The depiction of the Wealth God that most of us are familiar with is that of a big sized man in imperial courtly robes. However, if we visit Taoist temples, the Wealth God or Cai Shen installed there is depicted as a thin middle-age man in mourning attire with a sack-like robe. The deity is a paper effigy with a protruding tongue, a tall cap with the writing "Fortune at one glance". There are tears of blood flowing down both his cheeks. On his right hand, he is holding a palm fan. There are actually a few Wealth Gods for the Chinese and this is one. If I recall correctly, this particular Cai Shen was initially an irresponsible no good son but when his mother died, he mourned her loss and cried until tears coursed from his eyes. That is why this Cai Shen is known as the filial son whose filial piety for his dead mother moved the heavens and he was later given the post of Wealth God.
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