The Day had arrived and this was the issue that I had been trying to avoid and don’t dare to think of, since the Day I heard that our 64th Heavenly Master Zhang Yuan Xian had suffered from certain illnesses.
Last Friday Mid-night, upon getting the news from my Taiwan Senior on our 64th Heavenly Master had passed-on (got Enlightenment), I was totally shocked and felt terribly miserable and sad, cos I knew that I wouldn’t be able to see our dearest 64th Heavenly Master Zhang Yuan Xian anymore.
On the death-bed of my Late Master – Master Ding Gui, he had mentioned to me and strongly advised me to travel to Taiwan to meet up with our dearest 64th Heavenly Master, after the 3rd Year of his passing-on, but till today, I had yet to have the chance to make a trip to Taiwan.
During the last staying period of my Late Master, he verbally-passed me a few statements, hoping that I can convey his messages to our dearest 64th Heavenly Master, but maybe now, they would had met up in the Celestial Realm.
Since the 62nd Heavenly Master and my Late Grandmaster met in the 1800s, Long Shan Men and the Heavenly Masters had been working quite closely to promote the Culture of Taoism in China, Taiwan and Singapore.
In 1930s, while 63rd Heavenly Master came to Singapore, my Late Grandmaster & Master had been with them for quite sometime until our 63rd Heavenly Master migrated to Taiwan.
After 64th Heavenly Master Zhang Yuan Xian ascended the Seat of Heavenly Master, my Late Master and Elders had been keeping close interaction with him until in 1970s, Long Shan Men being forced to stop operating by some of our Local Taoist Groups.
Since then, the interaction between Long Shan Men and Heavenly Master Zhang Yuan Xian seems to get lesser and lesser.
Year 2000, my bed-ridden Late Master had been telling me of visiting Taiwan one day when I’m able to and I did promised him to do so, but till today, I had yet to fulfill his dream.
On 17 Oct 2008, around 3.00 – 4.00Am in the Morning, our dearest 64th Heavenly Master Zhang Yuan Xian got his Enlightenment at the age of 78.
No one can change the History but to accept it and continue to live in it.
For now, Jave just sincerely hope that our 64th Heavenly Master Zhang Yuan Xian can give is the necessary Blessing and guide us in the Right Path to promote our Culture & Teaching of Taoism.
Wu Liang Guan
Wu Lian Shou
Long Shan Men 35th Generation Leader Xiao Hua Jun (Jave) and All disciples and the families pay our highest respect to 64th Heavenly Master Zhang Yuan Xian.
In the Morning of 17 Oct 2008 (19th Day of Lunar 9 Month), our dearest and most honourable 64th Heavenly Master Zhang Yuan Xian had left us after gaining his Enlightenment (pass-on at home in Taiwan Tainan).
As a Taoist, we needed to show our best respect to him for promoting and bringing all our Taoist together.
In the following is the list of the Names of the 500 Spiritual Protectors in Taoism, which we called Ling Guan (五百道教守護神).
This set of Names are being recorded since dont-know-when-Era and now, seldom people will used this set of Names for any special events or occasions.
This set of Names can be found in the Taoist Record known as Dao Zang Ji Yao (道藏輯要), which in Singapore bookstores, it is totally impossible to find that.
Due to there are too many names, for the moment, I wont be able to add in the Han Yu Pin Yin version, will do it soon.
For High Res Pictures, please proceed to this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taoism_deity_singapore_2007/photos/album/64446346/pic/list
Xu Fu (徐福), full name known as Xu Jun Pang (徐君旁), a Cultivated Person or Priest during the Qin Dynasty.
According to records, Xu Fu was born before BCE 220, exact date & hometown unknown.
After Emperor Qin aka Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇) conquered the other Six Kingdoms (六國統一) and beginning to believe in Immortality, Emperor Qin started to have thoughts of gaining Long Life-span and so, after searching and discussion, Xu Fu was being summoned into the Qin Palace to do explanation and research on where to get the Long-life Elixir (長生不老藥).
Upon summoning and enquiries made by Emperor Qin, Xu Fu replied that, in-order to get the Long-life Elixir, oneself will needed to travel to the various Immortal Islands that are far from China. According to the records of Spiritual Master Gui Gu (鬼谷先師), there are 3 Immortal Mountains, which are known as Peng Lai, Fang Zhan & Ying Zhou (蓬萊。方丈。瀛洲). On these 3 Mountains, there are plenty of Immortal Plants that are able to made into Elixir for consuming to gain Long-life.
After hearing what Xu Fu had replied, Emperor Qin ordered Xu Fu to plan for the traveled to the Immortal Mountains.
Around BCE 210, Xu Fu went for his journey to look for the Elixir.
Just before Xu Fu set-off for the searching, Xu Fu made a request to Emperor Qin that, in-order to have a better result on the searching, he will need a total number of 3000 boys and girls (三千童男童女). Upon knowing of the request, Emperor Qin summoned his assistants to capture 3000 boys and girls to accompany Xu Fu out into the Faraway Land.
Years went by and soon, Emperor Qin reached his Life-limitation but Xu Fu had yet to return to the Qin Empire. Upon disappointment, Emperor Qin passed away with hatred and regrets. Just before Emperor Qin passed-away, he advised his Family Members and the other Officers who made planning for his Funeral to direct his Tombstone to face the Direction of where Xu Fu set-off for the searching of Elixir – reason, hoping that one day Xu Fu will returned and he can get back to life after Xu Fu feed the Elixir into his dying mouth.
Many Years after Qin Empire fall, people spread rumours about Xu Fu had gained Enlightenment after he found the Elixir himself.
