I would like to learn more about Dua Pek Kong, would Bro Jave be kind enough to do write up of this Deity? Thanks a lot.

Dua Pek Kong aka Da Bo Gong, Fu De Zheng Shen, consider a local earth deity.

Different areas will have different names for this Deity.

But the very first Fu De Zheng Shen is believed to have a name of Zhang Fu De.

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Zhang Fu De, a housekeeper at a rich man/high rank officer's home.

One day, this rich man/officer was being framed by evil officer in the imperial court, in-order not to let the officer have a chance to do confession for himself, the evil officer appeal for a death sentence for the whole family, and so unfortunately, the emperor approved on the appeal, the officer's family was being put to death.

Zhang Fu De, who is loyal and kind-hearted person, do not wished to see all of the family members died innocently, he decided to take risks in bringing the only son, of the kind officer, away to find his relatives in the other provinces.

The kind officer agreed.

Immediately Zhang Fu De brought the son away.

During the "running away", they met with heavy snow storm, this storm was blocking their way to the next provinces... as they walked, the snow get heavier.

The son of the kind officer seems to get weaker and weaker, Zhang Fu De did not bear to see the little child get sick, immediately, he took off his clothing to cover up the little child, he hug the little child to give him the warmness in-order to save the little child.

One night passed, when the child woke up in the morning, the storm stopped, the sun rised and the 1st thing he saw, he was terrified, Zhang Fu De died infront of him. While the little child trying to wake him up, a golden ray suddenly appear from the Heaven above them.

The child saw a few words appeared in the sky:

"Nan Tian Men - Fu De Zheng Shen".

Soon, this incident was spreaded among all villages and provinces.

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This is the story believed by people or folks for decades about how Fu De Zheng Shen become a Deity.

From this story, you can notice that actually Fu De Zheng Shen is quite a high rank Deity in the hierarchy.

After people doing research from there, they believed that Fu De Zheng Shen is the Officer of all Earth Deities.

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So here's a conclusion, using of Fu De Zheng Shen's title for normal earth deities might not be very suitable. Best is that we can use Tu Di Gong or Tu Di Ye when we giving titles to normal earth deities.

Link to Ways of Paying Respect to Fu De Zheng Shen:

http://s14.invisionfree.com/taoism_singapo...p?showtopic=395

Bro Jave,

Thanks for the write up very much appreciated.

yar.. no wonder my grandma say pek gong rank very big... Last time i still duno say he just a tu di gong... so for example ... got 3 god guanyin, pekgong and guan gong.... Isit guanyin sit middle, pekgong sit right and guan gong sit left.... thanks

Yup, the old generation will have such arrangement as they are told and learnt from their elders that Pek Kong is at a higher level.

As some of them wont think like that, cos most people believe that Guan Gong has a higher ranking then Pek Kong.

Your arrangement can so sort say is correct. but if Guan Gong is to be arrange on the right side, also can. see which of them you regards as higher rank.

conclusion, Deities wont mind who you treat them higher rank or lower rank, the most important is that, they are here to bless you if you have a sincere heart. :P

Whether we address them as Du Ti gong, Pek Kong, Da Pek Kong or Fu De Zheng shen, we should respect them as a deity. I was taught that Du Ti gong shouldn't be placed on the ground as this is disrespectful. Even the ash urn should be placed on a stone slate (not on the ground). I suppose this practise of placing Du Ti gong on the ground had been passed down through generations, it is deemed the correct way to do so.

Even if a person do not have Du Ti gong statue or tablet, it is better to pray them on the 2nd & 16th of each lunar month, for peace, healthy and to avoid troubles. Everything will be soon soon li li. Any place in the main hall will do. Just a simple ritual (as shown by bro Jave). Why? Because although we own the house, Du Ti gong 'own' the ground!

I think the reason why we don't put anything religious on the ground is because the ground is considered a dirty place. In ancient times the ground is usually littered with rubbish: dust, dirt, animal droppings, waste food, etc., and it is not respectful to put a statue of any deity on the ground itself. Even the things used to worship/pray/offer the deity(ies) are put on something to lift them above the ground. This is because you want to prevent the offerings/ritual items from being contaminated, hence becoming dirty and unfit for use to pray/worship with.

From what I know, almost all Religions have such restriction on placing offerings or things related to Deities onto the floor or dirty areas.

This will somehow show the dis-respect to the Deities and of cos, not very healthy for human to consume some of the offerings after praying.

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For us chinese, once certain offerings touch the ground, we will have to put them aside, same goes to incense.

I have seen people picking up a dropped incense and then place into the urn again. Eventhou the Deities wont put blames on you, but as a devotee, I think it's abit "not nice" by doing that.

yar lor... Cos last mth our tua go other people place ann shen... My grandma say pekgong sit the bigger side and guan gong sit the left side... and we argue... haha...I still inisit pek gong is smaller god ....No wonder my grandma say pek kong must sit bigger side ... she explain to me that ..pek gong Is belong to the earth god.. so after guanyin is pekgong to bless the home ..cos he is just staying at the home... So can provide more help to the owner of the home.. So somesort the rank is bigger than guan gong and 1 first god to help the home is pekgong

Dear Bro,

dont argue or quarrel with your family members regarding such issues in the future, no point arguing.

hope you dont find me nosey, sometime, when elders told us something, sure there's a reason behind. maybe next time, when you have any enquiries, you can check up with someone or get the necessary infos from the web, etc.

dont let your grandma get hurt by the words you have said. if possible, find a chance to apologise to her.. old people will be more than happy to accept youngsters who are DARE and WILLING of admitting their faults.. :P

PS: javewu sounds like an old man hor.. :lol:

Jave, you took the words from my mind! ;)

yeh.... ok .... k k....