The Gold Goodness Temple - Jindeyuan

Cioko Festival, 中元節 Zhong Yuan Jie (Hok Kian: Tiong Gwan Cwe) is celebrated every year on the 15 th day of 7 th month of Chinese calendar (Imlek). The people usually also call it as Hari Raya Hantu (Ghost Festival). But do we know, actually this Ghost Festival contains very deep meaning?

There is a Buddhist Holy Book entitles Yi Lan Pen Jing, in the said Holy Book is recorded an episode:

Long time ago, there was a Buddhist monk named Maha Moggalana. He was one of 10 Prominent Disciples of Gautama Buddha. Maha Moggalana was a disciple of Buddha with the number 1 divide power (below Buddha).

Once upon a time, Maha Moggalana, with his innermost feelings, saw his died mother, walked together with a group of hungering ghosts. With the intention of helping his mother, then he put rice into a bowl, to feed his mother. Who knows, when he would feed the rice to his mother’ mouth, the said rice changed into a blazing live coals. By practicing his divide power, Maha Moggalana tried repeatedly, but every time the rice entered to his mother’s mouth, the said rice changed into live coals.

Maha Moggalana was extremely surprised then came back and reported to Buddha Sakyamuni. Buddha said to him: Your mother’s sin is too severe, only with your own power; it cannot release your mother’s suffering!

Then Maha Moggalana kneeled on the floor, kindly request to Buddha while weeping tears: Implore Buddha to grant advice, how to help my mother in order to free from ocean of suffering and not together with those hungering ghosts at all?

Buddha replied: Concerning this matter, it needs the strengths of Buddhist Monks in 10 corners, when arrive at this Tiong Gwan Cwe Festival, representing parents from 7 generations, and current parents who are in disaster /calamity, prepare various vegetables and fruits, to be offered to The Goodness in 10 corners, each person make good deeds, at this time able to free the suffering of all hungering ghosts.

After Maha Moggalana kistened to it, then asked again: May all dedicated people take park in “Yi Lan Pen” ?

Buddha answered: Excellent! Excellent!

Participate in Yi Lan Pen my read parittaYi Lan Pen Jin in order that suffering parents can obtain freedom. Therefore, on the day toward Tiong Gwan Cwe Festival many people who practice vegetarianism and worship, representing parents who have passed away, free from suffering.

Perhaps,… in Tiong Gwan Cwe Festival, is a day where Hell’s Gate is open!!! To prevent died father-mother from suffering in the Hell, then practiced worship to spirits, the Deity and Ghost massively, hoping that the unseen spirits not torturing the said dead father-mother.

Tiong Gwan Cwe Festival, Ceng Beng Festival, and Tang Ce Festival are 3 Ghost Festivals in the circle of Chinese people.

In regions & provinces in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, considerably pay attention to these 3 Festivals. Moreover in this Tiong Gwan Cwe Festival, performs worships grandiosely and supernaturally. It is the shape DEVOTION to parents.

魁星星君 also called 魁道星君 or 魁神明. There are other titles in addition, namely “green clothing god”. He belongs to one of the North Star gods. The general scholars should all offer and visit him piously, on every July 7, always set up the longevity of celebrating and hold a memorial ceremony for the allusion quotation for him, namely is commonly called as ” lifting department festival ” too. He is really one of the ”five god of educational (literature with educate holing spirit) “. In Chinese ancient period, the country should still carry out imperial examination system (the annual country does in the test). The scholar and all Xiu Cai’es, whose name is special ones that respect five god of educational such as:

1. God of literature (Bun Chiang Tee Kun)
2. God of education (Bun Heng Seng Tee)
3. God of military (Bu Hiu Tee Kun)
4. God of North Star (Kwee Seng Seng Kun)
5. God of skill and art (Cu Ie Seng Kun)

In fact, these incarnation on “educational and art god”, believe in for participate in literature have an examination master person of scholar. Usually, the image of the supernatural monarch of stars in the Big Dipper is, appears with a repulsive strange beast, a kick is lifted up backward, trample the sea chelas in another a kick (tortoise monster), the right hand holds the writing brush, hold clubs , the sign of the knowledge cultural circles with representatives in left hand.

Guan Sheng Di Jun 關聖帝君 {Hok Kian = Kwan Seng Tek Kun} generally called as Guan Gong {Hok Kian = Kwan Kong}, was a famous General who lived during Three States Era (Sam Kok, 165 – 219 M). He was originally named Guan Yu alias Guan Yin Zhang.

He was one of the Deities who were adored by three religions (Sam Kauw). The Buddhists consider him as the Deity who Protects Temples and Other Holy Buildings (one of Ke Lan Seng Ciong Pho Sat). The Taoists adored him as the War Protecting Angle. Meanwhile Confusianists adored him as holy man and a model in terms of Loyal, Truth and Bravery. During the China Empire and within Qing Dynasty, Koan Seng Tee Kun was considerably adored together with Koan Im Hut Co. He was the Prime Deity for Protecting the Kingdom.

His Picture and statue were popular with the shape He was sitting while reading a History Book of Chun Chiu era (one of 5 classical books). Together with other 4 Deities of Education, he was adored as 5 Deities of Education (Ngo Bun Ciang). The people usually adored him as the Deity of Civil and Military (Bun Bu Seng Sin) and one of the Deities of Wealth (Cay Sin). Together with his foster child, Kwan Phing, and his loyal bodyguard Ciu Chong, he was adored both in the temples and in the houses.

