Information on Hong Gong (Hong Kung)

[mugenpower168]

Hi everyone,

I recently came across this article the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jan/29/ln/ln31p.html and it talks about a "village saint" named Hong Gong (康公), however I think he is actually a Chinese deity. There is a Hong Gong Temple in Macau that I believe is dedicated to the same deity www.flickr.com/photos/joseiu/516213802/. Does anyone have information on who Hong Gong is?

Thanks

[tyuti1668]

Macau: www.cityguide.gov.mo/visit/detail.aspx?id=02030700000000000000
HK: purethought.ueuo.com/hongkung/index.html
Zhuhai: blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_63a60aae0100yvn7.html

[mugenpower168]

Thank you tyuti1668.
So it seems that 康公's real name is 李烈. I can't seem to find any historical info on 李烈. Is he renowned for anything in particular? For example, 林默娘 better known as 天后, is considered a sea deity and 關帝 is most popular for his sense of righteousness and loyalty. What about 康公?

[tyuti1668]

The Zhuhai blog points out

不管怎么说，康公传说的形成其实是多股文化的碰撞结果，在不同社会历史条件下，根据不同的需要汇合而成的。崇拜的对象多是为国捐躯的英勇将帅，而食鸭禁忌则反映了外来移民和珠三角原著民的民俗与文化的冲突

ie. NO duck for this deity