During the reign of Emperor Taitsung of the Tang Dynasty, five scholars who failed to pass an official examination played music in the streets to eke out a hand-to-mouth existence.
五路瘟神的傳說則是這樣：在唐太宗時代，有五位書生上京趕考，不幸名落孫山，而且又把所攜旅費耗盡，最後在長安街頭淪為乞丐，每日奏樂賣唱維生。