But according to some History Records, Xu Fu actually went to Japan (日本 maybe he lost his way on the Sea route, etc) with the 3000 boys and girls. After finding that Japan was not a bad place to stay, Xu Fu and the 3000 boys and girls settled down in the Island to become the first group of People to stay on the deserted Island. And after many years, People believed that they will the Ancestors of the Japanese today.
If you will to go to Japan, you are still able to find Temples & Shrines dedicated to Xu Fu.
Liao Tian Ding (廖添丁), a Righteous Robber whom born in AD1883, 15th Day of Lunar 4 Month. Hometown in Taiwan, Tai Zhong Area (台灣台中市).
At the age of 2, Liao’s Father was killed due to an argument. After Liao’s Father passed-away, his Mother – Madam Wang Zu (王足), started to go around in the whole Country to look for Good Lawyer to fight for her husband’s innocent death.
After years of traveling and engaging of Lawyers, Madam Wang Zu was down with terrible debts, in-order to support the family, Madam Wang Zu had to re-marry to another guy known as Cai Rong (蔡榮) as the Mistress and so Liao had to follow his mother to married into the Cai Family.
Upon marrying into the Cai Family, Cai Rong’s initial wife couldn’t get along with Liao and Madam Wang Zu decided to send Liao to his aunt’s place and so from then, Liao stayed with his aunt known as Liao Ah Bao (廖阿寶).
At a young age, Liao started to work as coolie in a nearby shop, due to his mischievous attitude, Liao always get into trouble and his aunt had to step out to cease the trouble created.
After growing up, Liao followed his hometown-mate to Taipei to look for jobs.
Upon reaching Taipei (台北), Liao got a job in a shop as an assistant selling the daily necessities. One day, Liao was being accused for stealing some of the items in the shop and was sacked immediately by the boss, from then, Liao’s bad reputation was being spread around the town and no one dared to employ him.
With the boycotting by the Town people, Liao had to wander around to seeking assistances from the others.
As Liao’s age got older, Liao slowly understood that how Japanese Government tortured his fellow Country-mate (during that Era, Taiwan was under the governor of Japan), Liao started to create a lot of trouble for the Japanese Governor and at certain times, Liao even sneaked into houses of such Rich Japanese to steal money and valuable stuffs to distribute out to the suffering Taiwanese.
Year 1909 (明治四十二年), 18th Day of Lunar 11 Month, Liao was being asked to meet up with some of his friends in one of the deserted place in Ba Li County (八里鄉). Due to few days of standing guard against the Japanese invading, Liao was terribly exhausted and felt restless. Just at the time of seeing his friends approaching, Liao stood up to wave to them and just at that very moment, Liao saw a group of Japanese Soldiers running towards him carrying their Guns.
Liao wanted to run but due to his tiring physical body, Liao was caught and after the Japanese Soldiers caught him, Liao refused to surrender to them and on the spot, Liao was being killed, at that time, Liao was only 26 years old.
After Liao’s death, those people who had got his kind assistances before, set up Altars for him, in-order to show their gratitude to Liao. And the friends that betrayed Liao was being boycott by the fellow people.
Few decades later, Temples dedicating to Liao were built in-order to keep in memory of how Liao showed his braveness while fighting against the invaders.
This is the last part of the Video Clip.
Enjoy.
This is the 2nd part of the Video Clip.
Enjoy.
In the following is the 1st Video Clip on Teochew Taoist Ritual - Yu Huang Chao Ke.
This is totally rare to see in Singapore.
Do enjoy.
http://longshanmen.org/
This is the First Official Website of Long Shan Men Taoist Group.
For those who are interested in finding more on Long Shan Men, please feel free to visit our Website.
We welcome all comments and suggestions.
Few Days of Celebration and Events participation, on the 9th Day of Lunar 9 Month, Long Shan Men conducted the Final Dotting & Up-Raise of Altar before the 9 Month Celebration Officially Close for the Year.
In the Morning of the 9th Day, I arrived at the Altar Premises at about 7.00Am to do the necessary for the Raising of the Altar (昇座) & Dotting of the 2nd Batch of statues.
Actually for this Year or in this Period, I didn’t really want to do the Raising of Altar, but again, human prediction is always something that cannot compare with the prediction of Heaven and so, certain things occurred forcing me to Raise the Altar for the 3rd time.
After the Raising of the Altar, the Dotting Ceremony started. Firstly by doing a quick and brief report on the Event to the Heaven and the various associated Deities and last, called upon the Deities that we inviting for the Dotting Ceremony.
Once the reporting and invitation was done, the Enhancing of the Objects for Dotting was done too and then the Dotting of the statues started.
This time round, Hua Guang Ma Yuan Shuai (華光馬元帥), Tai Sui Xing Jun (太歲星君), Xuan Tian Shang Di (玄天上帝) and Zhang Tian Shi (張天師) were being dotted.
After the Dotting, the statues were being invited to Go Cross the Fire (set up on the Altar by using the Candles) and then placed them on the assigned Position according to their Rank and Task-holding-Authorities.
Upon placing them onto the assigned Position, the whole Raising of Altar and Dotting Ceremony mark an end and followed by was the Offering of Wine, Tea and other small Offerings for the newly added Deities.
From then, Long Shan Men’s Celebration for the 180th Anniversary of entering into Singapore mark an Officially End for Year 2008.
Next Year, we will try to do something bigger in-order for All other local Taoists to join in. Do keep a Look out on that.
Last of All, I will like to use this opportunity to thank those who had assist us in setting-up of the Altar and also those who had join in most of the Long Shan Men 180th Anniversary Events.
See you all next year.
