建筑特點
灣仔北(bei)(bei)帝廟(miao)建筑(zhu)宏偉,面(mian)積是港(gang)島廟(miao)宇之冠,內有(you)(you)(you)三(san)個殿(dian)堂,廟(miao)內主殿(dian)供奉(feng)身高三(san)米的(de)(de)的(de)(de)主神(shen)北(bei)(bei)帝;而兩側設有(you)(you)(you)三(san)寶殿(dian)、龍(long)母殿(dian)及財神(shen)殿(dian)。北(bei)(bei)帝像前有(you)(you)(you)四(si)大天王立像,造型威武(wu)而細致(zhi)生動,甚(shen)具藝術欣賞價值。此廟(miao)的(de)(de)基本設計屬四(si)合(he)院(yuan)形(xing)式,在主殿(dian)左右兩側設置(zhi)了(le)面(mian)積既不同,形(xing)狀也(ye)各異(yi)的(de)(de)偏殿(dian)。廟(miao)的(de)(de)正脊飾有(you)(you)(you)雙龍(long),龍(long)為“四(si)靈”之首,象征和平、吉祥(xiang)及富貴,故以龍(long)身附(fu)加于(yu)廟(miao)宇屋(wu)脊,是有(you)(you)(you)受其庇護的(de)(de)意義。
歷史沿革
灣(wan)(wan)仔(zi)北(bei)帝(di)廟(miao)原(yuan)名(ming)玉(yu)虛宮。在1863年(nian)(nian)(清(qing)朝同治二(er)年(nian)(nian)),由當時(shi)的(de)灣(wan)(wan)仔(zi)坊眾(zhong)集資建成。根(gen)據廟(miao)內碑(bei)刻所載,灣(wan)(wan)仔(zi)北(bei)帝(di)廟(miao)曾于(yu)1928年(nian)(nian)(民國十七(qi)年(nian)(nian))進行(xing)重修。華人廟(miao)宇(yu)委員會于(yu)2005年(nian)(nian)更動用(yong)千多(duo)萬元為該廟(miao)進行(xing)大(da)型維修工程。廟(miao)內的(de)北(bei)帝(di)銅像(xiang)鑄于(yu)1604年(nian)(nian)(明萬歷(li)三(san)十二(er)年(nian)(nian)),已有(you)四百(bai)多(duo)年(nian)(nian)歷(li)史,身高逾(yu)三(san)米,歷(li)史價值(zhi)很高。廟(miao)內還有(you)一百(bai)三(san)十多(duo)年(nian)(nian)歷(li)史的(de)各式制(zhi)品,其中包括(kuo)有(you)鑄于(yu)1862及1883年(nian)(nian)的(de)銅鐘。此外,門(men)額“玉(yu)虛宮”三(san)字出自張(zhang)玉(yu)堂手筆(bi),張(zhang)氏為清(qing)朝名(ming)將(jiang),在鴉片戰爭時(shi)被(bei)調派(pai)到九龍(long)作防守大(da)將(jiang),于(yu)1854年(nian)(nian)(清(qing)咸豐年(nian)(nian)間)任大(da)鵬協副(fu)將(jiang),并駐職于(yu)九龍(long)城(cheng)寨。
供奉神
廟內供(gong)奉的(de)主(zhu)神(shen)(shen)北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di),又(you)名玄天(tian)(tian)(tian)上(shang)帝(di)(di)(di)(di),是(shi)三(san)千年前(qian)商朝的(de)一名王子。他幼時修道,元(yuan)始天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)得知此事后(hou),邀請他列入仙班(ban)。商朝末年,魔(mo)王橫行(xing)天(tian)(tian)(tian)下,荼毒生靈。元(yuan)始天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)即下令(ling)玉帝(di)(di)(di)(di)派(pai)(pai)遣北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)統領(ling)十二天(tian)(tian)(tian)軍(jun)下凡討伐魔(mo)王。魔(mo)王亦(yi)派(pai)(pai)遣大龜(gui)大蟒助陣,但始終不敵(di)北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)。北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)成(cheng)功打(da)敗魔(mo)王,獲封為(wei)玄天(tian)(tian)(tian)上(shang)帝(di)(di)(di)(di);因此,人們(men)除敬佩他的(de)英勇行(xing)為(wei)外(wai),亦(yi)深信北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)有消災化(hua)厄的(de)神(shen)(shen)力。北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)神(shen)(shen)像一般均塑造成(cheng)跣足披發,玄袍金甲,以表達(da)其戰陣的(de)英勇氣度,而其腳下一般均有蛇與龜(gui),是(shi)邪不能勝正的(de)象征(zheng)。除北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)外(wai),廟內亦(yi)供(gong)奉三(san)清(qing)、關帝(di)(di)(di)(di)、觀音、天(tian)(tian)(tian)后(hou)、西方佛母、華(hua)山圣母、濟公、財神(shen)(shen)、包公及龍母等神(shen)(shen)祇。
相關習俗
每(mei)年(nian)的農(nong)歷三(san)月初三(san),是北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)誕(dan),善信均虔(qian)誠敬拜(bai)(bai),祈求合(he)境平安。南方人拜(bai)(bai)北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di),是因(yin)為南方的水(shui),由北(bei)方流來(lai)。廣東人依水(shui)謀(mou)生,因(yin)此既拜(bai)(bai)南海洪圣大王(赤(chi)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)),亦(yi)拜(bai)(bai)北(bei)方玄天(tian)上(shang)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)(北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di))。北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)位(wei)于水(shui)源之上(shang),祭祀(si)他(ta),是希望他(ta)控制水(shui)源,使五福(fu)豐收、魚獲大順,這便是南方人拜(bai)(bai)北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)的原因(yin)。二(er)次大戰以前,是該廟的全(quan)盛時(shi)期,每(mei)逢北(bei)帝(di)(di)(di)(di)誕(dan),坊眾(zhong)演劇志慶,堪稱萬人空巷(xiang)。