But in such a big country, people in different places naturally chose different deities. In addition to Marshal Tiandu, stage performers have also worshipped the legendary Erlang (said to excel in both acting and singing), and the emperors Minghuang (of the Tang dynasty) and Zhuangzong (of the Later Tang dynasty), both excellent musicians. And there were more besides.
而中國幅員廣大，祖師當然不只一位，除了田都元帥，戲曲界崇拜的還有傳說中演唱俱佳的二郎神，與善於音律的唐明皇、後唐莊宗李存勖等。