The Saintly Founder-King of Zhang

From FYSK: Daoist Culture Centre - Database
Jump to navigation Jump to search


Immortals and Immortalism
The Heavenly Lords
The Primeval Lord of Heaven
The Heavenly Lord of the Numinous Treasure
The Heavenly Lord of Dao and its Virtue
The Great Jade Emperor
The Heavenly Lord of Supreme Oneness and Salvation from Misery
The Three Great Emperor-Officials
The Four Heavenly Ministers
The Emperors of the Soil
The Queen Mother of the West
The Thunder Patriarch
The Stellar Sovereigns
The Great Perfect Warrior Emperor
Imperial Sovereign Wenchang
The Stellar Sovereign of the Five Planets and Seven Stars
The Four Numinous Animals and Twenty-Eight Constellations
The Big Dipper
The Sixty Daily Spirits of the Celestial Trunks and Earthly Branches
Spirits of Mountains, Rivers, Seas and Thunder
The Great Emperor of the Sacred Mountain of the East
The Primordial Lady of the Emerald Cloud
The Five Supreme Commanders of the Thunder Agency
The Father of Thunder and the Mother of Lightning
The Dragon King
The Master of Rain
The Earl of Wind
Spirits of the Soil and Local Protector Spirits
The City God
The Door Spirits
The Earth Spirit
The Kitchen Spirit
Spirits of Wealth and Longevity
The Spirit of Wealth
The Stars of Luck, Wealth and Longevity
Guardians of Hell
The Great Emperor of Fengdu
The Yamas of the Ten Halls
Perfect Men and Immortals
Guanyin (Avalokitesvara)
The Eight Immortals
The Motherly Matriarch
Emperor Guan
Patriarch Lü Numinous Official Wang
The Water-Margin Lady
The Three Mao Perfect Sovereign Brothers
The Great Life-Protecting Emperor
The Saintly Founder-King of Zhang
The King of the Three Mountains

Origin of the Saintly Founder-King of Zhang ( 開漳聖王 Kaizhang Shengwang )

Also known as Revered Sage King ( 聖王公 Shengwang Gong ) and Sage King Chen, his name was Chen Yuanguang and his literary name Yanju. He styled himself Nonghu. He was born on the fifteenth day of the second lunar month in the second Xianqing year of the Tang dynasty (AD 657) in Gushi, Guan district, Henan province. Even during his childhood, he began to show his interest in Dao. When he was thirteen years old, he came to Fujian with his father's army. During the Gao era of the Tang emperor, his father was in charge of the Tang military forces in southern Fujian. After his father died, Chen Yuanguang took over his post. He commanded a small army to attack an ethnic army occupying some areas of Fujian. Fierce battles lasted a few months, after which the ethnic force was totally defeated. The General History of Fujian, which was published in the tenth Tongzhi year of the Qing dynasty, claimed that in the third year of the Tang emperor Zhong's reign, Chen Yuanguang suggested to the emperor that a new district should be set up between Quan and Chao, and that the original seven administrative districts be replaced by eight. The emperor approved his plan. He was authorized to create the Zhang district and Zhangpu prefecture. He was also designated as the highest military leader of southern Fujian and hereditary governor of the Zhang district. Then he wrote a report to the emperor, detailing the merits of his subordinates such as Xu Tianzhen and Ma Ren. He suggested to the emperor to give them promotions. The Emperor approved his advice. After that, his troops started to cultivate land and grow crops in the Zhang district as pioneers. He suggested to the emperor to establish a local government there. Since then, a peaceful life totally took the place of chaotic wars. In the second Jingyun year of the Tang dynasty (711 AD), Chen Yuanguang died in a war against a revolt led by Lan Fonggao. The emperor conferred on him the title of 'Senior Great General and Brave Protector' ( 右豹韜衛大將軍 Youbao Taowei Dajiangjun ), and ordered him to set up a temple dedicated to him in the Zhang district. In the fourth Kaiyuan year of the Tang dynasty (716 AD), he was granted a higher title, Governor of Yinchuan, as well as the memorial title 'Gentleman of Brilliance and Eminence'. In the Song dynasty, he was further granted titles such as 'King of Extensive Salvation' ( 廣濟王 Guangji Wang ), 'King of Numinous Tranquility' ( 靈著王 Lingzhu Wang ) and 'King of Accomplished Benevolence' ( 成惠王 Chenghui Wang ).

His Influence on Folk Culture

For a long time, the Saintly Founder-King of Zhang has been worshiped by people in the Zhang district of Fujian as well as by Zhang people who live in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. In the Zhang district, worship for the Saintly King remains unchanged. In Taiwan, worship for the King is popularly seen in areas inhabited by people originally from the Zhang district. Every year, on the fifteenth day of the second month, the Saintly Founder-King of Zhang's birthday, people from Zhang usually go to temples dedicated to the Saintly King and hold worship services and memorial rituals there.