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Hung Shing

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Statue and altar of Hung Shing in the Hung Shing Temple of Hang Mei Tsuen, Ping Shan, Hong Kong.
In this Chinese name, the family name is Hung (洪ひろし).

Hung Shing wong (Chinese: 洪ひろし聖きよし), also known as Hung Shing Ye (洪ひろし聖せい爺じい) and Tai Wong (大王だいおう) is a Chinese folk religion deity. The most popular tale states that in his lifetime he was a government official in the Tang dynasty (AD 618–907)[1][2] named Hung Hei (洪ひろし熙) serving Pun Yue in present-day Guangdong, China.[3]

His festival (洪ひろし聖せい誕) is held on the 13th day of the 2nd month in the Chinese calendar.[1][3]

Life and memory

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The popular tale is that Hung Hei was a righteous government official who won approbation from the people. During his tenure in office, he promoted the study and application of astronomy, geography and mathematics,[2] and established an observatory to observe the meteorological changes,[1] thus contributing to the well-being of people under his governance, especially fishermen and sea traders. Unfortunately, he died young.[1]

After his death, an Emperor of the Tang dynasty disseminated his virtues to the whole country and bestowed upon him the posthumous title of Nam Hoi Kwong Li Hung Shing Tai Wong (南海なんかい廣こう利り洪ひろし聖せい大王だいおう),[1] lit. the Saint King Hung the Widely Beneficial of South Sea. It is usually shortened to Hung Shing or Tai Wong.

Legend has it that Hung Shing continued to guard the people against natural disasters on numerous occasions after his death,[1] and showed his presence to save many people during tempests.[4] The government[1] as well as fishermen in the surrounding area built many temples to worship him as the God of Southern Sea.[1] Hung Shing temples have been widely built in southern China, especially Guangdong province[2] and in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, they are named Hung Shing Miu (洪ひろし聖廟せいびょう) or Tai Wong Miu (大王だいおう廟びょう).

Modern scholars however believe that Hung Shing is derived from the worship of Zhurong, the fire deity and god of the southern seas. Worship of Zhurong as the god of the southern seas predates the Tang dynasty: one temple dedicated to the "South Sea God" in Guangzhou dates from the preceding Sui dynasty. The title "South Sea God" was conferred by Emperor Wen of Sui. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang conferred on the South Sea God the title "Guangli DaWang" (廣こう利り大王だいおう), and additional titles were conferred during the Song and Yuan dynasties, resulting eventually in the full title "South Sea Guangli Hongsheng Zhaoshun Weixian Lingfu Wang" (南海なんかい廣こう利り洪ひろし聖ひじり昭あきら順じゅん威い顯あらわ靈れい孚まこと王おう).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Chinese Temples Committee website". Archived from the original on 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
  2. ^ a b c Brief Information on Proposed Grade I Items, pp.207-208 Archived October 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b Hung Shing Festival at discoverhongkong.com
  4. ^ "Welcome to 18 districts - Wan Chai District". Archived from the original on 2014-06-21. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
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