Zao Jun, le Dieu de la Cuisine
le veilleur près du foyer
fireZao Jun veille sur le foyer depuis le dessus du poêle et rapporte l'année de chaque famille au ciel ; rêver de lui, c'est sentir votre vie privée doucement observée, et se demander quel rapport vos gentillesses quotidiennes écriraient.
Before his yearly trip to heaven the family smears his paper lips with malt sugar, so the report comes out sweet — or his mouth sticks shut entirely.
His picture hangs by the stove all year, steam and smoke rising over it like incense; the humblest god has the best seat in the house.
He sees the wasted rice and the sharp word, the kindness and the lie; nothing in the kitchen is hidden from the god of the kitchen.
On the twenty-third of the last month his paper image is burned and he rises with the smoke to make his report; every household sends up its own ambassador.