Introduction of Xiao Zi Gong aka Zhi Sheng Ying Lie Sheng Hou (孝子公英烈聖侯簡介)

Xiao Zi Gong (孝子公), known as the Duke of Filial Piety, was one of the few Chinese Deities that being bestowed with the title of Xiao Zi (孝子 translated as Son in Mourning).

 

Due to the title Xiao Zi, a lot of folks tend to regards him as a Nether World Deity (誤認為冥府陰神), which is absolute wrong or so-called ignorant.

 

In our Chinese Deity System, there is a total of Only 3 Xiao Zi Gong, all the 3 of them are Heavenly bestowed Deities which do not have any association with the Nether World.

 

One of them is the most famous & popular Hokkien Deity (福建神明), Guang Ze Zun Wang Guo Zhong Fu (廣澤尊王郭忠福), another is known as Yuan Ru Gong (遠如孝子公), real name known as Lin Xue Ming (林學明), born in Qing Dynasty (CE1673 生于清朝年間).

 

The one that I’m doing intro here is known as Chen Song (陳聳) aka Chen Jie (陳傑).

 

According to records, Chen Song shall be born in Late Song Dynasty (生于宋朝末年), at a young age, Chen Song's father passed-away, leaving him and his mother, Old Madam Chen.

 

After growing-up, Chen Song got a post in the Magistrate Officer as a Secretary aka Advisor (師爺).

 

One year, while the Magistrate Officer was handling a murderer case, a Richman was being caught and jailed. But due to this Richman was so rich, he used money to bribe the Magistrate Officer. In order to set the Richman free, the Magistrate Officer had to find a replacement.

 

After consideration, the Richman pointed out to the Magistrate Officer that, he could use Chen Song as the replacement. The Magistrate Officer was shocked from the suggestion.

 

Soon the Richman explained to the Magistrate Officer why. Cos Chen Song was an Upright person, if Chen Song found out that the Magistrate Officer got the bribe money and set the Richman free, Chen Song might resigned from his post and no guarantee that Chen Song would not spread the rumours out.

 

Upon listening to the Richman's suggestion, the Magistrate Officer got the hint and so, after setting off the Richman, the Magistrate Officer pushed all the blames to Chen Song and within a short period, Chen Song was being executed.

 

After Chen Song got executed, the body was left in the execution venue. No one was dared to go near to collect the body cos the Magistrate Officer had made order to all the villagers not to touch the body.

 

On the night of the execution, Chen Song came back home to look for his Mother. Due to Chen Song was a well-known Person of Filial Piety, the soul of his was not willing to go for reporting to the Nether World (冥府), so his soul stayed in the home in-order to look after his Mother.

 

As days went by, the body of Chen Song started to decompose. The smell of the decomposition filled the air and the whole City was covered with the rotten smell.

 

Knowing that the smell was from the body of Chen Song, the Magistrate Officer was shocked and the Richman made his advised again of burning-off the body.

 

Without any further consideration, the Officer sent someone to burn off the body. On the moment of the subordinate light the body with fire, the body of Chen Song disappeared, the subordinate was shocked and ran back to the Officer to report the incident to the Officer.

 

At the same time, Chen Song's soul was started to vanish. By this time, Chen Song had to tell the truth to his Mother that actually he had passed-away. Old Madam Chen was shocked and sad to know that. Just before the soul vanished, a Deity came into the house of Chen Song.

 

The Deity read out an Order from Heaven that, Chen Song was being bestowed with the title of Deity of Filial Piety (孝道之神明). He was able to stay in the Mortal World to spread the teaching & culture of Filial Piety.

 

Soon after Chen Song got his Official Deity, the Magistrate Officer was in shock and after a few days, the Officer passed away with no illnesses or diseases. Maybe this is the retribution of causing the death of an innocent filial person.

 

After the story of Chen Song being spread out to the folks, the folks made contribution to dedicate an Altar to him. Soon the Altar was set up for Chen Song. From then, offerings and respects that the folks made to Chen Song never stopped.

 

Till today, the Altar that dedicated to Chen Song is still being kept in good condition.

The location of the Temple with the Altar is in Hokkien Province, Zhang Zhou City, Chang Tai Area (福建省漳州市長泰縣). The is known as Huang Long Gong (皇龍宮).