| Hanyi Pinyin | Chinese | English | Dialect | Symbol | Notes |
| Ba Xian bā xiān |
八仙 | Eight Immortals | Known as individual deities, they became associated together from the Yuan (元) on. The 8 are 钟离权 (zhōng lí quán), 张果老 (zhāng guŏ lăo), 吕洞宾 (lǔ dòng bīn), 曹国舅 (cáo guó jìu), 李铁拐 (lĭ tiĕ guăi), 韩湘子 (hán xiāng zĭ), 蓝采和 (lán căi hé), 何仙姑 (hé xiān gū). Often represented in a boat together. | ||
| Bao Sheng Da Di | 保生大帝 | Also known as 吴真人 (Wu Zhen Ren) or 大帝爷 (Da Di Ye). | |||
| Cao Guo Jiu cáo guó jìu |
曹国舅 | Castanets | Official holding imperial tablet. Patron: theatre. A Ba Xian (8 Immortals). | ||
| Chi Wang Ye | 池王爷 (池王爺) |
Tee Ong Ye | Black face | ||
| Da Di Ye | 大帝爷 | Tai Te Ia | See Bao Sheng Da Di | ||
| Da Er Ye Bo dà èr yé bó |
大二爷伯 | Twa Li Ya Peh | |||
| Dong Fang Er Yuan Shi | 东方二元师 (東方二元師) |
See Er Lang | |||
| Dou Mu | 斗母 | Tao Bo (闽南) | |||
| Er Lang Shen | 二郎神 | Carries a three-pointed halberd; black dog by his side. | Mother is the Jade Emperor's sister. Also known as Dong Fang Er Yuan Shi (东方二元师), Yang Jian (杨戬). | ||
| Fa Zhu Gong | 法主公 | Huat Zhu Gong | Black face & beard with wheels under feet. | Also known as Zhang Gong Sheng Jun. | |
| Fu De Zheng Shen | 福德正神 | Also known Tua Peh Kong. | |||
| Gan Tian Da Di | One of the 四大天师. Born on 28th day of the 1st moon. | ||||
| Guan Di guān dì |
关帝 (關帝) |
See Guan Sheng Di Jun. | |||
| Guan Gong guān gōng |
关公 (關公) |
See Guan Sheng Di Jun. | |||
| Guan Sheng Di Jun guān shèng dì jūn |
关圣帝君 (關聖帝君) |
Deification of 三国 (Three Kingdoms) general 关羽 (Guan Yu).
Also known as 关帝 (Guan Di) or 关羽 (Guan Yu), 关公 (Guan Gong) or 协天大帝 (Xie Tian Da Di). Celebration on 五月十三 (5M13). |
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| Guan Shi Yin | 观世音 (觀世音) |
See Guan Yin | |||
| Guan Yin guān yīn |
观音 (觀音) |
Kwan Im | Generally agreed that she is the sinification of Avalokiteśvara
(see Yu Chun-fang's Kuan-yin: The Chinese Transformation of Avalokitesvara (2000).) Fuller name is 觀世音 (Guan Shi Yin). Birthday: 二月十九 (2M19) Enlightenment: 六月十九 (6M19) Left home (Taoist): 六月十九 (6M19) 出家/left home (Buddhist): 九月十九 (9M19) Attained the Way (得道): 九月十九 (9M19). |
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| Guan Yu guān yǔ |
关羽 (關羽) |
See Guan Sheng Di Jun. | |||
| Guang Ze Zun Wang guăng zé zūn wáng |
廣澤尊王 (广泽尊王) |
Kong Teik Choon Ong | See The Saintly Guo. | ||
| Han Xiang Zi hán xiāng zĭ |
韩湘子 | Flute | Patron of music. A Ba Xian (8 Immortals). | ||
| Han Zhong Li | ?钟离 | Fan | See Zhong Li Quan | ||
| He Xian Gu hé xiān gū |
何仙姑 | Lotus | Lady carrying or sitting on a lotus. A Ba Xian (8 Immortals). | ||
| Ji Dian | 濟顚 (济颠) |
See Ji Gong (濟公/济公). | |||
| Ji Gong | 濟公 (济公) |
Ragged Buddhist monk with wine gourd; sometimes with fan. | Aka 濟顚 (济颠/Jidian). Originally a 12th century itinerant Chan monk, 道濟 (道济/Daoji). 道濟's biography in 居簡's (居简/Jujian) work, 北磵文集 (Beixian Wenji). Evidence of popular lore starts in 16th century Hangzhou & Buddhist adoption starts during Ming. See Meir Shahar's Crazy Ji (1998). | ||
| Jiu Huang Da Di | 九皇大帝 | Kew Huang Da Di (闽南) | See Jiu Huang Ye | ||
| Jiu Huang Ye jĭu huáng yé |
九皇爷 | Nine Emperor Gods | Kiu Ong Yiah / Kew Ong Yah / Kew Huang Yah (闽南) Kau Wong Yeh / Kow Wong Yeah (Can) |
Represent the 9 stars of the Big Dipper. 2 of the stars are not visible.
