Wu Fu Da Di (五福大帝) aka Wu Fu Ling Gong (五福靈公), according to records, they were scholars from Hokkien Province, Fu Zhou City (原為福建省福州市應考秀才).
The real names of these 5 Deities were, Zhang Yuan Bo (張元伯), Zhong Shi Xiu (鍾士秀), Liu Yuan Da (劉元達), Shi Wen Ye (史文業) and Zhao Hong Ming (趙鴻明).
One year, while they were on the way to the Capital to join in the Imperial Examination, the 5 of them passed by a village. Upon stepping in the village, the 5 of them saw 5 dark figures pouring some powder form material into the 5 main wells in the village.
With horror, the 5 of them dashed towards each well, trying to capture the dark figures. While they reached the well, the 5 dark figures vanished in front of them, leaving the packets that contained the powder dropping on the floor.
Zhang Yuan Bo, the eldest of the 5, picked up the packet and realized that, it was the Plague Disease (瘟疫). Without consideration, he advised the other 4 scholars to seal the well up. But how they tried to block the well, the objects that covered the well were being moved away by a gust of strong wind.
Without any choices, Zhang Yuan Bo sacrificed himself by jumping into the well. The other 4 scholars were shocked but in-order to save the villagers, the 4 scholars jumped into the well too.
After the 5 of them jumped into the wells, the water from the wells shot out and soon, the water was being purified.
At the moment of the water being purified, the 5 scholars were being summoned to the Celestial Palace (天庭) to meet up with Jade Emperor (玉皇大天尊). After knowing their uprightness and braveness, Jade Emperor bestowed them as the Deities that ceased the Plague & other communicate diseases (止瘟之神).
From then, folks dedicate Temples and Altars for them as a form of gratitude, especially those in Hokkien Province.
How the 5 Deities got the title Wu Fu Da Di?
According to the records in Hokkien Province, due to the 5 of them were from Fu Zhou City, after they got the Enlightenment, the folks addressed them as Wu Fu Da Di as a form of respect and gratitude. This was how the 5 Deities got the title of Wu Fu.
Are they Wu Xian Da Di (五顯大帝)?
Due to the mis-conceptions and some other mix-&-match information, Wu Fu Da Di was also being addressed as Wu Xian Da Di, which Wu Xian Da Di was the Official title of Hua Guang Ma Yuan Shuai (華光馬元帥).
This was why, till today, a lot of folks mistaken Hua Guang as one of the Plague Deities.
hey bro, thot they were scholars but why erm this da di have a "lei gong
ReplyDelete" face?
Hahahaha, I know someone will ask this question :P
ReplyDeleteYup, you are right, why they are scholars and yet in the statues they look like demons.
According to the explanation of the records, cos one of the 5 scholars was being over-dosage with the Plague Disease and so, his face was being distorted by the poison.
In order not to corrupt the image of the Deity, the folks change the distorted face into a face that dont look like a human....
oic.. haha =0 thanks! then in ur first five pic, i saw each have different 部?
ReplyDeletecare to eaborate wat those mean =p thanks!
Bu (部) as the Department or Section that they belongs to.
ReplyDeleteIn overall, the 5 Deities are also being addressed as Wu Bu Ling Gong (五部靈公).
趙﹑劉﹑鐘﹑史﹑張部 means they belonged to respective surnames grp? or?
ReplyDeleteNo, the Department when they belongs to for the ceasing of diseases or sickness.
ReplyDeleteoic =0 thanks
ReplyDeleteHahahaha, welcome :P
ReplyDelete请问这位神像他 贵姓 什么名
ReplyDelete请问这位神像他 贵姓 什么名
ReplyDelete请问这位神像他 贵姓 什么名
ReplyDelete鐘部靈公
ReplyDelete劉部大帝
ReplyDelete谢谢
ReplyDeleteIn the following is the Praise Mantra for Wu Fu Da Di, this is quite a rare Bao Gao. This Bao Gao is rarely being used in Rituals or Ceremonies.
ReplyDelete五福大帝寶誥
Wu Fu Da Di Bao Gao (Praise Mantra)
至心皈命禮。
Zhi Xin Gui Ming Li
五瘟使者。四序疫神。
Wu Wen Shi Zhe. Si Xu Yi Shen
騰騰煞氣。恩威遍覆。
Teng Teng Sha Qi. En Wei Bian Fu
諸魔拱手欽伏。赫赫威儀。
Zhu Mo Gong Shou Qin Fu. He He Wei Yi
德澤普施。萬姓俯首瞻拜。
De Ze Pu Shi. Wan Xing Fu Shou Zhan Bai
奉敕旨巡遊三界。
Feng Chi Zhi Xun You San Jie.
行瘟布疫罰過錯。
Xing Wen Bu Yi Fa Guo Cuo
懲治凶頑。顯報應統御萬靈。
Zeng Zhi Xiong Yuan. Xian Bao Ying Tong Yu Wan Ling
天行時病。拘魂魄。
Tian Xing Shi Bing. Ju Hun Po
砍伐精神。無災不滅。
Kan Fa Jing Shen. Wu Zai Bu Mie
有惡必筭。至英至烈。
You E Bi Suan. Zhi Ying Zhi Lie
至猛至威。
Zhi Meng Zhi Wei
玉封瘟部大神。
Yu Feng Wen Bu Da Shen
張鐘劉史趙。
Zhang Zhong Liu Shi Zhao
五福大靈公。
Wu Fu Da Ling Gong
Thanks to Joob for translating the info of Wu Fu Da Di into Thai Language, here's the webpage:
ReplyDeletehttp://cyberjoob.multiply.com/journal/item/137/137