灰仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)是“五大仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)”之一被中國民間百姓(xing)供奉。“五大仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)”又叫“五大家”或“五顯(xian)財(cai)神”,分(fen)別指:狐(hu)仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(狐(hu)貍)、黃仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(黃鼠(shu)狼)、白仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(刺猬)、柳(liu)仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(蛇(she))和(he)灰仙(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(老鼠(shu))。
因此,中(zhong)(zhong)國民間許(xu)多家庭中(zhong)(zhong)都供奉五大(da)(da)家。供奉的方法(fa)有兩(liang)種:一(yi)種是(shi)在家中(zhong)(zhong)的佛堂(tang)、祖先堂(tang)旁(pang)邊(bian)供全神(shen)像,全神(shen)像包括九(jiu)位(wei)神(shen)靈,即增福財神(shen)、福、祿、壽三(san)星(xing)及五大(da)(da)家,分三(san)排順序排列。五大(da)(da)家的形象(xiang)都是(shi)人(ren)像,慈(ci)眉善(shan)目,除白仙被附會為白老太(tai)太(tai)的女人(ren)形象(xiang)外(wai),其余(yu)4位(wei)都是(shi)男像,穿官服,帶暖帽,顏色為灰藍或石(shi)青等。
白(bai)仙(xian)穿裙子(zi),鳳冠(guan)霞帔,十分漂亮;另一種供(gong)(gong)奉(feng)方法是在院(yuan)中角落蓋“仙(xian)家(jia)(jia)(jia)樓”,供(gong)(gong)奉(feng)五大家(jia)(jia)(jia)牌(pai)(pai)位。仙(xian)家(jia)(jia)(jia)樓是木(mu)(mu)制的3尺多寬(kuan)、2尺多高的廟宇模型。做工與(yu)真(zhen)實廟宇相差無幾,有(you)房脊、溢廊等,前(qian)面(mian)(mian)還有(you)4扇門。五大家(jia)(jia)(jia)的牌(pai)(pai)位就(jiu)供(gong)(gong)在里(li)面(mian)(mian),而且把供(gong)(gong)品也放在仙(xian)家(jia)(jia)(jia)樓里(li)。人們在仙(xian)家(jia)(jia)(jia)樓下(xia)做一個(ge)木(mu)(mu)托,高半尺左右,托上部與(yu)仙(xian)家(jia)(jia)(jia)樓連接處(chu)挖有(you)一個(ge)圓(yuan)孔,在托的側面(mian)(mian)也挖一個(ge)圓(yuan)孔,目的是便(bian)于五大家(jia)(jia)(jia)們享受食物供(gong)(gong)品,出入方便(bian)。
在五大家的(de)(de)崇拜中(zhong),中(zhong)國民間(jian)對(dui)其中(zhong)的(de)(de)狐仙、黃(huang)仙和白仙更為敬畏,關于他們(men)的(de)(de)靈跡傳(chuan)說也頗多,將他們(men)附會(hui)為胡三太(tai)(tai)爺、黃(huang)二(er)大爺、白老(lao)太(tai)(tai)太(tai)(tai)。
灰仙就是(shi)老(lao)鼠(shu)(shu)(shu),俗稱耗子(zi),一(yi)種(zhong)(zhong)嚙(nie)齒動物(wu),體(ti)形(xing)有(you)(you)(you)大(da)(da)(da)有(you)(you)(you)小。種(zhong)(zhong)類多,有(you)(you)(you)450多種(zhong)(zhong),數量大(da)(da)(da),有(you)(you)(you)幾(ji)十億只,而且繁殖很快,生命(ming)力很強,幾(ji)乎什么(me)都吃,什么(me)地方都能住(zhu)。老(lao)鼠(shu)(shu)(shu)會打洞(dong)、上樹,會爬山、涉水,對(dui)人類危害極大(da)(da)(da)。而對(dui)老(lao)鼠(shu)(shu)(shu)的(de)(de)崇拜是(shi)因(yin)為它(ta)晝伏夜出活動于(yu)黑暗(an)之中(zhong)(zhong),令人莫測其蹤跡(ji),因(yin)而被(bei)認(ren)為有(you)(you)(you)很高的(de)(de)智慧而被(bei)神化。還有(you)(you)(you)的(de)(de)將(jiang)其視為倉(cang)神,在(zai)中(zhong)(zhong)國民間填倉(cang)節時祭祀。另(ling)有(you)(you)(you)認(ren)為鼠(shu)(shu)(shu)能預知未(wei)來,會算卦,也能使人致富,故又將(jiang)其視為財神,希求(qiu)它(ta)在(zai)黑暗(an)中(zhong)(zhong)為主人家運來財寶。中(zhong)(zhong)國民間還把鼠(shu)(shu)(shu)的(de)(de)世界想象(xiang)同人世間一(yi)樣,創造了許多中(zhong)(zhong)國民間故事和藝術作(zuo)品,其中(zhong)(zhong)在(zai)楊柳青年畫、泥人張彩塑及剪紙等藝術作(zuo)品中(zhong)(zhong)都有(you)(you)(you)《老(lao)鼠(shu)(shu)(shu)嫁(jia)女》、《老(lao)鼠(shu)(shu)(shu)娶親》等作(zuo)品流傳于(yu)世。