Nine Emperor Gods Festival

Nine Emperor Gods Festival


The Nine Emperor Gods Festival (Chinese: 九皇爺; pinyin: Jiǔhuángyé; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Káu-ông-iâ; Cantonese: Kow Wong Yeh) is a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which is observed primarily in Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, and also the Riau Islands.

Contents

Introduction to the Nine Emperor Gods

The Nine Emperor Gods Jiǔ Huáng Xīng Jūn / Jiǔ Huáng Da Di (九皇星君/九皇大帝) are the nine sons manifested by Father Emperor Zhou Yu Dou Fu Yuan Jun (斗父周御國王天尊) and Mother of the Big Dipper Dou Mu Yuan Jun (斗母元君) who holds the Registrar of Life and Death. The worship of Dou Fu Yuan Jun has declined strongly as proper teachings of Taoism degenerate since being exported out of China. Today, most Nine Emperor God temples do not acknowledge the existence of Dou Fu Yuan Jun. However, Dou Fu Yuan Jun is invoked alongside Dou Mu Yuan Jun in Great Dipper Honouring known as Li Dou (禮斗) ceremonies. According To Priest Long Hua, the 35th Generation Leader of Long Shan Men Taoist Sect (Singapore), honouring the Northern Dipper stars prolongs one's life, eliminate calamities, and absolves sins and past debts of oneself and his family [1].

The term Ye (爺) as in Jiu Huang Ye (九皇爺) loosely translates as "Grandfather", a title worshipers commonly use to bring a more intimate relationship between themselves and the Nine Emperors. The Nine Emperor Gods should not be mixed up with the Wang Ye or Princes of the Ming rebels. Popular folk culture has it that the Nine Emperor Gods are actually sea pirates of the Ming dynasty that plotted to overthrow the Qing dynasty. According to Priest Long Hua, this information is inaccurate and considered derogatory to the actual teachings of Taoism as the Nine Emperor Gods are actually high ranking Star Lords who preside over the movement of planets and coordinate mortal Life and Death issues [2].

The Nine Emperors is formed by the 7 stars of the Big Dipper of the North Ursa Major (visible) and two assistant stars (invisible). When viewed closely, the arrangement of the 7 stars "the Ladle" and the 2 assistant stars on its left and right resembles a Yin-Yang pattern form.

The Nine Emperor Stars are:

  1. Tan Lang Tai Xing Jun (貪狼太星君)1st Star (Visible) Bayer: α UMa
  2. Ju Men Yuan Xing Jun (巨門元星君) 2nd Star (Visible) Bayer: β UMa
  3. Lu Cun Zhen Xing Jun (祿存貞星君) 3rd Star (Visible) Bayer: γ UMa
  4. Wen Qu Niu Xing Jun (文曲紐星君) 4th Star (Visible) Bayer: δ UMa
  5. Lian Zhen Gang Xing Jun (玉廉貞綱星君) 5th Star(Visible) Bayer: ε UMa
  6. Wu Qu Ji Xing Jun (武曲紀星君) 6th Star(Visible) Bayer: ζ UMa
  7. Po Jun Guan Xing Jun (破軍關星君) 7th Star (Visible) Bayer: η UMa
  8. Zuo Fu Da Dao Xing Jun (左輔大道星君) 8th Star (Invisible)
  9. You Bi Da Dao Xing Jun (右弼大道星君) 9th Star (Invisible)

Nine Emperor Gods Festival celebration in popular folk culture

On the eve of the ninth moon, temples of the deities hold a ceremony to invoke and welcome the nine emperors. Since the arrival of the gods are believed to be through the waterways, processions are held from temples to the sea-shore or river to symbolize this belief. Devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying incense and candles, await the arrival of their excellencies.

A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival. During this period of time, the constant tinkling of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests are heard. Most devotees stay at the temple, eat vegetarian meals and recite continuous chanting of prayer. It is believed that there will be rain throughout the nine days of celebration.

The ninth day of the festival is its climax. A procession which draws scores of devotees send the deities back home

Celebration in Thailand

In Thailand, this festival is called Tesagan Gin Je เทศกาลกินเจ, the Vegetarian Festival. It is celebrated throughout the entire country, but the festivities are at their height in Phuket, where about 35% of the population is Chinese. It attracts crowds of spectators because of many of the unusual religious rituals that are performed. Many religious devotees will slash themselves with swords, pierce their cheeks with sharp objects and commit other painful acts.

