TSAO CHN

Pinyin Zao Jun, in Chinese mythology, the Furnace Prince whose magical powers of alchemy produced gold dinnerware that conferred immortality on the diner. The Han-dynasty emperor Wu-ti was reportedly duped by Li Shao-chn, a self-styled mystic, into believing that this new deity was capable of conferring immunity from old age. Accordingly, Wu-ti offered the first sacrifice to Tsao Chn in 133 BC. A year after Li was brought to the palace, he secretly fed a piece of inscribed silk to a bull, then informed the emperor that the animal's stomach contained mysterious sayings. When Li's handwriting was recognized, the emperor ordered his execution. At that time, it was believed that Tsao Chn's chief duty was to watch over the furnace that produced gold, the means to immortality. Han emperor Hsan-ti (reigned 7448/49 BC) is said to have seen Tsao Chn in human form: he called himself Ch'an Tzu-fang, wore yellow garments, and had unkempt hair cascading to his shoulders. The emperor, much impressed, sacrificed a lamb in his honour. In about the 7th century AD the similarity of names caused Tsao Chn to be identified with Tsao Shen, god of the kitchen (or hearth), who in turn was later confused with Ho Shen, the god of fire.