Title: The legend of Fu De Zheng Shen
Description: aka Tu Ti Gong, Tu Ti shen, Da Bo Gong
Description: aka Tu Ti Gong, Tu Ti shen, Da Bo Gong
REBORN - March 22, 2007 01:25 PM (GMT)
The legend of Fu De Zheng Shen (aka Tu Di gong, Tu Di Shen, Da Bo gong)
(Extracted and condensed from www.Fushantang.com)
Tu Ti Gong is a well-known Earth Deity. He is better known as “Fu De Zheng Shen” 「福德正神」, also otherwise known as Hou Tu [后土], Tu Gong [社公], Tu Shen [社神], Pek Gong [伯公], Tu Ti Hou Fu Shen [土地或福神]. There are many many Tu Ti Gong but the first ever recorded was in 2514AD in a place known as Jiu Zhou.
In ancient China, a person’s wealth is measured by the amount of land one owns. Only with a piece of land can a person grow grains, with which one can survives and become rich. Thus, the popularity of prays to Tu Ti Gong (to ask for wealth). Thus many ‘form’ of Tu Ti Gong was created. With time, Tu Ti was also elevated as a high level deity.
During the Zhou Dynasty, people group 25 same households as one clan (or society). Each clan (society) will have their own Tu Ti Gong altar to share among their own clan.
Accordingly to ancient folklores, Hou Tu is an important Earth deity and Tu Ti Gongs are his/her subordinates. When a person does good deeds during his/her lifespan, when he/she passed on, he/she could be promoted as local Tu Ti. That’s one reason Tu Ti is also known as Fu De Zheng Shen (Fu=wealth; De=gain/rewarded; Zheng=honest; Shen=deity).
In ancient deity hierarchy, only court ministers were allotted certain piece of land for worship. Commoner were not allow to pray there. Therefore, the commoners invented ways of worshipping and sacrifice to Tu Ti Gong (so as not to offend him). In ancient China, most people are poor (farmers and land cultivators), they create tablet make of mud and placed it on the ground to pray. Thus, this culture has passed on till this era. (This is why most people place Tu Ti Gong on the ground and Fu De Zheng Shen on the altar table).
Ancient people pray to Tu Ti Gong on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (coincided with the end of the year harvest). This festival is known as “Qiu Bao”[秋報]. On this day, people will report to Tu Ti Gong on the result of the year’s harvest. Now this festival is known as ‘Zhong Qiu Jie’ [中秋節]. (Now better known as Mid-Autumn Festival).
It was recorded that the great emperor Zhu Yun Zhang [朱元璋] was born in a Tu Ti Gong’s temple. This is the reason why during the Ming dynasty, thousands of Tu Ti temple spring out all over China. Soon, Tu Ti Gong is a must have deity in every household.
Tu Ti Gong is mostly seen as an old man with grey hair. One hand holding a staff (walking stick). If one hand holds a gold ingot, it is addressed as Tu Ti Shen. When someone from a village passed the Imperial Exam and promoted as a Governor, that village’s Tu Ti Shen will then wears a governor’s hat and dressed in a high governor’s robe.
In this era, Tu Ti Gong is considered a Deity, a wealth and prosperity deity. Merchants and businessman thus will pray to Tu Ti Shen (to enhance their trade or business). Tu Ti Shen will also suppress evil spirits, thus many people place a Tu Ti Gong in their house. For those who have a set of five deities in the main hall, must have Tu Ti Shen included. Even for those who don’t have Tu Ti Shen’s altar/statue, can pray to Tu Ti Shen on every 2nd and 16th day of each lunar month. Some people will pray on the 1st and 15th day of each lunar month.
Tu Ti Shen’ status usually wears a hat with symbol of money imprinted and have two loose tails on either side reaching the shoulders, eyes half closed, with grey hair and beard, with a parental smiles, seating on grand sedan. His right hand will carry a Ruyi [如意] or a walking stick; his left hand holds a gold ingot. (see above picture).
There are many legend of TuTi Gong.
