Long Wang (龍王) aka Dragon King of the Sea. In the Chinese Deity System, they do hold a very important task.
So who are they??
In myths, there are Four main Dragon Kings (四大龍王), which each of them is being appointed to look after one directional sea, here they are:
Dragon King of East Directional Sea: Ao Guang (東海龍王敖廣)
Dragon King of South Directional Sea: Ao Run (南海龍王敖潤)
Dragon King of West Directional Sea: Ao Qin (西海龍王敖欽)
Dragon King of North Directional Sea: Ao Shun (北海龍王敖順)
In different contexts, they will have different names.
So what is their Primary Task??
According to Taoist records and scriptures-explanation, the Dragon Kings are being appointed as the Deities in-charge of Rain-pour (行雲佈雨) and sometimes, flooding (造洪遣水).
Upon receiving orders from the Heaven, the Dragon Kings will have to perform the task themselves or sometime, they will get their subordinates to act accordingly on the orders.
It is possible for Dragon Kings not to accept Orders from Heaven??
It is possible, but of cos, actions will be taken accordingly if they have caused un-necessary issues.
In the Ancient Era, there was a Chinese Religious record/myth on Dragon King who didn't follow the order and after the incident was being reported to the Heaven, the Dragon King was being beheaded.
So how many Dragon Kings are there in total??
According to Taoist records and scripture-explanation, there are total of 54 Dragon Kings 五十四海龍王 (including the Four main one 包括四海龍王) and 62 Dragon Deities 六十二水龍神 (each of them are being appointed with different tasks and areas to look after) – in the 62 Dragon Deities, Five of them are those we addressed as Wu Fang Wu Tu Long Shen (包括五方五土龍神), which is the Underground Dragon Deities.
In other contexts, in this whole Universe, there are a total of 84,000 Dragon Kings (八萬四千龍王與龍神) and Deities exist.
So when is the birthday or Anniversary of the Dragon Kings?
According to Taoist records and scripture-explanation, every year, on the 3rd Day of Lunar 10 Month (農曆十月初三日), all the Four main Dragon Kings will gather together, and people addressed this day as Long Ju Ri (龍聚日).
And according to the Taoist records and scripture-explanation, every year, on the 3rd Day of Lunar 2 Month (農曆二月初三日), all the Dragon Kings and Deities will have to report to Jade Emperor for an Annual Reporting in the Celestial Palace (龍神朝天日).
For High Res Pictures, please proceed to this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taoism_deity_singapore_2007/photos/album/136134719/pic/list
眾龍王寶誥
ReplyDeleteZhong Long Wang Bao Gao (Praise Mantra)
至心皈命禮。
Zhi Xin Gui Ming Li
海澨為宮。
Hai Shi Wei Gong
瑤島接址天潢之苗裔。
Yao Dao Jie Zhi Tian Hen Zhi Miao Yi
蒼茫之令辟。
Cang Mang Zhi Ling Pi
職秉三天敕旨。
Zhi Bing San Tian Chi Zhi
統馭百靈。心同天姆慈仁。
Tong Chi Bai Ling,Xin Tong Tian Lao Ci Ren
周全萬類。波濤恬靜。
Zhou Quan Wan Lei, Po Tao Tian Jing
不教汎溢於江河。
Bu Jiao Fan Yi Yu Jiang He
鱗介潛沉。
Ling Jie Qian Chen
未許滔翻而荼毒。
Wei Xu Tao Fan Er Tu Du
浩浩納指南之車。
Hao Hao Na Zhi Nan Zhi Ju
淵淵沛乂安之澤。
Yuan Yuan Pei Yi An Zhi Ze
神功普遍。巨德覃敷。
Shen Gong Pu Bian, Ju De Tan Fu
大悲大願。大聖大慈。
Da Bei Da Yuan, Da Sheng Da Ci
九海全部英烈。貴冑神王。
Jiu Hai Quan Bu Ying Lie, Gui Wei Shen Wang
通達無礙天尊。
Tong Da Wu Ai Tian Zun
These are from the main Matzu Temple Complex in Mei Zhou. This one is one of the newer temples behind the ancient Temple.
ReplyDeleteJave what is the Wu Hai Long Huang? Is it one of the newer inventions or...?
ReplyDeleteHey Jave,
ReplyDeleteDo u have more info about the 五方五土龙神?
Very good... Do you know any Dragon Queen or Lady ?
ReplyDeleteThanks.
why bei hai long wang is like children look ??
ReplyDeletea few question =)
ReplyDelete1) why no "zhong" hai long wang ?
2) the four hai long wang take charge of the rest of the hai long wang ??
3) and izzit true that any temple which pray to Nezha tai zi cannot have long wang in the alter ??
there is a deity call Long Mu from wat i know
ReplyDeleteWu Hai Long Wang are not invented, but it's not mend for the folks to pay respect to (eventhou they are recorded in Scriptures), these Five kings are not from the Five directional seas (alot of folks tend to mis-understand that, these Five represent 5 other seas with a name given to each indiviudual)....
ReplyDelete~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
五方五土龙神 are the 5 Spiritual Dragon Deities that hide under the Earth... they task is to up-hold the whole earth from collasped and also to control the water flow and the earth plate movement.
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Like what our slacker4ever reply, there's one Long Mu exist, and in Spore, only one very old temple dedicate the statue to her. In the past, she being regard as the Mother of the 4 Dragon Kings, and she's in-charge of marriage and giving birth, but after era changed and more deities are given with new tasks to perform, slowly she's being forgotten. In China, in some rural areas, folks stil pay respect to her.
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In China, there's no Central Long Wang,
Why? Cos central belongs to Central Plain which is known as Zhong Yuan, a land for the mortals to stay in, and the four directional water-land surround the Central Plain are given to the Four Long Wang to take-charge.
According to records, the 4 Long Wang are being advised to take charge of all minor Long Wang and Long Shen, but in contexts, the 4 Long Wang are just the same as other Long Wang and Long Shen.
But one thing confirmed, all these Water Realm Deities will have to take order from Shui Guan Da Di aka Lord Emperor of the Water Realm.
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Hahahahaha.. that just myth la... Long Wang is much more higher rank that Na Zha, if Long Wang really want to take the Temple from Na Zha, Na Zha cannot say a NO, he had to quietly moved out of the Temple... wahahahahaha
from wat i know. Toa Payoh Cheng Huang Miao got a kim sin of Long Mu n even Long Wang San Tai Zi.
ReplyDeleteoh i see ...
ReplyDeleteoh no la .. i mean i ever heard that if a temple zhu shen is NeZha
normally long wang will not be in the alter ..
Hahahahaha... this depends on how the temple people are being taught la.. usually not such taboos in official Taoist Temples.
ReplyDeleteoh okok thanks
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha..welcome welcome :P
ReplyDeleteNew set of pics added (longwang_26/27/28/29/30.jpg)
ReplyDeleteseem like taken from a temple
ReplyDeleteYes, this is a pic taken from oversea Temples. Not in Spore, cos no Temples in Spore is solely dedicated to them.
ReplyDeleteShifu does the dragons have one particular leader in Heaven? Like the Grand Dragon king or something like that?
ReplyDeleteThey are all under the supervision of San Guan Da Di aka Lord Emperors of the Three Realms.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
ReplyDeleteNew pics added (longwang_new11052010_01.jpg - longwang_new11052010_09.jpg)
ReplyDeleteNew pics added (longwang_new24112010_01.jpg - longwang_new24112010_04.jpg)
ReplyDelete