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.

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天

tiān

公

gōng

Jade Emperor (colloquially known as tni gong)

文化

Culture

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Jade Emperor (colloquially known as tni gong)

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Ronni Pinsler Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore

文化

Culture

释义

名词

玉皇大帝的俗称。

DEFINITION

Noun

A colloquial name for the Jade Emperor.

由来

在华人民间神话传说和小说中，玉皇大帝被视为天界的最高主宰，掌控天地万物的生长与衰亡。
根据民间传说，福建沿海地区在某一年的农历正月初九当天遭海盗掠夺，人们因躲入甘蔗林而幸免于难。因此，当地的百姓便在农历正月初九（同日为天公诞辰）用甘蔗来祭拜天公，表达对天公的感谢。
19世纪时期，随着福建沿海地区的人南迁到新加坡，他们的传统文化习俗也一同南来，而其中也包括了对天公的信奉和拜天公的仪式。
至今，许多新加坡福建人仍然非常注重正月初九的拜天公仪式，许多庙宇每年也都会举行大规模的祭祀活动。

ETYMOLOGY

In Chinese mythology and literature, the Jade Emperor is regarded as the supreme ruler of heaven, controlling the life and death of all living things.
According to folklore, the coastal areas of Fujian were once plundered by pirates, and the people survived by hiding in sugarcane plantations. As this took place on the ninth day of the first lunar month, the Jade Emperor’s birthday, locals subsequently used sugarcane to worship the Jade Emperor on that day every year to express their gratitude.
In the 19th century, Chinese migrants who travelled south from the Fujian coastal areas to Singapore brought with them their traditional culture and customs, including their faith in and rituals for worshipping the Jade Emperor.
Till today, many Hokkiens in Singapore continue to attach great importance to the Jade Emperor worship ceremony on the ninth day of the first lunar month, with many temples holding large-scale worship activities.

例句

农历正月初九是玉皇大帝寿诞，对福建人而言，庆祝天公诞比过年还盛大。（《联合早报》， 23/2/2018）

SAMPLE SENTENCE

The Jade Emperor’s birthday falls on the ninth day of the first lunar month. For the Hokkiens, the celebration of the Jade Emperor’s birthday is even more significant than Lunar New Year. (Lianhe Zaobao, 23/2/2018)