Chinese homes all over China
have a picture of the Kitchen God Tsao Chun 
hanging near or above the stove 
Sometimes it may be on the refrigerator. 

Tsao Chun watches over the domestic affairs of a family.
This includes adequate food, sheter and clothing needs.
He represents a moral force in the lives of all family members.

Tsao Chun ascends to heaven every year 
during the Chinese new year to present a report 
to the Jade Emperor as to the 
good or bad behavior of each family member.

Family members try to "sweeten" his version of their deeds 
or misdeeds by placing honey near his mouth on the picture. 
Tsao Chun's ascent to heaven is accomplished by burning his image.







 The smoke rising to the heavens 
symbolically representing
 his journey to the Jade Emperor. 
A new picture Tsao Chun is then placed 
above the stove for the coming year.





Tsao Chun is often pictured with his wife flanked by two servants 
holding jars in which are stored the the rewards or punishments 
for the deeds or misdeeds that have occured during the year. 

Other Gods and servants stand in the foreground. 
They serve both Tsao Chun and the Jade Emperor 
and are intermediaries between the heavenly and earthly world.

The Taoist notion of balanced yin and yang 
energies is symbolized by the rooster and the dog 
who stand guard on either side of a jar 
filled with money and other riches the family 
hopes will come to them in the coming year.