the 9 are 天篷 (tiān péng), 天芮 (tiān ruì), 天冲 (tiān rén), 天辅 (tiān fǔ), 天禽 (tiān qín),
天心 (tiān xīn), 天柱 (tiān zhù), 天仁 (tiān rén), 天英 (tiān yīng).
They are the sons of Dou Mu (斗母). See weecheng.com. Cheu, Hock Tong. The Nine Emperor Gods: A Study of Chinese Spirit-Medium Cults. Singapore: Times Books International, 1988. (Call no: 299.5109595 CHE) Cheu, Hock Tong. An Analysis of the Nine Emperor Gods Spirit-Medium Cult in Malaysia. Ithaca, NY: Southeast Asia program, Cornell University, 1982. |
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| Kui Xing kuí xīng |
魁星 | Stands on an 鳌 & carries a writing brush. | Ugly. Patron of exam candidates. Portrayed standing on an 鳌 (ao or dragon-headed sea creature) fish or turtle. Carries a writing brush and either a seal or a basket. Constellation formerly known as 奎宿 (kuí xìu). | ||
| Lan Cai He lán căi hé |
蓝采和 | Flower basket | Young man in blue robes & one shoe. Carries a wand. A Ba Xian (8 Immortals). | ||
| Li Tie Guai lĭ tiĕ guăi |
曹国舅 | Iron Crutch Li | Gourd | Lame beggar w an iron crutch. A Ba Xian (8 Immortals). | |
| Lian Hua San Tai Zi | 莲花三太子 | Lian Huay Sam Tai Tsu (Can) | Lotus leaves or flower & hoop/ring | See Ne Zha | |
| Lin Tai Shi | 林太師 (林太师) |
Lim Tai See (Grand Tutor Lim) | Lim Tai See (闽南) | A Lim (林 [lin]) clan ancestor. Deified Grand Tutor by the name of 林偕春 [lin xie chun] aka 林孚元 [lin fu yuan] aka 云山居士 [yun shan ju shi]. See http://javewu.multiply.com/journal/item/123/123 dated 16 Nov 2007 (visited 15 Jan 2008). |
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| Lu Dong Bin lǔ dòng bīn |
吕洞宾 | Sword | Scholar holding a flybrush with a sword on the back. A Ba Xian (8 Immortals). | ||
| Ma Zu | 妈祖 | Tan, Szan. "The Cult and Festival of the Goddess of the Sea - A Maiden Encounter With Mazu". The Heritage Journal. 1.1(2004):13-20. <http://epress.nus.edu.sg/nhb/include/getdoc.php?id=26&article=8&mode=pdf>. | |||
| Ne Zha né zhā |
哪吒 | Nezha | Boy with hoop & spear and fiery wheels under both feet. Also lotus motif on clothes or atop a lotus leaf. His story is in 封神演义 (Investiture of the Gods aka Creation of the Gods). Also known as 莲花三太子 (Lotus Third Prince) & one of his titles is 中坛元帅 (Supreme Commander of the Central Altar). Commands the central (yellow) of the five armies. | ||
| Qi Tian Da Sheng qí tiān dà shèng |
齐天大圣 (齊天大聖) |
Monkey God (Great Sage Equal of Heaven) | Originates from the 16th century novel, Journey to the West (西游记). Also known as Tai Shang Ye. Broke out of 老子's urn: 正月十六 (1M16) 八月十六 (8M16) Hatched from stone egg: 十月十二 (10M12) |
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| Shan Cai Tong Zi shàn cái tóng zĭ |
善才童子 | ||||
| Shan Cai Ye shàn cái yé |
善财爷 | Sian Chye Ya (闽南) | |||
| Tai Shang Ye | 太圣爷 (太聖爺) |
Thai Seng Ia | See Qi Tian Da Sheng. | ||
| Tian Gong | 天公 | Ti Kong (闽南) | Coll name for the Jade Emperor (see Tian Gong). | ||
| Wei Ling Shi Da Shi | 威靈時大師 | Black face indicating he was posioned. | Assistant to Xuan Tian Shang Di. | ||
| Wu Zhen Ren | 吴真人 | See Bao Sheng Da Di. | |||
| Xie Tian Da Di | 协天大帝 | See Guan Sheng Di Jun. | |||
| Xuan Tian Shang Di | 玄天上帝 | Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven | Hian Tian Siong Teh | Snake and a tortise. | See Xuan Tian Shang Di 玄天上帝 blog.
