Wenchang, god of literature

Keeper of the scholars’ register

Britannica, under the name Wendi, describes Wenchang as the Chinese god of literature, whose task is to keep a register of scholars. Our files give no date for the earliest record of him.

To verify: Britannica’s own words on the register: who is written in it, and why; How Britannica links Wenchang with Zitong: as a second god worshipped beside him, or as another title for Wenchang himself; The earliest dated text, temple or image of Wenchang, from the sources Britannica gives

Not yet sourced

We have not yet found a sourced record of how students and their families honoured Wenchang, at a temple or at home. We will add one when we do.

To verify: A museum object or a dated account of students honouring Wenchang before the imperial examinations

The desk tower

Shops sell a small bronze ‘Wenchang tower’ to stand on a study desk. We found no early record of that ornament: the record is about the god, not the tower. Wenchang belongs to a living religion, so we draw the tower, never his portrait, and promise nothing about results.