Dublin Core
Title
Pak Tai
North Deity
黑帝
Black Deity
北岳大帝
Great Deity of the Northern Peak
Heidi
玄天上帝
玄武大帝
北極鎮天真武玄天上帝玉虛師相金闕化身蕩魔永鎮終劫濟苦天尊
北極玄天上帝
Subject
God
Deity
Description
Pak Tai is a deity in Chinese religion, one of the cosmological "Five Forms of the Highest Deity" (五方上帝). He is also identified as Zhuānxū (顓頊), today frequently worshipped as Xuánwǔ (玄武; "Dark Warrior") or Zhēnwǔ (真武), and is associated with the essence of water and winter. His animal form is the Black Dragon and his stellar animal is the tortoise-snake. By virtue of his association with the north, he has been identified and revered frequently as a representation of the supreme God of Heaven.</div>
Since Cheung Chau is traditionally an island of fisherfolk, Pak Tai is its most revered divinity, since it is believed he has the power to confer smooth sailing for the fishing boats as well as providing good catches for their crews. Pious believers recognise him as "Pei Fang Chen Wu Hsuan T'ien Shang Ti" (True Soldier and Superior Divinity of the Deep Heaven of the North).</div>
One story says that he was originally a prince of Jing Le State in northern Hebei during the time of the Yellow Emperor. As he grew up, he felt the sorrow and pain of the life of ordinary people and wanted to retire to a remote mountain for cultivation of the Tao.
Since Cheung Chau is traditionally an island of fisherfolk, Pak Tai is its most revered divinity, since it is believed he has the power to confer smooth sailing for the fishing boats as well as providing good catches for their crews. Pious believers recognise him as "Pei Fang Chen Wu Hsuan T'ien Shang Ti" (True Soldier and Superior Divinity of the Deep Heaven of the North).</div>
One story says that he was originally a prince of Jing Le State in northern Hebei during the time of the Yellow Emperor. As he grew up, he felt the sorrow and pain of the life of ordinary people and wanted to retire to a remote mountain for cultivation of the Tao.
Creator
Unknown
Date
1012
Relation
Mazu
Format
Male
Language
Chinese
Type
Deity
Identifier
PakTai1012
Date Created
1012
Medium
Statue
Deity Item Type Metadata
Birthplace
China
Birth Date
1012
Objectives
He is able to control water and capable of great magic.
Item Relations
This item has no relations.