Story is in 北游记 (Bei You Ji) which has been translated: Journey to the North (Seaman, 1987).
DeBernardi's The Way That Lives in the Heart (1996) mentions an English translation done in Penang.
魏寳山河 (1997) has an English language account of this deity. Assistants: Wei Ling Shi Da Shi Also known as Zhen Wu Da Di. Birthday: 三月初三 (3M3) 得道 (attained the Way): 九月初九 (9M9). |
| Yan Wang | 阎王 (閻王) |
Yama | Iam Ong | King of the underworld. | |
| Yang Jian | 杨戬 (楊?) |
See Er Lang Shen. | |||
| Yu Huang San Tai Zi | 玉皇三太子 | Third Prince of the Jade Emperor | |||
| Yu Huang Shang Di | 玉皇上帝 | Jade Emperor | |||
| Zao Shen zào shén |
灶神 | Kitchen God | |||
| Zhang Gong Sheng Jun | 张公圣君 | Also known as Fa Zhu Gong. | |||
| Zhang Guo Lao zhāng guŏ lăo |
张果老 | 鱼鼓 | Old man often seen riding a white donkey backwards. A Ba Xian (8 Immortals). | ||
| Zhen Wu Da Di | 真武大帝 | See Xuan Tian Shang Di | |||
| Zhong Li Quan zhōng lí quán |
钟离权 | Fan | Aka Han Zhongli. Fat bare-bellied man carrying a fan. A Ba Xian (8 Immortals). | ||
| Zhong Tan Yuan Shuai | 中坛元帅 | See Ne Zha. Title for Ne Zha's position as general of the central (yellow) army & commander of the five armies. |
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DeBernardi, Jean. <http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/~jdeberna>. Stevens, Keith. "The Popular Religion Gods of the Hainanese". Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 41(2001). <http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4400884.pdf>. Stevens, Keith and Jennifer Welch. "Xu, the Taoist Perfected Lord Xu Zhenjun, the Protective Deity of Jiangsi Province". Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 38(1998). <http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4400809.pdf>. Stevens, Keith. Chinese Gods: The Unseen World of Spirits and Demons. London: Collins & Brown, 1997. (Call no: 299.51 STE) Stevens, Keith. "Singapore's Disappearing Temples and The Decline and Apparent Demise of a Popular Religion Cult". Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 35(1995). <http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4400675.pdf>. Stevens, Keith. "Three Fukienese [Min-Nan] Cults: Pao-Sheng Ta-Ti, Ch'ing-Shui Tsu-Shih and San P'ing Tsu-Shih". Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 33(1993). <http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4400645.pdf>. Stevens, Keith. "T'i-Shen: Substitute for a Person". Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 30(1990). <http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4400609.pdf>. Stevens, Keith. "The Jade Emperor and His Family, Yu Huang Ta Ti". Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 29(1989). <http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4400572.pdf>.
Stevens, Keith. "The Saintly Guo".
Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 18(1978). Stevens, Keith. "Three Chinese Deities: Variations on a Theme". Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 12(1972). <http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4400212.pdf>. Elliott, Alan. Chinese Spirit-Medium Cults in Singapore. London: Royal Anthropological Institute, 1955. (Call no: 299.51095957 ELL) Elliott, Alan. The Cult of the Heavenly Monkey: A Sociological Study of Chinese Spirit-Mediumship in Singapore. (1951). Typescript. Draft report carried out under the Colonial Social Science Research Council.
Jordan, David K. Gods, Ghosts, & Ancestors: Folk Religion in a Taiwanese Village (3rd ed). (1999). <http://weber.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/scriptorium/gga/ggacover.html>. Nickerson, Peter. "A Poetics and Politics of Possession: Taiwanese Spirit-Medium Cults and Autonomous Popular Cultural Space". Positions: East Asia Cultures Critique. 9.1(Spr 2001):187-217. Stevens, Keith. "Patron Deity of Prostitutes: Zhu Bajie". Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 40(2000). <http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4400866.pdf>. Stevens, Keith. "Fukienese Wang Yeh (Ong Ya [Hokkien])". Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 29(1989). <http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/>. |