A portrait of the two gods He and Ho, who lived in Tiantai Mountain in the Tang Dynasty. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]

Hehe culture has been thriving in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province due to the efforts made by the local government to promote the traditional Chinese culture.

Taizhou's Tiantai county is believed to be the birthplace of Hehe culture. In 2017, Taizhou was honored as the "hometown of Hehe culture in China".

According to local folklore, two monks named Hanshan and Shide once lived a secluded life in the Tiantai Mountain in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). They were usually depicted in paintings holding a box and a lotus stem.

Hanshan was bestowed the title of He God during the rule of the Emperor Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and Shide was conferred the title of Ho God.

Because He and Ho are auspicious figures in Chinese culture, the two gods became a symbol of unity and harmony for hundreds of years.

Buildings and facilities themed on Hehe culture including museums, parks, bookstores, and plazas can be seen across Taizhou.

In addition, the city has inaugurated a research institute dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and research of Hehe culture. It has also compiled books, songs and operas related to the culture.

The 2021 Hehe Culture Global Forum is slated to be held in Tiantai county from Dec 9 to 10.                                         

A street named Hehe in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province.  [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]