The 14th of April in the old calendar is the birthday of Lu Tung-pin, and all barbers in the town sacrifice to him on that day. The custom originated in the Ming Dynasty.
The first Emperor, Chu Hung-wu, had a scalp disease; every day he sent for a new barber to come to the palace and shave him, but none of them could do it without hurting him, and he had innumerable barbers executed.
All the barbers in the land were in a desperate state, not knowing what to do. They sent a plea up to Heaven, and when the Jade Emperor received it, he sent Lu Tung-pin down to Earth. Lu Tung-pin changed into a barber, turned his magic sword into a razor, went to the palace, and after he had shaved Hung-wu, not only did the Emperor feel no pain, but his disease caused him no more trouble.
At first the barbers marvelled at the cure, but gradually they all learnt that the man who had shaved the Emperor was the envoy of Heaven, Lu Tung-pin. They thanked him again and again and gave him the post of Hair-dressing God. Ever since, Lu Tung-pin has been worshipped by every barber and is considered ancestor of the trade.