Temples in Taiwan

1. Temples in Taiwan Dr.Montoneri

2. Outline • Introduction • Part I. Religion in Taiwan • a. Confucianism • b. Taoism • c. Buddhism • Part II. Buddhist temples • a. Famous spots • b. Deities • c. Buddhist art • Conclusion • References

3. Introduction • 26 religions are officially recognized in Taiwan; religious freedom written in the constitution of the Republic of China. • 93% of people identifying themselves as Buddhists, Taoists, or practitioners of Chinese folk religion. • However, identification with these faiths does not necessarily mean actual affiliation. • Common for people to practice a blend of the three religions. Buddhist temples are often adjacent to a Taoist temple, or even under the same roof (Longshan Temple in Taipei City) • Christian: 4.5%

4. Mengjia Longshan Temple, built in Taipei in 1738 by settlers from Fujian Dr.Montoneri

5. Part I. Religion in Taiwan

6. a. Confucianism • Ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–479 BCE). • Humanism is at the core in Confucianism. The five virtues are: Rén (仁, Humaneness), Yì (義, Righteousness or Justice), Lǐ (禮, Propriety or Etiquette), Zhì (智, Knowledge), Xìn (信, Integrity). • The four virtues are: Zhōng (忠, Loyalty), Xiào (孝, Filial piety), Jié (節, Continency), Yì (義, Righteousness). • The annual Teachers' Day celebration is held on September 28 in honor of the birthday of Confucius.

7. Confucius Temple of Kaohsiung The temple was originally constructed in 1684, and renovated during the Qing dynasty. A new temple was constructed in 1977, now on the northwest corner of Lotus Lake. The new design was based on the Liu Song dynasty temple design.

8. Confucius Temple of Kaohsiung The temple was originally constructed in 1684, and renovated during the Qing dynasty. A new temple was constructed in 1977, now on the northwest corner of Lotus Lake. The new design was based on the Liu Song dynasty temple design.

9. Confucius Temple of Taichung The temple was originally constructed in 1684, and renovated during the Qing dynasty. A new temple was constructed in 1977, now on the northwest corner of Lotus Lake. The new design was based on the Liu Song dynasty temple design.

10. b. Taoism • Taiwan government statistics distinguish Buddhism from Taoism, giving almost equal numbers for both (8 million and 7.6 million, respectively, out of a total population of 23 million). • philosophical and religious tradition that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao ("way", "path" or "principle"). • Tao Te Ching, a concise and ambiguous book containing teachings attributed to Laozi • Taoist schools traditionally feature reverence for Laozi, immortals or ancestors, along with a variety of divination and exorcism rituals, and practices for achieving ecstasy, longevity or immortality

11. b. Taoism • Mazu (媽祖, literally "Mother-Ancestor"); born as Lin Moniang in 960. • Goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the patron deity of all Southern Chinese and East Asian people. • Worship of Mazu began around the Ming Dynasty, when many Taoist temples dedicated to her were erected all across Mainland China.

12. 大甲鎮瀾宮 Da Jia Zhen Lan Gong in Dajia District, Taichung, is the most famous Mazu temple in Taiwan, and an annual pilgrimage takes place there each spring.

13. Matsu -- Taiwan's Guardian Goddess #1More than 500 temples dedicated to Matsu, integrated into the Taoist pantheon.

14. Temple in Penghu

15. c. Buddhism • Four local Buddhist teachers whose institutions are especially significant are popularly likened to the "Four Heavenly Kings of Taiwanese Buddhism." They are: • North (Jinshan, Taipei): Master Sheng-yen (聖嚴, d. 2009) of Dharma Drum Mountain (法鼓山) • South (Dashu, Kaohsiung): Master Hsing Yun (星雲) of Fo Guang Shan (佛光山) • East (Hualien): Master Cheng Yen (證嚴) of the Tzu Chi Foundation (慈濟基金會) • West (Nantou): Master Wei Chueh (惟覺) of Chung Tai Shan (中台山)

