Hall of Worship
Tu Di Gong (土地公）
The Great Spirits of the Earth , other names are God of Fortunes and Virtues (福德正神)， Dizhu Gong, Tudi Ye, Dabo Gong and Hou Tu etc. Tu Di Gong is a popular Chinese earth god worshipped by Chinese folk religion worshippers and Taoists. In traditional China, worshipping Tu Di Gong was worshipping the earth. In modern days, people make prayers to him for wealth, well-being, fortune, and agricultural harvest. Tu Di Gong has a close relationship with the commoners.
Tu Di Gong Birthday : 2nd day of Lunar 2nd month.
Tai Yi Emperor
Tai Yi Emperor is also known as Emperor of Tai Dong Ji Qing Hua. He is one of the 3 sacred Deities of Heavenly Emperor. Tai Yi Emperor helps people who are in trouble and has earn people’s respect.
Tai Yi Emperor Holy Birthday : 11th day of Lunar 11th month.
Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is one of the four major Bodhisattvas in Chinese Buddhism. According to legend, his monastery is located in Jiuhua Mountain, Anhui Province. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was born into the royal family of Silla. His surname was Jin and his given name was Qiao Jue. After becoming a monk, he came to China during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty in China. He lived in Jiuhua Mountain for decades before passed away.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Holy Birthday : 30th day of Lunar 7thmonth.
Xuan Tian Emperor
Xuan Tian Emperor is also known as the “Zhen Wu” Emperor. He is dressed in black, armoured externally and he carries a sword. He has stern and angered facial expression and stepped on a tortoise and a snake. In the original lyrics, he is a prince and he is transformed to a heavenly soul. When he grows up, he becomes a strong and mighty warrior. He promised to eliminate the evils on earth and is not willing to assume the throne. He is bestowed a sword and practise in Wu Dang for 42 years. He has since became a master in Wu Dang.
Xuan Tian Emperor Holy Birthday : 3rd day of Lunar 3rd month.
Qing Xi Xian You Bo Zhu
Qing Xi Xian You Bo Zhu is also known as City God (Cheng Huang Ye). Originally a Deity of nature, he has become a Deity of Society as society progresses. Cheng Huang Ye’s original duty is to take care of the city and the people, helping them to overcome difficulties and natural disasters. Taoism classified Cheng Huang Ye Deity as one who eliminates evil and protects the city. He answers for rain during the drought, warmness during the wet season and good harvest to feed the people. He is also a Deity of the underworld. Being in-charge of affairs and related issues, people believe that he is able to overcome the strength of the evils.
Qing Xi Xian You Bo Zhu Holy Birthday : 28th day of Lunar 5th month.
Ma Zu (Goddess of the Sea)
It is said that Mazu’s original name was Lin Mo, nicknamed “Mo Niang”, also known as the Holy Mother of Heaven, the Queen of Heaven, etc. She lived in Putian County, Xinghua Army during the Northern Song Dynasty and ranked last among siblings. It is said that she was extremely intelligent but reserved. She became a priestess who practised both Buddhism and Taoism and divined fortunes for people. She remained unmarried throughout her life. After becoming an immortal, it is said that she often appears in the rough seas as a “beautiful woman with long hair, bare-faced and in red clothes”, and can deflect typhoons and protect the safety of ships’ navigation. The worship of her by the sailors and fishermen gradually developed into faith. Her common image in the minds of believers is that of a powerful, benevolent and magnificent goddess.
Ma Zu Holy Birthday : 23rd day of Lunar 3rd month.
Goddess of Mercy
The Goddess of Mercy is a common deity in Buddhist and Taoist Temples. She is called Cihang Zhenren in Taoist and Guan Yin in Buddhist. The Goddess of Mercy is one of the twelve disciples of the Primeval Lord of Heaven. The accounts of origin of the Goddess of Mercy appear in two Taoist books “History of the Immortals” and “Lingbao Spontaneous Celestial Text”.
Goddess of Mercy Holy birthday: 19th day of 2nd Lunar month.
Goddess of Mercy Dedao: 19th day of 6th Lunar month.
Goddess of Mercy Shengtian: 19th day of 9th Lunar month.
