Sacred Site of the Nine Emperor Gods
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SACRED SITE OF THE NINE EMPEROR GODS: ( ) 1 Preface .................................................................................................................................... 1 HISTORY, BELIEFS AND LEGENDS ................................................................................... 2 ..................................... 3 Its Establishment in Singapore ................................................................................... 3 Placed under Public Trusteeship ................................................................................ 5 Revival of Celebrations.............................................................................................. 6 Temple comes under New Management .................................................................... 8 Restoration of a National Monument ......................................................................... 8 The Northern Dipper, Dipper Mother, and Nine Emperors (Jiuhuang) ................ 11 Lidou, Jiuhuang Retreat, and the Nine Emperor Gods Worship ........................... 13 Legends .................................................................................................................. 14 Legend No.1: ............................................................................................................ 14 Legend No.2: ............................................................................................................ 14 Legend No.3: ............................................................................................................ 15 Legend No.4: ............................................................................................................ 16 Legend No.5: ............................................................................................................ 17 Legend No.6: ............................................................................................................ 18 Gods and Deities worshipped at the Temple ............................................................. 21 Deities enshrined in the main altar of the Main Hall ................................................. 22 Guangze Zunwang (广济尊王) .......................................................................... 23 Marshal of the Central Altar (中坛元帅)................................................................. 23 God of Blessing & Virtue (福德正神)..................................................................... 24 Sudhanakumāra(善财童子) ................................................................................ 24 Confucius (孔子) ..................................................................................................... 24 Erlang Shen (二郎神) .............................................................................................. 25 2 感天大帝: ................................................................................................................ 25 Bodhidharma(达摩祖师) ......................................................................................... 25 Celestial Master Zhang(张天师) ........................................................................ 25 Taishang Laojun(太上老君) .................................................................................... 26 Zheng Chenggong(郑成功) ................................................................................ 26 Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven (玄天上帝) ................................................ 26 Sage Lord Guan (关圣帝君) .................................................................................... 27 Chao Kung-ming(赵公元帅) ................................................................................... 27 The Monkey God (大圣佛祖) ................................................................................. 27 Patriarch of the Clear Stream (清水祖师) ............................................................... 28 Marshal Tian (田都元帅) ........................................................................................ 28 Grand Master Pu-An (普庵祖师) ............................................................................ 29 Mysterious Maiden of the Nine Heavens (九天玄女) ............................................. 31 Goddess of Mercy (慈航真人) ................................................................................ 31 Nāga-kanya (龙女)................................................................................................... 32 Goddess of Birth (注生娘娘)................................................................................... 32 Mazu/ Tianshang Shengmu (妈祖/天上圣母) ......................................................... 32 Nvwa(女娲) ........................................................................................................ 32 Sage Lord Zhang (张公圣君) .................................................................................. 33 太岁 ..................................................................................... 34 The sixty Tai Sui(六十太岁) ................................................................................... 34 Lady Mother of the Dipper (斗母元君) ................................................................... 35 虎爷将军 ................................................................................................................. 36 OCTAGONAL TOWER ..................................................................................................... 37 ARCHITECTURE .................................................................................................................. 38 Gated Archway............................................................................................................... 40 The Front Yard .............................................................................................................. 40 The Wayang Stage .......................................................................................................... 41 3 The Entrance Hall .......................................................................................................... 44 Roof du ..................................................................................................................... 46 Top du ....................................................................................................................... 46 The Elders ................................................................................................................. 46 Opposing du ............................................................................................................. 47 Body du .................................................................................................................... 47 3.18 red Waist du and Skirt du carved-on stone ..................................................... 48 “Table legs” ............................................................................................................. 48 The Door Gods ......................................................................................................... 48 Roof Structure and Ornaments .................................................................................... 49 Flaming Pearl ............................................................................................................ 50 The Dragon-fish ........................................................................................................ 50 The Gable Walls ............................................................................................................. 51 Doors and Windows ....................................................................................................... 52 Roof Tiles ........................................................................................................................ 53 The Courtyard Structures ............................................................................................. 53 The Main Hall ................................................................................................................ 54 The Four Gold Pillars ................................................................................................ 54 The Stone Base ......................................................................................................... 55 The Side Chambers ........................................................................................................ 55 Mortise-and-tenon Module ........................................................................................... 55 Cornice ..................................................................................................................... 56 Jambs and Lintels ..................................................................................................... 57 Plaques and Couplets ..................................................................................................... 58 “Doumu Gong” signage............................................................................................ 58 Plaques ..................................................................................................................... 59 Couplets ................................................................................................................... 60 Notice Board ............................................................................................................ 61 The Octagonal Tower .................................................................................................... 62 4 The Flooring ..................................................................................................................