Fu Jian Du Cheng Huang Temple (福建福州都城隍廟), one of the few Ancient Cheng Huang Temples that had been well-preserved till today.
According to records, Fu Jian Du Cheng Huang Temple was built in AD282, in Jin Dynasty. For the past 1700 odd years, Fu Jian Du Cheng Huang Temple went thru 6 Renovations (AD1157, AD1178, AD1482, AD1515, AD1582 & AD1748).
According to the Fu Jian Recording Text, this Du Cheng Huang Temple was built dedicating to Western Han Dynasty Officer Zhou Ke (西漢禦史周苛), who was a Upright & Loyal Officer which later being cooked alive by Xiang Yu (項羽). In order to memory the Uprightness of Zhou Ke, after his death, the Han People built a Temple dedicating to him.
Even though this Temple was bestowed with the Title Du Cheng Huang (都城隍 1st Grade) but actually, it was only the Sheng Cheng Huang (省城隍 2nd Grade - Hokkien Province is known as Sheng and not Du - Capital).
Due to the misuderstanding in the Ancient Era, the Title was being used till today.
In South East Asia today, most of the Du Cheng Huang Temples actually got their Lineage from this Fu Jian Du Cheng Huang Temple.
In Pic 05 & 06, you will see the 12 3rd Grade Cheng Huang (閩州十二府城隍) being drawn on the Wall. These 12 3rd Grade Cheng Huang were supervise by the Cheng Huang in Fu Jian Du Cheng Huang Temple.
Shifu, may I ask something?
ReplyDeleteFirst, why is the Lu covered? Is it forbidden to burn incense? In Buddhist temples in Mainland, I notice that they no longer have many incense urns, not like taiwan or singapore.
Also, why are a lot of temples dusty (like, incense ash everywhere). Is it forbidden to "disturb" the deity by cleaning to much?
Last, who is the deity with black/white face?
Thank you!
I think he is 陰陽司 one of the 二十四司 (24 assistant of 城隍)
ReplyDeleteShifu, I know very little about 二十四司 and maybe Shifu can descript them to us.
There is small temple for 速報司 at my mom's village, my grand grand father generation bring KimSin from Hokkien and I wonder why they bring only 速報司!
Will post some of this temple's pics soon, very interesting.
just surf around the net and hit the beautiful pictures of all 24 assistants
ReplyDeletehttp://trhmda.hku.edu.tw/trhmda/archive-pd.php?Step=3&ExcavationType=36&ExcavationClass=&Level=&ExcavationName=&page=6&DataType=image&id=1391
Nowadays, China Temples tend to learn from Buddhist Temples, which means that, they wanted Devotees to stop Offering Incenses but use the money to donate to the Temples.
ReplyDeleteIf this will to carry on or continue, sooner or later, the Reputation of the Temples will be affected and of cos, the Positive Energies from the Temples will retreat and left with only Empty Statues.
In Singapore, we got a few Temples that encountering such issues, meaning that devotees going to such Temples, they are just paying respect to Wooden Blocks and not the Deities.
That mean joss stick is very important
ReplyDeleteOf cos.
ReplyDeleteAlot of modern people thought that Incenses are a form of Air Pollution, but actually they neglected the fact that Incenses are actually used to cure Diseases, stop virsus from spreading, etc, in the Ancient Era.
Hmmmm, maybe because modern incense is not natural and is already full of chemicals. Modern incense is not usually of good quality...
ReplyDeleteAre the energies in Taoist temples different from the energies of other religion's temples? Maybe for other religions temples, the deities don't always need too much incense? (In the temple I go to, only the monks get to burn incense... but yeah, all the statues are offered food, water and incense everyday, but not in giant incense pots. Maybe it's because the systems and energies are different, so different rules apply?)
Also Master Jave, I notice that a lot of chinese altars/temples (here in Manila) have a lot of incense ash/dust, and once a shopkeeper told me not to clean altars too often, because it disrupts the energies. (She's a mixed-religion type of devotee.) Is there truth about this?
Hmmmm, maybe because modern incense is not natural and is already full of chemicals. Modern incense is not usually of good quality...
ReplyDeleteAns: There are alot of Good Quality Incenses, just that Mortals tend to use Low-quality Incenses, cos of hoping to save-up and/or dont know where to get them... this is one bad-excuse.
Are the energies in Taoist temples different from the energies of other religion's temples? Maybe for other religions temples, the deities don't always need too much incense? (In the temple I go to, only the monks get to burn incense... but yeah, all the statues are offered food, water and incense everyday, but not in giant incense pots. Maybe it's because the systems and energies are different, so different rules apply?)
Ans: Offering of Good Incenses is better then offering any other Expensive Offerings, this is one mis-concept that the Folks have. Deities only request the Sincerity in oneself by offering the Incenses and using the correct Method to Offer Incenses. As Taoist or Chinese, offering Incenses is a form of Self-Cultivation and from there, to gain the Connection with Deities or the Universe, other Religions definitely wont have this type of Practice, cos they do not share the Same Root with the Chinese or Taoism.
Also Master Jave, I notice that a lot of chinese altars/temples (here in Manila) have a lot of incense ash/dust, and once a shopkeeper told me not to clean altars too often, because it disrupts the energies. (She's a mixed-religion type of devotee.) Is there truth about this?
Ans: This is very bad. The more messy and dirty the Temple is, the Energies will be affected, this is why, alot of Temples are losing their Devotees due to this issue.
Oh, ok... I see now. You're right, Master Jave: I see that when temples are not so clean, it's like the volunteers/people there are not so "clean" too. I notice this, and I don't know if what I sense is right... but I feel that, a lot of them are not very pleasant, not very helpful. (There were times I've been scolded, for asking too many questions, etc... Sometimes, they're also mean to non-Chinese... hai....)
ReplyDeleteThank you for clarifying this, Master Jave!
very good topic discuss... thank you Shifu and fullmoonrising!
ReplyDeleteHahahaha, welcome.. this is my pleasure and task :P
ReplyDelete