San Qing Gong Taoist Cultural Centre (Singapore)
海纳百川，道妙无穷
San Qing Gong, the first orthodox taoist temple in Singapore, was founded in March 2003.
Sacred Hall of Da-Luo
San Qing Gong is the largest Taoist Temple in Singapore. In year 2011, the Management Committee had decided to refurnish and renovate the main hall “Da Luo Bao Dian”. We have engaged skilled craftsmen from Fujian, China for the renovation works. The main hall “Da Luo Bao Dian” in San Qing Gong commenced its operation officially on 1 July 2012.
The main hall “Da Luo Bao Dian” is unique and it’s significant. It measures 68.7 feet in height and is the tallest shrine in Singapore. It had been awarded the tallest shrine in Singapore by the Elite World Records. Five statues of Deities San Qing Dao Zhu, Yu Huang Shang Di, Fu De Zheng Shen are all above 9 feet in height. The statue of Fu De Zheng Shen is similar to the Deity at Fujian, Xiamen Xian Yue Shan God of Land Temple. It has the same height and it has elaborates cultural ties with the Xiamen Fu De Cultural Association.
The most venerable deities of the Taoist religion are the Three Pristine One, namely the Primeval Lord of Heaven, the Heavenly Lord of Numinous Treasure, and the Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue. The Primeval Lord of Heaven resides in the Jade Purity Realm of in the 35th qing-wei heaven, the Heavenly Lord of Numinous Treasure resides in the High Purity Realm in the 34th yu-yu heaven, and the Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue resides in the Supreme Purity Realm in the 33rd da-chi heaven. Together, their realms are known as the Sacred Realms of the Three Pristine Ones, are also referred to as the Three Jewels. The Primeval Lord of Heaven represents the 1st Jewel, which is the great Dao; the Heavenly Lord of Numinous Treasure represents the 2nd Jewel, which is the sacred scriptures; and the Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue represents the 3rd Jewel, which is the master. Followers of the Taoism formally become a Taoist after seeking refuge in “the great Dao the sacred scriptures, and the master”.
The Primeval Lord of Heaven
Former life was Pangu and the Primeval King of Heaven. Primeval Lord of Heaven exists eternally. Every time Heaven and Earth come into being, he inaugurates the new kalpa and saves people by teaching them the secret Dao. Occupied the middle position of the Three Pristine Ones (San Qing), sculpture of the Primeval Lord of Heaven with a Pearl of Original Chaos in his hand, symbolizes the state of chaos “Wu Ji”. “In the great chaos before Yin and Yang divided, no form existed. Without Heaven and Earth, and the sun and moon, it was like a chaotic and blackist-yellow egg”. This is known as the first big century.
Holy birthday of the Primeval Lord of Heaven: winter solstice
The Heavenly Lord of the Numinous Treasure
“The essence of vital breath of the jade morning and purple clouds of best auspices, combined with the Original Spirit and dwelt in the mother’s womb, and were transformed into a man”. The Heavenly Lord of the Numinous Treasure was born from the Vital Breath of the Dao, saves people by using the Laws of the Numinous Treasure. He has 36 transformations and 72 apparitions, and can correspond immediately to the wishes of the people in tens of thousands of places. Sculpture of the Heavenly Lord of the Numinous Treasure appears to the left of the Primeval Lord of Heaven, with an S-Shaped Ornamental Object in his hand, symbolizes “The egg hatched, then Yin and Yang began to separate. The lighter, most pure substances Yang floated upward and became the heaven. The heavier, more impure substances Ying descended and became the earth”. This is known as the second big century.
Holy birthday of the Heavenly Lord of the Numinous Treasure: summer solstice
The Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue
The Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue was born before Heaven and Earth, and descended to the mortal world as Lao Zi, a great Chinese philosopher. Taoist scriptures mentioned that one of the San Qing, Dao De, came to Lao Zi’s mother. She was a princess and dreamt that a god entered her body. After conceiving for 81 years, she gave birth through her armpit to Lao Zi and died after giving birth. The child was name Lao Zi. Lao Zi was once served as archivist in the Imperial Library in Zhou dynasty. He was a great thinker, philosopher and founder of Taoism. He composed the famous book “daodejing” (i.e. “Classic of the Way and the Virtue”), and used it to educate later generations. “Daodejing” was praised by celebrities throughout history, and there were many commentary interpretations of the scripture. Today “daodejing” has been translated into dozens of languages, and is circulated around the world. It is enlightening people from all nations. Sculpture of the Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue appears to the right of the Primeval Lord of Heaven, as a white-haired and white-bearded elder man with a feather fan in his hand, symbolizes “heaven and earth grew everyday until the heaven was higher and the earth was thicker, and they would never join again. New life formed”. This is known as the third big century.
