Singaporean Mandarin Database

This database contains a collection of Mandarin terms which have cultural, historical or sentimental value unique to Singapore. These terms may be used by Singaporeans in the past or at present. Some of the terms are read in print while others are used in our everyday conversations.

gōng

Tua Pek Kong

Culture

文化

Culture

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Tua Pek Kong

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Photo courtesy of cattan2011 (Wikimedia Commons)
Culture

文化

Culture

释义

名词

东南亚华人对土地神的特有尊称,其正式名称为“福德正神”。

DEFINITION

Noun

A term of respect for the Earth Deity used by Southeast Asian Chinese. The deity's official name is “The Deity of Wealth and Merit” also known in Mandarin as "福德正神".

由来
  • 在马来语中,地方首领或部落酋长称之为Dato (也作 Datuk)。客家人则称土地神为“伯公”。经过东南亚地区多元文化的交流与融合,当地人便以“Dato 伯公”一词来指称土地神。随着时间的发展和使用率的提高,“Dato 伯公”被减缩成“To 伯公”,即延伸为如今广泛使用的“大伯公”。
  • 因地方文化的差异,大伯公在不同地区具有不同的身份特征。大伯公信仰可视为民间对当地华人先驱祖灵的崇拜,所以也可能指当地华人历史中的一些人物,并没有一个明确的、单一的指称对象。
  • 大伯公的神像一般为右手拿拐杖,左手握金元宝。因此,信众也将大伯公视为财神来膜拜。
  • 奉祀大伯公的庙宇一般称为“福德祠”。
  • 大伯公在21世纪初新加坡华人庙宇的主祀神排行榜中位居第一。
ETYMOLOGY
  • The term is derived from the Malay term Dato (or Datuk), which refers to a community leader or tribal chief, and the Hakka name for the Earth Deity, “伯公”(Pek Kong). With the interaction and exchange between the various cultures in Southeast Asia, locals started to address the Earth Deity as “Dato伯公”. As time passed and usage of the term increased, it was shortened to “To伯公”, which eventually became the term “大伯公”that is now widely used.
  • Due to the differences in local cultures, the characteristics of Tua Pek Kong vary between different areas in the region. The Tua Pek Kong faith can also be interpreted as a form of worship by local Chinese of their forebearers. Hence, Tua Pek Kong might be a reference to certain early figures in local Chinese history and might not refer to a certain specific individual.
  • Statues of Tua Pek Kong typically feature a walking stick in the right hand and a gold ingot in the other. Hence, believers also worship Tua Pek Kong as the Deity of Fortune.
  • Tua Pek Kong temples are generally known in Mandarin as “福德祠”.
  • In the early 21st century, Tua Pek Kong was the most worshipped deity in Singapore Chinese temples.
例句
由于蟒蛇当时悬挂在大伯公神像上方,许多人因此把它视为吉兆,带来财运,纷纷拿出相机捕捉这罕见的一幕。(《联合早报》,29/04/2018)
SAMPLE SENTENCE
Many people whipped out their cameras to capture the rare scene of a python hanging above the Tua Pek Kong statue, as they believed that it was a good omen that would bring them good fortune. (Lianhe Zaobao, 29/04/2018)
其他地区用语

本头公 (马、泰)

TERMS USED IN OTHER REGIONS

本头公 (Malaysia, Thailand)

相关资料

  • 龟屿岛(Kusu Island)的福山宫是本地较具特色的大伯公庙宇。庙方整理出五个有关庙宇由来和大伯公身份的传说,其中一则指庙里所供奉的大伯公身前是一名曾在岛上斋戒静坐的华族男子。
  • 坐落于直落亚逸街(Telok Ayer Street)的海唇福德祠 (Fuk Tak Chi Temple) 于1824年便已经存在。该庙现已改为“福德祠博物馆”。

RELATED INFORMATION

  • The Kusu Island Tua Pek Kong Temple (also known as Fu Shan Gong) is one of the more unique Tua Pek Kong temples in Singapore. The temple has compiled five different legends regarding the origins of the temple and the identity of Tua Pek Kong. In one of the legends, the Tua Pek Kong worshipped in the temple was a Chinese man who had come to the island to fast and meditate.
  • The Fuk Tak Chi Temple located at Telok Ayer Street has been around since 1824. This temple has since been converted into the Fuk Tak Chi Museum.

参考资料
REFERENCES