In the Story of Three States (Sam Kok) Kwan Kong was a General named Guan Yi (Hok Kian = Kwan Yi). Then how can General Guan Yi (Kwan Kong) become a Bodhisatva? As we know, Bodhisatva was a self-builder with full of love and affection. Meanwhile a General in the warfare era must have killed many people. It is very contradictive. But we should know that someone could become a Bodhisatva if he has extraordinary noble personality. Extraordinary noble personality of General Guan Yi (Kwan Kong) was Loyalty & Truth.

The followings are digests & noble personality of Life History of Kwan Kong in Sam Kok History (the History of Three States). Please compare if you read Sam Kok Book written by Lo Kwan Chung which consists of 4 books @ 750 pages):

1. Loyal to the State

In warfare, Kwan Kong was encircled by hundreds of enemy’s soldiers (Chao Chao). But he was never fear to die, remained unwilling to surrender to Chao Chao. Even, proposed 3 conditions: 1. Subject to Han Kingdom, not to Chao Chao.2. Lauw Pie Family (wife of Lauw Pie) was secured her safety. 3. If having heard the presence of Lauw Pie, Kwan Kong was allowed to rejoin his older brother. Chao Chao forcefully accepted these conditions (was there any person who surrender, but proposed 3 conditions???). Then, Kwan Kong lived in Chao Chao Palace for 12 years, but He remained loyal to Han Dynasty with patriotic principles: Surrender to Han, not to Chao.

2. Keep up Moral Norms

Kwan Kong maintained the safety of both older sisters in-law for 12 years, accompanied by candles, he read literature book Chun Chiu. He was cowardly to leave his older sisters in-law, since he was afraid they were in danger. Chao Chao trickily arranged Kwan Kong lived with both his older sisters’ in-law in the same house. But Chao Chao’s tactics were unsuccessful, for 12 years Kwan Kong succeeded in maintaining moral; norms! Human being is the creature that has feeling, people who lived together for 12 years must have had feeling to each other. But Kwan Kong was able to keep the holiness. Really incredible! Climate of Kshatriya Climate (Hawa Kesatria) soared to the sky, along the history there was no the second man.

3. Not tempted to Enjoyment/Pleasure

Chao Chao served Kwan Kong with 3 days of 1 small party; 5 days of 1 small party, through moderate tactics would like to make Kwan Kong’s heart surrendered in order to serve to him. Because Chao Chao saw Kwan Kong protected Lauw Pie during the warfare, with full of misery, exhausted, every time was threatened by danger. But Kwan Kong kept loyal to Lauw Pie; his heart was not affected with the said parties.

4. Not affected by the fame and wealth

Kwan Kong was inaugurated as Sou Ting Hou (The Highest Armed Forces Commander), ride the horse was given gold, ride off the horse was given silver. Chao Chao was very smart in winning someone’s heart: Every time willing to ride horse was given a bag of gold, then ride off from the horse there was guard gave a bag of silver. But Kwan Kong remained unstoppable, not greedy of wealth {imagine if we exchange the position; For example every time get in the car is given gold, and when get off the car is given a bag of silver. If we are greedy, willing to get plentiful wealth easily, then we everyday only get in and get off the car!?}. In Chao Chao’s mind, nobody who couldn’t be subjected by 4 Ta (four syllables TA: Harta (wealth) (gold & silver), Tahta (throne) (His position: Sou Ting Hou), Beautiful girl, Jamuan Pesta (Party Entertainment). But Kwan Kong was unstoppable, remained loyal to Lauw Pie.

5. Not expecting new one and throw away the old one.

Chao Chao provided a present of red robe coated with jewels to Kwan Kong. But by Kwan Kong, the said (new) red robe was worn inside while old and torn and faded blue robe given by Lauw Pie was worn outside. Seeing this matter Chao Chao felt very amazed, and then asked Kwan Kong why he did so? Kwan Kong answered that new red robe given by Chao Chao being worn outside was as indication that Kwan Kong respected Chao Chao. Meanwhile old & faded blue robe worn outside was as indication Kwan Kong always remembered his foster brother, Lauw Pie.

6. Do not forget loyalty of brotherhood

When received news from his older brother Lauw Pie, Kwan Kong immediately asked permission to Chao Chao, but Chao Chao intentionally didn’t want to meet, hang a plate in front of the room: Do not accept the guest! But Kwan Kong was not captivated by good deed, and then returned all gold and silver he received, as well as grandeur stamp of Sou Ting Hou. Then Kwan Kong left Chao Chao Palace went along thousand kilometers seeking for his foster brother, Lauw Pie.

7. Forget me, not care about self safety

When recognized the escaping of Kwan Kong from his palace, Chao Chao pronounced an order: if you fail to arrest Kwan Kong, It’s better to kill him! Kwan Kong himself brought & protected both of his foster brother in-law Broke through5 fortresses and killed 6 Generals. Finally Kwan Kong succeeded meeting again with Lauw Pie & Tio Hui, his younger foster brother.

Loyalty and Truth of Kwan Kong were incomparable, a long the history of human being there was only 1 person. He was successful to maintain noble personality of Gang Zheng: kshatriya, fair, honest, dependable, has integrity, and courageous, eventually reached the perfection as the Greatest Bodhisatva Kumala Raja, Guan Sheng Du Jun (Kwan Seng Tek Kun). He also had the title Fu Mo Da Di (Bodhisatva the Conqueror of Mara), Guan Fa Li Zu (Bodhisatva who Upholds the Law).

Herewith call the followers of religion in order that at the time of worship to Kwan Kong, not to use meat as gift, but only use fruits and cakes (vegetarian). Remember, he has reached Bodhisatva with the title Kwan Seng Tek Kun.