General Tiger Huye

虎爷将军 · 虎爺將軍

General Huye, Marshal of the Lower Altar

Divine Office

Biting and bringing wealth, serving as guardian deity of merchants’ prosperity
Expelling malevolent spirits and suppressing malign influences, cleansing homes of impurities
Protecting children’s safety and curing infantile convulsions and night terrors
Safeguarding the incense offerings of the principal deity and presiding from beneath the main altar

Origin & Legend

General Huye is the most accessible and beloved deity in temples of Fujian and Taiwan, usually enshrined beneath the main altar—hence his title 'Marshal of the Lower Altar'. His origin is closely tied to legends surrounding Baosheng Dadi (Emperor of Medical Purity): it is said that Baosheng Dadi cured a tiger suffering from a bone lodged in its throat; grateful, the tiger became his devoted attendant and was later deified as General Huye. Folk belief further holds that, as sovereign of all beasts, the tiger can devour demons and evil spirits and guard households against harm; when infants suffer night terrors or convulsions, devotees pray to General Huye for protection. In Taiwan, it is customary to offer him fried chicken and raw eggs—foods believed to please him. Because he is often depicted biting a coin and because the word for 'tiger' (hǔ) sounds similar to that for 'wealth' (fù), General Huye is venerated as a wealth-attracting beast; the saying 'Huye bites money and brings it in' reflects this belief, and touching his head during temple fairs has become a popular and playful devotional custom.