Puppet troupes

Was supposed to watch puppet performances in celebration of Guangze Zunwang's birthday but probably due to getai, both performances held at Hong San See and another one in the open space at Hougang Central ended early. They usually performed at 8pm but this time round, they performed from 5pm-7pm. Nevertheless, here are some of the pictures:

                       Xin Cai Yun puppet troupe's stage (新彩云木偶掌中班) at Hong San See (凤山寺)

                                                      A closer look at the puppet stage

                            Xin Xing Lai (Glove) Puppet troupe's (新兴来掌中班) stage at Hougang Central

The Classics

Was quite into reading the classics though I don't deny that was done with some difficulty..the reading started partly for a better understanding of the philosophy and thoughts as an attempt to link to the present. First it was Daodejing (道德经) and while searching for the translated versions of Hanfeizi (韩非子), I found a good website that places both the Chinese and English versions side by side for easy reading and reference.

Here is the table of contents in English and Chinese (just the chapter name is hard to translate if you have not read or understood the Hanfeizi):

Book One

1. 初见秦 The First Interview with the King of Ch'in: A Memorial

2. 存韩 On the Preservation of Han: Issue Between Han Fei and Li Ssŭ

3. 难言On the Difficulty in Speaking: A Memorial

4. 爱臣On Favourite Vassals: A Memorial

5. 主道 The Tao of the Sovereign

Book Two

6. 有度 Having Regulations: A Memorial   7. 二柄 The Two Handles   8. 扬权 Wielding the Sceptre

9. 八姦 Eight Villainies

Book Three

10. 十过 Ten Faults

Book Four

11. 孤愤 Solitary Indignation    12. 说难 Difficulties in the Way of Persuasion

13. 和氏 The Difficulty of Pien Ho

14. 姦劫弑臣 Ministers Apt to Betray, Molest, or Murder the Ruler ('assassinate' is more appropriate?)

Book Five

15. 亡徵 Portents of Ruin 16. 三守 Three Precautions 17. 背内 Guarding Against the Interior 18. 南面 Facing the South 19. 饰邪 On Pretentions and Heresies: A Memorial 

Book Six 

20. 解老 Commentaries on Lao Tzŭ (Laozi)'s Teachings 

Book Seven 

21. 喻老 Illustrations of Lao Tzŭ (Laozi)'s Teachings 22. 说林上 Collected Persuasions, The Upper Series

Book Eight 

23. 说林下 Collected Persuasions, The Lower Series 24. 观行 Observing Deeds 25. 安危 Safety and Danger 26. 守道 The Way to Maintain the State 27. 用人 How to Use Men: Problems of Personnel Administration 28. 功名 Achievement and Reputation 29. 大体 The Principal Features of Legalism  

Book Nine 

30. 內储说上 Inner Congeries of Sayings, The Upper Series: Seven Tacts  

Book Ten 

31. 內储说下 Inner Congeries of Sayings, The Lower Series: Six Minutiae 

Book Eleven  

32. 外储说左上 Outer Congeries of Sayings, The Upper Left Series  

Book Twelve 

33. 外储说左下 Outer Congeries of Sayings, The Lower Left Series  

Book Thirteen  

34. 外储说右上 Outer Congeries of Sayings, The Upper Right Series  

Book Fourteen  

35. 外储说右下 Outer Congeries of Sayings, The Lower Right Series 

Book Fifteen 

36. 难一 Criticisms of The Ancients, Series One 37. 难二 Criticisms of the Ancients, Series Two 

Book Sixteen 

38. 难三 Criticisms of the Ancients, Series Three 39. 难四 Criticisms of the Ancients, Series Four 

Book Seventeen 

40. 难势 A Critique of the Doctrine of Position 41. 问辩 Inquiring into the Origin of Dialectic 

42. 问田 Asking T'ien: Two Dialogues 43. 定法 Deciding Between Two Legalistic Doctrines 

44. 说疑 On Assumers 45. 诡使 Absurd Encouragements 

Book Eighteen 

46. 六反 Six Contrarieties 47. 八说 Eight Fallacies 48. 八经 Eight Canons 

Book Nineteen 

49. 五蠹 Five Vermins: A Pathological Analysis of Politics 

50. 显學 Learned Celebrities: A Critical Estimate of Confucians and Mohists  

Book Twenty 

51. 忠孝 Loyalty and Filial Piety: A Memorial 52. 人主 The Lord of Men 

53. 饬令 Making Orders Trim 

54. 心度Surmising the Mentality of the People: A Psychological Analysis of Politics 

55. 制分Regulations and Distinctions

Reference: http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/saxon/servlet/SaxonServlet?source=xwomen/texts/hanfei.xml&style=xwomen/xsl/dynaxml.xsl&chunk.id=tpage&doc.view=tocc&doc.lang=bilingual

Taoist mission dinner 1 April 2010

It was great to see friends whom I had not seen for some time or never met at the dinner yesterday.

                                             

                                                      The 3 bows and 9 prostrations (三叩九拜)

I asked Chan about the cream-coloured strip-like thing that Master Lee Zhiwang, President of the Taoist Mission was holding. He said it was believed that this was used when officials presented memorials or reports to the Emperor, or probably they could have used it to cover their eyes since eye contact with the Emperor was not allowed then. That sounds very new and interesting to me. Perhaps anyone can share more information about this?

                                                      Chanting the Qi Dao Ci (祈祷词)

             A glimpse at those who attended the dinner at Furama Riverfront Hotel

                    Various representatives reading the Religious Harmony Declaration (宗教和谐声明)

                    Announcement by Master Lee on the agreement with Keng Teck Whay to use its premises

Templing and puppets

                               Sin Hoe Ping (Hokkien) puppet troupe at Po Chiak Keng (Magazine Road)

I went there around 2pm but sorry to say, there wasn't any performance yet or it was already over, quite strange because the day performance usually starts at 2pm..shall compensate with more interesting pictures and information below. As there was no performance at that time, I went in to Po Chiak Keng and have a look. Some of these statues striked me because they actually look quite similar to puppets.

