Passing through the array of tombs in Bukit Brown, you will be
greeted by a pair of lovely figurines at the entrance of a tomb; they are known as the
Kim Tong (golden boy) and Geok Lee (jade maiden). These are guardians that
are there to protect the deceased. The clouds around their body represent their
stature of celestial beings.
The story of the pair is a
popular folktale amongst the southern Chinese. It tells of how kim tong and
geok lee, who were both celestial beings, fell in love, against the law set by
Ting Kong (Jade Emperor), resulting in Kim Tong being cast from celestial realm
to live in the world as a mortal. As a mortal, he demonstrates the highest
level of virtue by selling himself into slavery to pay for his father’s
funeral. Touched by his selfless act of filial piety, Ting Kong sends Geok Lee
to rescue Kim Tong from slavery. These two characters are found in funeral
arches or situated on either sides of a tomb because of their association with
filial piety and Ting Kong. It is said that carvings links the celestial realm
to the mortal world. Since Ting Kong favored the pair, it is believed that they
serve to protect the deceased from any unclean or malevolent elements.
Golden boy (top image) is found on the
left of the tomb, he is commonly found with an incense burner, in which the
prayers are brought up into heaven in the form of smoke. The Jade girl(above) is found
on the right hand of the tomb, she is usually holding onto a flower which is a peony,
which represents endless descendents to the deceased.
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