This is a type of typical & traditional Hokkien Clan's paper offering (閩南傳統祭祀紙料). In the past, only on certain occasions, then such Tian Gong Zuo or Tian Gong Deng can be seen placing on the Jade Emperor of Heaven's Altar (天公台).
So what are the Special Occasions that needed such paper offering?
On the following occasions:
1 – Birthday Anniversary of Jade Emperor of Heaven (玉皇萬壽誕辰)
2 – Wedding (華人傳統婚禮)
3 – Grand Birthday Celebration for Elders (大壽)
4 – Giving birth to a son (after a long period of no-pregnancy 祈求子嗣)
5 – Deities Birthday Celebrations (神誕慶典)
Why such paper offering is being given the name of Tian Gong Zuo or Tian Gong Deng?
To be more accurate, Tian Gong Zuo & Tian Gong Deng are 2 different type of paper offerings, but due to the mis-interpretation along the years, these 2 paper offerings merge into one form, which is what we normally see now in the market.
In the past, during Birthday Anniversary of Jade Emperor of Heaven, Wedding, Birthday Celebrations for Deities or Mortals, Tian Gong Zuo will be used.
Why Tian Gong Zuo is being used?
Cos Tian Gong Zuo is used to represent the Seat for Jade Emperor of Heaven to sit while the Mortals make invitation for him to come (Zuo, meaning Seat in Chinese).
So in the past, Tian Gong Zuo is made into a Chair-form, with steps of stairs in front of the Seat and at the side, special railings or decoration such as dragons and phoenixes will be placed.
Some of Tian Gong Zuo will also be made into like small Hut with a roof and pillars, this is why a lot of folks tend to mistaken it as Tian Gong Cuo (天公厝) – meaning the house of Jade Emperor of Heaven.
So how about Tian Gong Deng?
This is a more special one.
For Tian Gong Deng, this will only be used when a couple married for many years and no sign of pregnancy, the parent of the Bridegroom will engaged Spiritual Master to hold a Ceremony to pay respect to Jade Emperor of Heaven, in order to request for a Son (not daughter).
After requesting, if the young couple got a Son in the following year, the parent of the Bridegroom will engaged the Spiritual Master again to perform a Thanksgiving Ceremony to the Jade Emperor of Heaven.
And this time round, Tian Gong Deng will be made dedicating to Jade Emperor of Heaven. This is to show the gratitude of the family to the Heaven and also, to inform the relatives and friends that the couple got a Son (Deng aka Lamp, in Chinese Custom represent Descendants or the Family-line).
So, what is the outlook of Tian Gong Deng?
The actual outlook of the Tian Gong Deng is quite similar to Tian Gong Zuo, but without the stairs, roof, pillars, etc. Just a long rectangular paper block with a triangular top, muc look like a Rocket-form.
So, if the following years, the family got more Grandsons, the family will then placed 3 Tian Gong Deng to show the gratitude of the family towards the Heaven (3 are maximum).
So during the Ritual/Ceremony, when must such offerings be placed on the Altar?
Usually such offerings must be placed on the Altar before any lighting of Incenses, paying respect to Heaven or Invitation of Jade Emperor of Heaven.
The longest period for such offerings to be placed on the Altar usually cannot last for more than 12 hours (placed onto the Altar before 11.00Am and must send-off in the Afternoon of before 5.00Pm).
Anything to go along with the Tian Gong Zuo?
Usually besides the Tian Gong Zuo or Tian Gong Deng, 2 un-chopped Bamboos (帶頭連根甘蔗兩棵) will be needed (this is going according to Ancient Hokkien Tradition, cos in the past, Hokkien were being rescued by Jade Emperor using Bamboos) and 1 Pair of Huang Gao Qian aka Royal Longevity & Prosperity Coins (黃高錢一對 in long rectangular shape and yellow color with red-printing of coins).
So who can prepare that?
For Birthday Anniversary of Jade Emperor of Heaven/Deities Birthday, the owner of the Temple or the Bread-winner of the family will place the paper offering onto the Altar.
For Wedding, the father of the Bridegroom & Bride will place the paper offering onto the Altar.
For Elders' Birthday Celebration, the Eldest Son will place the paper offering onto the Altar.