Celestial Master of Orthodox Oneness
Celestial Master of Orthodox Oneness, Zhang Daoling was born in 34 CE, and was a native of Fengxian County in Jiangsu Province. He was regarded as the founder of religious Taoism. From 126 CE to 144 CE, Zhang Daoling practiced Dao in Heming Mountain in Sichuan Province, honored the supreme Venerable Sovereign Taishang Laojun, and treated “daodejing” (i.e. “Classic of the Way and the Virtue”) as canon. He founded the first regular Taoist community. A major change instituted by the new Covenant was the rejection of food and animal sacrifices. Also, the teachings of Laozi as transmitted by Zhang Daoling included the first true Taoist religious pantheon as distinguished from the prior ancient religion of China.
Holy birthday of Celestial Master of Orthodox Oneness: 18th day of Lunar 5th month
Zhong Tan Yuan Shuai
Zhong Tan Yuan Shuai (中坛元帅) is one of the titles of the third prince of the famous Taoist deity “Nezha” in China; he is an important deity believed by the Chinese. In Taoism, he is the head of the “Five Camps of Divine Generals” and the chief protector of the law. Marshal of the Central Altar wears golden armor and red robes, combat boots, and a phoenix tail crown on his head. He holds a fire-pointed spear in one hand and a circle of heaven and earth in the other and is draped in a silk ribbon. He is mighty and majestic, protecting the country and the people.
Holy birthday of Zhong Tan Yuan Shuai: 9th day of Lunar 9th month
Laughing Buddha (Maitreya)
Laughing Buddha is traditionally depicted as a chubby, bald monk wearing a simple robe. He carries his few possessions in a cloth sack, being poor but content. He would excitingly entertain the adoring children who followed him and was known for patting his large belly happily. His figure appears throughout Chinese culture as a representation of both contentment and abundance. Laughing Buddha attracted the townspeople around him as he was able to predict people’s fortunes and even weather patterns. The wandering monk was often inclined to sleep anywhere he came to, even outside, for his mystical powers could ward off the bitter colds of snow and his body was left unaffected.
Laughing Buddha (Maitreya) Holy Birthday : 1st day of Lunar 1st month.
Four-Faced Buddha (Phra Phrom)
The Erawan Buddha, commonly known as the Four-Faced Buddha, is responsible for the creation of all things and is a god full of wisdom. The Four-Faced Buddha governs all things in the world. The four sides represent career, love, wealth and health respectively. The front is for career and business, the left is for marriage, the right is for health, and the back is for wealth. When praying for blessings, whether it is effective or not depends not only on trust and sincerity but also on one’s karma and blessings. Therefore, in addition to worshipping sincerely, one must also have love for everyone, continue to do more good deeds and be filial to parents, so that one can eventually be rewarded with good deeds.
Four-Faced Buddha Birthday : 9th of November.
Warrior Deity of Prosperity
The Warrior Deity of Prosperity (Wu Cai Shen 武财神赵公明) is also known as “Zhao Gong Ming”. Zhao Gong Ming is a General and can overcome thunderstorms, answer prayers for rain and warmth, control diseases and illnesses and wealth and prosperity. He is also able to mediate problems and resolve crucial issues. He also controls the wealth and richness of people living on earth.
Warrior Deity of Prosperity “Zhao Gong Ming” Birthday: 15th of Lunar 3rd month.
Ganesha
Ganesha is commonly known as the elephant-headed god. Ganesha is the god in charge of pure wisdom. He once worked on the great epic “Mahabharata”. After his magic pen broke, Ganesha broke off his right tooth, dipped it in ink, kept writing, and finally finished the entire “Mahabharata”. Therefore, Ganesha’s image only has a left tooth and no right tooth. Ganesha is kind and benevolent, but is brave and determined in war. Ganesha has a wide following of believers. In Tibetan Buddhism, he is the God of Freedom, Joy and Holiness; in Japan, he is regarded as the god of consummation of couples and the god of wealth; in Thailand, he is called the “Ganesha God of Wealth”; and in Hinduism, he represents wisdom, symbolizing good luck and success, and is the most popular god in India. The other 2 dieties are Thousand-Hand Goddess of Mercy and Phra Rahu.
Ganesha Birthday : 7th of September