「大地公，會因為各地文化不同，而被稱為福德正神、福德老爺、福德爺公、土地公公、土地爺爺、土地公伯、土地伯、土地伯公、土地神、土地爺、地主（子）公、后土、社神、社公、社君等，琉球人稱為土帝君。
土地神乃中國民間信仰普遍的神明之一，主要流行於漢族地區，部分受漢文化影響的民族也有信仰。土地神屬於民間信仰中的地方保護神，是具有福德的善鬼神；在中國大陸，中華民國時期及之前，凡有漢人羣居住的地方就有供奉土地神的情景。在中國傳統文化中，祭祀土地神即祭祀大地，現代多屬於祈福、求財、保平安、保農業收成之意。土地神也是道教諸神中地位較低，也是與人民較親近的神祇。每月初二、十六的作牙日，是土地神的祭祀日。
「土」在上
Land God, the Local Guardian
In various cultures, the deity known as the Land God is often referred to by different names such as Fu De Zheng Shen, Fu De Lao Ye, Fu De Yue Gong, Tu Di Gong, or Di Zu (Zi) Gong among the Han people, and as Tu Ti Jun among the Ryukyuan. The Land God is one of the most widespread deities in Chinese folk religion, with a significant presence in areas influenced by Han culture. In traditional Chinese culture, the Land God is a local protective deity and is considered a benevolent spirit with virtue. During the Republic of China period and before, there were offerings to the Land God wherever the Han people resided. The worship of the Land God is primarily for blessings, seeking wealth, ensuring safety, and praying for a bountiful harvest in agriculture. The Land God is also one of the deities in Taoism with a relatively lower status who is more approachable to the common people. The days for worshipping the Land God are the 2nd and 16th days of each month, which are known as the 作牙日.
In ancient times, “土” (earth) and “天” (sky) were considered divine by the ancients. The pictographic script depicted the objects that the ancients needed to express, and the origin of the character “土” may stem from totem poles that the ancients worshipped. With the development of society and the evolution of history, the character “土” was supplemented with the “礻” (sacred) radical to form “社” (shrine), which later evolved into the worship of the Shrine God, and ultimately became the Land God.
The reverence and worship of the Land God has a long history in China. The 孝經 states, “The Land God is the king of the earth. The earth is vast and cannot be revered everywhere, so people have designated an area of land as the ‘社’ to worship it, in thanks for its blessings.” The 春秋公羊解詁 says, “The Land God is the lord of the land.” The 通俗篇 records, “Nowadays, any deity associated with ‘社’ is referred to as the Land God.” The 左傳·昭公二十九年 mentions, “The gods of the State (社稷) are the supreme lords.” Du Yu, in his commentary, says, “Offerings are presented to the shrine of the land, which means seeking guidance from the supreme lords.” The Han Shu·Fang Shu Zhuan also mentions the existence of the Land God. Over time, the Land God has evolved from a natural deity to a personified one. The day for worshipping the Land God is known as the 社日, which can be divided into the Spring and Autumn festivals.
It is generally believed that the Land God is a local administrative deity, responsible for safeguarding the peace and quiet of the community. Some scholars argue that the Land God is subordinate to the City God and oversees the registration of the deceased within a locality, making it an administrative deity in the underworld.
The people of southern Fujian believe that the Land God can protect agricultural harvests, ensure business prosperity for merchants, and keep travelers safe on their journeys. The Land God is a deity with a wide range of functions. It is commonly said that the Land God is a guardian deity of the locality, serving as the deity of the village, and also possesses the characteristics of a wealth deity.
大地公是一個深具神秘色彩的名字，引發了人們對於大自然神奇力量的好奇。在台灣的傳説中，大地公被視為土地爺、田土神等等，是保護土地的神祇。大地公的名字意味著他的力量遍及大地，他維護著土地的生機和安寧。
大地公的形象多種多樣，有的將他描繪為一個頭戴草帽、身穿麻布衣物的老者，有的則將他形容為一位威嚴的中年男子。無論何種形象，大地公都被信仰者視為土地的守護者，是人們日常生活中不可或缺的存在。
大地公的力量與土地環境息息相關。在傳説中，大地公被認為可以掌控土地的豐收與災害。人們經常會在農作物種植前祭拜大地公，希望他能保佑農作物茁壯成長、收成豐盛。同樣地，如果遭遇乾旱、水患等不利氣候，人們也會祈求大地公的保佑，希望他能帶來雨水或保護土地免受災害。
除了農業，在台灣的一些山區地區，人們也會在山腳下興建廟宇，用來祭拜大地公。這些廟宇除了供奉大地公外，也供奉其他土地神祇，並成為人們信仰與寄託的場所。人們相信，只要虔誠地祭拜大地公，他將保護土地的平安與民眾的福祉。
大地公作為一個神祇，不僅僅存在於信仰與神話中，也是人們生活中的一部分。他是土地的化身，保護著土地的安寧、居民的幸福。人們對於大地公的崇敬和信仰，見證了台灣人與土地環境息息相關的生活方式，也凝聚了人們對於土地生態的尊重和愛護。
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