The Real Religious & Folk Taoism Version Of Ne-Zha (哪吒)

This topic is about Ne-Zha (哪吒) , based on Religious Taoism Version and Folk Taoism Version. 

Normally,  I won't be writing and sharing on this Deity Character  because the Western Folks have never heard of, never thought of , have no idea and have no interest to know about this Child Deity, however, the Chinese Folks , who can read and understand Chinese Language, can find the information about Ne Zha  online by themselves.

Recently & Lately, due to having watched the Ne Zha 1 & 2 Movies, some  Western Folks are interested to find out more about the Real Religious side of "Ne Zha"  and maybe, wanting to start praying to him but not much of the information is writtened about this Child Deity (based on Religious Taoism and Chinese Folk Religion ) in English. Therefore, it is my duty to share as much information and knowledge about Ne Zha (based on the Real Religious & Folk Taoism),  written in English. 

Most Adults and Children who have watched the Ne Zha Movies will only threat it as a Cartoon Movie and  leave it as it is, therefore they won't end up here reading this write-up and the following articles. If You end up here, You are one of the very rare special folks, who wish to know the Real Religious Taoist Version Of Ne Zha.

Many Topics of Ne Zha will be covered as deep as possible. Stay Tuned.

There are several avatars / manifestation (major appearances / images) of  Ne Zha (哪吒)  in  Religious Taoism and Folk Taoism,  The 3 Most Popular Version Of   Ne Zha (哪吒):

Extra Info & Fun Fact: Nezha has 2 Brothers and 2 sisters. His eldest brother is Jin-Zha (金吒). His elder brother is Mu-Zha （木吒). His younger biological sister is Li Zhen Ying (李贞英). His adopted sister is Ban Jie Guan Yin (半截观音).  Ne-Zha (哪吒) is 3rd Son of Li-Jing, that is why he is also known as "San-Tai-Zi" (三太子) - 3rd Prince.
 
In Chinese Folk Taoism , usually there will be spiritual trance of   these 3 versions of manifestation ( appearances / images) by different Spirit Mediums. Sometime, the same spirit medium , while   in trance of 1 version of Ne Zha, suddenly "detrance" and then "retrance" by another version of Ne Zha. 

In Orthodox Religious Taoism, usually only Zhong Tan Yuan Shuai (中坛元帅 ) is mentioned and recited during Praying /  Ritual / Ceremony, and there is no Spirit Medium Worship.

Another Important Topic To Cover : 

The Highest Honorific Title given  to Ne Zha is  三十三天都元帅 (San Shi San Tian Du Yuan Shuai) - 'Marshal of the Thirty-three Heavenly Capital' 

THE TAOIST SECRETS CODES / SYMBOLS OF NEZHA (哪吒讳字)


To understand what are Taoist Sercret Codes / Symbols , go here: The Taoist Secret Magical Characters (Symbols / Codes - 道教讳字)

There are Several  Taoist Secret Codes Of Nezha , represent Nezha at different phases / levels / ranking / manifestations. Over here show the Taoist Secrets Code of the 3 phases / levels / ranking / manifestations of NeZha.
  • 1st Taoist Secret Code of Nezha - Represents Nezha as himself, before transformation.
  • 2nd Taoist Secret Code of Nezha  - Represents Nezha after transformation and returned to Earth
  • 3rd Taoist Secret Code of Nezha - Represents Nezha that had been conferred with the Rank Of  三十三天都元帅 (San Shi San Tian Du Yuan Shuai) - 'Marshal of the 33 Heavenly Capital' 
Taoist Secret Codes Of Nezha are used by Taoist Priests, during Prayer Rituals / Ceremonys related to Ne-Zha , and also when Taoist Masters / Sorcerers need to call upon, or seek the support of Ne-Zha during Spells Invocation, or when Drawing & Creating Ne-Zha Talismans.

