Zhang Xian (張仙) aka Zhang Xian Da Di (張仙大帝) or Lord Zhang Xian, a Deity appointed and honoured as the Patron of Protecting Babies and Giving Blessings to unborn infants.
In the Chinese Deity System, there are a few Zhang Xian being recorded, but the most popular and recommended one is known as Zhang Yuan Xiao (張遠霄).
Zhang Yuan Xiao, born in Five Dynasty Ten Kingdom Period (CE907 – 960 生于五代十國), hometown in China Mei Shan Area (家鄉於中國眉山).
Since young, Zhang Yuan Xiao was an intelligent person. At a young age, he was able to recite a lot of profound classics and able to apply the knowledge of that he learnt from the classics on handling daily encountered issues, etc.
After growing-up, Zhang Yuan Xiao would travel around his hometown to provide assistances to the needy. One year, while Zhang Yuan Xiao performing his routine, an old man with four eyes approached him. Upon approaching, the old man gave Zhang Yuan Xiao a bow and a golden pearl. Before the old man left, he told Zhang Yuan Xiao that these 2 items were able to help him in assisting the folks to overcome any forms of disasters, just before Zhang Yuan Xiao expressed his gratitude, the old man disappeared.
From then, Zhang Yuan Xiao tried his best effort in mastering the skills and soon, he mastered the skills of using the bow and golden pearl (竹弓金彈).
In the year of Zhang Yuan Xiao's Enlightenment, his hometown met with a serious disaster. A lot of the folks were infected with an unknown disease and after several rounds of medical assistance, the folks still couldn’t get cured and so Zhang Yuan Xiao volunteered himself to go round his hometown to do inspections.
After rounds of inspections and observation, Zhang Yuan Xiao found out that, the unknown disease was being emitted by a Negative Entity – The Black Dog (天狗). Without any further consideration, Zhang Yuan Xiao took out his bow and golden pearl, by combining the two Positive energies emitted from the bow and pearl, he released the pearl and the pearl flew directly into the mid-air and the pearl shot onto the Black Dog. Within seconds, the Black Dog was being chased off.
From then, Zhang Yuan Xiao's hometown regained its peacefulness.
Soon after the incident, Zhang Yuan Xiao got his Enlightenment, he was being summoned to the Celestial Palace and after meeting up with Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝), Zhang Yuan Xiao was being appointed as Jiu Tian Fu Yuan Kai Hua Ling Ying Zhang Xian Da Di Qi Qu Yu Sheng Tian Zun (九天輔元開化靈應張仙大帝七曲毓聖天尊), main task was to look after babies and unborn infants from the infection of any form of diseases.
In order to show the gratitudes for Zhang Xian, the folks dedicate Temples and statues for Zhang Xian. Till today, on every year 23rd Day of Lunar 11 Month (農曆十一月廿三日), on the birthday of Zhang Xian, folks will visit temples to pay their respect to Zhang Xian and also to request for blessings for babies and unborn infants.
For High Res Pics, please proceed to this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taoism_deity_singapore_2007/photos/album/1317701698/pic/list
