- You may do this ritual at any time of the day.
- Walk a short distance and dispose of it.
- You may do this ritual at any time of the day.
Each year, we will share the recommended dates for sending off the God of Poverty on our Facebook and IG pages. May your home stay bright with good qi, your heart stay light, and may wealth and harmony find their way to you with ease.
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