The Chinese believe that the gods, in particular the kitchen god, leave their homes and visit the Jade Emperor, the ruler of the heavens, to report on the conduct of families.

中国人相信诸神,尤其是灶神,他在年末返回天庭朝见玉皇大帝的时候,会禀报每户人家的行为善恶。

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There is a polyglot of deities, holdovers from ancient rural animism, including earth gods, sea gods, kitchen gods and hundreds of patron saints.

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