Temples in Taiwan
2015/4/7
Dr.Montoneri
1
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
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Introduction
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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%
Mengjia Longshan Temple, built in Taipei in 1738 by
settlers from Fujian
2015/4/7
Dr.Montoneri
4
Part I. Religion in Taiwan
a. Confucianism
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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.
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.
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.
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.
b. Taoism
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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
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.
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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.
Matsu -- Taiwan's
Guardian Goddess #1
More than 500 temples
dedicated to Matsu,
integrated into the
Taoist pantheon.
Temple in Penghu
c. Buddhism
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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)
Part II. Buddhist temples
a. Famous spots
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.
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
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.
b. Deities
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The trinity of Buddhas
Buddha means “awakened one” or “the enlightened
one”.
Sakyamuni (c. 563 BCE) born in Lumbini (presentday 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.
b. Deities
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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.
b. Deities
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During the Song Dynasty, which began in the 10th
century, Guanyin is finally associated with a
particular time and place, as a princess named MiaoShan 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.
c. Buddhist art
Statue of a monk
practicing
meditation in
Taidong.
Meditation is
the art of
focusing
100% of your
attention in
one area.
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.
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.
Restaurant in Taichung,
Gongyi road.
Surprisingly, people
eat hot pot Huo guo,
火鍋 and a lot of
meat in it.
Conclusion
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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.
References
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanyin
http://www.buddhaweekly.com/the-first-doctor-medicine-buddhabhaisajyaguru/
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-forquieting-the-mind/
http://zenhabits.net/meditation-for-beginners-20-practical-tips-forquieting-the-mind/
http://taiwandiscovery.wordpress.com/2010/07/11/exploringmatsu-1-nangan-island/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism
Bao Jue Buddhist Temple Taichung, 1994
The swastika literally means "to be good“ in Sanskrit