Zhao Caishen in the Wansheng Pavilion of Taihe Palace

This is a statue of the God of Martial Wealth, one of the four guardian deities in the True Martial Emperor's divine system, all commanding the Golden Wheel Ruyi Marshal Zhao, named Zhao Gongming. In folk culture, Zhao Gongming is regarded as the God of Wealth. The most distinctive feature of the statue of Marshal Zhao Gong is that he is riding a black tiger, and there is a black tiger lying at his feet. The Taoist belief in the black Tiger in Wudang was that Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty once ordered the construction of a Black Tiger Temple in the Zixiao Palace to house the image of the Black Tiger Marshal. This has a certain connection with the Wudang legend. Legend has it that when Zhenwu was cultivating on Wudang Mountain, a black tiger was always by his side, protecting him from the attacks of fierce beasts. After Zhenwu achieved enlightenment and ascended to heaven, he bestowed upon Heihu the title of Marshal. In "The Complete Story of True Martial Arts Origin", it is said that the Black Tiger was originally the Black Tiger God of the celestial realm and a general of Zhao Gongming. Once she transformed into a young woman, secretly descended to the mortal world, hid by a deep mountain road, and committed evil deeds against people. Later, Emperor Zhenwu and Zhao Gongming subdued the Black Tiger and made him submit as one of Zhenwu's generals.