Legend One:
Fu De Zheng Shen was born in the Zhang family and his named Zhang Fu De during Zhou emperor 2nd year, on 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month. He was very intelligent and filial since young. At age 36, he was working as a tax officer. He was an honest and honorable gentleman. He pities the poor suffering folks and always extends his helping hands without fail. He passed away in the second generation of the Zhou dynasty. After his death, his face didn’t change for three days. A poor neighbor used four piece of huge rock to enclose his dead body. Soon these rocks become flatten and completely cover his body. People see this as an act of deity and soon built a shrine for him. The villagers also didn’t forget all the good deeds that Fu De had done. With time, Fu De soon becomes known as Fu De Zheng Shen.
Legend Two:
During the Zhou dynasty, in a rich landlord household there was an honest servant by the name of Zhang Ming De. Master Shang intended to marry off his youngest daughter to distant relatives. He ordered Zhang Ming De to accompany her on the journey. Half way on their journey, it suddenly snow heavily and the young girl couldn’t take the cool and nearly died from snow bites. Luckily Zhang Ming De took off all his clothing to cover the young girl, thus saving her life but unfortunately, Zhang died as a result of it. Immediately after Zhang’s death, in the sky appeared six words “南天門大仙福德神” (meaning Southern sky door deity Fu De). Master Shang was grateful to Zhang Ming De for saving his daughter life and built a shrine to honor him. Before the end of Zhou emperor era, it was known as Hou Tu but now better known as ‘Fu De Zheng Shen’.
Legend Three:
During the uprising period of the Qin dynasty, commoners were seized to construct the Great Wall of China. Much able-bodied man from Mengjiang died in this harsh and cruel project. All the womenfolk of Mengjiang were so sad that they cried all the way to the Great Wall. The journey was so harsh and difficult. When the womenfolk finally reach the Great Wall, they saw a long trial of white bones, scattered all over. They were at a lost of how to identity their relatives. Then, an old man with grey hair and beard appeared and said ‘Drops a drop of your blood onto the bones. If the bone changed color, this is your relative.” Many followed his instruction and indeed were able to find their relatives bones. The womenfolks were able to find his relatives’ bone. This give birth to the legend of “Hou Tu”.
(Extracted and condensed from www.Fushantang.com)
Tu Ti Gong is a well-known Earth Deity. He is better known as “Fu De Zheng Shen” 「福德正神」, also otherwise known as Hou Tu [后土], Tu Gong [社公], Tu Shen [社神], Pek Gong [伯公], Tu Ti Hou Fu Shen [土地或福神]. There are many many Tu Ti Gong but the first ever recorded was in 2514AD in a place known as Jiu Zhou.
In ancient China, a person’s wealth is measured by the amount of land one owns. Only with a piece of land can a person grow grains, with which one can survives and become rich. Thus, the popularity of prays to Tu Ti Gong (to ask for wealth). Thus many ‘form’ of Tu Ti Gong was created. With time, Tu Ti was also elevated as a high level deity.
During the Zhou Dynasty, people group 25 same households as one clan (or society). Each clan (society) will have their own Tu Ti Gong altar to share among their own clan.
Accordingly to ancient folklores, Hou Tu is an important Earth deity and Tu Ti Gongs are his/her subordinates. When a person does good deeds during his/her lifespan, when he/she passed on, he/she could be promoted as local Tu Ti. That’s one reason Tu Ti is also known as Fu De Zheng Shen (Fu=wealth; De=gain/rewarded; Zheng=honest; Shen=deity).
In ancient deity hierarchy, only court ministers were allotted certain piece of land for worship. Commoner were not allow to pray there. Therefore, the commoners invented ways of worshipping and sacrifice to Tu Ti Gong (so as not to offend him). In ancient China, most people are poor (farmers and land cultivators), they create tablet make of mud and placed it on the ground to pray. Thus, this culture has passed on till this era. (This is why most people place Tu Ti Gong on the ground and Fu De Zheng Shen on the altar table).
Ancient people pray to Tu Ti Gong on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (coincided with the end of the year harvest). This festival is known as “Qiu Bao”[秋報]. On this day, people will report to Tu Ti Gong on the result of the year’s harvest. Now this festival is known as ‘Zhong Qiu Jie’ [中秋節]. (Now better known as Mid-Autumn Festival).
