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Qingshui

1047 – 1101

Deified Chan Buddhist monk, tutelary god of people from Anxi, Fujian

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About Qingshui

Lived 1047 – 1101 (aged 53–54). Qingshui was a monk.

Patriarch Ching Chwee (; 1047-1101), also known as Chó͘-su-kong , born Tan Chiau Eng was a Chan/Zen Buddhist monk during the Northern Song from Anxi County, Quanzhou. He was said to have gained supernatural powers through his skill in learning and preaching the Dharma and meditation. Through this, he is said to have saved the town of Anxi during a period of drought, bringing rain as he went from place to place. In reverence, the villagers built shrines to him and hence became a deity in Chinese folk religion.

Patriarch Ching Chwee is also known by the following nicknames: Dropping Nose Ancestor , known for the prominent nose featured in Patriarch Ching Chwee's effigies Black Faced Ancestor

Worship of Patriarch Ching Chwee (清水祖师) is especially popular in Taiwan, where he is worshiped by local villagers for protection and in overseas Hokkien-speaking communities. His birthday is celebrated on the sixth day of the first lunar month.

Life Tan Chiau Eng was born in 1047. He became a monk when he was young, and his early potential was recognized by the chief monk at the temple. When the chief monk died, Tan Chiau Eng became the next chief monk at the temple. He is credited with many famous quotes made during his lifetime.

Achievements Some of his achievements included: building bridges- He helped build more than 10 different bridges around the towns. herb medicine creation- In China, there is a saying "When you save the life of one, it will even help you more than reaching heaven when you die." And he has learned about many different medical herbs. And his achievements in medicine are even on-par to those of professionals in that era. praying for rain- Normal people believe that there is no man that can control the weather, only a man of great spiritual cultivation will be able to achieve this. And when Patriarch Ching Chwee was alive, he performed numerous miracles in praying for rain during times of drought.

Worship Zushi Temple in Taipei is dedicated to Patriarch Ching Chwee. It is stated that all the devotees would worship Patriarch Ching Chwee by using fruit, cakes and other vegetarian food as offering items on the Deity's birthday (on the sixth day of first lunar month) every year to express their devotion and gratitude. And up till now, many worshippers will frequently visit his temples throughout the years to pray for his divine blessings and protections. Some also believe they will gain good blessings for the rest of the year after faithfully worshipped in His temples. God pigs are also a popular sacrifice at certain Patriarch Ching Chwee temples among the Hakka community in Taiwan.

Temples with altars dedicated to Patriarch Ching Chwee Ching Chwee Gam Temple: , Anxi County, Quanzhou, Fujian, China Ching Chwee Temple: , Wanhua, Taipei, Taiwan Zushi Temple: , New Taipei, Taiwan Ching Chwee Temple: , Zuoying, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Chin Swee Caves Temple: , Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia Snake Temple: , Penang, Malaysia Fushan Temple: , Yangon, Myanmar Saw Si Gone Temple: Mawlamyine, Myanmar Hock Guan Kong Temple: Phuket, Thailand Shun Heng Keng: Bangkok, Thailand Chaweng d Jo Su Jui Kong Shrine: Krabi, Thailand Hong Lai Sze: , Hougang, Singapore Peng Lai Dian: , Admiralty Street, Woodlands, Singapore Long Xu Yan Temple: , Ang Mo Kio, Singapore Ching Chwee Temple: , Woodlands, Singapore Hock An Kiong Temple: , Batam, Riau Islands, Indonesia Hock Liong Kiong Temple: , Dumai, Riau, Indonesia Kongco Tjo Soe Kong Temple: Tanjung Kait, Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia Bio Tjou Soe Kong: Karawang, West Java, Indonesia Ceng Sui Co Su Kong Temple: , Cengkareng, Jakarta, Indonesia Vihara Sapta Ronggo: Gambir, Jakarta, Indonesia Vihara Dharma Loka: , Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

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Important facts

Born
1047, Yongchun County
Birth century
Died
1101
Occupation
Also known as
Chó͘-su-kong, Chen Zhaoyin, Tjo Soe Kong, Chheng-chúi chó͘-su, Qingshui Zushi, Cingshuei Zushih
moreChing Shui Tsu Shih, Tshing-tsuí Tsóo-su

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Qingshui's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Qingshui?

deified Chan Buddhist monk, tutelary god of people from Anxi, Fujian

When was Qingshui born?

Qingshui was born in 1047 in Yongchun County.

When did Qingshui die?

Qingshui died in 1101.

What was Qingshui's occupation?

Qingshui was a monk.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Qingshui

· Wikidata: Q700988

· DBpedia: Patriarch Ching Chwee

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Qingshui. https://biography.guide/qingshui/

MLA: "Qingshui." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/qingshui/.

Chicago: "Qingshui." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/qingshui/.

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