For a long time, I was agnostic about the nature of the Deities who paraded around JB on Chingay. I just thought that "quite a number" passed by during the parade, borne on the shoulders of devotees and worshippers. I hadn't a clue that their number was Five, and I did not know they had individual names. To correct this shortcoming, I am adding a section for clueless chaps like me, who, well, want to be a little less clueless by the time the next Chingay rolls around.
I shall research their histories in a bit more detail and expand their respective chapters, but in the meantime, this section will teach the way to differentiate the Deities.
The first photo in the section is always that of their official portrait at the Museum Section of the JB Ancient Temple. However, many of them have had a radical change in skin tones. For example, Yuan Tian Shang Di is now a fetching golden colour, while Hong Xian Da Di and Gan Tian Da Di have changed from a flesh-coloured facies to a rather ruddy hue.
In the JB Ancient Temple, they are arranged in sequence, in the order Gan Tian Da Di, Zhao Da Yuan Shuai, Yuan Tian Shang Di, Hua Guang Da Di and Hong Xian Da Di from your left to your right, as you face the altars.
The placement sequence at the Xing Gong is exactly the same, albeit they are spaced
out a lot more, as the floor area there is so much bigger than that available at the JB Old Temple.
The guide below details how you recognise which Deity is which, both in his sessile and motile forms.
HUA GUANG DA DI (Cantonese)
(华光大帝)
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| Hua Guang Da Di |
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| Hua Guang Da Di |
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| Hua Guang Da Di |
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| Hua Guang Da Di |
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| Hua Guang Da Di |
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| Hua Guang Da Di |
Recognition: 4 green roof pillars
Green roof tiles, red piping in between.
YUAN TIAN SHANG DI (Teochew)
(元天上帝)
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| Yuan Tian Shang Di |
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| Yuan Tian Shang Di |
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| Yuan Tian Shang Di |
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| Yuan Tian Shang Di |
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| Yuan Tian Shang Di |
Recognition: Golden ornate pillars supporting the roof
Green iridescent roof with lanterns at corners
HONG XIAN DA DI (Hokkien)
(洪仙大帝)
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| Hong Xian Da Di |
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| Hong Xian Da Di |
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| Hong Xian Da Di |
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| Hong Xian Da Di |
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| Hong Xian Da Di |
Recognition: Conveyance is barred like a birdcage.
This is unique among the Deities.
There should be no problem in positive identification.
“GAN TIAN DA DI” (Hakka),
(感天大帝)
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| Gan Tian Da Di |
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| Gan Tian Da Di |
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| Gan Tian Da Di |
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| Gan Tian Da Di |
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| Gan Tian Da Di |
Recognition: Face is red
Carriage Roof: Green tiles with red piping, with lanterns at the corners
Ornate 4 golden pillars as roof supports
Note: he can be confused with Yuan Tian Shang Di from afar, but while both possess lanterns at the 4 corners of the roof structure as well as golden supporting pillars, Yuan Tian Shang Di has powered shining green roof tiles, and has a golden-coloured facies.
ZHAO DA YUAN SHUAI (Hainanese),
(赵大元帅)
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| Zhao Da Yuan Shuai |
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| Zhao Da Yuan Shuai |
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| Zhao Da Yuan Shuai |
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| Zhao Da Yuan Shuai |
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| Zhao Da Yuan Shuai |
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| Zhao Da Yuan Shuai |
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| Zhao Da Yuan Shuai |
Recognition: No canopy on sedan chair
Face is black.
He is distinctive, and cannot be confused with other Deities.
TO MAKE THINGS EVEN EASIER:
4 green pillars: Hua Guang Da Di
No canopy: Zhao Da Yuan Shuai
Enclosed with window grilles: Hong Xian Da Di
Golden face. 4 gold pillars with 4 lanterns at corners: Yuan Tian Shang Di
Red face, 4 gold pillars with 4 lanterns at corners: Gan Tian Da Di
May they all shower blessings upon you.
Huat ah!
Heng ah!
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