How Humane Are TaiwanHow Humane Are Taiwan’’s Godss Gods——A Visit to The Temples around A Visit to The Temples around

TaipeiTaipei

Taipei Municipal Da Zhi Senior High School

Students: Su Li-Tzu Chung Yi-Ting Yeh Shun-Tzu Chang Ming-Hui Ho Xin-Yu Chang Ting-Xuan Chang Zhan-Jia Huang Zi-XuanTeacher: Lin Yi-Ju (English Teacher)

Introduction

The religions in Taiwan--- MUTI-GODS

8 possible origins in our religions:1.From nature : the heaven 、 the earth god 、 wind 、 rain 、 mountains2.From ancestors : historic heroes3.From legends : such as, Monkey King 、 Zhu Bajie 、 Lu Dongbin4.From animals :tiger 、 dogs 、 monkey5. From plants :God of Big Tree ( longan 、 mango)6.Wandering spirits : pray good luck for lottery7.Gods of different races 8.Official Temples of Ching Dynasty : such as Confucius Temple 、 Chen Huang Temples

1.Confucius Temple and Confucius

Temples in honor of Confucius are a concrete symbol of Chinese Confucian culture. The Confucius Temple of Qu Fu( 曲阜 ), Shantung( 山東 ), is the largest and most ancient of China's Confucius temple.

Never tired of learning and teaching throughout his life, Confucius has long been recognized in China as "the Greatest Sage and Foremost Teacher with outstanding Achievements." He believed in "education for all“.

Earth God

Worshipped by Chinese folk religion worshippers and Taoists.

A formal name is Tu Di Gong: pinyin: Fúdé zhèngshén, meaning the earth god of wealth and merit.

Outlooks: An elderly man with a long white bea

rd, a black or gold hat and a red or yellow robe

Carrying a wooden staff in his right hand and a golden ingot on the left.

2. Baoan Temple

(A) Baosheng Emperor Baosheng Emperor’s surname is

Wu; given name is Ben (979-1036).

He was born in 979 of Northern Sung Dynasty.

His specialty was traditional Chinese medicine and had saved countless people’s lives.

A lifelong vegetarian, he was never married.

In 1036 of Sung Dynasty, fairy cranes came to pick him up.

•He was revered as the god of medicine.

(B) Zhu Sheng Niang Niang--Goddess of Child Birth

A Taoist female Deity that is being appointed as the Protector Patron for Baby delivery or Baby-sitting

(C) Lord Wen Cheng

Wen Cheng-- a name of one of the star in the Northern Hemisphere.

Wen Cheng’s task-- overall in charge of academic.

3. Cheng Huang Temple

(A) Lord Yue Lao ( 月老 ) or

Yue Lao Xing Jun ( 月老星君 ), also as Yue Xia Lao Ren ( 月下老人 ) - meaning the Old Lord who performs his task under the movement of the Lunar Moon.

With a book of marriage in his left hand, and a stick in his right hand:

About Yue Lao’s work

1.As the Match-maker for relationship and marriages ( 牽紅線 / 結姻緣 ), just like Venus and Cupid in Greek Mythology. 2.Tie the man and the woman’s feet together with a red thread .

(happiness candies, Lead money,and Red line)

(B) Lord Cheng Huang--

Lord of the City Gate Cheng Huang, the original form was

a river ghost that helped to protect the people living in a City/Area being attacked by the invaders/enemies.

In the ancient China, only Emperors were allowed to pay their respect to Cheng Huang.

 

In the 8 MUST worshipped Deities/Objects, Cheng Huang was positioned at the 7th place.

the roles for Cheng Huang in different Dynasties:

* the praying of Rain(Tang).

*a very important role in normal mortals everyday lives(Song).

*bestowed with many important titles(Ming)

*respected especially by appointed new officers(Qing)

4. Hsing Tien Temple

1.One of the most popular Taoist Temples in Taipei-

2.The god is Guan Sheng Di Jyun

3.Visitors seek answers to their problems

4.Only flowers and tea be seen on the altar

Throwing Deviation Blocks

(1)The believers throw divination blocks to seek for helps from the gods (2) a pair of half moon-shaped red-painted wooden pieces.

(3) Usually the result of tossing divination blocks comes in three

(a)“One up one down”

(b)“Both blocks down”

(c)“Both blocks up”

Calling Back the Soul

1. A practice of "soul-calling" to 'call' the soul back to the body

2. In Chinese, the practice of 'soul-calling' is known as "Jiao Hun 叫魂 " or "Shou Jin 收驚 "

3. Put the rice on the patient's clothes and asks the god, reading incantation in the mouth to call back the soul.

The End