The Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Penang

槟城九皇爷
(Image source: Perpetual Memorial Park)

【Writer: Lee Eng Kew】

The Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Penang is one of the most significant and well-attended festivals in Malaysia. A significant proportion of the population adheres to a vegetarian diet, with almost every district having a makeshift vegetarian hawker stall. Those who typically sell non-vegetarian food have also switched to vegetarian food. This indicates that there is a considerable number of individuals who observe the Nine Emperor Gods Festival by abstaining from meat. Additionally, it is notable that a considerable number of office workers also adhere to a vegetarian diet. In addition to the customary noodle dishes, such as Hokkien noodles, curry noodles, Javanese noodles, Lor Mee, wonton noodles, and fried kuey teow, a plethora of cakes, biscuits, and buns are available, particularly the "Ko Wa (cakes)" variety, comprising black glutinous rice cakes, mung bean cakes, salted cakes and steamed rice cakes.

Penang Thousand Stairs Temple Qing Guan Si is a Taoist temple with a paid bus service to the foot of the hill. The air on the hill is fresh and there is a steady stream of visitors. This is a Hakka Nine Emperor Gods sect temple, and every Nine Emperor Gods Festival, there are scribes praying and reciting scriptures, which is a distinctive feature.

The Nine Emperor Gods Celebration at Zhong Ying Ci Ji Temple is notable for its distinctive lantern ceremony, which is based on Taoist tradition. This ceremony involves the arrangement of nine lanterns following the positions of the nine stars of the Big Dipper in the night sky. These stars include the seven visible stars of the Big Dipper, as well as the two hidden stars that are not visible to the naked eye. Furthermore, a lantern altar is constructed in the center, comprising three distinct layers. The lowest layer comprises the twenty-eight constellations of lamps, that is, the Seven Xiu of the Azure Dragon of the East, the Seven Xiu of the Vermillion Bird of the South, the Seven Xiu of the White Tiger of the West and the Seven Xiu of the Dark Tortoise of the North; the middle level is the altar of the five dipper lamps, that is, the Five Stars of the Eastern Dipper, the Six Stars of the Southern Dipper, the Four Stars of the Western Dipper, the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper (plus the two hidden stars), and the Three Stars of the Middle Dipper. The uppermost level is dedicated to Doumu Yuanjun. The front hall is arranged as a solemn altar of the Three Pure Ones, where the Big Dipper Seven Stars Life-Extending Sutra and other relevant texts are chanted on a nightly basis. In recent years, the practice of chanting sutras on the Nine Emperor Gods Festival gained popularity in many parts of the country. This allows the general public to participate in the chanting of sutras and pray for blessings with the aim of eliminating calamities and prolonging life.

Hong Kong Street Tow Boh Keong Penang is a particularly ancient temple of the Nine Emperor Gods, with artefacts dating back to the first year of the Guangxu reign (1875). This makes it the earliest known Nine Gods temple in the country.

槟城九皇爷
(Image source: Perpetual Memorial Park)

On the 9th day of the Lunar New Year, the Nine Emperor Gods are sent off with a series of ceremonial sounds and displays. These include the sounding of gongs and drums, as well as the participation of various parade teams in a procession through the streets. The Hong Kong Street Tow Boh Keong royal float is notably smaller in comparison to the other, more substantial and intricately decorated floats. On this night, a considerable number of the teams involved in the procession will parade together and arrive at the Clan Jetties of Penang. Approximately 20 individuals will then proceed to the sea on the two floats. The individual in charge will place the Nine Emperor Gods ceramic incense burner and accompanying items, including gold paper, incense candles, sandalwood, and other items, on the Nine Emperor Gods float. They will then ignite the float, allowing it to burn in the sea. The worshippers on the boat will proceed in a circular motion around the burning float until it is completely consumed. They will then return to the shore.

There is a group of Western believers in Hong Kong Street Tow Boh Keong, including a foreigner married to a Chinese person of Penang descent from Fujian who adheres to the beliefs associated with the greatness of the Nine Emperors. As a result of his influence, his foreign and black associates also adhere to the beliefs associated with the Nine Emperors, including a vegetarian diet and participation in the birth of the Nine Emperors. They engage in the practice of kneeling in worship to the Nine Emperor Gods, accompanied by chanting that is particularly devotional. In recent years, the belief in the Nine Emperor Gods has begun to gain ground in Western countries.

#万富 #继承传统

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