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The Butcher Who Turned God

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Hiang Thian Siang Ti or Xuan Tian Shang Ti is the host deity of Shang Ti Temple, Kuching and many other similar temples in Sarawak or Malaysia. Accordingly, the Sagely One was born in 581 A.D. in China. Before he got enlightened, he worked as a butcher for many years. As he turned old, he regretted much for the killings he had done as a butcher and decided to go to Wudan San (Mt Wudan in China) to practice the Taoist ways. As such, he threw his butcher knife to the river; later, he took back the butcher knife from the river fearing that the tool might hurt the river creatures. He later cut his own stomach & threw his organs to the river in order to purify himself for the sins he had done as a butcher. At that moment, holy light descended from the sky & escorted his soul to Wudan San for the Way. This is the legendary story of the Sagely One who was later became God from an ordinary butcher.