Latest news with #GuanDi
Malay Mail
18-07-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Honouring Guan Gong at Penang temples for health, safety, and prosperity
GEORGE TOWN, July 18 — Amid the thick scent of burning joss sticks and the steady rhythm of drums, the Toishan Ninyang Wui Kwon committee members stood with joss sticks in hand to make offerings to the resident deity, Guan Di at Nin Yong Temple. The table in front of the main altar was laden with offerings from devotees who have started arriving at the temple to pray since 9am. Today is the 24th day of the sixth lunar month and it marks the birthday of Guan Di, the god of war, wealth and literature. The 194-year-old Nin Yong Temple along King Street is one of the oldest temples in Penang that worships Guan Di, who is also known as Guan Sheng Dijun and Guan Gong. Toishan Ninyang Wui Kwon committee chairman Chin Chin Wah led the committee members in an elaborate ceremony to celebrate the deity's birthday. Toishan Ninyang Wui Kwon chairman Chin Chin Wah (fourth from right) and committee members with the lions after the ceremony. — Picture by Opalyn Mok As a temple member announces each step of the ritual in the Xinning or Toishan dialect, Chin performed the ritual, first by offering joss sticks, followed by tea and food offerings such as roast chicken, whole roast pigs, kuih and fruits. Finally, folded gold joss paper was also offered as they prayed for health, safety and wealth. After that, the committee members continued to the ancestral hall where they conducted a similar ritual to make similar offerings to their ancestors. Firecrackers were lit and a pair of red and gold lions danced and paid homage to the altars of deities within the temple before ending with a photo session with the committee members. A pair of red and gold lions at the Nin Yong Temple. — Picture by Opalyn Mok 'For generations, the Toishan people have paid great respect to Guan Di who is known for his loyalty, courage and righteousness,' said Chin. He said Guan Di, whose name was Guan Yu when he was alive, is a role model, so the birthday celebrations are a way for them to pay their respects and honour him. The committee also held a lamp-lighting ceremony as a symbol of lighting up the darkness for peace, wisdom, and hope. As they made their offerings, Chin led the committee members to pray for Guan Di to shine brightly in his divine power so that the temple continues to flourish and for the people to continue to live in peace and full of blessings. 'When there is righteousness in the heart, success will follow,' he said. Just next door, the Thai Pak Koong (Ng Suk) Temple committee members are also making similar offerings and prayers to Guan Gong but in a more subdued tone. Thai Pak Koong temple committee president Foo Yen Chow (centre) led the prayers in the birthday celebration ritual in honour of Guan Gong. — Picture by Opalyn Mok While the Nin Yong Temple was led and managed by the Toishan community, the Thai Pak Koong Temple is managed by five Hakka associations, namely the Fooi Chew Association, Kar Yin Fee Koon, Tai Pu Association, Yung Ting Association, and Tsen Lung Fui Kon. Representatives from the five associations, led by the Thai Pak Koong temple committee president Foo Yen Chow, made the offerings of food and fruits to Guan Gong in a similar ritual. They also offered a new paper outfit for Guan Gong which was burned after the prayer ceremony. In both temples, the ceremonies lasted between 30 minutes and an hour, but both temples will remain open until evening for devotees to pray and make their offerings throughout the day. Toishan Ninyang Wui Kwon Committee members praying to their ancestors at the ancestral hall. — Picture by Opalyn Mok Guan Gong was once a real-life general during China's Three Kingdoms period. During the Three Kingdoms period, Guan Yu's pact with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei as sworn brothers to revive the Han Dynasty symbolised his loyalty in looking out for his friends in times of hardship. As a general, he was known for his bravery, moral integrity and righteousness. Today marks his 1,865th birthday.
Boston Globe
29-01-2025
- Boston Globe
The Year of the Snake is underway with Lunar New Year festivities in Asia and around the world
The holiday — known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea — is a major festival celebrated by diaspora communities around the world. The snake, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, follows the just-ended Year of the Dragon. The pop-pop-pop of firecrackers greeted the new year outside Guan Di temple in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, followed by lion dances to the rhythmic beat of drums and small cymbals. Advertisement Ethnic Chinese holding incense sticks in front of them bowed several times inside the temple before sticking the incense into elaborate gold-colored pots, the smoke rising from the burning tips. Many Chinese who work in bigger cities return home during the eight-day national holiday in what is described as the world's biggest annual movement of humanity. Beijing, China's capital, has turned into a bit of a ghost town, with many shops closed and normally crowded roads and subways emptied out. Traditionally, Chinese have a family dinner at home on New Year's Eve and visit 'temple fairs' on the Lunar New Year to watch performances and buy snacks, toys and other trinkets from booths. Many Chinese take advantage of the extended holiday to travel both in the country and abroad. Ctrip, an online booking agency that operates said the most popular overseas destinations this year are Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the United States, South Korea, Macao and Vietnam. Russians cheered, waved and took smartphone photos of a colorful procession with drummers, costumed dancers and large dragon and snake figures held aloft that kicked off a 10-day Lunar New Year festival in Moscow on Tuesday night. Advertisement The Chinese and Russian governments have deepened ties since 2022, in part to push back against what they see as U.S. dominance of the world order. Visitors shouted 'Happy New Year' in Russian and expressed delight at being able to experience Chinese food and culture in Moscow, including folk performances and booths selling snacks and artwork. Associated Press video journalists Alice Fung in Hong Kong and Syawalludin Zain in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, contributed to this story.
