Daritev bogu ognjišča

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Daritev bogu ognjišča

During the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Han, there lived in Nanyang a man named Yin Zifang, who was deeply filial by nature. He did many acts of kindness, delighted in giving, and was devoted to the worship of the Kitchen God. On the day of the year-end sacrifices, as he was cooking the morning meal, the Kitchen God appeared before him. Zifang bowed twice to receive the blessing. His household had a yellow sheep, which he thereupon offered in sacrifice. From that time onward, he rapidly became immensely wealthy. He owned more than seven hundred qing of farmland, and his carriages, horses, servants, and retainers rivaled those of a feudal lord. Zifang once said, “My descendants are sure to become powerful and prosperous.” By the time of Yin Shi, three generations later, the family had indeed flourished. In all, it produced four marquises and several dozen provincial governors and commandery administrators. Thus his descendants continued to worship the Kitchen God on the day of the year-end sacrifices, offering a yellow sheep.