Kitchen God

Kitchen God
Zao Jun
Chinese name
Chinese	灶君
Literal meaning	stove master
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zào Jūn Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Jou Gwān Jyutping Zou3 Gwan1 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Chàu-kun Middle Chinese Middle Chinese tsawH kjun
Alternative Chinese name
Chinese	灶神
Literal meaning	stove deity, stove spirit
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zào Shén Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Jou Sàhn Jyutping Zou3 San4 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Chàu-sîn Middle Chinese Middle Chinese tsawH zyin
Second alternative Chinese name
Chinese	灶君公
Literal meaning	stove master lord
Transcriptions Southern Min Hokkien POJ Chàu-kun-kong
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabet	Táo Quân
Chữ Hán	灶君

The kitchen deity – also known as the Stove God,^[1] named Zao Jun, Zao Shen, TSgt Chun, Zao kimjah, Cokimjah or Zhang Lang – is the most important of a plethora of Chinese domestic gods that protect the hearth and family. The Kitchen God is recognized in Chinese folk religion, Chinese mythology, and Taoism. Under different names, he is also celebrated in several other Asian religions.

It is believed that on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, just before Chinese New Year, the Kitchen deity returns to Heaven to report the activities of every household over the past year to Yu Huang Da Di (Chinese: 玉皇大帝; pinyin: Yùhuángdàdì), the Jade Emperor. The Jade Emperor, emperor of the heavens, either rewards or punishes a family based on Zao Jun's yearly report.