My Diary

Upon invitation by the temple management of Soon Hock Keng Chinese Temple, Taoist priests from Hian Eng Taoist Group conducted a 3-day ritual of thanksgiving.   The temple is operating a temporary place of worship located within the Central Klang Valley vicinity. The main deity revered at the temple is Zhang Gong Shen Jun, also known as Fazhugong  法主公  in  Chinese . During the three-day ritual, many questions arose regarding a Taoist rite known as Chi Shui Jin Tan, also known as Cleansing Water Ceremony (敕水禁壇). The cleansing water ritual begins with the invocation of gods to purify the water and sanctify the space. This Taoist rite aims to cleanse the ceremonial area, removing impurities and halting negative influences, such as black magic or disruptive energies, within the Taoist place of worship. During the ritual, Taoist priests from the Zheng-Yi sect perform dynamic movements, including playing with swords and destroying the bronze flag column, which are believed...

The famous mother temple of Zhang Gong Sheng Jun, also known as Fazhugong, is located on Mount Shiniu in Dehua County. The temple is situated in a cave approximately 1700 meters above sea level, known as Shihudong. According to folk tales, the cave was once inhabited by five ghosts who were eventually captured by Fazhugong and his two brothers. This deity is depicted with unkempt long hair, holding a sword in one hand and entangled with a snake in the other. The air at Shihudong remains fresh throughout the year. Standing outside the cave and admiring the beauty of the vast clouds gives one a feeling of heaven on earth and comfort. During temple celebrations, numerous devotees from China, Taiwan, and Malaysia gather. They wake up early to trek up to the cave, hoping to catch the sunrise at Shihudong. On the auspicious annual thanksgiving day, our Taoist priest initiates the ceremony by beating a drum, followed by the crackle of gunfire, symbolizing hopes for prosperity and good fortune...