How to Worship Tudigong on Touchay (Head Tooth Day) 2026: The Ultimate Guide for Prosperity & Good Fortune

Hey everyone, did you know that yesterday, March 18th, marked the second day of the second lunar month? That's right, it's Tudigong's (the Earth God's) "Touchay" (Head Tooth Day)! It's also the auspicious "Dragon Raises Its Head" day. If you missed the chance to visit the temple, don't worry—you can still make up for it today! Having spent decades around local temples, I'm here to share my insights on how to properly honour Tudigong on Touchay, ensuring your wealth sticks and your year is filled with smooth success.

What Exactly is "Touchay" and Why Does It Coincide with "Dragon Raises Its Head"?

To understand "Touchay," we need to look at a traditional Taiwanese business custom. Business owners used to worship Tudigong on the 2nd and 16th of each lunar month – this is called "Zuoya" (doing the tooth). The very first "Zuoya" of the year, on the second day of the second lunar month, is "Touchay," and the last one, on the 16th of the twelfth lunar month, is "Weiya" (Tail Tooth Day). Touchay also happens to be Tudigong's birthday and coincides with the "Dragon King," who controls the weather, raising his head. Two such potent days colliding? That's an incredibly powerful energy! So, praying for wealth, career success, or safety on this day is believed to be particularly effective.

【Tudigong's Touchay Worship Guide】 Prepare These Offerings to Bring a Smile to the Earth God

Sincerity is key when worshipping Tudigong, but a few tips can really help your intentions stand out. Here's a handy checklist:

• Mochi (Rice Cakes): An absolute must! Their soft, sticky texture symbolises "sticking" wealth to you, and it's said to sweeten Tudigong's words, ensuring he speaks well of you all year.
• Peanuts: In the Taiwanese dialect, the word for peanut sounds like "grow old," symbolising longevity and health – a prayer for the Earth God to protect your whole family.
• Wine: Offering wine shows respect to the deity. Three small cups of clear wine or rice wine are perfect.
• Three Meat Offerings (San Sheng): If you have significant wishes for your family or business, preparing a simple set of chicken, pork, and fish shows great sincerity.
• Fruit: Choose fruits with auspicious meanings, like pineapple (prosperity coming), apple (safety/peace), and tangerine (good luck).
• Fortune Cake (Fa Gao) or Red Turtle Cake: These symbolise your career and fortune "rising" and expanding.
• Incense Paper (Jin Zhi): Make sure to get the specific kind for Tudigong, like Fu Jin and Shou Jin. Just ask at any incense shop for "Tudigong paper" and they'll sort you out.

Remember, offerings should be fresh and neatly arranged. Light some incense, sincerely introduce yourself to Tudigong, and then state your wishes.

How to "Fill Your Wealth Vault" on Touchay? An Old-School Method Revealed

Many people ask me how to really make Touchay work for boosting their finances. Beyond the basic worship, there are a few key tips to keep in mind:

First, touch Tudigong's beard and staff. In many temples, devotees touch the statue's white beard (symbolising longevity and wisdom) and staff (symbolising support for your career). Afterwards, mimic transferring the luck by moving your hand from your head down to your pocket, as if bringing the blessings home.

Second, seek "Money Mother" (Qian Mu). Some Tudigong temples offer "Money Mother" – coins that have been blessed on the altar. You can make a small donation to receive one. Keep this coin in your wallet or safe to help attract more wealth ("money children and grandchildren").

Third, perform the "Wealth Vault Filling" ritual. If you feel your finances have been stagnant, you can prepare a specific type of incense paper meant for "filling the wealth vault." During your prayers, state clearly that you have come to fill your wealth vault and ask Tudigong to assist you, replenishing it so that money flows to you freely. After praying, ensure this paper is burned in the designated incense burner.

Absolute Don'ts! Common Mistakes That Could Chase Wealth Away

Just as there are proper ways to worship, there are also taboos. I've heard friends mention things going awry after a temple visit, only to realise they made one of these errors:

• Are peanuts really forbidden? There's a bit of confusion here. Offering dry peanuts is generally fine. However, some elders might avoid "peanut kernel soup" because the word for kernel sounds like "burrowing in the dirt," which has negative connotations. To be safe, stick to mochi and fortune cakes.
• Avoid bitter melon and white radish (daikon). While "daikon" (cai tou) sounds like "good omen," its white colour is traditionally associated with funerals, so it's best to avoid white foods when offering to deities. Bitter melon? Well, why offer something bitter when you're asking for sweetness?
• Don't offer wax apples (lian wu). Because they are hollow inside, they symbolise a "hollow heart" or insincerity, which is considered disrespectful.
• You must eat the mochi after offering it. This symbolises literally consuming the wealth and blessings – don't let it go to waste!

Alright, these tips are gathered from decades of conversations with temple keepers and local elders. I follow them myself every Touchay, and my own career has remained steady. If you visited the temple yesterday, feel free to share your experiences in the comments below and let everyone know how Tudigong looked after you! And for those who haven't gone yet, there's still time today. Head over to your local Tudigong temple – you might just be the next one blessed with good fortune!