Heidi (god)
Hēidì or Hēishén, who is the Běidì or Běiyuèdàdì is a deity in Chinese religion, one of the cosmological "Five Forms of the Highest Deity". He is also identified as Zhuānxū, today frequently worshipped as Xuánwǔ or Zhēnwǔ, 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.
Taoist myths involving the Black Deity
A Taoist title of Heidi is the "Dark Heavenly Highest Deity". According to a myth, during the fall of the Shang the Demon King ravaged the world, so that Yuanshi Tianzun ordered the Jade Emperor to appoint Heidi as the commander of twelve heavenly legions to fight this evil. Heidi defeated the Demon King and was subsequently granted the title of Mysterious Heavenly Highest Deity. In temples dedicated to him, the bronze tortoise and serpent under the feet of his image signify that the good always prevails over evil.Festivals
- The day for celebration of Heidi across China is his birthday on lunar April 21.
- A festival is held on the island of Taipa in Macau. The celebration at the Pak Tai Temple includes an opera-styled performance
- Annual Bun Festival in Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong, held in front of the Pak Tai Temple.
Temples in Hong Kong
Location | Notes | Status | References | Photographs |
No. 2 Lung On Street, Wan Chai | Wan Chai Pak Tai Temple, also known as Yuk Hui Kung | Declared | ||
A Kung Ngam, south coast of Lei Yue Mun Channel | Pak Tai Temple | Not listed | ||
Near the southern junction of Old Main Street Aberdeen and Aberdeen Main Street, Aberdeen | Pak Tai Temple. Part of the "Guardians of Aberdeen" group of small temples and shrines. | Not listed | ||
Facing Stanley Bay, Stanley | Pak Tai Temple | Nil grade | ||
Hok Tsui Village, D'Aguilar Peninsula | Pak Tai Temple | Not listed | ||
No. 146 Ma Tau Wai Road, Hung Hom | Pak Tai Temple, Hok Yuen Kok. Built in 1929. | Nil grade | ||
Nos. 196 and 198 Yu Chau Street, Sham Shui Po | Sam Tai Tsz Temple and Pak Tai Temple | Grade III | ||
Lomond Road Garden, Lomond Road, Ma Tau Wai | Sheung Tai Temple. Only the stone doorframe of the demolished temple remains. | Grade III | ||
Mong Tseng Wai, Ping Shan, Yuen Long District | Yuen Kwan Tai Temple, Mong Tseng Wai. Dedicated to Yuen Tai/Pak Tai and Kwan Tai. | Grade I | ||
Cheung Shing Street, Yuen Long Kau Hui | Yuen Kwan Yi Tai Temple was probably built in 1714. Commonly known as Pak Tai Temple, it is dedicated to Yuen Tai/Pak Tai and Kwan Tai. The temple functions as an ancestral hall and a temple of Sai Pin Wai. Village meetings are also held there. | Grade I | ||
Yuen Kong Tsuen, Pat Heung, Yuen Long District | Chung Shing Temple. The main deity of the temple is Pak Tai with some others including Hau Wong and the Earth God. | Grade III | ||
Jockey Club Road, north of Fanling Wai | Sam Shing Temple. For the worship of three deities: Pak Tai, Kwan Tai and Man Cheong. The temple was moved to So Kwun Po in the late Ming dynasty and moved back to the present site in 1948. | Grade III | ||
Sheung Yeung, Clear Water Bay | Pak Tai Temple, Clear Water Bay | Not listed | ||
Pak She Street, Tung Wan, Cheung Chau | Yuk Hui Temple aka. Pak Tai Temple. Managed by the Chinese Temples Committee. The interior of the temple can be explored with Google Street View. | Grade I | ||
Tai Tei Tong, Mui Wo, Lantau Island | Pak Tai Temple, Tai Tei Tong |