IMPORTANT CELEBRATION DAYS OF NE-ZHA (哪吒):
(哪吒相关的庆典)

*Dates Listed are based on Chinese Calender*



Day Of Entering "Taoisthood" (Learning Taoist Skills) -  Becoming Disciple Of  Tai Yi Zhen Ren. - 18th Day of  2nd Month  入道日- 拜太乙门下 - 二月十八日

Day Of Merits - Cutting Own Bones and Flesh - 3rd Day Of 3rd Month 
功果日 - 割骨削肉 - 三月初三日

Day Of Investiture - Soul Enter The Golden List (Of Gods) - 6th Day Of 4th Month
封师日 - 魂登金榜 - 四月初六日

Day Of Investiture - For Commemoration - 8th Of 4th Month 
 封师日 - 封神纪念 - 四月初八日

Day Of Certification  - Day Of Sacrifice By Guandong Folks  - 18th Of 5th Month 
证果日 - 广东祭祀日 - 五月十八日

Day Of Resurrection - The incarnation of a lotus - 6th Day Of 6th Month
化身日 - 莲花化身 - 六月初六日

Birthday / Celebration Day - Double Ninth Festival - 9th Day Of 9th Month
诞辰日 - 重阳圣节 - 九月初九日

Day Of Imperial Edict For Crown Prince  - 18th Day Of 9th Month
授太子诰日 - 九月十八

One Important Taboo while praying to Ne-Zha: The Number One Taboo of Ne-Zha Worship  is "NOT TO OFFER DUCK MEAT". When the Third Prince got into trouble, he did not want to implicate his parents, so he chose to "return his flesh to his mother and his bones to his father". However, his body was almost eaten by vultures, and it was a group of ducks that protected his body, so the ducks are his benefactors.

For Issues of Babies, Toddlers and Small Children, there is a better version of Ne-zha for Children  to pray and seek consultation: Lian Hua San Tai Zi (莲花三太子)

Adults who want to pray to Ne-Zha can pray to the Grown Up Version: Zhong Tan Yuan Shuai (中坛元帅)

Video Of Nezha Worship (哪吒信仰) In Malaysia

Nezha Ancestral Temple (哪吒祖庙): The Ne Zha Palace (哪吒祖庙), located at the Cuiping Mountain  in Yibin, Sichuan, is considered the only ancestral temple of Ne Zha in China.

Nezha Palace (‌哪吒行宫） is recognized by both sides of the Taiwan Strait as the ancestral temple of Nezha. After restoration in 1991, it became a holy place for Taiwanese compatriots to trace their roots. The building complex includes the Xianzong Shengji Archway, the Prince Hall and the Nezha Cave. It is built on the mountain and has a Taoist style of the late Qing Dynasty. 翠屏山哪吒行宫是海峡两岸公认的哪吒祖庙，1991年修复后成为台湾同胞寻根圣地。建筑群包含仙踪胜迹牌坊、太子殿及哪吒洞，依山而建，具有晚清道家风格

The devotees of Nezha from different Nezha Temples around the world, especially in South East Asia, will all trace their roots and pay homage to Nezha Palace (‌哪吒行宫） located at the Cuiping Mountain in Yibin, Sichuan, China. 

Ritual Cermony  like bringing the Nezha Statues from own temple in own country and  visit Nezha Palace (‌哪吒行宫）to go through spritual respect ceremony and  then collecting urn ash from Nezha Palace (‌哪吒行宫） to fill in the Urn in own Nezha Temple in own home country.

Take Note: If You just want to understand the History of  Nezha Story, You can visit Nezha Related Places in China. Or if You just want to pray to Nezha (without spirit medium worship), You can go directly to Nezha Palace (‌哪吒行宫). However, if You want to get involved with Taoist Spirit Medium worship, meeting up and consult Nezha ( in the form of Lian Hua San Tai Zi (莲花三太子) and Zhong Tan Yuan Shuai (中坛元帅) ) regarding personal matters, then You have to go to Folk Taoist Temples in South East Asia, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and also Taiwan. 

For Westerners,  who want to get involved with Spirit Medium Worship, the best Nezha Temples to visit  are in Singapore. The younger generation Temple Asistants  and Spirit Medium Assistants are able to help translate the heavenly language or Chinese Dialect spoken by "Nezha" (while in trance  by spirit medium) into English for You, then You are able to understand the "Words Of Wisdom" from "Nezha".

In China, Nezha Temples has no Spirit Medium Worship.  However, the spirit medium worshopping culture in Folk Taoist Temples in South East Asia will still pay homage to the Ancestral Nezha Temple in China - Nezha Palace (‌哪吒行宫).

Nezha Related Topics: