Liu Yu

When Liu Yu (刘宇) appeared on Henan (河南) Satellite TV's Spring Festival Gala dressed as Cai Shen (财神), the God of Wealth, social media lit up. It wasn't just his performance that caught the eye, but the outfit itself. With a glittering hat adorned with golden coins, a vibrant red round-collared robe, and a gleaming gold ingot in hand, the look was unmistakable. This costume raises a fascinating question: Where did this instantly recognizable image of the God of Wealth come from? It's a uniform look we see on TV, in folk art, and on New Year paintings. Yet, a deep dive into history reveals this "classic" look is a relatively modern invention, shaped by centuries of artistic imagination and theatrical flair. Gods Dressed by Imagination To understand the God of Wealth's hat, one must look at ancient religious art. The signature hat isn't a historical official's cap but a creative evolution of the Ming-style Fu Tou (幞头) headwear. In Yuan and Ming dynasty religious paintings like the famous Court Procession (朝元图), artists depicted deities in spectacular, otherworldly attire. While they borrowed elements from real-life clothing, they amplified them with imaginative details. These paintings show gods wearing crowns adorned with…