The beginning of the seventh month is significant. It marks the anniversary celebration of the duo hell guard deities Dua Di Ya Pek 大二爷伯.
For more of the 7th month, go to The Spirit of the Hungry Ghost Festival
For more of the 7th month, go to The Spirit of the Hungry Ghost Festival
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| Justice Bao a judge of Hell with Dua Di Ya Pek 大二爷伯 attend to the needs of all beings. They see that there is justice and fairness in life and in death |
The duo comprises Big Brother in White Robe - Dua Yah Peh (大爷伯) - Xie Bi An (谢必安) and 2nd Brother in Black Robe - Di Ya Peh (二爷伯) - Fan Wu Jiu (范无救)
The two Deities together are often known as Dua Di Ya Peh (大二爷伯) by the Southern Chinese Hokkien and Teochew clans. They are also known as Hei Bai Wu Chang (黑白无常) in Mandarin.- Black and White Hell Gods of Wealth.
Do not judge them by appearance and remember that there are many pairs of hell guards but the duo are well known in helping not only the spirits but men as well - in fact more of men than spirits so that men do not end up in hell.
Why they are noted as the white and black pair has something to do with how they end up appointed as deities by the Jade Emperor.
They were once constable heads of China during period of use of opium by foreigners to control and enslave the common folks in China.
Rather than be made use off by the foreigners to cause more suffering of men, the elder chose early death than face death from opium and being made use of by authorities to make more to be addicted to opium and to die from opium.
He had to choose either to die from opium later or to die early by hanging so that he would not be made use off to harm others. That was how he ended up in white apparel with protruding tongue.
Do not judge them by appearance and remember that there are many pairs of hell guards but the duo are well known in helping not only the spirits but men as well - in fact more of men than spirits so that men do not end up in hell.
Why they are noted as the white and black pair has something to do with how they end up appointed as deities by the Jade Emperor.
They were once constable heads of China during period of use of opium by foreigners to control and enslave the common folks in China.
Rather than be made use off by the foreigners to cause more suffering of men, the elder chose early death than face death from opium and being made use of by authorities to make more to be addicted to opium and to die from opium.
He had to choose either to die from opium later or to die early by hanging so that he would not be made use off to harm others. That was how he ended up in white apparel with protruding tongue.
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| Tua Ya Pek |
His other partner was his close friend and comrade in arms. On seeing his dead body, he was driven to the limits by grief and desperation.
He too didn't want to be made use of to force men to take opium. He ended up choosing to be drowned instead and died with black face from drowning. This is one story to explain why one is white and one black.
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| Ji Ya Pek |
Upon their passing on, they were appointed by God Almighty The Jade Emperor as guardian deities in Hell for one of its courts. They were appointed because of their love for lives of beings, not only for men but for those in Hell.
To this day they continue to help men in need even granting windfalls for men in dire need of money. Some consider them as wealth deities or gods of fortune. They will change the fortune or merits of beings when this is due in deserving cases. They came to be known as Hei Bai Wu Chang (黑白无常) in Mandarin.- Black and White Hell Gods of Wealth
Their work with beings has everything to do with loving kindness stressed by all religions and emphasized by Lord Bo Tien as universal to all religions and sects. It is the virtue of all virtues.
In their last lives as men, they were constables of the court of old imperial China during the Manchu era and not particularly religious but had good hearts. They are near though far from God and saints in their last lives as men because of loving kindness and for that, they earned the mandate of God Almighty to be divine guard deities operating in the three worlds of men, hell and heaven. The far may be near and the near far. This too was said by Lord Bo Tien.
Their images at a shrine to devotees remind devotees of their life stories and their great love for men - not only in their last lives as men but in their lives as deities. They feel for those men and spirits in difficulties and try their best to uplift their lot somewhat.
They opted for appointment as guard deities of netherworld rather than in Heaven. Though not yet regarded as Buddhist saints by men, in their roles as deities in the netherworld, they are like Buddhist saints traversing the three worlds of men, hell and heaven. They are glorious examples of loving kindness and are indeed Bodhisattvas (posats) in their own humble ways.
They complement and augment the work of all saints - the posats. They would rather that their images portray them every inch as from the netherworld but those who know them see the love they have for beings - never mind their projected looks. They see them as saviors who see to justice and hope for beings. That is why they are often portrayed with Justice Bao.
