I had one visitor making inquiries about Wen Chang the Taoist God of Literature and I promised to do a post on him. Actually from a very young age, my mum would bring me to the temple each time I was to sit for an important examination and would make me pray to Mun Cheong or Wen Chang. I guess it is by dint of hard work and also blessing from the God of Literature that I have been able to do rather well in my examination. Here is information about Wen Chang Ji Jun that I got from the Internet. I am rather busy and took the short cut instead of translating from the Chinese texts.
The popular Chinese Taoist god of literature, books and writing, invoked by scholars to assist them in their laboUrs. He is especially venerated by people who require help with their entrance examinations for an official career. Wen-chang is believed to be the author of extensive literary works, which were revealed to man in various, miraculous ways.
He started out as Zhang Ya Zi, a Zhou Dynasty sage who could predict the future and perform great transformations. With his superior knowledge of The Way (DAO), he was elevated to Heaven and now sits enthroned in the Big Dipper (Plough).WEN-CHANG is also a God of Education and Learning, helping students and blessing schools. It's easy to get on his good side: all you need to do is love books. His attendants KUI-XING and ZHU-YI stand beside him in the Heavenly hot seat. One is deaf and the other is mute, so try and get a direct line.
In reality, Wen-chang is a constellation of six stars in the vicinity of the Great Bear. It is said that when these stars are bright, literature flourishes. He visits the Earth frequently in human shape. Taoists texts mention seventeen separate existences of the stellar deity on Earth
Among numerous legends about Wen Ti, he is said to have had 17 reincarnations, during the ninth of which he appeared on earth as Chang Ya. Some say he lived during T’ang dynasty times (ad 618–907), others say during the 3rd or 4th century or even earlier. In any case, his brilliant writing led to his canonization during the T’ang dynasty and to his appointment as lord of literature in the 13th century. Because Chang is said to have lived at Tzu-t’ung in Szechwan province, persons of that region worship him under the title Tzu-t’ung Shen (Spirit of Tzu-t’ung).
In representations, Wen Ti usually sits, wears a mandarin robe, and holds a sceptre. He is flanked by a male and a female servant, one called T’ien-Lung (Heavenly Deaf One), the other Ti Ya (Earthly Mute). The names suggest that Wen Ti must turn a deaf ear to those who inquire about the secrets of literature, for such a topic necessarily leaves one speechless.
In reality, Wen-chang is a constellation of six stars in the vicinity of the Great Bear. It is said that when these stars are bright, literature flourishes. He visits the Earth frequently in human shape. Taoists texts mention seventeen separate existences of the stellar deity on Earth
Among numerous legends about Wen Ti, he is said to have had 17 reincarnations, during the ninth of which he appeared on earth as Chang Ya. Some say he lived during T’ang dynasty times (ad 618–907), others say during the 3rd or 4th century or even earlier. In any case, his brilliant writing led to his canonization during the T’ang dynasty and to his appointment as lord of literature in the 13th century. Because Chang is said to have lived at Tzu-t’ung in Szechwan province, persons of that region worship him under the title Tzu-t’ung Shen (Spirit of Tzu-t’ung).
In representations, Wen Ti usually sits, wears a mandarin robe, and holds a sceptre. He is flanked by a male and a female servant, one called T’ien-Lung (Heavenly Deaf One), the other Ti Ya (Earthly Mute). The names suggest that Wen Ti must turn a deaf ear to those who inquire about the secrets of literature, for such a topic necessarily leaves one speechless.
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