241. Nine Emperor Gods Festival
Today is the last day of the 9 emperor gods festival.
The festival is celebrated over the first nine days of the ninth moon in the Chinese lunar calendar. Devotees flock to the temples throughout the country for this religious festival. The Nine Emperor Gods are part of a spirit-medium cult known locally as ‘Jieu Hwang Yeh’. These Nine Deities are believed to dwell in the stars in northern heaven under the reign of ‘Thien Hou’ - the Queen of Heaven. They are believed to preside over blessings, life and death, peace and harmony on Earth. Thus the focus of rituals during the nine-day festival acts as a channel between celestial and terrestrial beings for the salvation and protection of mankind.
On the eve of the ninth moon, temples of the Deities hold a ceremony to invoke and welcome the ‘Jieu Hwang Yeh’. Since the arrival of the Nine Emperor Gods is believed to be through the waterways, processions are held from temples to the sea-shore or river to symbolise this belief. Devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying joss-sticks and candles, await the arrival of their “Excellencies”. A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival. During this period of time, the constant chiming of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests are heard. Most devotees stay at the temple, take vegetarian meals and recite continuous chanting of prayers. A procession to send the Nine Emperor Gods home then takes place to complete the rites of this religious festival.
To welcome the Nine Emperors, mediums wielding axes and swords will perform evening rituals on odd numbered days. The spirits of the gods are entertained in the temple grounds with Chinese opera performances and fire-walking sessions.
The Nine Emperors are the Chinese version of Robin Hood, who during the Qing dynasty robbed the rich and gave to the poor. According to legend, they were cornered at a seaside by soldiers, but a giant red turtle came to their rescue and ferried them to safety on Tow Boo Keong island.
Devotees throng to the Tow Boo Keong Temple in Ipoh, one of the oldest temples in Malaysia, and Temples of the Star Deities like the Nan Thien Kwang in Ampang, in Kuala Lumpur.
A photo taken near the Gold Coast apartments. It seems the processions ends near here
______________________________
My Random Thots:
Learnt a new lesson today from Wee. Don't test people! Just move with the flow. Most people will fail. So will I. There are many different reasons. That shouldn't be the focus.
On a more negative note, someone stole my rims and tires from my car :(
REWARD FOR INFO LEADING TO THE ARREST OR CASTRATION OF THE PERPETRATORS
Today is the last day of the 9 emperor gods festival.
The festival is celebrated over the first nine days of the ninth moon in the Chinese lunar calendar. Devotees flock to the temples throughout the country for this religious festival. The Nine Emperor Gods are part of a spirit-medium cult known locally as ‘Jieu Hwang Yeh’. These Nine Deities are believed to dwell in the stars in northern heaven under the reign of ‘Thien Hou’ - the Queen of Heaven. They are believed to preside over blessings, life and death, peace and harmony on Earth. Thus the focus of rituals during the nine-day festival acts as a channel between celestial and terrestrial beings for the salvation and protection of mankind.
On the eve of the ninth moon, temples of the Deities hold a ceremony to invoke and welcome the ‘Jieu Hwang Yeh’. Since the arrival of the Nine Emperor Gods is believed to be through the waterways, processions are held from temples to the sea-shore or river to symbolise this belief. Devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying joss-sticks and candles, await the arrival of their “Excellencies”. A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival. During this period of time, the constant chiming of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests are heard. Most devotees stay at the temple, take vegetarian meals and recite continuous chanting of prayers. A procession to send the Nine Emperor Gods home then takes place to complete the rites of this religious festival.
To welcome the Nine Emperors, mediums wielding axes and swords will perform evening rituals on odd numbered days. The spirits of the gods are entertained in the temple grounds with Chinese opera performances and fire-walking sessions.
The Nine Emperors are the Chinese version of Robin Hood, who during the Qing dynasty robbed the rich and gave to the poor. According to legend, they were cornered at a seaside by soldiers, but a giant red turtle came to their rescue and ferried them to safety on Tow Boo Keong island.
Devotees throng to the Tow Boo Keong Temple in Ipoh, one of the oldest temples in Malaysia, and Temples of the Star Deities like the Nan Thien Kwang in Ampang, in Kuala Lumpur.
A photo taken near the Gold Coast apartments. It seems the processions ends near here
______________________________
My Random Thots:
Learnt a new lesson today from Wee. Don't test people! Just move with the flow. Most people will fail. So will I. There are many different reasons. That shouldn't be the focus.
On a more negative note, someone stole my rims and tires from my car :(
REWARD FOR INFO LEADING TO THE ARREST OR CASTRATION OF THE PERPETRATORS
5 comments:
what? you mean they stole the rims and tyres your batmobile?
unfortunately so. Batman has to retire. :(
Batman... i think ur blog is very funny... and u r very funny also. I'm glad ur P***s is stuck on ur body... if not some one might steal it as well... hahahaha...
Oooooo.. Ouch. Sorry to hear about your loss man! My condolences
time to use those wings...
Hi Anne,
Thanks for the compliment.
Now why would I want to stick my pants to my body? they're not stuck and I dun think anyone would want to steal them.
Jo,
Wings? My cape is for decoration only. Superman uses them for stability in flight. Mine is purely for aesthetics.
Post a Comment