Che Kung

Che Kung (Chinese: 車公; pinyin: Chēgōng; lit.: 'Lord Che'), also known as Che Da Yuan Shuai (車大元帥; 'Che, the Great Warrior') was originally a military commander of Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279), who, according to lore, had supreme power to suppress rebellion and was renowned for his loyalty to the Emperor.[1] He was also famous for his power to suppress plagues and his skill in medicine.[2] He is believed by some worshipers to have been involved in the attempt to keep the Song state alive by bringing Prince Ping and his brother to the South.[3] He is now considered a god of protection.

Statue of Che Kung inside the Tin Hau temple at Stanley, Hong Kong.

Life
A Che Kung Temple in Ho Chung, Sai Kung, Hong Kong.

Che Kung was a native of Nanchang, in Jiangxi Province of China.[1] As a military commander he saved the southern regions of China from disorder. Also, he appeared in the villagers dreams who suffered from a plague. Later on, the plague was over and the villagers thought that Che Kung saved them from diseases. Daoists regarded him as a god due to his contributions. Inside a temple of Che Kung, pinwheels can always be found next to his effigy. It is believed that the one who rotates the pinwheel at a certain direction can get good luck. The Birthday of Che Kung is celebrated on the second day of Chinese New Year.

See also
  • Che Kung Miu: temples dedicated to Che Kung
  • The Birthday of Che Kung: a celebration dedicated to Che Kung

References
  1. Brief Information on Proposed Grade II Items. pp656-657 Archived 2013-02-23 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Brief Information on Proposed Grade I Items. pp67-68 Archived October 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  3. The Historical Heritage of Ho Chung, Pak Kong, and Sha Kok Mei, Sai Kung. p5
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