Ba-Jia-Jiang

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Ba Jia Jiang at a religious event

Ba Jia Jiang (Chinese: 八はち家いえ將はた; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Pat-ka-chiòng) originated from the Chinese folk beliefs and myths, and usually generally refers to eight members of the godly realm. The general understanding of the origin of Ba Jia Jiang is that it is derived from the existence of eight generals who performed exorcism of evil spirits for the Wufu Emperor (五福ごふく大帝たいてい). These eight generals became revered as the gods of the underworld, and are represented as the bodyguards or attendants for the temples of the nether Gods such as the Dongyue Emperor (東ひがし獄ごく大帝たいてい), Yama (King of Hell, 閻羅王おう) and Cheng Huang (the City Gods, 城しろ隍). Gradually Ba Jia Jiang evolved to appear also as bodyguards to Wang Ye (Royal Lord, 王おう爺じい) and Matsu (媽祖), and at many other temples. Later on, believers at those temples dressed up as Ba Jia Jiang in order to defend the Gods. These actions evolved into Taiwanese folk activities, which are part of the Wu Array (Military Array, 武たけ陣じん) in Din Tao (Taiwanese troupes, 陣頭じんとう). Ba Jia Jiang is responsible for the capture of ghosts and evil spirits, bringing safety and good luck, and providing protection. They contain a strong religious nature, and Din Tao (Taiwanese troupes, 陣頭じんとう) often seem as mysterious, threatening and serious. Some Ba Jia Jiang members have relations with Taiwanese gangsters.[1]

Name[edit]

Ba Jia Jiang is one of the general troupes in Taiwan. The general groups are originated from Shih Jia Jiang (什家將しょう) in Tainan Bai Long An (Tainan White Dragon Temple, 臺たい南みなみ白龍はくりゅう庵あん), and after spreading to Chiayi Ci Ji Temple (嘉よしみ義ぎ慈濟宮みや), the number of Gods in the array becomes four main generals and four Season Gods, that is eight members in total. Therefore, it is called Ba Jia Jiang (The Eight Generals). According to different heritages around different actual situations, the number of Gods can be four, six, eight, ten, twelve or thirteen. The reasons these general groups are named either Shih Jia Jiang or Ba Jia Jiang are due to their heritages. However, nowadays the general media and the public sector call all the general troupes "Ba Jia Jiang".

Compositions and responsibilities[edit]

The number of Gods in Ba Jia Jiang or Shih Jia Jiang is not fixed. The more complete group is with a number of thirteen Gods, and it is also the common type of Ba Jia Jiang in Taiwan's temples. Its members include: Shih Yi (什役), Wen Chai (Civil Official, 文ぶん差さ), Wu Chai (Military Official, 武たけ差さ), Gan Ye (甘あま爺じい), Liu Ye (柳やなぎ爺じい), Xie Ye (謝しゃ爺じい), Fan Ye (范爺), the great Spring God (春はる大神だいじん), the Great Summer God (夏なつ大神おおがみ), the Great Autumn God (秋あき大神おおがみ), the Great Winter God (冬ふゆ大神だいじん), Wen Pan Guan (Civil Judger, 文ぶん判官ほうがん) and Wu Pan Guan (Military Judger, 武たけ判官ほうがん). Their identities and Responsibilities are as follows:

Shih Yi (什役), Wen Chai (Civil Official, 文ぶん差さ) and Wu Chai (Military Official, 武たけ差さ)

  • Shih Yi (什役): Also known as Xing Ju Ye (God of torture instruments, 刑けい具ぐ爺じい). He carries instruments on his shoulders, and stands in the front of the group to check the path and lead the troupe to worship and salute. He is responsible to avoid evils and make sure the troupe and worship groups are walking towards the temple on a safe track. Shih Yi is the director of the troupe. He knocks the instrument against each other to create sounds while walking with special rhythms and patterns of footsteps. This role is usually held by a senior member of Ba Jia Jiang.
  • Wen Chai (Civil Official, 文ぶん差さ) and Wu Chai (Military Official, 武たけ差さ): They are responsible to pass on Gods' orders. Wen Chai is responsible for receiving orders, and Wu Chai is responsible for passing orders. Wen Chai is also called General Chen (陳ひね將軍しょうぐん) or Chen God (陳ちん大神おおがみ), and Wu Chai is also called General Liu (劉りゅう將軍しょうぐん) or Liu God (劉りゅう大神おおがみ). These two roles are usually played by children or younger members. However, Ba Jia Jiang in Chiayi focuses more on the actions of Wen Chai and Wu Chai. Thus, these two roles are often played by main performers in Chiayi.