Holy birthday of the Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue: 15th day of Lunar 2nd month
Grandpa God of East side of heaven
Also known Grandpa King of the East and Lord of Wood, Grandpa God of East side of Heaven and the Queen Mother of the West are parents of the Yin and Yang Vital Breaths of Dao. They administer the two Vital Breaths together and nourish all things in Heaven and Earth. Every Male Immortal will have to go through his endorsement before they can get a position in the Heavenly Realm.
Holy birthday of Grandpa God of East side of heaven: 6th day of Lunar 2nd month
The Golden Mother of the Jasper Lake
Is popularly called the Queen Mother of the West, complete names are “Great Void Nine fold Glory Golden Mother of the Tortoise Platform” or “the Nine-Soul Great Sublimity Golden Mother of the Tortoise Mountain ”. The Golden Mother of the Jasper Lake was born out of the Most Perfect Vital Breath of the Eastern Essence, holds a high position in Taoism. As leader of Female Immortals, the Golden Mother of the Jasper Lake dwells at the capital Kunlun Mountain and summons all the spirits. She and the Grandpa King of the East administer the two Vital Breaths Yin and Yang together and nourish all things in Heaven and Earth. All women who have attained immortality in the three realms and ten directions, in Heaven or in the human world, are under her rule. She is also in charged of marriages and childbirth on the Earth.
Holy birthday of the Golden Mother of the Jasper Lake: 18th day of Lunar 17th month
3rd day of Lunar 3rd month is “Peach Banquet”
Jade Emperor
Is the Great Jade Emperor, and is also called Grandpa Heaven by folk people in Taiwan and Fujian. Full name is “’Most Venerable Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Golden Palace”. Ranks below the Three Pristine Ones, Jade Emperor is the emperor of all heavens, king of all Immortals, and lord of saints, the highest divinity of the ten thousand spirits in the three realms and of all Immortals of the Three Grottoes. He has the power to order the Immortals of the Nine Heavens and to invoke the spirits of the four seas and five sacred mountains. Jade Emperor makes an inspection tour every New Year’s Eve and rewards or punishes people who do good or evil. The holy birthday of Jade Emperor is the 9th of the first month of the lunar calendar. Usually in temples a grand Ritual Assembly is held to celebrate it while the people gather to burn incense. This ceremony is called “Jade Emperor Assembly”.
Holy birthday of Jade Emperor: 9th day of Lunar 1st month
Four Jade Dieties
Four Jade are the Dieties beside San Qing. He’s also known as “Fourth Pu”. His originally name as North Emperor, South Emperor, Heaven Emperor and Earth Emperor.
The Great Emperor of Purple Subtlety
Full name is the Middle Heaven Great Emperor of the North Pole Star of Purple Subtlety, is one of the Four Heavenly Ministers that are worshipped by Taoist. The Great Emperor of Purple Subtlety as the Stellar Sovereign of the Purple Subtlety Constellation is situated in Middle Heaven, and is the master of all the stars. Hence the emperors on the Earth called their residence as the Forbidden City, as it is a purple city at the center of the temporal world. The Great Emperor of Purple Subtlety assists the Jade Emperor in administering the longitudes and latitudes of Heaven and Earth, the sun, the moon and stars, as well as the climate of the four seasons. He is honored as the “master of all stars, assistant sovereign of the three realms, correspondent with the Original Vital Breath and inferior only to Great Heaven.”
Holy birthday of the Great Emperor of Purple Subtlety: 18th day of Lunar 4th month
South Longevity Emperor
The South Longevity Emperor is the second of the Four Emperor, according to Taoism. His name is simplified as “Sheng Lei Yu Fu”.
