“Filial Piety” is a traditional value which we have always been advocating in our teachings at Tao One Ltd (Tian Fu Gong). We even consider it to be the foremost quality amongst the many kind acts one can perform. With the modernisation of times, many families have chosen not to or have gave up having an ancestor altar at home. Some simply are unable to make it back to their hometown to pray due to work or migration. Hence, the younger generations eventually forget the importance of such acts and some even pass it off as superstition beliefs. As such, with no interest by the next generation to continue the legacy of their forefathers, many clans and associations of the minority surnames are now closed down or are faced with the situation of closing down soon.
To preserve and educate this value, Tao One decided to set up the “Hall of Hundred Surnames” based on a Chinese literature classic entitled “Hundred Household Surnames”. Academic researchers have found over 22,000 surnames in history records but many of them had lost their lineage and cease to exist as time passes. There are currently about 3,500 surnames amongst the Chinese household population these days. The 1000 year old “Hundred Household Surnames” originated from the Southern Song dynasty, is a Chinese literature which had used the surname characters and arranged them into a poetic classic. The original edition began with 411 surnames and eventually revised into 504 surnames, of which 444 are single character surnames and 60 are double characters surnames. The current rendition of the 100 most common surnames comprises of over 87% of the entire Chinese population. By using this literature classic as a reference guide, it will mean that we will have over 90% of all the surnames covered at our hall. To the best of our knowledge, there isn’t a similar set up in South East Asia.
Taoist Priests of various dialect groups was invited to jointly consecrate this “Hall of HundredSurnames” on the 15th day of the lunar 7th month 2021. We will be reaching out and inviting the various clans and association to share with us their urn’s ashes to symbolize the diversity and inclusion of different cultural and dialect groups harmoniously under one roof.
Tao One will continue to engage Taoist priests on the various significant Chinese festivals to lead the devotees in praying to their ancestors. The major festivals are:
- Lunar New Year
- Qing Ming Festival
- Dumpling Festival
- Qing Ming Festival
- Mid-Autumn Festival
- Double Ninth Festival
- Winter Solace Festival
We encourage the public whom wishes to pray to their ancestors or families whom are unable to continue praying to their ancestors at home to reach out to us for further advise.
“百善孝为先“是我们天富宫一直以来倡导的华夏传统价值观。但因时代的变迁，许多人也渐渐淡忘了这美德选择不在家内安奉先人牌位。或者是因为生活需要离乡背井到外地工作而无法在过节时回老家祭拜祖先。也因如此这个祭祀先辈的传统甚至给年轻一代忽略，有的甚至误以为是迷信。有一部分的少数姓氏也因为面临着无年轻一代接棒而结束了自己的姓氏词宗堂。
为了维续这传统与教育大众这价值观，天富宫决定根据《百家姓》打造“百姓堂”。专家最新研究发现，华人古今姓氏已超过 22000 个，这是至今有关华人姓氏最多的统计记录。据悉，这 22000 个姓氏也包括历代属于中国版图上的少数民族的汉译姓氏。随着时代的变迁，不少姓氏已经消失，当代华人正在使用的汉姓约有3500个左右。《百家姓》是一部关于汉字姓氏的作品。按文献记载，成文于北宋初。原收集姓氏 411 个，后增补到 504 个，其中单姓 444 个，复姓 60 个。而在当代中国 100 个常见姓氏集中了全世界华人人口的 87%。所以按照《百家姓》打造“百姓堂”会具代表超过 90% 的华族姓氏。目前为止据我们了解，东南亚未曾听过有此类似的祠堂。
2021 年辛丑年中元节当日，天富宫邀请了各大籍贯的高道前来举行“百姓堂”的开启法会。“百姓堂”也会借此机会联系各大姓氏词宗会馆，邀请分享他们的香火（由香灰代表）。这将会意味着“百姓堂”具有多元文化和籍贯的代表象征。
天富宫也会在每个重要传统节庆日为“百姓堂”邀请道长前来诵经祭祀百姓历代祖先。香客们也可以借此机会到本宫祭祀以表孝心。这些节日包括：
1）元宵节
2）清明节
3）端午节
4）中元节
5）中秋节
6）重阳节
7）冬至节
若有家庭因某种原因无法在家继续祭拜祖先而想把先人牌位请往“百姓堂”合炉，本宫也欢迎询问详情。