The Front Four Members

  • Gan Ye (甘あま爺じい): Named Pen-Fei Gan (甘あま鵬おおとり飛ひ), also known as the General Gan (甘あま將軍しょうぐん), Gan God (甘あま大神おおがみ) and Day Tour God (日にち遊ゆう神しん). He is responsible for the execution of sentences.
  • Liu Ye (柳やなぎ爺じい): Named Yu Liu (柳やなぎ鈺), also known as General Liu (柳やなぎ將軍しょうぐん), Liu God (柳やなぎ大神だいじん) and Night Tour God (夜よる遊ゆう神しん). He is responsible for the execution of sentences with Gan Ye. Both Gan Ye and Liu Ye are arranged at the first row of the group, so they are also called "Group Leader (班はん頭あたま)" and "Front Row (頭あたま排はい)". As they are responsible for execution of sentences, they are also known as "Supporters of Penalties (撐刑)". They take turns to supervise the good and bad behaviors of people during day and night time. They are often enshrined in the Dongyue Temple (東嶽あずまだけ廟びょう), Cheng Huang Temple (City Gods Temple, 城しろ隍廟) and some other temples.
  • Xie Ye (謝しゃ爺じい): Named Bi-An Xie (謝しゃ必安), also known as General Xie (謝しゃ將軍しょうぐん), Da Ye (First Lord, 大だい爺じい), Qi Ye (Seventh Lord, 七なな爺じい), Gao Ye (Tall Lord, 高こう爺じい) and Zhuo Ye (Catching Lord, 捉爺). He is responsible for catching ghosts and evils.
  • Fan Ye (范爺): Wu-Jiu Fan (范無救すくい), also known as the General Fan (范將軍ぐん), Er Ye (Second Lord, 二に爺じい), Ba Ye (Eighth Lord, 八はち爺じい), Ai Ye (Short Lord, 矮爺) and Na Ye (Arresting Lord, 拿爺). He is responsible for catching ghosts and evils.

The Back Four Members

  • The Great Spring God (春はる大神だいじん): Wears blue gown with painted dragon face (also known as lotus pattern). He is responsible for the section of waking up criminals in the interrogation of captured ghosts.
  • The Great Summer God (夏なつ大神おおがみ): Wears red gown with painted turtle face (also known as plum blossom pattern). He is responsible for the section of burning criminals in the interrogation of captured ghosts.
  • The Great Autumn God (秋あき大神おおがみ): Wears black gown with painted bird face (also known as bamboo pattern). He is responsible for the section of beating criminals in the interrogation of captured ghosts.
  • The Great Winter God (冬ふゆ大神だいじん): Wears blue gown with painted tiger face (also known as chrysanthemum pattern). He is responsible for the section of threatening criminals in the interrogation of captured ghosts.

These four Gods are called The Four Seasons Gods (四季しき神しん) and The Four Seasons Emperor (四季しき帝みかど君くん). Their identities or surnames and stories have different versions such as General "Hong (洪ひろし), Liu (劉りゅう), Peng (鵬おおとり), Jin (金)きん", General "Hong (洪ひろし), Cao (曹), Feng (馮), Jin (金)きん", General "He (何なに), Zhang (張ちょう), Xu (徐じょ), Cao (曹)", "Fang (方かた), Yang (楊), He (何なに), Sun (孫まご)" God, "He (何なに), Yang (楊), Fang (方かた), Sun (孫まご)" God and many more.

Wen Pan Guan (Civil Judger, 文ぶん判官ほうがん) and Wu Pan Guan (Military Judger, 武たけ判官ほうがん)

  • Wen Pan Guan (Civil Judger, 文ぶん判官ほうがん): He is in charge of the book of "life and death" (生死せいし簿ぼ) and responsible for investigating the world of goods and evils, in order to determine the length of each person's life.
  • Wu Pan Guan (Military Judger, 武たけ判官ほうがん): He is responsible for escorting ghosts.

Wen Pan Guan and Wu Pan Guan are the highest Gods in the medium position of the group. Some troupes do not have these two roles in their troupes.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hsieh. "邊べ緣えん少年しょうねん八家將的省思". Taiwanese Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 21 July 2016.

External links[edit]

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