• The beauty of the cultural tradition of worshipping Heaven.
  • The unique longevity noodles of the Chinese people.
  • Unlocking the tourism potential of traditional Chinese pastries.

From the guardian deity in legends to the stone lion statues found in temples, assembly halls, and many homes, the Gate God has become a symbol of peace and the aspiration for goodness.

Images of the two Gate Gods according to folklore.

The worship of Gate Gods has a long history in Chinese culture. Initially, Gate Gods did not have a specific form; later, they appeared in the form of animal heads guarding gates, created by Lu Ban during the Spring and Autumn period, and then in reliefs during the Eastern Han dynasty. Legend tells of two divine generals, Shen Tu and Yu Lei, human deities with the power to ward off evil, considered the earliest Gate Gods. By the Sui and Tang dynasties, the images of the two military generals Qin Shubao and Yu Chi Gong became popular and were considered the standard for Gate God paintings.

The guardian deity is depicted on the door of the Thien Hau Temple.

In Ca Mau , the worship of the Gate God is clearly present in the assembly halls and temples of the Chinese community, such as the Thien Hau Temple and the Ong Bon Temple, as well as some temples of the Kinh people, such as the Than Minh Temple (An Xuyen ward). In these religious institutions, the Gate God is often represented by stone lion statues placed on either side of the gate, symbolizing the balance of yin and yang, and signifying protection and safeguarding. In many Chinese families, especially those of the Cantonese and Teochew lineages, paintings of the Gate God depicting two military generals are still displayed on the main door.