Built a year after the Central Hall and the South Gate of the Central Court, the Hall of Wealth was built in the central court in the year 1323 AD. It was constructed to be the shrine to Bi Gan, who functions as the civilian God of Wealth, and the Lord Zhao Gongming who functions as the Military God of Wealth. The distinction is made because in the old feudal era when the society was very much stratified, Military Men ranked higher than ordinary civilians. As a social class of their own, the military men and their families had their very own Daoist Deity to pray to and make offerings, hoping to please the God into allowing for the accumulation of (enormous) wealth. Although wealth did not ensure any form of power in itself, even for ordinary citizens of the Empire, at least wealth ensured a pleasant earthly stay for the recipient
DIAYUE DAIN:
Alike the Zhandai Gate to the south of it the Diao Yue Hall was built in the 2nd year of the Zhizhi Reign Period of the Yuan Dynasty (1271 AD - 1368 AD). The Hall is dedicated as a shrine to the God of Mount Taishan, the most important Taoist Holy Mountain in North China, found due East of Beijing. This God is also known as Dongye, a deity who acts as the Divine Ruler of all of China and thus of all mortals and immortals found within its Daoist realm. The God of the Mount Taishan, Dongyue, is in charge of all the 76 Departments and 18 layers of the Taoist Hell found so well illustrated and enlivened within the surrounding court Central Courtyard of Dongyue Miao. In short,as may be clear by know, the God of Mount Taishan is the main and most important god to be found within this Temple, which in fact is dedicated to him and his realm. All humans are subjected to his rule, temper, blessing and wrath. Everyone, including the sick, the lame, the elderly, but also the rich and the poor alike.
The Hall was renovated after being struck by disaster in the year 1698 AD. In the year 1700 AD it was reopened and has stood ever since.
View of the Diayue Hall, the Hall of the High God of the Taoist Mountain, along the elevated pathway leading up to it from Zhandai Gate. Alongside a multitude of small wooden plaquetess containing the prayer wishes of the many visiting worshippers.
Incense burns in abundance in front of the Main Shrine Hall of Dongyue Miao, the Hall dedicated to Dongyue, High God of the Taishan Daoist Holy Mountain.
Worshippers and other visitors walk around in the central court of Dongyue Miao, the location the Main Hall dedicated to the God Dongyue, High God of the Taishan Daoist Holy Mountain, who shrine Hall resembles the Palace of the Ming Emperor himself (at Qianqing Dian, the Hall of Heavenly Purity in the Forbidden City).
The Deities seated upon their elevated platform inside the Hall of Wealth (Photo: May 2005). An abundance of offerings (usually artificial) are layed upon the table.
as well as their families. In addition, wealth also meant a certain social status
The job of the Deities is to make sure the worshippers and underlings carry out the instruction "to make profits on a fair basis in any commercial transaction".
Lord Bi Gan and Zhao Gongmin sitting orderely side by side (Photo: May 2005). As is customary since ancient feudal days long gone, Military Man is posted to the left and West, wheras the civilian God is found in the east and right side. The same arrangement can be found inside the former Imperial Palace, now the Palace Museum
