Tuesday 3 February 2009

Paying Respect to Yu Huang Da Tian Zun on the 9th Day (玉皇萬壽聖誕慶壽儀式)





This Year, Ji Chou Year (己丑年), as usual, Long Shan Men (龍山門) went to Telok Blangah Tee Kong Temple (萬壽山天公廟) to pay respect to the Yu Huang Da Tian Zun (玉皇大天尊), but this Year, it's much more Special, cos most of Long Shan Men's Disciples & Students were being call-upon to join in the Honouring. And this was why, on the 6th Day of Lunar 1 Month, I had to start to prepare 15 Official Sets of Offerings for this Great & Official Event.

On the 8th Day Evening, I arrived at the Temple at about 7.30Pm to do the settting up of Offerings. Before my arrival, my 7th Disciple had already "Chop" a Good Place, so upon the arrival, I could just arrange them out with "ease".

Around 8.00Pm, most of the Disciples, Students & my Family had arrived at the Temple and they were advised to pay respect to All the Deities first before the Honouring Ceremony started.

At around 9.30Pm, the First Round of Honouring Ceremony started by Paying Respect to San Qing Dao Zu (三清道祖), Heaven and then Yu Huang Da Tian Zun. After Reporting, Lunar New Year Greeting & making our Manifestation Anniversary Respect, All of us made our Offering of Incenses to Yu Huang Da Tian Zun. Upon completion of the First Round, we sat around to chit-chat and talk about topics on Taoism & Chinese Culture.

At about 10.15Pm, the Second Round of Honouring Ceremony started. This time round, the 7th Disciple was being asked to recite the Praise Mantra of Yu Huang Da Tian Zun (玉皇大天尊寶誥). After the recitation, I initiated the reporting & paying respect.

At about 10.45PM, the Final Round of Honouring Ceremony started. This time, the 11th Disciple was being asked to recite the Praise Mantra and then, with the Final Round of paying respect to Yu Huang Da Tian Zun, we gathered around to Offer the Paper-offerings.

10.55Pm, the Finale. Long Shan Men Disciples, Students & Family gathered around the Main Altar to make a Three Bows respect to Yu Huang Da Tian Zun and then, All Paper Offerings were being Sent-off at the Rear Area of the Temple.

Upon sending off the Offerings, we made a short rest in the Temple and then, most of the Students made their leave in-order to catch the last Bus.

At 0000 Hour, we left the Temple, in-order to proceed to the 7th Disciple's Home to pay respect to Yu Huang Da Tian Zun of Long Shan Men.

With a bit of delaying & travelling, finally reached the home at 1.15Am. Without further delaying, we started to the Honouring and the whole session took about 1.5 Hours to complete.

By the time I reached home, it was almost 4.00Am in the Morning. With a short rest, I woke up early in the Morning to pay respect to Yu Huang Da Tian Zun at Long Shan Men HQ. By then, the whole Honouring Ceremony considered Smoothly-Round-Off.

Summarizing:

This Year, indeed is a very special Year for Long Shan Men and most of the Disciples & Students, cos most of them are the first time joining in such Honouring Ceremony.

By seeing the Big Reunion of Long Shan Men & my Family, a very strong touchy emotion flooded me, a very nice & warm feeling.

In the temple, while seeing Taoist & Chinese Families, with 2,3 & 4 Generations, coming together to pay respect to Yu Huang Da Tian Zun, the Strong feeling of the present of Unity & Filial Piety for the Taoist & Chinese Community of Singapore appeared immediately in my mind, which is so Wonderful & Touching.

Hope that, in the next 20 Years, we can still see the Taoists & Chinese paying respect to Yu Huang Da Tian Zun with the present of most of the Family Members.

2 comments:

  1. As each family maintains and passes on its culture and tradition of Paying Respect to Yu Huang Da Tian Zun on the 9th Day of the Lunar 1st Month, I believe that this important event will be carried on in the future.

    May Yu Huang Da Tian Zun provide the blessings to all.

    Dao Qi Chang Chun.

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  2. True true. Taoism is the Root of Chinese. When there is Chinese, this Root will be there to spread around.

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