I have yet to find out if there are any links between such statues and puppets but there are indeed puppet deities to name a few, especially those prayed by Henghua people, Marshal Tian (Xiang Gong 相公爷/田都元帅) and Chen Jinggu (陈靖姑) or the more commonly known ones such as Grand Elder (大爷伯). 

Was lucky to be able to visit 2 Henghwa temples, An Ren Gong (安仁宫) and Qing Yun Miao (青云庙) (side by side each other) near Lorong Ah Soo. As usual, these temples never fail to amaze me with their unique traditions and beliefs which are never heard of or seen in other dialect-affiliated temples.The first one I visited was An Ren Gong. Partly due to my research on Xianggong, the first thing I will usually look for in a Henghua temple is whether they worship the deity. Sure enough, I found Xianggong's statue inside this temple.

 

He is being identified as having a crab drawn on his mouth. There are a few interesting stories as to how the crab was associated with the deity. Will share next time. 

The other time I mentioned about the Hu-gi (扶乩) ritual held at Cheow Leng Beo in Yishun. Both the Henghwa temples in Lorong Ah Soo have hu-gi as well. Here is one taken at An Shan Gong.

The next trip was to Jiu Xuan Gong's celebration event of Jiu Tian Xuan Nv (九天玄女千秋日，农历二月十五日). I thought there was a marionette performance but it was a glove puppet one (布袋戏) by Shuang Neng Feng Huang Gezai troupe (双能凤凰歌仔班)! This was the second one (first one which I have watched) I have encountered so far! What a pleasant surprise!

                                                     Glove puppet stage in the day before the performance

The worshipping of Hai ji (孩儿爷) possibly by the glove puppet troupe, which are also worshipped by most Chinese opera troupes and Hokkien puppet troupes.

                                                               Glove puppet performance at night

Anyway, I had a wonderful and fruitful trip today, thanks to chinatownboy for showing me around!

Marionette performance in celebration of 10th Anniversary by Sheng Zhi Gong

Updates from chinatownboy:

Sheng Zhi Gong 圣旨宫 celebrates its 10th Anniversary
Blk 116 Pending Rd (Bukit Panjang New Town)
Contact: 9068 6843

Sat 27 Mar 10
2pm: Jin Cai Tong Zi 金财童子 gives Consultation
7pm: Bu Yun - Enhance Luck/Fortune
Sin Hoe Ping 新和平 Marionette Theatre

Sun 28 Mar 10
2pm: Jin Cai Tong Zi 金财童子 leads in release of lotus lanterns
Sin Hoe Ping 新和平 Marionette Theatre

Mon 29 Mar 10
2pm: Jin Cai Tong Zi 金财童子 gives Consultation
Sin Hoe Ping 新和平 Marionette Theatre

Tue 30 Mar 10
8am: Invite Jade Emperor
3pm: Sends off Jade Emperor
7pm: Jin Cai Tong Zi 金财童子 gives Consultation
Sin Hoe Ping 新和平 Marionette Theatre

Wed 31 Mar 10
7.30pm: Grand Dinner
Sin Hoe Ping 新和平 Marionette Theatre

Thu 01 Apr 10
7pm: Jin Cai Tong Zi 金财童子 leads in crossing PingAn Bridge
Getai

Marionette performance in celebration of Tua Pek Kong's birthday

Sorry folks I haven't been updating recently..


Thanks to Chinatownboy for taking effort to take photos and videos of marionette performances in celebration of Tua Pek Kong's birthday yesterday (17 March 2009)


Hokkien puppet performance by Feng Huang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_e5uyrlV4M



The others I did not have pictures or videos at hand, will post later if they are available but just an update:


Sin Hoe Ping puppet performance (Hokkien) at Rochor Tua Pek Kong temple


Xin Yi Sheng puppet performance at Loyang Tua Pek Kong


We can see that the whole of Singapore came very much alive with puppet performances in celebration of Tua Pek Kong's birthday!

"Receiving the Gods" celebration ceremonies at Cheow Leng Beo

Dear Folks,

I have never attended any celebration on "Receiving the Gods" by any Henghwa-affiliated temple and so this one at Cheow Leng Beo held on 17 February was quite an eye opener to me.

 Sandalwood and joss paper arranged in a big pile outside the temple, this was where the eye-opener started (There are 2 temples in the same complex, Cheow Leng Beo is on the left)

 

Chanting was done and the burnt talisman placed into the pile  

  

Another eye-catching item: dragon-head like stick (扶乩 in Chinese, "Hu Gi" in Hokkien)

Those holding the "Hu Gi" seemed to be in a semi-trance state as they moved along with it, even writing Chinese characters on yellow paper that looked like talismans

After the pile of sandalwood and joss paper was burnt, together with beating of drums and gong, the Tangki mediums started going into trances and almost all of them walked over the fire after several attempts. Sedan chair carriers also went into semi-trance as the sedan chairs "moved". An onlooker said that the main Tangki (elderly guy) got the other Tangkis into a trance by touching them. At this moment, it was as if the space within the temple compound has been transformed into a theatrical and ritual space where the Tangki mediums and sedan chair carriers "performed". Women were not allowed near this space (I was pulled away and warned by an elderly lady) until the whole ceremony is over.

It was indeed a spectacular evening for me. 

Address of Cheow Leng Beo: 525 Yishun Industrial Park A 

(Take 811 from Yishun Interchange and alight at Blk 289 Yishun Ave 7. The temple is about 10 minutes walk from the bus stop)