Pictures of Lord of Sun Palace Tai Yang Xing Jun (日宮普照天尊太陽星君)

Lord of Sun Palace, in short addressed as Lord Sun, in Chinese, we known it as Tai Yang Xing Jun (太陽星君) or in Folks Term known as Tai Yang Gong (太陽公).

Honouring of Sun in Taoism can be traced back to 7000 years ago when Chinese (Caveman) started to understand the importance of the Energy that emitted out from the Sun.

According to Scientific Records, Sun was being formed 4.5 Billion Years ago (4,500,000,000), which is about 140,000,000,000 Years after the Taoist Big Bang took place (where Dou Mu & Dou Fu collated together to form the Universe, for more info, please refer to this link: http://javewu.multiply.com/journal/item/125)

In Han Dynasty (漢朝), Honouring of Lord of Sun was being classified into the 8 Major Deities (八大祀神) that the Emperor & the Imperial Officers must honoured. And so, in a Year, the Imperial Court will conduct 2 Major Honouring Ceremonies for the 8 Major Deities and the Emperor & Imperial Officers (文武百官) had to travel to the far-east Boundary (東郊) of the Country (some said the Mountain Tai 泰山) to offer their Respect to the Lord of Sun in-order to request for Blessing for the Country for the Year or the coming Year.

Later part in the History of China, after Human became more Civilised and Well-educated and due to the Finalizing of the Taoist Deity System, Statues of Lord of the Sun started to create and in Song Dynasty (宋朝), most of the Taoist Temples in China, Statues dedicated to Lord of Sun could be seen.

Peak of honouring of Lord of Sun started in Ming Dynasty & Early Qing Dynasty after the Qing Army Troops invaded China and the Manchurian started to force the Ming Emperor to give up the Throne. After Emperor Chong Zhen (崇禎帝) hung himself on Mountain Mei (煤山), the Ming Commoners started to list the Date of 19th Day of Lunar 3 Month as the Day of the Manifestation Anniversary of Lord of Sun. This was not only to pay respect to Lord of Sun but also to symbolise that Ming Dynasty was not being defeated. There were still People of Ming Empire living in the Society waiting for the Ming Empire to re-start again (反清復明).

So in Taoism, what is the Major Task of Lord of Sun?

In Taoism, Lord of Sun doesn’t only represent the Energy or Symbolism of Yang (Positive), it also represent Upright, Brightness & Smoothness.

According to Taoist Records, Lord of Sun was being appointed to look into the Movement of the Sun, such as the Energy emitted-out, the Routing Path of the Sun is in Place and whether the Beings are able to get the Shining from the Sun through-out the Year, etc (due to these Reasons, many Folks tend to mistaken Lord of Sun stay inside the Sun, which is not True).

For a Taoist to honour Lord of Sun, Oneself can request for the Eliminating of excess Negative Entities that pestering around Oneself and also, requesting of getting rid of Sicknesses & Illnesses that caused by the influences of Yin Energy.

So in Taoism Rituals/Ceremonies, when do we need to invite Lord of Sun?

There are a few circumstances that Lord of Sun needed to be invited:

1 During the Ushering of Spiritual Fire for the Lighting of the Lamps & Fire in a Grand Celebration or Salvation Ceremony (請火/乞火)

2 Lighting of the First Incense for a New Temple or Taoist Organisation (極陽迎頭香)

3 To get the Prediction from the Sun or Universe for the Year (usually Country’s Luck 測國運) on the 1st Day of the New Lunar Year (conducted with the accompany of Taoist High Priests & High Ranking Officers/Ministers)

PS: For Event Number 2 & 3, it is totally impossible to see in Singapore.

So during the Manifestation Anniversary of Lord of Sun, what shall Oneself prepared?

Due to Lord of Sun is a High Ranking Deity, usually for Taoists, we just needed to prepare the Taoist Five Offerings/Ten Offerings (道教五供/十供 Link: http://javewu.multiply.com/journal/item/131) for the Honouring.

As for those who still wanted to follow the Traditional Culture that our Grandparents had pass-down, we can prepare 9 pieces of Pong Phia (碰餅) or Tai Yang Bing (太陽餅) for the Honouring.

After Honouring, the Pong Phia or Tai Yang Bing must be consumed by the whole Family, especially for those who are not able to give birth to Baby Boy. By consuming it, the Ladies will be blessed with Positive Energies and sooner or later, the Surname of the Family Lineage will be able to continue with a new additional Man in the Family.

Sample of Pong Phia (碰餅) or Tai Yang Bing (太陽餅):

Last of All, wishes everyone will get the Positive Blessing from Lord of Sun and for this Life, all issues will be smoothen out with the present of the sight of the Sun.

Additional Info on Lord of Sun:

Tai Yang Xing Jun Bao Gao (太陽星君寶誥):

http://javewu.multiply.com/photos/album/268

Poster of Tai Yang Xing Jun (太陽星君聖誕海報):

http://javewu.multiply.com/photos/album/46

Tai Yang Xing Jun Taoist Scripture (太陽星君真經):

http://javewu.multiply.com/journal/item/143

Tai Yang Xing Jun Manifestation Anniversary Honouring Guide (太陽星君聖誕祭祀指南):

http://javewu.multiply.com/photos/album/640

For Higher Res Pictures, please proceed to this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taoism_deity_singapore_2007/photos/album/1599073835/pic/list