San Goan Da Di - Trinity of Taoism
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三官大帝 San Goan Da Di {Hok Kian = Sam Kwan Tai Te} was a Trinity of Taoism, considered as a representative of God the Almighty in the world. Appeared in the shape as the Emperor of Three Worlds: The Sky, Earth & Water, comprising 3 (three) people, and generally called 三界公 San Jie Gong {Hok Kian = Sam Kai Kong}.
The title for San Goan Da Di is various:
Firstly, the title 三元 San Yuan {Hok Kian = Sam Gwan}. This title indicates the time when the said three Emperors went down to earth, namely:
- Cia Gwe Cap Go (the 15 th day of 1 st month of China Calendar (Imlek)) = Shang Yuan {Hok Kian = Siang Gwan}
- Cit Gwe Cap Go (the 15 th day of 7 th month of China Calendar (Imlek)) = Zhong Yuan {Hok Kian = Tiong Gwan}
- Cap Gwe Cap Go (the 15 th day of 10 th month of China Calendar (Imlek)) = Xia Yuan {Hok Kian = He Gwan}
Secondly, the title 三官 San Guan {Hok Kian = Sam Kwan}. This title was considered from his rank, namely: Tian Guan, Di Guan, Shui Guan that constitutes the blessing awarder, sin forgiveness & protector from disaster & misfortune.
Thirdly, known with the title 三官大帝 San Goan Da Di {Hok Kian = Sam Kwan Tai Te}. This title awarded by the Supreme God Yuan Shi Tian Zun.
Tian Guan was given the title Zi Wei Da Di {Hok Kian = Ci Wi Tai Te}.
Di Guan was given the title Qing Xu Da Di {Hok Kian = Ching Hi Tai Te}
Shui Guan was given the title Dong Xu Da Di {Hok Kian = Thong Hi Tai Te}
This third Da Di all together was called San Guan Da Di.
Explanation of San Guan Da Di is as follows:
- 天官 Tian Guan {Thien Kwan} = the Deity of Ruler of Heavens; control the revolution of the sun, moon, star, atmosphere, and other universal object. Tian Guan went down to the earth to grant blessing to the mankind in every the 15 th day of 1 st month of China Calendar (Imlek) {Cia Gwe Cap Go}, therefore he was called Shang Yuan. His full title was Shang Yuan Ci Fu Tian Guan Yi Ping Zi Wei Da Di (abridged by 上元天官大帝 Shang Yuan Tian Guan Da Di ), meaning as follows: Zi Wei Da Di was a the title of Tian Guan, the first ruler of heaven (Tian Guan Yi Ping), when Shang Yuan (Cia Gwe Cap Go) went down to distribute blessing (Ci Fu). The Se Jit Tian Guan Day is commemorated every the 15 th day of 1 st month of China Calendar (Imlek) (Cia Gwe 15).
- 地官 Di Guan {Tee Kwan} = Deity of Earth Ruler; had the authority over the creation everything existing in the world, including human being, animals & plants. Di Guan went down to the earth to control the birth & death, control the harvest, control desolate places for human spirits to the hereafter and managed the forgiveness of sin in every the 15 th day of 7 th month of China Calendar (Imlek) {Cit Gwe Cap Go}, therefore he was called Zhong Yuan. His full title was Zhong Yuan She Zui Di Guan Er Ping Qing Xu Da Di (abbreviated by 中元地官大帝 Zhong Yuan Di Guan Da Di ), meaning as follows: Qing Xu Da Di was a honorary title of Di Guan, the ruler of mid-level earth (Di Guan Er Ping), when Zhong Yuan. (Cit Gwe Cap Go ) came to the world to forgive the human sins (She Zui). Se Jit Di Guan Day is commemorated every 15 th Day of 7 th month of China Calendar (Imlek) (Cit Gwe 15).
- 水官 Shui Guan {Cui Kwan} = The Deity who controlled the circulation of water, rain, sources in the mountain, river, sea and control wind that brought the rain, flood & everything related to water. Shui Guan went down to the earth to control the circulation of water & liberated the human being from various calamities relating to water on the 15 th day of 10 th month of China Calendar (Imlek) {Cap Gwe Cap Go}, therefore he was called Xia Yuan. His full title was Xia Yuan Jie E Shui Guan San Ping Dong Xu Da Di (abbreviated by 下元水官大帝 Xia Yuan Shui Guan Da Di ), meaning as follows: Dong Xu Da Di was a honorary title of Shui Guan, the Low-Level Water Ruler (Shui Guan San Ping), when Xia Yuan (Cap Gwe Cap Go) arrived at the world to help the human being avoiding the disaster (Jie E). Se Jit Shui Guan Day is commemorated every the 15 th day of 10 th month of China Calendar (Imlek) (Cap Gwe 15).
Fourthly, there is also the title 三元公 San Yuan Gong {Hok Kian = Sam Gwan Kong}. This title appeared from the consideration that Tian Guan, Di Guan & Shui Guan were actually the titles of full of honors to the famous 3 Emperors in the past, namely: the Emperor 堯 Yao {Hok Kian = Giauw}, the Emperor 舜 Shun {Sun} and the Emperor 禹 Yu {Ie}.
The Emperor Yao [2357 – 2258 BC], Shun [2225 – 2205 BC] & Yu [2205 – 2198 BC] were the 3 fair and prudent Holy Emperor who cared for the interest of their people, so that these three Emperors became the ideal models of Kong Zi {Confucianism}, Meng Zi {Beng Cu}, and other philosophers in teaching their disciples, as well as was often used by the said philosophers to provide models for the Emperors who took the throne later.
By the people, the Emperor Yao, Shun & Yu were adored as Tian Guan, Ti Guan and Shui Guan. Three of them were called San Yuan Gong and their temples were everywhere. They were adored as Deity whom controlled human bad and good deeds and the Deity for protecting life.
The statues of San Guan Da Di are many found in the temples, both in China mainland and Hong Kong. In Taiwan, particularly in Tai Nan, there are 3 temples that especially for honoring San Guan Da Di, namely: San Guan Tang, San Jie Tang & San Guan Da Di Miao.
