建筑特點
灣仔北(bei)帝廟建筑宏(hong)偉,面積是港島廟宇之冠,內(nei)有三(san)個殿(dian)堂(tang),廟內(nei)主(zhu)殿(dian)供奉(feng)身高三(san)米的的主(zhu)神(shen)北(bei)帝;而(er)兩側設有三(san)寶殿(dian)、龍(long)(long)(long)母殿(dian)及(ji)財神(shen)殿(dian)。北(bei)帝像(xiang)前有四(si)大天(tian)王立像(xiang),造型威武而(er)細(xi)致生(sheng)動(dong),甚具藝(yi)術欣賞價值(zhi)。此廟的基本設計屬四(si)合院(yuan)形(xing)式,在主(zhu)殿(dian)左右(you)兩側設置了面積既不同,形(xing)狀(zhuang)也各異的偏殿(dian)。廟的正(zheng)脊飾有雙龍(long)(long)(long),龍(long)(long)(long)為“四(si)靈”之首,象征和(he)平、吉祥及(ji)富貴,故以龍(long)(long)(long)身附(fu)加于廟宇屋脊,是有受其(qi)庇護的意義。
歷史沿革
灣(wan)仔(zi)北帝(di)廟(miao)原名(ming)玉(yu)虛宮(gong)。在1863年(nian)(nian)(清朝同治二年(nian)(nian)),由當時(shi)的(de)(de)灣(wan)仔(zi)坊(fang)眾集資建成。根據廟(miao)內(nei)(nei)碑刻所載,灣(wan)仔(zi)北帝(di)廟(miao)曾于(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)1928年(nian)(nian)(民(min)國十七年(nian)(nian))進行重修(xiu)。華人廟(miao)宇(yu)委員會于(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)2005年(nian)(nian)更動用千多(duo)萬元為該廟(miao)進行大(da)型維修(xiu)工程。廟(miao)內(nei)(nei)的(de)(de)北帝(di)銅像(xiang)鑄于(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)1604年(nian)(nian)(明萬歷三十二年(nian)(nian)),已(yi)有四百多(duo)年(nian)(nian)歷史,身高逾三米,歷史價(jia)值(zhi)很高。廟(miao)內(nei)(nei)還(huan)有一百三十多(duo)年(nian)(nian)歷史的(de)(de)各(ge)式(shi)制品(pin),其中包括(kuo)有鑄于(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)1862及1883年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)銅鐘。此外,門額“玉(yu)虛宮(gong)”三字出自張(zhang)玉(yu)堂手筆,張(zhang)氏(shi)為清朝名(ming)將,在鴉片(pian)戰爭時(shi)被調派到九龍作防守(shou)大(da)將,于(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)1854年(nian)(nian)(清咸豐(feng)年(nian)(nian)間)任大(da)鵬(peng)協(xie)副將,并駐職于(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)九龍城寨(zhai)。
供奉神
廟內(nei)供奉的(de)(de)主神北(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di),又(you)名(ming)玄(xuan)天(tian)(tian)上帝(di)(di)(di)(di),是三(san)千年前(qian)商朝的(de)(de)一(yi)名(ming)王(wang)子。他(ta)幼(you)時修道,元始(shi)天(tian)(tian)尊得知此事后,邀請他(ta)列入仙(xian)班。商朝末年,魔(mo)王(wang)橫(heng)行天(tian)(tian)下(xia),荼毒生靈。元始(shi)天(tian)(tian)尊即下(xia)令玉帝(di)(di)(di)(di)派遣(qian)北(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)統領十二天(tian)(tian)軍下(xia)凡討伐魔(mo)王(wang)。魔(mo)王(wang)亦派遣(qian)大龜(gui)大蟒助陣,但(dan)始(shi)終不(bu)敵(di)北(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)。北(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)成(cheng)功打敗魔(mo)王(wang),獲封為玄(xuan)天(tian)(tian)上帝(di)(di)(di)(di);因此,人們(men)除敬佩他(ta)的(de)(de)英(ying)勇行為外,亦深信北(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)有消災化厄的(de)(de)神力。北(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)神像一(yi)般均塑造成(cheng)跣(xian)足披發,玄(xuan)袍金甲,以表(biao)達其戰陣的(de)(de)英(ying)勇氣度(du),而其腳下(xia)一(yi)般均有蛇與龜(gui),是邪(xie)不(bu)能勝正的(de)(de)象(xiang)征。除北(bei)(bei)(bei)(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)外,廟內(nei)亦供奉三(san)清、關帝(di)(di)(di)(di)、觀音、天(tian)(tian)后、西方佛母、華山圣(sheng)母、濟公(gong)、財(cai)神、包公(gong)及龍母等(deng)神祇。
相關習俗
每年的農歷三月初三,是(shi)北(bei)帝(di)誕,善信均虔誠(cheng)敬拜(bai)(bai),祈求合境平(ping)安。南方(fang)人拜(bai)(bai)北(bei)帝(di),是(shi)因(yin)為南方(fang)的水,由北(bei)方(fang)流來。廣東人依水謀生,因(yin)此既拜(bai)(bai)南海(hai)洪(hong)圣(sheng)大(da)(da)王(赤帝(di)),亦拜(bai)(bai)北(bei)方(fang)玄天上(shang)帝(di)(北(bei)帝(di))。北(bei)帝(di)位于水源(yuan)之上(shang),祭祀他(ta),是(shi)希望他(ta)控制水源(yuan),使(shi)五福豐(feng)收、魚獲大(da)(da)順,這便是(shi)南方(fang)人拜(bai)(bai)北(bei)帝(di)的原因(yin)。二次(ci)大(da)(da)戰以前,是(shi)該(gai)廟的全盛(sheng)時期,每逢(feng)北(bei)帝(di)誕,坊(fang)眾演劇志(zhi)慶,堪稱萬人空(kong)巷。