If you will think this way, then I can said that, maybe you will have to continue reading before you can say that I'm Old & Forgetful.
Till today, alot of Taoists & Chinese still tend to mistake Tu Gong Tu Mu as Tu Di Gong & Tu Di Po. To be more Exact, these 2 Groups are of Different Deities.
So who is Tu Gong & Tu Mu?
According to Taoist Scriptures & Records, Tu Gong Tu Mu shall be the Earth Spiritual Beings that have yet to be able to Classify as Tu Di Gong & Tu Di Po (quite similar to the Case of Di Ji Zhu 地基主).
Tu Gong Tu Mu & Family was being mentioned in Yu Shu Bao Jing (玉樞寶經), a Taoist Scripture dedicated to Heavenly Lord Pu Hua (普化天尊). In this Scripture, it explains that, when oneself is being affected by the Energies that released out from the Tu Gong Tu Mu Family, oneself can recite Yu Shu Bao Jing to get the necessary blessings in-order to get rid of the Discomfort.
For Tu Gong Tu Mu, usually when Taoists or Chinese Honoured, we will tend to pay respect to the Whole Family. The Whole Family consists of Tu Zi (the 4 Sons 土子), Tu Xi (the 4 Daughter-in-laws 土媳) & Tu Sun (Grandchildren 土孫).
Why are there Four Sons?
According to saying, these Four Sons are to guard at different Directions whenever an Order is being bestowed to Tu Gong Tu Mu.
So when will Taoists & Chinese Honour them?
Usually before a Major Renovation for a Building (動土), after the Renovation (安土), Exhuamation of Graves (掘墳), & Moving of Houses (入伙) or Opening of New-shops (新張).
While the Taoists or Chinese are paying respect to Earth Deities, Dragon Deities and other Passer-by Deities, they will call-upon the Tu Gong Tu Mu Family to come for the Honouring.
So when we Celebrate the Manifestation Anniversary?
Due to Misconceptions & Mis-leading Info, nowadays, Taoists & Chinese tend to Celebrate the Manifestation Anniversary on the Same-day as Earth Deity - 2nd Day of Lunar 2 Month (農曆二月初二日).
To be more exact, till today, no one knows about the Actual Date for the Manifestation Anniversary.
Reasons:
1) They are not Human-gaining-Immortal-hood-Deities, meaning that they might not be Human
2) They can be Human, but due to too many being appointed as Tu Gong Tu Mu, etc, no one has an Actual Record on the Manifestation Anniversary.
master, lot of the chinese pray to 地主公 at home or work place... so who actually are they... di ji zhu or tu di gong or tu gong tu po? please enlighten.thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteDi Zhu Gong is Tu Di Gong which is the normal Earth Deity.
ReplyDeleteTu Gong Tu Mu seldom being honoured by normal Families, unless major Constructions take place.
Di Ji Zhu is a form of Home Spirit that stayed in the House or Kitchen.
Oneself needed to differentiate them correctly, if not, oneself will tend to honour wrongly.
thank you master, btw r u from nyp last time?
ReplyDeleteYup yup.. how u know? that was 10 yrs ago le... hahahahaha
ReplyDeletehuh got so long ma? i grad at 2004... tt time i heard my polymate mention abt his friend from long shan men.. only till recently years through multiply then i know more abt it.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, i join NYP is 1999. Grad in 2001. How can be in Yr 2004? Maybe thats my Senior's disciple ba :P
ReplyDeletehahhaa... maybe i remember wrongly... the sect name...btw r u wroking?
ReplyDeleteI work at home as Free-lance Web-designer. Most of the time doing Study, Promoting of Taoism and Teaching :P
ReplyDeletei c... free lance now i think oso quite badly affected ba... are u?
ReplyDeleteYup, so can have more time to do my Taoism-promoting.. wahahahaha
ReplyDeleteAlot of my Course-mates all change Line le.. now become businessmen & women..
cheer! jia you...
ReplyDeleteSifu, I like the Tu Gong & Tu Mu story and suprisingly, they have four son and daughter in law, some more even got grandkids, WOW, 1st time see a deity or deity to be have full family one.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, yup.. seldom we will see Deities with descendants, but for this group of Spiritual Beings, they are a bit special.
ReplyDeleteComing soon, you will be learning Scripture dedicated to Lord Pu Hua, in the Scripture, you all will come across this Family.
WOW, Lord Pu Hua scripture have them? then they must be quite important
ReplyDeleteHahahaha.. actually is opposite.. as what I have posted in the above article. Soon you will know.
ReplyDeleteOk lor, I will wait and see and I'll be really surprise if Lord's Pu Hua have a team of maid that is whole family one. But we seldom see such "family" combo. LOL
ReplyDeleteHahahaha.. such Beings can considered as very Low-level Beings but without such Beings, alot of issues in the Mortal World cant function.
ReplyDeleteYa, we also need toilet cleaner if not cannot imagined how our toilet will smell even worst. Hee hee
ReplyDeleteYup.. this is True. In the Spiritual World, such Low-level Beings cannot be neglected.
ReplyDeleteHi Javewu,
ReplyDeleteMy parents house is being renovated.What is the good way of honouring and Can they do the honouring after the renovations is done?Also,should there something be made to kitchen Deity when the renovations is done and the stove is moved back?
Honouring thr Earth Deities must be done Before the Renovation started, straight after the Renovation completed.
ReplyDeleteFor Kitchen Deity, after everything settled, choose a Good Day to honour Kitchen Deity, do it after 3pm and before 5pm.
Thanks Javew.The renovation has already started,so they can't do the honouring?
ReplyDeleteThe offerings can be put on the stove?
Immediately after the renovation, do perform a simple honouring ceremony to thanks the earth deities...
ReplyDeleteYes,do put the offerings on the stove.
Javew,Can you guide how to do the simple ceremony.
ReplyDeleteThanks again.
Will send u the details soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
ReplyDeleteHi Javew,
ReplyDeleteSorry,to sound impolite and impatience but the renovations is almost at its end,Tuesday is the last day where the rooms get painted.
According to their schedule,Tuesday is the last day of the renovations.But usually after this they going to inspect if they forget something or something else.
Do we consider the official day,Tuesday,8 Sept as the last day,or the day when the workers are not in the house anymore.
Thanks you.
No, pls do it only when the whole thing is finalize.
ReplyDeleteOnce you know the final day, please do email to me at javecxwu@gmail.com
Hi Javew,
ReplyDeleteYou mean when everything is settled down,meaning when the renovation has stopped and the cleaning is done and everything is moved back,because the workers only renovate,they donot move back the stove or the fridge or do the overall cleaning after the renovation, thats what my parents must do.
Sorry,for my silly questions.
Yup, once everything is settled and in place, then the honouring can start.
ReplyDeleteit is very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI have studied something about tu gong which maybe appeared before taoists..
but my english is so bad that i can't say more.....