[ **up: [[Chinese deities]]** ] --- # Sheji (Patron deity of soil and harvests) - [[2024-0728. China’s earliest legendary emperors are said to have worshipped She (Soil), for they alone had responsibility for the entire earth and country.]][^1] + [[2024-0728. Originally meant to represent the god of soil (She) and the god of grain (Ji), these images eventually were considered man and wife.]][^1] + [[2024-0728. 'The great Han dynasty emperor Gao Zi (reigned 206–195 BCE) was but one of many Chinese rulers who encouraged the local populace to sacrifice to their particular Tudi Gong...']][^1] [^1]: “Sheji”, *Encyclopaedia Britannica*, updated 20 December 2022, [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sheji](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sheji).