Loving kindness is within the abilities and capabilities of all. Anyone who cultivates loving kindness will be loved by all and this includes blessings by God and fellow beings. Even lesser beings and animals love the ones who cultivate loving kindness.
Love for life as depicted by the story of Dua Di Ya Pek is not about how to be a deity or saint. It is about how to value life and to be humane. It is about how to be more man as a man and not to yearn to be more godly than to be man.
Surely the duo Dua Di Ya Pek do not want to be more than being what they are but to be humane - more men than men even if they are no longer men.
Some religious leaders in human world are more God than God and they claim to speak for God or that God speak to them. They are unreachable except by special appointments.
They do think they are more deserving than the herd in their congregation who are to serve them and not they be servant leaders for the many in the herd. They take advantage of their positions. They do not live up to being good men.
Dear friends and readers, actions speak louder than words. Are they more man than man? Do they value life? If they do, they must be humble and be more man than man - no need to be more than being man.
Dua Di Ya Pek are fine examples of virtues even if many still cannot accept them as deities or saints. They do not ask men to idolise them as deities or gods even though appointed as such by God.
But they do ask if men need their help and what matters is that the duo will help even if they are not regarded as deities. Is it fair that some ignorant souls in flesh and blood regard them as mere devils and at times even as demons?
Dua Di Ya Pek will forgive them for they know not what they do. The reality dear readers is that there are saints even in Hell and appearances can be deceptive.
To this day they continue to help men in need even granting windfalls for men in dire need of money. Some consider them as wealth deities or gods of fortune. They will change the fortune or merits of beings when this is due in deserving cases. They came to be known as Hei Bai Wu Chang (黑白无常) in Mandarin.- Black and White Hell Gods of Wealth
Their work with beings has everything to do with loving kindness stressed by all religions and emphasized by Lord Bo Tien as universal to all religions and sects. It is the virtue of all virtues.
In their last lives as men, they were constables of the court of old imperial China during the Manchu era and not particularly religious but had good hearts. They are near though far from God and saints in their last lives as men because of loving kindness and for that, they earned the mandate of God Almighty to be divine guard deities operating in the three worlds of men, hell and heaven. The far may be near and the near far. This too was said by Lord Bo Tien.
Their images at a shrine to devotees remind devotees of their life stories and their great love for men - not only in their last lives as men but in their lives as deities. They feel for those men and spirits in difficulties and try their best to uplift their lot somewhat.
They opted for appointment as guard deities of netherworld rather than in Heaven. Though not yet regarded as Buddhist saints by men, in their roles as deities in the netherworld, they are like Buddhist saints traversing the three worlds of men, hell and heaven. They are glorious examples of loving kindness and are indeed Bodhisattvas (posats) in their own humble ways.
They complement and augment the work of all saints - the posats. They would rather that their images portray them every inch as from the netherworld but those who know them see the love they have for beings - never mind their projected looks. They see them as saviors who see to justice and hope for beings. That is why they are often portrayed with Justice Bao.
Loving kindness is within the abilities and capabilities of all. Anyone who cultivates loving kindness will be loved by all and this includes blessings by God and fellow beings. Even lesser beings and animals love the ones who cultivate loving kindness.
Love for life as depicted by the story of Dua Di Ya Pek is not about how to be a deity or saint. It is about how to value life and to be humane. It is about how to be more man as a man and not to yearn to be more godly than to be man.
Surely the duo Dua Di Ya Pek do not want to be more than being what they are but to be humane - more men than men even if they are no longer men.
Some religious leaders in human world are more God than God and they claim to speak for God or that God speak to them. They are unreachable except by special appointments.
They do think they are more deserving than the herd in their congregation who are to serve them and not they be servant leaders for the many in the herd. They take advantage of their positions. They do not live up to being good men.
Dear friends and readers, actions speak louder than words. Are they more man than man? Do they value life? If they do, they must be humble and be more man than man - no need to be more than being man.
Dua Di Ya Pek are fine examples of virtues even if many still cannot accept them as deities or saints. They do not ask men to idolise them as deities or gods even though appointed as such by God.
But they do ask if men need their help and what matters is that the duo will help even if they are not regarded as deities. Is it fair that some ignorant souls in flesh and blood regard them as mere devils and at times even as demons?
Dua Di Ya Pek will forgive them for they know not what they do. The reality dear readers is that there are saints even in Hell and appearances can be deceptive.
