View source for Che Kung

[[File:chegong.JPG|thumb|upright|Statue of Che Kung inside the [[Tin Hau temples in Hong Kong|Tin Hau temple]] at [[Stanley, Hong Kong|Stanley]], [[Hong Kong]]]]

'''Che Kung'''{{efn|{{zh|t=車公|p=Chēgōng|l=Lord Che}}}} (2 January 1235 – 30 December 1330), also known as '''Che Da Yuan Shuai''',{{efn|{{zh|t=車大元帥|l=Che, the Great Warrior|labels=no}}}} was originally a military commander of the [[Southern Song dynasty]] (1127–1279), who, according to lore, had supreme power to suppress rebellion and was renowned for his loyalty to the emperor.<ref name="Grade II">[http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/Brief_Information_on_proposed_Grade_II_Items.pdf Brief Information on Proposed Grade II Items. pp656-657] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223210048/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/form/Brief_Information_on_proposed_Grade_II_Items.pdf |date=2013-02-23 }}</ref> He was also famous for his power to suppress plagues and his skill in medicine.<ref name="Grade I">[http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/Brief_Information_on_proposed_Grade_I_Items.pdf Brief Information on Proposed Grade I Items. pp67-68] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013023413/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/Museum/Monument/form/Brief_Information_on_proposed_Grade_I_Items.pdf |date=October 13, 2012 }}</ref> He is believed by some worshipers to have been involved in the attempt to keep the Song state alive by bringing [[Emperor Bing of Song|Prince Ping]] and [[Emperor Duanzong of Song|his brother]] to the south.<ref>[http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/register/report/eiareport/eia_1012004/eia_report/pdf/Volume%201/app_10.4.PDF The Historical Heritage of Ho Chung, Pak Kong, and Sha Kok Mei, Sai Kung. p5]</ref> He is now considered the ''God of Protection''.

==Life==
[[Image:HK Ho Chung Che Kung Temple front.JPG|right|thumb|A Che Kung Temple in [[Ho Chung]], [[Sai Kung Town|Sai Kung]], [[Hong Kong]]]]
Che Kung was a native of [[Nanchang]], in [[Jiangxi]] Province of [[China]].<ref name="Grade II" /> As a military commander, he saved the southern regions of China from destruction and disorder. Also, he appeared in many villagers' dreams who were suffering from a plague at that time. After the plague was over, the villagers believed that Che Kung had miraculously saved them from the terrible plague. [[Taoism|Taoists]] regarded him as a deity because of his miracles and blessings. Inside a temple of Che Kung, [[Pinwheel (toy)|pinwheels]] can always be found next to his effigy. It is believed that the one who rotates the pinwheel at a certain direction can receive good luck. [[The Birthday of Che Kung]] is the second day of Chinese New Year, though often celebrated on the third.

==See also==
* [[The Birthday of Che Kung]]: a celebration dedicated to Che Kung
* [[Che Kung Miu]]: temples dedicated to Che Kung (located in [[Sha Tin District|Sha Tin]] & [[Sai Kung District|Sai Kung]])
* [[I Shing Temple]], dedicated to [[Hung Shing]] and Che Kung
* [[Hong Kong Government Lunar New Year kau chim tradition]]

==Notes==
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==References==
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==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Che Kung}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051210093510/http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/heritage/festivals/he_fest_che.jhtml Hong Kong Tourism Board]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Che, Kung}}
[[Category:Song dynasty generals]]
[[Category:Chinese gods]]
[[Category:Deified Chinese men]]
[[Category:Date of death unknown]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]


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