Introduction on Snake Deity Duke Shi E (护国镇海侯施諤)

Snake Deity aka Duke of Ceasing Stormy Wave, actual name known as Shi E (施諤).

According to Records, Shi E was born in Song Dynasty, Year of Born unknown. Hometown in China Shang Hai City Song Jiang County (中國上海市松江县).

Since Young, Shi E had being sent to various Schools to study in-order to prepare him for Participate in the Imperial Examination when he reached the Age 20.

At the age of 20, Shi E was sent to the Imperial Captial (京城) to seat for the Exam. One day while he was on his way, he picked up a Milky Golden Pearl. Shi E was attracted by the Colorful & Shiny outer layer of the Pearl and so, without hesitation, he kept the Pearl and continue his Journey to the Capital.

Upon reaching the Capital, Shi E was being instructed to stay at the Students' Hostel somewhere near to the Capital Examination Hall. Just as he was about to unpack his package in his Room, the Milky Golden Pearl started to Shine. Shi E was amazed by what he saw and so, he stopped his unpacking and sat down to admired the Pearl.

Just as he was staring hard at the Pearl, he saw a tiny face appearing inside the Pearl, Shi E was shocked and immediately, throw the Pearl onto the Floor. But just at the moment of the Pearl touched the ground, it rebounce back onto the study table. Shi E was totally shocked by what he saw. Immediately after the Pearl landed on the table, Shi E heard a calling from the Pearl, saying that it is actually a Snake Spirit that hide inside the Pearl to do cultivation.

After listening to the explanation, Shi E started to calm down and accept the fact of the "Abnormal" Pearl. In order not to let anyone found out that he got such an Extraordinary Pearl, Shi E kept the Pearl in a Box and lock it in the Drawer under the study table. Whenever Shi E wanted to talk to the Pearl, then he would retrieve it out in late night to communicate with the Snake Spirit.

3 Days before the Imperial Examination, Shi E was being summoned to the Imperial School for a Briefing. Just as he left his Room, Shi E took out the Pearl and had a look, telling the Snake Spirit that he would be soon taking the Examination, hope that the Snake Spirit could bless him, just before Shi E got the chance to keep the Pearl into the Box, his Classmate came to look for him and so, Shi E had to throw the Pearl into the Drawer without keeping it in the Box. Soon, the 2 of them left the Hostel to meet up with the Examination Invigilators.

Just at the Time when Shi E stepped out of the Hostel, a Monk came to the Street where the Hostel was located to beg for alms. Upon reaching the Main Entrance of the Hostel, the Monk stopped and started to observe on the whole Energy of the Hostel. Without consideration, the Monk dashed into the Hostel and started to go straight to Shi E's room despite the others stopping him.

The Hostel's Owner was shocked and so, he quickly followed the Monk into Shi E's Room to take a look. By the time the Owner reached the Room, the Monk had grabbed onto the Pearl and was about to smash it onto the Floor. The Owner immediately stopped the Monk from doing so, cos the Owner worried that Shi E might sued them to Court.

Soon the Monk explained that in the Pearl, it hide a Demon Snake that would eat all the Students in the Hostel. Upon hearing, the Owner couldnt believed cos Shi E had been staying in the Hostel for more than months and nothing had happened.

Even though that Owner explained to the Monk that nothing had happened but the Monk insist of destroying the Pearl.

Just as the Pearl was being thrown onto the Floor, a Bright Ray emitted out from the Pearl and a White Snake appeared in the Bright Ray. The Owner & other Students were shocked, without hesitation, the Monk chased after the Snake Spirit to the Main Street. After a few rounds of battling, the Monk was not able to capture the Snake Spirit and so, the Monk sneaked away leaving the Snake Spirit hanging on a Tree outside the Cheng Huang Temple (城隍廟).

Knowing that a Snake Spirit had appeared in the Main Street, the Magistrate Officer had to engage People to get rid of the Snake as fast as it could before the Emperor knew about it. Just as the Magistrate Officer was trying his best to "lead" the Snake down from the Tree, Shi E returned from the meeting at the Imperial School. After finding out the whole incident, Shi E volunteered himself to negotiate with the Snake Spirit of returning to it's original form.

Shi E came forward to the Tree and upon seeing Shi E, the Snake Spirit's tears roll down from the Eyes, the Commoners standing around to observe were all shocked and actually moved by the scene. Seeing that the Snake Spirit had encountered fear, Shi E went forward to comfort the Snake and ask the Snake to return to it's original form, but the Snake shaked its head and then a voice was being emitted into the Air saying that the Pearl was destroyed and now, the Snake couldnt get back to its original form.

Upon hearing that, Shi E was sad & angry with the Ignorant Monk for being Cruel & Heartless despite doing Buddhist Cultivation. Without any other ways, Shi E had to send the Snake to the Cheng Huang Temple and requested the Cheng Huang to take charge of looking after the Snake.

After Shi E sent the Snake to the Temple, the Magistrate Officer sent a few men to capture Shi E and sentenced him to death due to the bringing Demon into the Capital City. Shi E was shocked and beg for appeal but the Magistrate Officer did not take in his appealing and on the next morning, Shi E was beheaded outside the City Gate.

At the moment of Shi E's execution, a loud explosion was heard from the Cheng Huang Temple direction, after the explosion, a White Dragon ascended into the Air and immediately, Thunder Storm started and Rain poured heavily.

Knowing that Shi E was being wrongly accused, one of the Officers reported the case to the Song Emperor. Upon receiving the Report, Song Emperor was anger by the Ignorant Officer for not being wise & fair. With an Order, the Magistrate Officer was being executed and the Monk was being arrested with death sentence punishment.

Even though the Song Emperor had returned Shi E's innocent, but the Bad-weather did not stopped. On that night, the Snake Spirit had entered into the dream of the Emperor telling that Shi E was actually a Destinated Deity that could cease Bad Weather & Sea disasters. Immediately after woke-up, the Song Emperor bestowed Shi E with the Official Title of Hu Guo Zhen Hai Hou (护国镇海侯) and the White Snake Spirit as Zhen Miao Da Jiang Jun (鎮廟大將軍). Whenever a Temple was built near to any Water, these 2 Deities must be Invited and an Altar must be dedicated to them and All Snake Spirits were have to report to Shi E.

And just as co-incidence, after the Titles were being bestowed to them, the Stormy Weather stopped.

During Ming Dynasty, due to Battles & Internal Riots, a few Generals were being killed. Due to their Merits & Credits in protecting the Commoners, after the Battles & Riots ceased, the Ming Dynasty Emperor also bestowed them with the Title of Hu Guo Zhen Hai Hou. From then, Temples dedicated to Hu Guo Zhen Hai Hou started to get popular.

Now in China Shang Hai City, you all can still find a few Temples dedicated to Shi E and the Ming Generals.

For High Res Pictures, please proceed to this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taoism_deity_singapore_2007/photos/album/1711114503/pic/list