The Gold Goodness Temple - Jindeyuan

Wi To Pho Sat – Bodhisatva the Protector of Temples

韋陀菩薩 Wei Tuo Pu Sa {Hok Kian= Wi To Pho Sat} had the title of 護法菩薩 Hu Fa Pu Sa, namely Bodhisatva the Protector of Dharma. Wi To Pho Sat was also called 韋陀天 Wei Tuo Tian, was Bodhisatva who protected Buddhist Monasteries, Temples and sacred Buildings. He was also the Protector of Buddhist holy books.

Wi To Pho Sat originated from the God of Brahmana Religion in India. According to the legend, Wi To Pho Sat had 6 heads & 12 arms. He rode a peacock with his hands holding arch and arrows. After Wi To was admitted into Buddhism, he became a Bodhisatva the Protector of Temple/Buddhist monastery 7 became one of 8 Generals of Southern Heavens. 四大天王 Si Da Tian Wang (4 Kings of Heavens) respectively had 8 Kings of Heavens and that totally there were 32 Generals of Heavens. Wi To Pho Sat was the Leader of 32 such Generals of heavens.

As a Custodian of Dharma, generally his Kim Sin (statue) was put in the main room of a temple, back to back with 彌勒古佛 Mi Le Gu Fo {Bi Lek Ko Hud — Maitreya Buddha}. His pratima was described with complete war dress while his hands carrying Hang Mo Pian (Sharp Weapon for Conquering Devil).

As stated by Buddhist Book, Wei Tuo was a son of Tian Wang (King of Heavens) whom because of his good deed Sakyamuni Buddha appointed Wei Tuo as the Protector of Dharma Buddha when he went up to Nirwana. Therefore, he had a duty to protect Dharma Sang Buddha, protected members of Sangha from disturbance of Mara and reconciled if there was inter-sect disagreement. In the event that a Sangha (Mahayana) breached Vinaya (Buddhistship regulations), then he would be confronted to Wi Tuo Pu Sa for Remorse.

Wi To Pho Sat was sometimes appeared as 門神 Men Shen {Mui Sin = the Angle of Doors} who safeguarded the temples together with 迦闌菩薩 Jia Lan Pu Sa {Ka Lan Pho Sat — Bodhisatva the Protector of Sacred Buildings).

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Er Lang Shen - The Protector Of River City

二朗神 Er Lang Shen is an Angle, the protector of River City. He is a son of李彬 Li Bing, a Governor of 四川 Xi Chuan Province, who lived during Qin Dynasty era.

At that time, Min River (閩江 Min Jiang, one of Yang Zi River branches with the spring in Xi Chuan area), frequently resulted in flood in Guan Kou area (near Cheng Du). As a Governor who was sensitive to the people suffering, Li Bing invited his son Li Er Lang, to visit disaster area and thinking how to deal it with.

Guan Kou people that had been desperate to encounter flood that always destroyed houses and their irrigated rice field and unirrigated rice field, seemed to give up and relied on the spiritual counselor to avoid the disaster. The spiritual counselor used this opportunity to exploit and threatened the people. It was said that the flood was due to King of Dragon wished to seek for wife. The people are required to send a girl every year to become the wife of King of Dragon in that Min River. Then every years was held ceremony of plunging a girl to the river led by spiritual counselor and followed by wailing and weeping of the girl’s parents.

Li Bing was determined to end all of these. And tried to make people aware that disaster could be hindered if they were willing to cooperate to restore the river flow. This effort was of course opposed by the spiritual counselors who saw that they would suffer loss if people no longer believed to them.

To encounter them, Li Bing said that his daughter was ready to become a wife of King of Dragon for this year. He asked the spiritual counselor led the ceremony. Previously, Li Bing instructed Er Lang to capture a big puff-faced water snake, pun into a bag and hidden in the bottom of the river.

