Wang Ye Scholars
王爺,或稱「千歲」、「千歲爺」、「府千歲」,亦有稱之為「大人」,「代天巡狩」的。有關「王爺」的由來,眾說紛紜,莫衷一是,而王爺究竟有多少位,一般的說法是為三百六十位,不過這也是根據傳說而得到的數字,至於實際的狀況,恐怕就無從考察了。
Wang Ye, aka Qian Sui, Qian Sui Ye, or some as Dai Tian Xun Shou (Appointed as the Mortal World Inspection by the Heaven). There are many myths and stories on these Wang Ye. Traditionally people believed that there are a total of 360 Wang Ye Scholars,aka "Dukes" in the system.
Pity is that, till today, no complete documentation of true history or records on these Wang Ye are presented.
Myths and Legends on these Wang Ye:
一種傳說是秦始皇焚書坑儒時被活埋的學者,升天後受玉皇敕封為王爺。
Myth 1:These Wang Ye (can be the 360, in Historical Records, the scholars involved are 460) were actually scholars in the Qin Dynasty. At the period of Emperor Qin Shi Huang burnt away all the academic study records and books, he also captured all the scholars and buried them alive. After this group of scholars passed-on, Jade Emperor noticed that they were innocent, Jade Emperor gave them the title as Wang Ye.
第二種傳說則是唐開元 年間被張天師作法致死的進士。唐玄宗為了考驗張天師的法力,事先安排三百六十位及第進士在宮殿地下室吹笙奏樂,並問張天師此聲音為何妖何怪,天師答曰非妖 非怪,玄宗卻續問如何化解,天師做法,果然聲音立即停止,待玄宗查看,三百六十名進士卻全部喪生。玄宗憫之且亦擔心冤魂作怪,遂各賜「王爺」封號,並通令 全國建廟供奉。
Myth 2:In Tang Dynasty, Emperor Xuan Zong had a game with Heavenly Master Zhang Dao Ling (to test the magical skill of Master Zhang).Emperor Xuan Zong wanted to let Master Zhang to guess what are the Demons that were hiding in the underground room (secretly hide 360 scholars in a underground room, playing strange musics).After Emperor Xuan Zong asked Master Zhang, Master Zhang replied him with the answer: "They are not Demons or Devils".Emperor Xuan Zong continued asking Master Zhang of how to solve this problem. Immediately, Master Zhang started to perform his skills, without seconds, the music stopped.Emperor Xuan Zong amazed by that, after going to the underground room to check on the scholars, he found that they were all died.In-order to perform a "compensation" for the lives involved, Emperor Xuan Zong bestowed them with the titles Wang Ye.
第三種傳說則是明朝初年有閩、粵三百六十名進士坐船前往北京參加殿試,不幸在福建海面遇到颱風而全數罹難,皇帝憫其不幸,遂封「王爺」,令全國建廟供奉。
Myth 3:In Ming Dynasty, 360 scholars from Cantonese were travelling to Beijing for the Imperial Examination by ship.In the mid of reaching Hokkien Sea, storm started. Due to strong waves, the ship collated and all scholars were drowned to death.After the Ming Emperor received the news, he bestowed the 360 scholars with the title Wang Ye as a gratitude.
第四種則為明朝末年有三百六十名及第進士,因不願受異族統治而自盡身亡,升天後玉帝憫其忠烈,乃授命下凡稽查人間善惡,其王府稱為「代天府」。
Myth 4:
In the ending period of Ming Dynasty, these 360 scholars couldn't accept the fact that Ming Dynasty had been invaded by the other races. In-order to escape from the torturing of such people, these 360 scholars committed suscide. After Jade Emperor noticed that, Jade Emperor appointed them as the 360 Wang Ye due to their Loyalness to Ming Dynasty.