Introduction of Shui Xian Zun Wang aka Dukes of Water (水仙尊王)

 
More pictures of Shui Xian Zun Wang (水仙尊王照片): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taoism_deity_singapore_2007/photos/album/746984117/pic/list

Shui Xian Zun Wang (水仙尊王) aka Dukes of the Water or Sea (水神諸侯), they are 5 real historical characters (in our Ancient History), whom died associating with water or sea.

So who they are?

Here's the introduction on each of them:

First: Da Yu (大禹) aka Xia Wang (夏王), real name known as Shi Yu (似禹) or Wen Ming (文命), which is one of the 3 Lord Emperors that we pay respect to (known as Xia Yuan Shui Guan Da Di 下元水官大帝), he is the one who is being appointed to look after issues that are associated in the Water Realm (掌管水界).

Due to his credits and merits in ceasing the water disasters (flooding, diseases), he was being respected by the folks as one of the Deities that are closely associated with water or sea. After folks gathered all Deities that are associated with water to form Shui Xian Zun Wang, Da Yu was being included in the group.

Second: Qu Yuan (屈原) aka Qu Da Fu (屈大夫), one of the loyalty Officer in Chu Kingdom (楚國臣). After giving some strict comments to King Chu Huai ()楚懷王, Qu Yuan was being outcast and King Chu Huai sent him off to a faraway site (the border 發放邊境) as a form of outcasting.

Upon knowing that the Chu Kingdom would be destroyed at any moment, Qu Yuan was so disappointed and upset, after writing a long poem on how he felt, he killed himself by jumping into River Mi Luo 汨羅江 (now in Hu Bei Province of China 現今中國湖北省), after the folks got the news that Qu Yuan jumped into the River, they prepared boats to search area the river for Qu Yuan and the ladies prepared rice-dumplings and threw them into the river, in-order for the fishes not to eat up the Qu Yuan's body – this is how Dumpling Festival started (端午節的由來).

Due to his loyalty to the Kingdom and King, Qu Yuan was being well respected by the folks. During the forming of the Shui Xian Zun Wang, Qu Yuan was another one who was being listed.

Third: Wu Zi Xu (伍子胥) aka Wu Yuan (伍員), a well-known General during the Warring States (戰國時代). After being insulted and accused, Wu Zi Xu was killed and the body was being thrown into the sea as a form of degrading by King Wu Fu Chai (吳王夫差).

Due to his loyalty and the braveness in taking revenge for his Country and family, Wu Zi Xu was being respected as a Deity after he passed away, even though he made some mistakes before he was being killed, but due to his accumulated credits and merits, the knowledge that he had, he was being listed in the Shui Xian group as part of the Water Deities.

Forth: Li Bai (李白) aka Li Tai Bai (李太白), a famous poet in Tang Dynasty, during Emperor Tang Xuan Zong period (唐玄宗).

Due to Concubine Yang Yu Huan (楊貴妃) and him were rival on certain issues, a lot of time, Li Bai was being neglected by Emperor Tang Xuan Zong and due to all these neglecting, Li Bai was so disappointed with the Imperial Court of not making use of his talents and knowledge in assisting the developing of the Tang Empire.

One day, after he retirement, he was drinking at his garden, after getting drunk, he saw the reflection of the moon in one the pond, he thought that the moon had drown itself in the pond, in-order to "rescue" the moon, Li Bai jumped into the pond and drowned himself (水中撈月而亡).

Because of his contributions in writing poems and songs, Li Bai was being respect as a Deity of Poem, due to he's being drowned to death, folks also associate him with the Deities of Water and this was how he’s being included in the Shui Xian group.

Fifth: Wang Bo (王勃) aka Wang Zi An (王子安), born in Tang Dynasty. He was a well-known young Poet at that Era (唐初詩人).

After being accused by some evil Officers in the Tang Imperial Court, Wang Bo's father was being sent to Jiao Zhi Country 交趾國 (which is now Vietnam 現今越南) to be the Overall-in-charge-Officer there.

One year, in-order to pay a vist at Jiao Zhi Country, Wang Bo took an old boat across the sea to Jiao Zhi, half way of the journey, the old boat met with big storm and soon, the whole boat over-turned and all the people on the boat were drowned, Wang Bo was one of the them.

Due to his filial piety and the contributions on the poems, Wang Bo was being respected by the folks as one of the Deities associated with water or sea.

In Singapore, rarely you can see Temples or Altars dedicated to these 5 Deities.

On every year, 10 Day of Lunar 10 Month (農曆十月初十日), Taoists will celebrate the Overall Anniversary dedicating to the various Shui Xian Zun Wang.