Monday, 18 April 2011

WHERE TO PRAY TO WEN ZHANG DEITY (文 昌 帝 君)?


I had a query from a Mrs Kok about where about in Kuala Lumpur to find a temple with the deity Mun Cheong or Wen Chang (文 昌 帝 君).  To be honest I am not familiar with the temples in KL but I am quite certain that there will be one in any of the Taoist Temples there. 

For those who might want to know who Wen Zhang is, read on ...

It seems that in ancient China, there lived a young man called Wen Zhang 文昌(Mun Cheong in Cantonese). Now, he was not a good looking fella, as a matter a fact one could consider him downright ugly.  However, the guy was ultra smart.  He was reputed to be the cleverest person in China at that time. He managed to pass the Chinese imperial examination with flying colours at a young age.   Passing this exam was a ticket to wealth and power for many scholars.  They were given positions in the palace. However, this was not so for the case of Wen Zhang.  He was handicapped by his unpleasant looks. 
Try as he might, he was turned down countless of times.  At last he gave up and went back to his village in Szechuan where he lived a miserable and desolate life.  He was so frustrated and disillusioned that he took his own life by jumping into the sea.  According to Taoists texts, The Jade Emperor of Heaven took pity on Wen Zhang and his soul ascended to heaven.  He was elevated to the status of a deity and was given the position as the God of Literature and Patron Saint of Scholars.

So, Mrs Kok, I suggest that you go to any of the Taoist temples in KL and Wen Zhang will be waiting for you.

3 comments:

ennie said...

a temple at gat lbh macallum, penang, near my office has this deity. I came across when I went there to pray yesterday.

ennie said...

I heard Thean Hou Temple in KL has got this deity. U may want to check it out.

Miss Cheah said...

Hi Annie,

Thanks for the feedback. I have a few people writing in to ask me for Feng Shui Advice since I came back from Penang. I have already answered one and am working on another two.
Li Na