by Rose
There is a saying: "It never rains but it pours." Not only do individuals encounter periods of bad luck, but even deities don't always have favorable fortunes. In the realm of folk religion, among the Five Offerings, the "Door Gods" can be considered gods associated with unfavorable circumstances. Undertaking the role of Door Gods requires constant vigilance day and night, guarding the people, warding off evil spirits on the left and battling ghosts on the right, preventing malevolent forces from trespassing through the doors. However, fewer and fewer people perform solemn rituals to honor them, a treatment that might not match that of their fellow deities, like the Kitchen God, and could even be less than the spirits during the Ghost Month in July.
That being said, it doesn't imply that Door Gods hold a low status among the celestial beings. On the contrary, Door Gods have a long history in East Asia, with different dynasties and religions having their specific gods guarding the gates. Not only can people find them on their own door couplets and traditional temple structures, but even town walls fall under their protective domain. This article will take you on a visit to the North Gate of Zuoying Old Town, where Door Gods have stood watch over this land for centuries.
The Rise and Fall of Zuoying Old Town and the Arrival of the Door Gods
To understand the story of the old city door gods, we must first delve into the history between Zuoying Old Town and its walls. Zuoying Old Town, also known as Fengshan County Old City, was the first earthen wall in present-day Taiwan. However, upon closer observation, one would notice another "Fengshan" in the Pitou area of Kaohsiung. What's the story behind this?
In fact, early references to Fengshan mostly referred to the Fengshan City in Zuoying District. However, during the Qing Dynasty, Zuoying was breached by militia, and government offices were relocated to Pitou. The name of the town also moved along, continuing to the present day. To distinguish, “Fengshan” in Zuoying became known as "Zuoying Old Town". Stepping into the old town, one can almost hear the call of history, with the walls saturated with the sediment of time. And the transformation of this land also laid the groundwork for a captivating story behind the birth of the old town door gods.
The turbulent era of "minor uprisings every three years, major uprisings every five years" refers to the intense friction between the roving monks who crossed the seas to Taiwan and the corrupt officials. During the Qing Dynasty, Taiwan was under strict government rule, and single men who immigrated here faced difficulties in getting married and starting families due to strict government regulations prohibiting women from crossing the seas. Meanwhile, due to poor governance, officials were corrupt, leading to social unrest, fights, and uprisings becoming commonplace. In these tumultuous times, fear gripped the hearts of the people in Taiwanese society.
However, the Qing government prohibited the construction of walled cities in Taiwan, fearing that if the emperor was far away, people would rely on the fortifications to rebel. Therefore, Fengshan County City became the primary target of militia attacks. After the incident involving Zhu Yigui, the magistrate of Fengshan broke the ban and, with the cooperation of the residents, began building earthen walls. For the safety of the city, they did whatever they could, using materials such as soil, wood, and bamboo to construct the first earthen city in Taiwan. Today, it has become an important event in local history.
However, this rudimentary earthen wall still couldn't withstand the assailants. It was breached by the allied forces led by Zhuang Datian during the Lin Shuangwen Incident, with houses burned down and the earthen wall collapsed. The government offices were then relocated to Pitou, and during this period, the name Fengshan was brought from Zuoying District to Pitou. Although they moved to a new location, it didn't bring new fortunes. Another uprising ensued, and on top of that, the new Fengshan was attacked by bandits led by Cai Qian. It was then that people remembered the beauty of Fengshan Old Town. Thus, with funds raised from the public and relying on Turtle Mountain, they once again erected rough stone walls. Even though the emperor issued decrees, the stone walls were still built, yet the world remained in turmoil. Both the people and the government were reluctant to abandon the lively neighborhood of Pitou and return to the deserted Zuoying. Moreover, rumors spread about the county magistrate Du Shaoqi's violent death, leaving the people in shock. Therefore, officials asked a pair of door gods to come on the north town wall to ward off evil and stabilize people's hearts.
Who are the Door Gods?
Since people have had the concept of "home", the door has been seen as a barrier separating the dangers outside, and the gods of the door are responsible for guarding against those invisible malevolent forces. Even a single door has its guardian deity protecting the household. Especially in East Asia, where traditional folk beliefs are strongest, the development of door gods has a history of thousands of years, and their identities may vary due to cultural and regional differences.
Taking ancient China as an example, it is believed that in the beginning, door gods were small humanoid figures carved from peach wood. This is because ancient people believed that peach wood was a sacred wood, capable of warding off evil spirits, just as peaches could be used as swords to slay demons. Over time, door gods in China evolved into representations of the most iconic heroes of the time. For example, the Han Chinese believed that strong and brave warriors could defend the door, and Jing Ke, who attempted to assassinate the Qin king, was revered as a door god due to his sacrifice and courage. Zhong Kui from the Tang Dynasty, known for eating ghosts, was not only hung up to ward off diseases and evil spirits but also became a popular door god.
Apart from dynasties, different religious beliefs also have unique door gods and legends. Buddhism has Weituo and Jialan; there are "Hengjiang" and "Ha Jiang" specially honored in "Investiture of the Gods" from Longshan Temple; the ghost kings Zhang, Huang, Su, and Li who were subdued by Master Qingshui as the Four Great Generals; the Daoist Four Generals Ma, Zhao, Wen, and Zhou; and the Niu Tou Ma Mian (Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced) and the Seven Lords in Chenghuang Temples, responsible for capturing and punishing evil spirits.
Guardian Deities Warding off Evil Spirits
So, who are the door gods of the North Gate, "Gongchen Gate," tasked with suppressing impurities and protecting the four directions? There are two interpretations. One suggests Shentu and Yulei, two fierce-looking deities who bind evil spirits with reed ropes and hand them over to tigers. The other theory involves Qin Shubao and Yuchi Gong, two great generals who once guarded Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, scare away the dragon king's life-threatening cry. Consequently, people emulate them, hoping for equal protection as that of the emperor. Regardless of who the door gods of Gongchen Gate are, they stand guard over this century-old town, day after day, year after year, hoping to ward off evil and witness generations of peace and prosperity for the people of this land.
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