At the time of bride delivery ceremony was held in the brink of river, Li Bing said to the spiritual counselor that he wished the King of Dragon showed itself in order that people could see its face. The spiritual counselor got angry and threatened. But Li Bing who was determined to end this cruel practice, asserted that the spiritual counselor to show the face of King of Dragon. Due to possible condition to act, Li Bing ordered his son Li Er Lang to jump into the river and forced the King of Dragon to emerge. After diving for a moment Er Lang came out again while dragged carcass or the said puff-faced water snake ashore. The people were uproarious. Li Bing said that the cruel King of Dragon has been killed. The people no longer required to worry about the disturbance anymore and needless to sacrifice their girls every year.

After that, Li Bing persuaded the people to control Min River. This effort was finally successful and people in that region were free from the flood. To commemorate the merit of Li Bing and Er Lang, then it was established Temple of Anniversary in that place.

Er Lang Shen, was adored by many people in Xi Chuan Province. Several Big temples particularly established for him located in Guan Xian called Guan Kou Miao: in Cheng Du, Bao Ning, Ya An and several other places named of Er Lang Miao ( Er Lang Temple). In addition to Xi Chuan, Hu Nan Province also had several quite prehistoric Er Lang Miao Er Lang Shen was featured as a handsome young man with three eyes, wearing golden dress, brings a three–pronged spear, followed by a Dog of Heavens (Thien Kou), and sometimes added with an eagle. He was considered as an Angle who Protecting City in the brink of river. But also often featured together with Tai Shang Lao Jun as guards.

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Seng Hong Ya - God of City Protector

In the people’s heart, Seng Hong Ya is a court official in the hereafter (afterlife), who can fill up the court weakness in the world, so that Seng Hong Ya is considerably respected by common people. Belief in Seng Hong Ya was originating from worship to 水庸神 Shui Yong Shen (God of Drainage Ditch Supervisor), namely one of Ba Zha Shen (God of Crops consisting of 8 Deities).

In the belief of Chinese people, Seng Hong Ya is the only God having difference of level (social level). Person who heads up the whole country is called 天下都城隍 Thian Xia Dou Cheng Huang. Person who administers a province is called 都城隍 Dou Cheng Huang. Person who administers a regent was 府城隍 Fu Cheng Huang.

城隍爺 Cheng Huang Ye {Hok Kian = Seng Hong Ya } is God of City Protector. Literally Cheng Huang means Protective Ditch of City Fortress (城 Cheng = city wall. 隍 Huang = dry ditch outside city wall).

Worship ceremony to respect Ba Zha Shen was started by Emperor Yao [B.C. 2357– 2258]. Shui Yong Shen as one of Ba Zha Shen occupied the most important position among those eight gods. Gradually the meaning of ditch was broadened including ditch or fortress protecting ditch which was called Cheng Huang.

During San Guo {Sam Kok = Three Kingdom} era [A.D. 221– 265] in Wu {Gouw} country, Cheng Huang was begun being respected separately, apart from Ba Zha Shen. In the year A.D. 239 was established a temple of 城隍廟 Cheng Huang Miao {Seng Hong Bio}, namely the first Seng Hong temple.

During Tang Dynasty era [A.D. 618 907] in each provincial capital were many temples being established to respect Seng Hong. Ever since Seng Hong was officially has come God of City Protector, with common call Cheng Huang Lao Ye {Seng Hong Lo Ya} or Cheng Huang Ye {Seng Hong Ya}.

After 明太祖 Ming Tai Zu {Beng Thai Cou} – 朱元璋 Zu Yuan Zhang the first Emperor of Ming Dynasty was in command, he was then appointed Cheng Huang in the State Capital (then in Nan Jing) as Tian Xia Dou Cheng Huang meaning God of State Capital Protector with the title of Ming Ling Wang. After that, all Cheng Huang from each provincial capital was appointed as Du Cheng Huang meaning God of Capital Protector. Then Cheng Huang of each Regency capital was awarded the title of Wei Ling Gong. Whereas in regency level was awarded a title of Ling Ying Hou and title of Xian You Bo in sub-district level. For that reason, Cheng Huang Ye has typical regional characteristics.