Holy Birthday of South Longevity Emperor : 1st day of Lunar 5th month
The Great Heavenly Emperor of the Highest Palace of Polaris
The Great Heavenly Emperor of the Highest Palace of Polaris is one of the Four Heavenly Ministers that are worshipped by Taoist. He is in charge of the Three Powers of Heaven, Earth and Man, and of wars in the human world.
Holy birthday of the Great Heavenly Emperor of the Highest Palace of Polaris: 1st day of Lunar 2nd month
Imperial Queen of Earth
The divine title is “Imperial Earth Queen Who Receives and Follows Heavenly Laws and Promotes Kind Virtue”, and is one of the Four Heavenly Ministers. She is second in rank only to the Three Pristine Ones, same as the Jade Emperor. Imperial Queen of Earth is in charge of Yin-Yang and creation, as well as of the mountains and rivers.
Holy birthday of Imperial Queen of Earth: 18th day of Lunar 3rd month
Celestial Master of Orthodox Oneness (also called Zhang Daoling Tianshi)
Celestial Master of Orthodox Oneness, Zhang Daoling was born in 34 CE, and was a native of Fengxian County in Jiangsu Province and an eighth-generation grandson of Zhang Liang. 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. It is said that Zhang Daoling did not die. He ascended to heaven with his wife and two disciples. As immortal, he is also known as the “Ancestral Celestial Master” or “Celestial Master Zhang”. Descendants of Celestial Master Zhang Daoling resided in Longhu Mountain in Sichuan Province and carried on the title of “Celestial Master”.
Holy birthday of Celestial Master of Orthodox Oneness: 18th day of Lunar 5th month
“Lei Zhu” Emperor
Lei Zhu Emperor is personated from thunder, a Diety of the rain and thunder. He is the highest rank of the thunder Diety. He manages natural calamities and resolves problems. He lives a distance of 2,300 miles in the Thunder City. There are 36 drums in front of the Diety. When it strikes the drum, thunder is formed.
Lei Zhu Emperor Holy Birthday : 24th day of Lunar 6th month.
The Three Great Emperor-Officials
The Three Great Emperor-Officials are the Heavenly Official, the Earthly Official and the Water Official. In early ancient China, rituals of sacrifice to Heaven, Earth and Water were commonly performed. In the eastern Han dynasty, when Zhang Daoling founded the Celestial Masters Tradition, he instated a method for Taoists to pray for healing by sacrificing to Heaven, Earth and Water, and by presenting Handwritten Repentances to the Three Heavenly Officials. “One is placed on the top of the mountain to offer to heaven; one is buried into the earth; and one is sunken into water.” In the Southern and Northern dynasties, the Three Officials were combined with the Spirits of the Three Origins.
The Heavenly Official
The Heavenly Official, also known as “Higher Origin First-Class Heavenly Official Who Confers Blessings” or “Great Emperor of Purple Subtlety”, belongs to the Jade Clarity Realm. The Heavenly Official, a condensation of green, yellow, and white Vital Breaths of the Original Chaos, is in charge of the emperors of all the heavens. Every 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, he descends to the human world and inspects and decides the sins and blessings of men, and thus is called the Heavenly Official Who Confers Blessings.
The Earthly Official
The Earthly Official, also known as the “Earthly Official of Middle Origin and Second-Rank Absolver of Sins” or “Great Emperor of Pristine Emptiness” belongs to the Highest Clarity Realm. The Earthly Official, a condensation of Numinous Vital Breath of the Original Grotto of Chaos and of Essence of Extreme Yellow, is in charge of the Five Emperors of the Five Sacred Mountains and of the Earthly Immortals of all places. Every 15th of the seven month of the lunar calendar, he comes to the human world, inspects the sins of men and absolves them.
The Water Official
The Water Official, also known as the “Water Official of Lower Origin and Third-Rank Eliminator of Misfortunes” or “Great Emperor of Pervasive Yin”, belongs to the Jade Clarity Realm. The Water Official, a condensation of Vital Breath of Winds and Lakes and of Essence of the Dawn of Greatness, is in charge of the immortals residing in water. Every 15th of the tenth month of the lunar calendar, he comes to the human world to inspect sins and good fortune, and eliminates the misfortunes of men.