Je

During a period of nine days, those who are participating in the festival dress all in white and gin je กินเจ, which has come to be translated as abstinence from eating meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy products. Vendors and proprietors of restaurants indicate that je food is for sale at their establishments by putting a yellow flag out with the word เจ (je) written on it in red. However, technically, only food prepared in the sacred kitchen of the Chinese temple (in Thailand, called san jao ศาลเจ้า or ahm อ๊ำ) is je, as it must undergo a series of rituals before it can be given that name.

Mah song

Mah song ม้าทรง are the people who invite the spirits of gods to possess their bodies. Mah ม้า is the word for horse in Thai, and the name mah song refers to how the spirits of the gods use the bodies of these people as a vehicle, as one rides a horse. Only pure, unmarried men or women without families of their own can become mah song. At the temple they undergo a series of rituals to protect them for the duration of the festival, during which flagellation and self-mutilation is practiced. The mah song tradition doesn't exist in China and is believed to have been adopted from the Indian festival of Thaipusam.

The festivities in Phuket include a procession of mah song wearing elaborate costumes who pierce their cheeks and tongues with all manner of things, including swords, banners, machine guns, table lamps, and flowers. While the face is the most common area pierced, some also pierce their arms with pins and fishhooks. Teams of people accompany the mah song to keep their wounds clean and to help support the heavier piercings. It is believed that while they are possessed the mah song will not feel any pain. They can also be seen shaking their heads back and forth continually, and usually do not seem to "see" their surroundings. At the temple during the festival there is also firewalking and blade-ladder climbing. While large crowds of people gather to watch, the entranced mah song distribute blessed candy and pieces of orange cloth with Chinese characters printed on them, yang ยังต์ for good luck.

Gallery

See also

Notes

  • Cohen, Eric; The Chinese Vegetarian Festival in Phuket Bangkok; White Lotus, 2001, ISBN 9747534894

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vegetarian Festival — The Vegetarian Festival is a religious festival annually held on the island of Phuket in southern Thailand. It attracts crowds of spectators because of many of the unusual religious rituals that are performed. Many religious devotees will slash… …   Wikipedia

  • Ghost Festival — This article is about the Chinese Ghost Festival. For the festival in Loei province, Thailand, see Pee Ta Khon. Ghost Festival An array of foods being offered to the deceased at a Buddhist temple Official name …   Wikipedia

  • Mid-Autumn Festival — For other harvest festivals that may be known as Mid Autumn Festival, see Mid Autumn Festival (disambiguation). For the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival known as Yuan Xiao (元宵節), Chap Goh Meh, Yuen Siu (元宵), Shang Yuan (上元), and Tết Nguyên Tiêu …   Wikipedia

  • Mazu (goddess) — Goddess of the Sea redirects here. For Goddess of the Sea in Finnish mythology, see Vellamo. Tin Hau redirects here. For other meanings of Tin Hau, see Tin Hau (disambiguation) A Mazu statue in Kinmen, Republic of China Mazu (simplified Chinese:… …   Wikipedia

  • Public holidays in Malaysia — There are two types of holidays in Malaysia, National and State levels. National holidays are normally observed by most government and private organization. State holidays are normally only observed by certain states in Malaysia or when it is… …   Wikipedia

  • Tuska Open Air Metal Festival — Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, shortly Tuska ( fi. pain, agony), is the largest music festival dedicated only to metal and related styles of music in the Nordic countries. It takes place in Kaisaniemi park in the middle of Helsinki, Finland. The… …   Wikipedia

  • Tuska Open Air Metal Festival — 60°10′27.94″N 24°56′38.62″E / 60.1744278, 24.9440611 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ahimsa — For other uses, see Ahimsa (disambiguation). Mahavira, The Torch bearer of Ahimsa …   Wikipedia

  • Tuska Open Air Metal Festival — Выступление группы 2008 год Tuska Open Air Metal Festival или просто Tuska (в перев. с финск. боль, страдание) один из крупнейших музыкальных фестивалей, посвящённый исключительно метал музыке. Фестиваль проходит в парке Кайсаниеми (финск.… …   Википедия

  • Chinese Singaporean — 新加坡华人 新加坡華人 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”