16. Part II. Buddhist temples

17. a. Famous spots

18. The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas is a temple located at Lotus Lake in Kaohsiung City. The temple was built in 1976. The seven storey tower has yellow walls, red pillars and orange tiles. The front connects to the shore with a bridge. There are paintings inside the temple depicting Ksitigarbha (bodhisattva of hell beings, as well as the guardian of children and patron deity of deceased children). In the Tiger Tower, there are paintings of twelve Magi and the Jade Emperor's (Taoist ruler of Heaven) thirty palaces as well as paintings of Confucius.

22. Fo Guang Shan (佛光山) National Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastic order, one of the largest Buddhist organizations. The headquarters, located in Kaohsiung, are the biggest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan

26. Chung Tai Shan (中台山) Completed in 2001, located in Puli, Nantou County, in central Taiwan, second only to Fo Guang Shan's monastery in physical size and in the number of ordained disciples.

30. b. Deities • The trinity of Buddhas • Buddha means “awakened one” or “the enlightened one”. • Sakyamuni (c. 563 BCE) born in Lumbini (present-day in Nepal) in a royal Hindu family to King Śuddhodana, the leader of Sakya clan. • Medicine Buddha or Bhaiṣajyaguru Buddha of the eastern realm, described as a doctor who cures suffering using the medicine of his teachings. • Amithaba “Infinite Light”, Buddha who created the “Pure Land” situated in the uttermost west.

33. b. Deities • 觀自在菩薩 Guānshìyīn Púsà or Guanyin • Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit; a male deity. It means “he who looks down upon sound” (the cries of beings who need his help). • A bodhisattva is already an enlightenment-being motivated by great compassion, who has generated bodhicitta, which is a spontaneous wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all beings. • Mahāyāna Buddhism relates Avalokiteśvara to the six-syllable mantra: oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ.

34. b. Deities • During the Song Dynasty, which began in the 10th century, Guanyin is finally associated with a particular time and place, as a princess named Miao-Shan who dies and returns to the land of the living, appearing as thousand-handed and thousand-eyed Guanyin to save her dying father. • Guanyin is also revered by Chinese Taoists as an Immortal. • Guanyin is the patron saint of mothers and grants parents filial children.

36. c. Buddhist art Statue of a monk practicing meditation in Taidong. Meditation is the art of focusing 100% of your attention in one area.

37. Both the gong and the drum are one of the most important Dharma instruments to the temple. In Buddha's time, the gong and drum were used to gather everyone to announce the precepts, meal times, Dharma talks, times to wake up and go to bed.

39. The burning of incense takes place both in the home and in the temple, and serves as an offering to the Buddha or various deities. It is also an important ritual act that is believed to clear the air of evil spirits.

40. Restaurant in Taichung, Gongyi road. Surprisingly, people eat hot pot Huo guo, 火鍋 and a lot of meat in it.

41. Conclusion • As of 2009, there are 14,993 temples in Taiwan, approximately one place of worship per 1,500 residents. 9,202 of those temples were dedicated to Taoism. • In 2008, Taiwan had 3,262 Churches, an increase of 145. • The majority of Taiwanese people usually combine the secular moral teachings of Confucianism with whatever religions they are affiliated with.

42. References • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanyin • http://www.buddhaweekly.com/the-first-doctor-medicine-buddha-bhaisajyaguru/ • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temples_of_Taichung • http://www.bliav.org.au/dharma/symb/symb0.html • http://zenhabits.net/meditation-for-beginners-20-practical-tips-for-quieting-the-mind/ • http://zenhabits.net/meditation-for-beginners-20-practical-tips-for-quieting-the-mind/ • http://taiwandiscovery.wordpress.com/2010/07/11/exploring-matsu-1-nangan-island/ • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism

43. Bao Jue Buddhist Temple Taichung, 1994

44. The swastika literally means "to be good“ in Sanskrit