Holy birthday of the Three Great Emperor-Officials:
The Heavenly Official: 15th day of Lunar 1st month
The Earthly Official: 15th day of Lunar 7th month
The Water Official: 15th day of Lunar 10th month
“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. He is a fierce warrior. 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. The “Zhen Wu” Diety at San Qing Gong has been originated from Wudang Mountain in Hubei, China.
Xuan Tian Emperor Holy Birthday : 3rd day of Lunar 3rd month.
East Hell Emperor
The East Hell Emperor is a Diety of Taishan Mountain. His older name is “Tai Shan Fu Jun”. He is one of the most sacred hell Diety in Taoism. The devotees in China believe that this Diety can control people on earth and manages the good and crucial situations in the underworld.
East Hell Emperor Holy Birthday : 28th day of Lunar 3rd 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.
God of Fortunes and Virtues
The Great Spirits of the Earth , other names are Tu Di, Dizhu Gong, Tudi Ye, Dabo Gong and Hou Tu etc.
God of Fortunes and Virtues 福德正神 is a popular Chinese earth god worshipped by Chinese folk religion worshippers and Taoists. In traditional China, worshipping God of Fortunes and Virtues was worshipping the earth. In modern days, people make prayers to him for wealth, well being, fortune and agricultural harvest. God of Fortunes and Virtues has a close relationship with common people.
God of Fortunes and Virtues : 2nd day of Lunar 2nd month.
Qing Xi Xian You Bo Zhu
Qing Xi Xian You Bo Zhu is also known as City God (Cheng Huang Ye). He is originally a Diety of the nature. As society progresses, people has endowed more expectations to Cheng Huang Diety and he has gradually become a Diety of Society. Cheng Huang Ye Diety’s original duty and responsibility is to take care of the city and the people, helping them to overcome difficulties and natural disasters. After Song Dynasty, Taoism has classified Cheng Huang Ye Diety 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 Diety of the area and environment in the underworld. Being in-charge of affairs and related issues, people believe that he is able to overcome the strength of the evils. All Taoist masters who perform death ritual must obtain permission from Cheng Huang Ye Diety before being able to hail death souls for prayers. The Qing Xi Xian You Bo Zhu at San Qing Gong is an extended figuring from Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple.
Qing Xi Xian You Bo Zhu Holy Birthday : 28th day of Lunar 5th month.
Warrior Wealth God – Protecting Wealth and Eliminating Evil
The Warrior Wealth God at San Qing Gong is also known as “Zhao Gong Ming”. Zhao Gong Ming has been promoted as a General. He is able to overcome the thunderstorm, answered 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.
Gentle Wealth God – Attracting Wealth and Prosperity
The Gentle Wealth God at San Qing Gong is also known as “Bi Gan”. Bi Gan is an upright General. He is dressed modestly, worn a soft fabric hat, long beard, holding a “Ru Yi” on his hand and he steps on golden ingots.
Deities of Wealth of Five Directions
The Deities of Wealth of Five Directions refer to Zhao Gong Ming and his 4 assistants. Centre Chinese God of Wealth is Zhao Gong Ming, the “Military God of Wealth”, the other four directions are: east direction “God of Collecting Treasures” Xiao Sheng, west direction “God of Collecting Valuables” Cao Bao, north direction “God of Profitability” Yao Shao Si and south direction “God of Attracting Wealth” Chen Jiu Gong. Praying to Deities of Wealth of Five Directions is to gather wealth from all directions. In folk culture, there are different types of Deity of Wealth, such as Martial God of Wealth, Scholarly God of Wealth, Righteous God of Wealth, God of Gold and God of Luck. Imperial Lord Wenchang is the “Scholarly God of Wealth”. Guan Yu was a famous general of the State of Shu during the Three Kingdoms Period. He would not change his principles when lured with gold, silver and treasure and hence was regarded as “Righteous God of Wealth” and “Martial God of Wealth”. Shen Wanshan, a noble man in Ming dynasty owned a pot that could multiply gold. Hence people worshipped him as “God of Gold”.
Deities of Wealth of Five Directions: 5th day of Lunar 1st month