Qingshui (monk)

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Zushi Temple in Taipei is dedicated to Qingshui.

Qingshui (Chinese: 清水; pinyin: Qīngshuǐ; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chheng-chúi; 1047-1101), also known as Chor Soo Kong (Chinese: 祖師公; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chó͘-su-kong), born Chen Zhaoyin (陳昭應, Tân Chiau-èng in Hokkien) was a Northern Song Dynasty Chan Buddhist monk from the region of Anxi County in Quanzhou, China. He was said to have gained supernatural powers gained through his skill in speaking the dharma and meditation.[1] Through this, he is said to have saved the town of Anxi during a period of drought, bringing rain as he went from place to place. In reverence, the villagers built shrines to him and hence became a deified person in Chinese folk religion.

Qingshui is also known by the following nicknames:[1]

  • Dropping Nose Ancestor (落筆祖師公, Lo̍h-pit-Chó͘-su-kong), known for the prominent nose featured in Qingshui's effigies
  • Black Faced Ancestor (烏面祖師公, o͘-bīn-chó͘-su-kong)

Worship of Qingshui is especially popular in Taiwan, where he is worshiped by local villagers for protection and in overseas Hokkien-speaking communities. His birthday is celebrated on the 6th day of the 6th lunar month.

Ancestral

Qingshui's family originated from Fujiang province in Ancient China as descendents of famous philosopher, Cheng, Zhirou(Chinese: 陳知柔; pinyin: ChengZhirou);. And his grandparents, uncles, brothers are all Jingshi (People who have been elected to be officials supporting ancient Chinese emperor's ruling.) And due to these background and environments. He has also studied a lot to a point where he's able to create limitless poems.

Life

Qingshui is born in the year of 1047. He became a monk when he was young. Due to his hard work, his potentials are recognized by the chief monk at the temple. And not long after, he became the next chief monk after the previous's chief monk's death. He left many famous quotes in his lifetime.

Achievements

Below listed his achievements:

  • building bridges- He has helped built more than 10 different bridges around the towns.
  • herb medicine creation- In china, there is a saying "When you save the life of one, it will even help you more than reaching heaven when you die." And he has learned about many different medical herbs. And his achievements in medicine is even on-par to those of the professionals in that era.
  • praying for rain-Normal people believes that there is no man that can control the weather, only man of a holy status passed down by god will be able to achieve this. And when Qingshui is alive, he has made numerals success as he pray for rain during drought.

Worship

It is stated that all the descendants would worship him using fruit, cakes and other vegetables as sacrificial items on his birthday every year to prove their loyalty to his teachings and their loves. And up till now, many people still visits his temple throughout the years to pray for his divine protections. Some also believes they will gain great luck for the rest of the year by paying their visits.

Temples dedicated to Qingshui

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tan, Chee Beng (2006). Southern Fujian: reproduction of traditions in Post-Mao China. Chinese University of Hong Kong. p. 125. ISBN 978-9629962333. Retrieved 2011. 

Category:1047 births Category:1101 deaths Category:Chinese gods Category:Song Dynasty Buddhists

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