星洲道院 • 世界紅卍字會新嘉坡總主會
The Origins and Founding of the Singapore Dao Yuan
and The World Red Swastika Society (Singapore Administration Centre)
Part Three: The Northward Journeys of Inquiry - 1934 and 1935
Key Details
The First Northward Journey — 1934
Travellers
Yu Zizhong (Zhisheng); Lei Zhiyi (雷智義); Li Quanxi (李全璽)
Route
Singapore / Hong Kong → Shanghai → Tianjin
Encounter in Shanghai
Old friend led the group to Shanghai Dao Yuan; Deity Fu Sheng addressed the three visitors directly at an active planchette session
Divine instruction
“Arriving here, you have found the gateway of the Great Dao. When you return south, the establishment of Dao Yuans will begin from this.”
Commission received
Formally appointed as Overseers for the southern Dao Yuan (Singapore)
Tianjin visit
Observed proceedings; The Most Holy One had already instructed the Tianjin Dao Yuan to convene a special session welcoming the southern visitors
Extended tour
Visited Jinan Mother Dao Yuan, Shanxi provincial Dao Yuans – tour lasted several months
Following the mining failures and a planchette instruction to go north to inquire of the Dao, Yu Zizhong returned to Singapore, delegated all tasks – the mining company to Li Zhiye, Liao Zhiqing, Chen Zhiyu, and Zhu Zhiduan; the planchette altar to Lo Zhiyuan and Cai Zhiqiu; the accounts and planchette records to Chen Zhimian – and departed for Hong Kong. After consulting with the Hong Kong community, he set out north with Lei Zhiyi and Li Quanxi.
In Shanghai, wandering without direction, a chance encounter with an old friend led them to the Shanghai Dao Yuan. By perfect timing, the Shanghai Dao Yuan was conducting a planchette session. The Deity Fu Sheng immediately addressed the three uninvited southerners: “In Singapore you received the instruction to travel north to inquire of the Dao. Coming here, you have found the gateway of the Great Dao. When you return south, the establishment of Dao Yuans will begin from this. By the command of The Most Holy One, you are hereby appointed as Overseers of the southern Dao Yuan [Singapore].” Two Shanghai Dao Yuan Overseers were assigned to accompany them to Tianjin.
Remarkably, The Most Holy One had already anticipated their arrival: before they reached Tianjin, an instruction had been transmitted to the Tianjin Dao Yuan directing that Overseers from all Dao Yuans be summoned to Tianjin, to hear the teaching together and to welcome the southerners. A special session was convened. From Tianjin, the group toured the Jinan Mother Dao Yuan and the Shanxi provincial Dao Yuans, observing the full structure of Dao Yuan governance, administration, and ritual – a comprehensive education lasting several months. Before returning south, a final instruction was received at the Jinan Mother Dao Yuan: return to Hong Kong and Singapore, give full instruction to all cultivators in the method and purpose of seated meditation, and then come north again.
Key Details
The Second Northward Journey — Spring 1935
Travellers
Yu Zizhong (Zhisheng); Li Yihai / Zhifa (李奕海 / 智發); Liao Heling / Zhiqing (廖鶴齡 / 智情)
Route
Hong Kong → Shanghai → Tianjin → Jinan Mother Academy → Shanxi → Beijing General HQ (北平總會)
Beijing sessions
Three planchette sessions presided by The Most Holy One: 19th and 25th day of 4th lunar month; 6th day of 5th lunar month
Formal commission date
6th day of 5th lunar month, 1935 (c. 21 May 1935)
Sacred items received
Three sets of copper-plate sacred shrine tablet Imange of The Most Holy One (銅牌神位): (1) Singapore Dao Yuan; (2) Singapore Women’s Ethical Society; (3) Thailand Capital Office
Additional items
Photographs of The Most Holy One; meditation instructions; organizational protocols; all canonical literature needed to establish a Dao Yuan
Core group designated
Yu Zizhong, Li Yihai, Liao Heling, Lei Zhiyi – key positions in Singapore and Hong Kong; foundational to Dao Yuan expansion throughout Southeast Asia
In the spring of 1935, Yu Zizhong returned to Singapore, reported everything to the community, and then set out north again – this time with Li Yihai and Liao Heling for a comprehensive study tour. They visited Shanghai, Tianjin, the Jinan Mother Dao Yuan, and Shanxi, before arriving at the Beijing General Headquarters of The World Red Swastika Society. Three planchette sessions presided personally by The Most Holy One formally activated the Singapore founding commission.
Before returning south, the Jinan Mother Dao Yuan presented three sets of copper-plate sacred shrine tablet Image of The Most Holy One (銅牌神位) – one set for the Singapore Dao Yuan, one for the Singapore Women’s Ethical Society, and one for Thailand – along with photographs of The Most Holy One, written meditation instructions, and all organizational protocols and canonical texts. They returned to Singapore carrying a mandate and everything needed to execute it.