建筑特點
灣仔北帝(di)廟(miao)建筑宏偉,面積(ji)是港島(dao)廟(miao)宇之冠(guan),內有(you)三個殿(dian)堂,廟(miao)內主(zhu)殿(dian)供(gong)奉身高(gao)三米的的主(zhu)神北帝(di);而兩(liang)側設(she)有(you)三寶(bao)殿(dian)、龍(long)母殿(dian)及(ji)財神殿(dian)。北帝(di)像(xiang)前有(you)四(si)大天王立像(xiang),造型威武(wu)而細致生動,甚具藝術欣賞(shang)價值(zhi)。此廟(miao)的基本設(she)計屬(shu)四(si)合院形式,在主(zhu)殿(dian)左右兩(liang)側設(she)置了面積(ji)既不同,形狀也各(ge)異的偏殿(dian)。廟(miao)的正脊飾有(you)雙龍(long),龍(long)為“四(si)靈”之首,象(xiang)征和平、吉祥及(ji)富貴(gui),故(gu)以龍(long)身附(fu)加于廟(miao)宇屋脊,是有(you)受其庇護的意義。
歷史沿革
灣仔(zi)北帝(di)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)原名(ming)玉(yu)(yu)虛宮。在1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(清(qing)朝同治二年(nian)(nian)(nian)),由當(dang)時的(de)灣仔(zi)坊(fang)眾(zhong)集資建成。根(gen)據廟(miao)(miao)(miao)內(nei)碑刻所載,灣仔(zi)北帝(di)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)曾于(yu)(yu)1928年(nian)(nian)(nian)(民國十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian))進行重(zhong)修。華人(ren)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)宇委員會于(yu)(yu)2005年(nian)(nian)(nian)更動用千多(duo)(duo)萬(wan)元為(wei)該廟(miao)(miao)(miao)進行大(da)型(xing)維修工程。廟(miao)(miao)(miao)內(nei)的(de)北帝(di)銅(tong)像鑄(zhu)于(yu)(yu)1604年(nian)(nian)(nian)(明(ming)萬(wan)歷(li)三十(shi)二年(nian)(nian)(nian)),已有四百多(duo)(duo)年(nian)(nian)(nian)歷(li)史(shi),身高逾(yu)三米(mi),歷(li)史(shi)價值(zhi)很高。廟(miao)(miao)(miao)內(nei)還有一百三十(shi)多(duo)(duo)年(nian)(nian)(nian)歷(li)史(shi)的(de)各式制品(pin),其中包(bao)括有鑄(zhu)于(yu)(yu)1862及1883年(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)銅(tong)鐘。此(ci)外,門額“玉(yu)(yu)虛宮”三字出(chu)自張玉(yu)(yu)堂手筆,張氏(shi)為(wei)清(qing)朝名(ming)將,在鴉片戰爭(zheng)時被(bei)調(diao)派到九龍作防守大(da)將,于(yu)(yu)1854年(nian)(nian)(nian)(清(qing)咸豐年(nian)(nian)(nian)間)任大(da)鵬協(xie)副(fu)將,并駐職于(yu)(yu)九龍城寨。
供奉神
廟內供奉的(de)主神(shen)北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di),又名(ming)玄天(tian)(tian)(tian)上(shang)帝(di)(di)(di),是三千年前商朝的(de)一名(ming)王(wang)(wang)(wang)子。他幼時修道,元始(shi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊得知此事后(hou),邀(yao)請他列入仙班。商朝末年,魔王(wang)(wang)(wang)橫行天(tian)(tian)(tian)下,荼毒生靈。元始(shi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊即下令玉(yu)帝(di)(di)(di)派遣(qian)北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)統領十二天(tian)(tian)(tian)軍下凡討伐魔王(wang)(wang)(wang)。魔王(wang)(wang)(wang)亦(yi)派遣(qian)大龜大蟒助陣(zhen),但始(shi)終(zhong)不敵(di)北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)。北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)成功打敗魔王(wang)(wang)(wang),獲封為(wei)玄天(tian)(tian)(tian)上(shang)帝(di)(di)(di);因此,人(ren)們除敬(jing)佩(pei)他的(de)英(ying)勇(yong)行為(wei)外,亦(yi)深(shen)信北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)有消災化厄的(de)神(shen)力(li)。北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)神(shen)像一般均(jun)塑造成跣足披發,玄袍金(jin)甲,以(yi)表達其(qi)戰陣(zhen)的(de)英(ying)勇(yong)氣度(du),而其(qi)腳下一般均(jun)有蛇與龜,是邪不能(neng)勝正的(de)象征。除北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)外,廟內亦(yi)供奉三清、關(guan)帝(di)(di)(di)、觀音、天(tian)(tian)(tian)后(hou)、西方佛母、華山圣母、濟公(gong)、財神(shen)、包公(gong)及龍母等神(shen)祇。
相關習俗
每年的農歷三月初三,是北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)誕,善信(xin)均虔誠敬(jing)拜,祈求合境平安。南(nan)(nan)方(fang)人拜北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di),是因(yin)為南(nan)(nan)方(fang)的水,由北(bei)(bei)方(fang)流來。廣(guang)東人依(yi)水謀生,因(yin)此既拜南(nan)(nan)海洪(hong)圣(sheng)大(da)(da)王(赤帝(di)(di)(di)(di)),亦拜北(bei)(bei)方(fang)玄天上(shang)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di))。北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)位于水源(yuan)之上(shang),祭祀(si)他,是希(xi)望(wang)他控(kong)制水源(yuan),使五福豐收、魚獲大(da)(da)順(shun),這便是南(nan)(nan)方(fang)人拜北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)的原(yuan)因(yin)。二次大(da)(da)戰以前,是該廟(miao)的全盛時期(qi),每逢北(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)誕,坊眾演劇志慶,堪稱(cheng)萬人空(kong)巷(xiang)。