Birthday of Tu Di Gong (God of Fortune and Earth)
The 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month is Tu Di Gong's birthday. Among Taiwan's most universally worshipped deities, he is especially venerated by business owners who prepare offerings to pray for prosperity.
Tu Di Gong (Earth God) Birthday — Dates by Year
| Year | Gregorian Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3/11 | Mon |
| 2025 | 3/1 | Sat |
| 2026← this year | 3/20 | Fri |
| 2027 | 3/9 | Tue |
| 2028 | 2/26 | Sat |
| 2029 | 3/16 | Fri |
| 2030 | 3/5 | Tue |
About the Deity
Tu Di Gong's formal title is "Fú Dé Zhèng Shén" (God of Fortune and Righteousness) — Taiwan's most widely worshipped deity, with a small shrine on virtually every street corner, roadside, and rice field. He governs local land, wealth, and agriculture and is considered a kindly, approachable neighborhood guardian. His image is of a benevolent white-haired elder holding a gold ingot or staff.
Monthly "Tooth" Ceremonies
Taiwanese merchants follow the "zuò yá" (Tooth Ceremony) custom: offerings to Tu Di Gong on the 2nd and 16th of every lunar month, praying for business prosperity. The 2nd of the 2nd month is "Tóu Yá" (Head Tooth, the year's first), and the 16th of the 12th month is "Wěi Yá" (Tail Tooth, the year's last). Business owners traditionally treat employees to a meal; offerings include pork, chicken, fish, wine, fruit, and spirit money.
Praying for Wealth & Protection
Beyond merchants, households pray at Tu Di Gong's birthday for community safety and family wellbeing. Farmers pray to the Field Earth God for crop protection. A popular modern custom is "exchanging Earth God gold" — bringing home blessed spirit money to symbolically draw his wealth energy into the household. Famous Earth God temples like Nanshan Fude Temple in New Taipei draw enormous crowds on auspicious dates.