Welcoming Deities during Chinese New Year
Chinese Lunar New Year is one of the most important event of the year. During this time, every Taoist practitioner and most Chinese will perform the Ying Shen Jie Fu (迎神接福) ritual to pay respect to Supreme Being Tai Shang Lao Jun, Almight God Yu Huang Da Di (Tian Gong) as well as other Other Taoist Gods and Goddess Shen Xian & Xian Nu. Ying Shen Jie Fu (迎神接福) literally means to welcome Taoist Gods and Goddess (Shen Xian & Xian Nu) and to receive Five Happiness Wu Fu; Luck, Fame, Long Life, Wealth and Good Descendants.
Brief Introduction to some Deities
Tai Shang Lao JunDaode Tianzun (道德天尊) is the official title for Tàiqīng (太清): the Grand Pure One, which is one of the Three Pure Ones. He is commonly known as Taishang Laojun (太上老君) "The Grand Supreme Elderly Lord". His other names include Daode Zhizun 道德至尊 "The Universally Honoured Virtuous One", Daojiao Zhizu (道教之祖), the Taoist Ancestor. Laozi is regarded to be a manifestation of Daode Tianzun who authored the classic Tao Te Ching. His manifestation anniversary falls on the 15th day of 2nd month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
Er Lang ShenErlang Shen (二郎神), or Erlang is a Chinese God with a third truth-seeing eye in the middle of his forehead. Er-lang Shen may be a deified version of several semi-mythical folk heroes who help regulate China's torrential floods, dating variously from the Qin, Sui and Jin dynasties. A later Buddhist source identify him as the second son of the Northern Heavenly King Vaishravana.
In the Ming semi-mythical novels Creation of the Gods and Journey to the West, Erlang Shen is the nephew of the Jade Emperor. In the former he assisted the Zhou army in defeating the Shang. In the latter, he is the second son of a mortal and Jade emperor's brother. In the legend, he is known as the greatest warrior god of heaven. His manifestation anniversary falls on the 28th day of 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Jiu Tian Xuan NuiThe Mysterious Lady of the Ninth Heaven is a female deity. She had been the teacher of the legendary Yellow Emperor of China; Huang Di (黄帝). When the Yellow Emperor had been fighting the rebel Ch`i You, the Mysterious Lady of the Ninth Heaven descended and bestowed the Yellow Emperor with the military register for dispatching, with a seal and sword. She made a drum that was made out of cow skin with eighty sides, which the Yellow Emperor used to defeat Ch`i You (蚩尤) in the legendary battle of Zhuolu.
She is depicted as a fair rosy complexion lady, usually brandishing a sword in her right hand while the left hand holds a gourd. The Taoist gourd is a symbol of immortality, healing (contains golden elixir), longevity and good fortune. Her manifestation anniversary falls on the 9th day of 9th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. |