During this Emperor Ming Tai Zu era, the temples to do homage to Seng Hong Ya in China, their types resemble offices of government official & their rank level were also following sequence line of promotion of government officials.

During Qing Dynasty era [1644 - 1911] each government office, both military and civil, was required to establish to adore Cheng Huang next to him, as a symbol of Yang (real government, government offices) and Yin (the government by spirit, in the form of Cheng Huang temple). The officials on duty there were required to worship in each Ce It & Cap Go (the firsts and the fifteenth day of Chinese Calendar) in the said Cheng Huang temple, as a homage to the ruler from that afterlife.
Many people believe that the dead person, his departed spirit will be brought to the presence of Seng Hong Ya to be examined, then decided it will enter the heavens or hell. Seng Hong Ya had many subordinates, they among others are 文武判官 Wen Wu Pan Guan {Bun Bu Pwan Kwan} namely a civil& military prosecutor, 牛頭馬面 Niu Tou Ma Mian {Gu Thou Be Bin} namely Cow head & Horse face man, Qi Ye Ba Ye also called 大爺二爺 Da Ye Er Ye (also see article on Da Ye Er Ye – Tall & Short God– Archive of March 2008), then there are other 24 officials called Er Shi Si Si {Ji Cap Si Su}.

Cheng Huang Ye was a ruler from the hereafter but his power also included in the world. He was adored as model of an ideal and honest high-rank official. If there were two parties in dispute, they would go to Cheng Huang Temple to swear each other. In the anniversary his birthday was held Gotong Toa Pe Kong ceremony with the theme of Cheng Huang Ye Inspects his people.

There were several Cheng Huang temples that had direct connection to Dong Yue Miao (temple of the place to worship Dong Yue Da Di, Gods of the Ruler of East Mountain). In addition to, Dong Yue Da Di, it was sculpted 10 King of the Hereafter and 18-level of Hell. It described that in the hereafter there will be any sequences of investigation. After being investigated carefully in Cheng Huang location, the spirit would be brought to the presence of Dong Yue Da Di, and carried on to the site of King of Hell, Yan Luo Wang { Hok Kian = Giam Lo Ong } to be imprisoned to the Hell.

Beliefs in Seng Hong Ya were spread from generation to generation in the circle of people. The people believed that the killing heroes, good people or people who have been deserved well for the society, would be appointed become Seng Hong Ya. Consequently, in a range of cities respected Seng Hong Ya was different. For instance, in Hang Zhou city, capital of Zhe Jiang province, prominent figure considered as Seng Hong Ya was Zhou Xin. Zhou Xin was a description of an honest & emphatic court official in his effort to uphold the justice, non bribable and unafraid of being threatened, even by the very authoritative person indeed. In Gun Ming city, a capital of Yun Nan province, person who was appointed as Seng Hong Ya was Yu Qian, a prominent figure during Ming Dynasty era who had ever become a prime minister.

Atmosphere of Cheng Huang temple is usually majestic. There is a big plank inscribed with: You will also be here if your time is coming. It is also equipped with a big abacus, stating that the angles here were honest, non bribable. What you have done during your life in the world, it will be reckoned accurately.

Temple for the worship of Cheng Huang Ye is one of the big temples and widely spread in China. Nearly in each big and small city there are Cheng Huang Miao.

In Tainan, Taiwan there are 3 Cheng Huang Miao. Cities in Southeast Asia there are also many temples that worship Cheng Huang Ye. They among others are in Singapore, adoration to Cheng Huang Ye is in Kelenteng Hong San Si Temple in Sultan Muhammad Road.

Such was the origin of worship to Seng Hong Ya has been started since more than 4,300 years ago!!!

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