It was recorded that the great emperor Zhu Yun Zhang [朱元璋] was born in a Tu Ti Gong’s temple. This is the reason why during the Ming dynasty, thousands of Tu Ti temple spring out all over China. Soon, Tu Ti Gong is a must have deity in every household.
Tu Ti Gong is mostly seen as an old man with grey hair. One hand holding a staff (walking stick). If one hand holds a gold ingot, it is addressed as Tu Ti Shen. When someone from a village passed the Imperial Exam and promoted as a Governor, that village’s Tu Ti Shen will then wears a governor’s hat and dressed in a high governor’s robe.
In this era, Tu Ti Gong is considered a Deity, a wealth and prosperity deity. Merchants and businessman thus will pray to Tu Ti Shen (to enhance their trade or business). Tu Ti Shen will also suppress evil spirits, thus many people place a Tu Ti Gong in their house. For those who have a set of five deities in the main hall, must have Tu Ti Shen included. Even for those who don’t have Tu Ti Shen’s altar/statue, can pray to Tu Ti Shen on every 2nd and 16th day of each lunar month. Some people will pray on the 1st and 15th day of each lunar month.
Tu Ti Shen’ status usually wears a hat with symbol of money imprinted and have two loose tails on either side reaching the shoulders, eyes half closed, with grey hair and beard, with a parental smiles, seating on grand sedan. His right hand will carry a Ruyi [如意] or a walking stick; his left hand holds a gold ingot. (see above picture).
There are many legend of TuTi Gong.
Legend One:
Fu De Zheng Shen was born in the Zhang family and his named Zhang Fu De during Zhou emperor 2nd year, on 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month. He was very intelligent and filial since young. At age 36, he was working as a tax officer. He was an honest and honorable gentleman. He pities the poor suffering folks and always extends his helping hands without fail. He passed away in the second generation of the Zhou dynasty. After his death, his face didn’t change for three days. A poor neighbor used four piece of huge rock to enclose his dead body. Soon these rocks become flatten and completely cover his body. People see this as an act of deity and soon built a shrine for him. The villagers also didn’t forget all the good deeds that Fu De had done. With time, Fu De soon becomes known as Fu De Zheng Shen.
Legend Two:
During the Zhou dynasty, in a rich landlord household there was an honest servant by the name of Zhang Ming De. Master Shang intended to marry off his youngest daughter to distant relatives. He ordered Zhang Ming De to accompany her on the journey. Half way on their journey, it suddenly snow heavily and the young girl couldn’t take the cool and nearly died from snow bites. Luckily Zhang Ming De took off all his clothing to cover the young girl, thus saving her life but unfortunately, Zhang died as a result of it. Immediately after Zhang’s death, in the sky appeared six words “南天門大仙福德神” (meaning Southern sky door deity Fu De). Master Shang was grateful to Zhang Ming De for saving his daughter life and built a shrine to honor him. Before the end of Zhou emperor era, it was known as Hou Tu but now better known as ‘Fu De Zheng Shen’.
Legend Three:
During the uprising period of the Qin dynasty, commoners were seized to construct the Great Wall of China. Much able-bodied man from Mengjiang died in this harsh and cruel project. All the womenfolk of Mengjiang were so sad that they cried all the way to the Great Wall. The journey was so harsh and difficult. When the womenfolk finally reach the Great Wall, they saw a long trial of white bones, scattered all over. They were at a lost of how to identity their relatives. Then, an old man with grey hair and beard appeared and said ‘Drops a drop of your blood onto the bones. If the bone changed color, this is your relative.” Many followed his instruction and indeed were able to find their relatives bones. The womenfolks were able to find his relatives’ bone. This give birth to the legend of “Hou Tu”.
hianengtan - March 23, 2007 07:03 AM (GMT)
Great! It is very informative.
chaytiong - March 26, 2007 01:20 AM (GMT)
a pice of complete and informative work of explanation,
congrats
chaytiong
congrats
chaytiong