For Requesting of Son, the Bridegroom will place the paper offering onto the Altar.
Since the culture of using such Paper Offering has been mixed-up, so nowadays, what the folks address this paper offering?
Yup, due to the mix-and-match culture now, the folks given this paper offering a new name, called Tian Gong Deng Zuo (天公燈座), meaning putting the lamp on the seat of Jade Emperor of Heaven, and so, when Jade Emperor of Heaven arrived, he can only stand aside till the lamp is being removed.
Some new products that you can see nowadays:
Nan Bei Dou Zuo (南北斗座)
Dou Mu Zuo (斗姆座)
Wu Fang Wu Lao Zuo (五方五老座)
San Guan Da Di Zuo (三官大帝座)
Dong Yue Da Di Zuo (東岳大帝座)
Yan Luo Wang Zuo (閻羅王座)
Cheng Huang Zuo (城隍座)
Etc.
hey,den wat about tian gong dan ????
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean by Tian Gong Dan?
ReplyDeleteIf you are mentioning Tian Gong Dan as the Birthday, than its on the 9th Day of Lunar 1st Month.
All being mentioned in my article.
another type of 天公座.
ReplyDeletewhich ppl pray in temple de.
Tian Gong Zuo only one type, now what ever you see in Temples in Singapore are All man-made or man-improve-design.
ReplyDeleteIn our Hokkien Custom, the typical & Traditional type of Tian Gong Zuo is shown in (tiangongzuo_06.jpg).
For a Good & Traditional Temple, Sintua or Home, they will used something shown in the pic.
Tian Gong Zuo only one type, now what ever you see in Temples in Singapore are All man-made or man-improve-design.
ReplyDeleteIn our Hokkien Custom, the typical & Traditional type of Tian Gong Zuo is shown in (tiangongzuo_06.jpg).
For a Good & Traditional Temple, Sintua or Home, they will used something shown in the pic.
Lucky to say, I still see a lot of people using the traditional type of Tian Gong Zuo as mentioned. They chose it from the other types of "form"
ReplyDeleteThe most Traditional one is no longer being used, but the one you all see in the pic can say to look very alike with the old type.
ReplyDeleteYup, the one you've metioned as (tiangongzuo_06.jpg)
ReplyDeleteYup, that look quite alike.
ReplyDeletebro, regarding the tian gong deng, izzit equal to tian deng we see in temples. that time when to yang tao yuan sht, they had a set of tian deng with ri and yue. what does it signify or wat function does the set of lantern has?
ReplyDeleteTian Deng is Tian Deng, not necessary to be Tian Kong Deng.
ReplyDeleteTian Gong Deng usually only got one, which is the oil lamp that hang ontop of the Tian Gong Altar.
oic =0
ReplyDeletethe tian gong deng now a lot of ppl use light bulb one is it right to do so.
ReplyDeleteModern days use modern methods.
ReplyDeleteOf cos the traditional type wil be best.
wat must have sugar cane together with the tian gong zuo
ReplyDeleteSugar cane is a form of highest respect offerings for Tian Gong by the Hokkien Clan.
ReplyDeleteLike what I posted in the article, Sugar Canes were being manifested by Tian Gong to save the Hokkiens from the killing of the invaders in the Ancient Era.
Besides that, Sugar Cane got a symbol of Sweetness and Hardship.
wat is de paper guy we see on tian gong zuo??
ReplyDeleteUsually they are just decoration, not much meaning.
ReplyDeleteBut for some, the ppl will request to add in The Heavenly Marshals.
i mean de guy in red sitting on something wit a shelter behind de
ReplyDeleteThats the reporting officer.
ReplyDeleteHe's the one who will collect all the presents, offerings and requests and then send back to Heaven and to the necessary departments.
wat is it call?
ReplyDeleteThere are a few titles for him, some called him Ma Guan (馬官), some called Tian Guan (天官), this Tian Guan is different from Tian Guan Da Di, etc...
ReplyDeleteTian Gong Zuo used recently for a Ritual.
ReplyDeleteHi can show the picture of the tiangongzuo_06.jpg and Tian Gong Deng? thanks
ReplyDelete