The Origin of God of Door
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The origin of 門神 Men Shen {Hok Kian = Mui Sin} God of Door has long been existed. It proves that in the past, people considerably paid attention to the security of door. Function of God of Door, though it cannot be compared to sophisticated technology security system like in the present, but the role that can be developed namely to provide the sense of peace & quietness, even non-expectable from security system. However, the Chinese people believed that God of Door could expel ghosts and Satan. It also cannot be seen or encountered even by security system with sophisticated system.
There are several types of God of Door, namely: God of Military Door, God of Civil Door, God of Door for Requesting Fortune, etc. In various areas Respected God of Door was not the same. In addition to God of Door 神荼 Shen Tu &鬱壘 Yu Lei, the most ancient one known by people, 秦叔寳 Qin Shu Bao {Hok Kian = Cin Siok Po} & 尉遲恭 Yu Chi Gong {Ut Ti Kiong} alias 尉遲敬德 Yu Chi Jing De {Ut Ti Keng Tek} was the most influential and spread able God of Door.
Cin Siok Po & Ut Ti Kiong was one of Gods of Military Door. Cin Siok Po & Ut Ti Kiong were 2 famous Generals during Tang Dynasty era [618 – 907 M] who helped Emperor Tang Tai Zong {Tong Thai Cong} – Li Shi Min {Li Se Bin} establish Tang {Tong} Dynasty. How could both of them become Gods of Door?
Based on the book Li Dai Shen Xian Tong Jian, during early period of Emperor Li Se Bin took the throne, he often felt bad health, in the night he often dreamed meeting with ghost/Satan who came disturbing. Probably it happened because during the early period of struggling to found the state authority, he had killed many people. In the said book was told: “Outside bedroom’s door was thrown away bricks & roof tiles, Satan & invisible elves screamed, 36 palace buildings, 72 yards, no silent night”. Emperor Tong Thai Cong was bothered making him couldn’t eat and sleep well.
After General Cin Siok Po & General Ut Ti Kiong knew that incident, then requested in order to safeguard security by standing on both sides of Palace doors wearing military uniform. At that night, nothing really happened, no sounds from disturbing evil spirits. Emperor Tong Thai Cong felt very happy. But if he asked both of them standing during the night in the front of door until morning), it was also too exhausted (that’s too bad for both of them).
Emperor Tong Thai Cong then commanded the painter to draw both of them in the shape of “Wearing iron dress & holding spear and sickle, looks like commanding with sharp glance.” After finished, both pictures were hung on both leaves of Palace doors. Ever since, Emperor Tong Thai Cong – Li Se Bin were not disturbed by that evil spirits any longer. This phenomenon was widely spread in the public. By the people of the generation after that, Cin Siok Po & Ut Ti Kiong became Gods of Door who were respected in people homes.
Particularly Buddhism-characteristic temple, it was often used pictures of 2 Bodhisattvas wearing full war dress, as a God of Door namely Qie Lan Pu Sa & Wei Tuo Pu Sa.
Installation of these Gods of Doors was then not only limited to the doors of temple, but it was common in every building, people house and offices. Currently, we can see it in Taiwan, Hong Kong & Singapore, even in Japan & Korea. Among several kinds of Gods of Door, pictures of Cin Siok Po & Ut Ti Kiong are often installed in people houses presently. It is Cin Siok Po & Ut Ti Kiong whose pictures wee see nowadays on leaves of doors in the most of existing temples.
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