拱橋式: 上下各七階, 象徵七星.
Intro on the Bridge:
A Bridge made of Wooden or Steel, with 7 steps at each side (entry and exit) of the bridge. These 7 steps represent the 7 stars of the Great Dipper of the North.
橋 面: 依五行五方畫有符籙的青紅白黑黃五色布. 橋面漆大吉大利的紅色.
On the bridge, you are able to see 5 color talismans (Green, Red, White, Black and Yellow) being paste, these 5 colors are there to represent the 5 directions and also the 5 elements of the Universe.
And the color of the bridge is usually in red, represent auspicious and luck.
橋 上: 綴滿彩球、彩燈、宮燈、黃紙、符紙、八仙彩及北斗七星三角旗
On some bridges (from different Taoist Organizations), you can also see lanterns, banners, flags, etc being places around.
橋 頭: 設龍門, 門前置一跨躍用烘爐,具去霉辟邪、淨身祈安用.另有玉旨門
On the entry side of the bridge, named as Long Men, Gate of Dragon, usually at the front of the Long Men, a fire urn is placed on the floor, devotees who are crossing the bridge will need to cross over the fire urn 1st, this action is for cleansing of a person’s body, mind and soul and getting-rid of“negative energies” before crossing the bridge for getting being blessed.
橋 尾: 設虎門,具除魔消災、納福消厄之義, 另有蓮花門, 橋尾繪蓮花圖.
On the exit side of the bridge, named as Hu Men, Gate of Tiger. Once a person exit from the Hu Men, all his/her unlucky issues will be “removed” and blessing from the Heaven or Deities will be “bestowed” to him/her.
橋 下: 禁地, 正中央依北斗七星方位排七盞油燈, 兩旁陳四果、酒、小三牲, 即豆干、豬肉、雞蛋, 橋頭為熟祭以神明, 橋尾為生祭以星神.
Under the bridge (usually is a forbidden area for all devotees), at the central area, an oil lamp or a 7-star lantern will be place.
香 案: 擺橋頭或尾, 供祀廟宇主神及招神最高法力的五雷號令+七元真君
Altar, can be place at the entry side or the exit side of the bridge, on the altar, a “Summoning Order Block (named as the Five Thundery Block)” will be place for inviting the Deities and also for getting-rid of “dirty entities”.
On the altar, you are able to see a paper statue, this statue is made to represent the Lord of the 7 Stars.
過七星橋過程 (Procedures of crossing the bridge)
向主神參拜.. 領取百解靈符, 象徵解運者的本命元神. 跨烘爐入龍門, 以求淨身. 漫步過橋拜星神:
1.Pay respect to the Main Deities in the temple 1st, collect a stack of Joss-paper (including a Spiritual Document/letter for Personal Luck Blessing)
2.After collecting all the documents, cross over the fire urn and then cross the bridge
循階上, 拜代表星神的北斗七星橋, 再下階.
3.Cross the bridge the bridge with sincerity and respect, on the way, simply made a bow to the bridge -> representing paying respect to the Lord of the 7 Star, then exit from the Hu Men
出虎門跨烘爐: 以求紅燄, 永遠旺盛.解運消災保平安:
4.If there’s fire urns place at the exit of the bridge, cross over the urn, this is for requesting of luck blessing, prosperity, etc.
道士持法器在解厄者身上插拭,
5.After devotees exit from the Hu Men or crossed the fire urn, the Spiritual Leader/Priest will used his/her Spiritual Object to go over the top of the devotees’ head. Such an action represent getting-rid of the negative “energies” from the devotees’ body, mind and soul.
在道士收百解靈符前, 解厄者须在百解靈符上哈氣, 代表吐出厄運. 之后道士就会将百解靈符收集及存放,
6.The Spiritual Leader/Priest will now start to collect back all the Joss-paper, etc
7.Before the Joss-paper and so being collected back, the devotees will be advised to blow air onto the Joss-paper. This action represent “getting the negative energies out from one’s body, mind and soul”, to get blessed and “purified”
由專人火化.衣蓋神印灑符水: 在後衣領或後頸蓋主神紅印, 表神明永隨保佑.
8.After all Joss-papers being collected, the assistant of the Spiritual Leader/Priest will send-off (burn off) the Joss-paper on behalf of the devotees
9.The Spiritual Leader/Priest will now used a Spiritual Stamp to make a stamp on the devotee’s neck or shirt, this action represent getting blessing from the Deities or Deities are always there when he/she is in-need of blessing