It’s a collection of 81 poems which provide advice on various topics, but because the wording is so ambiguous, passages can be interpreted in many different ways. Laozi is believed to have written the Tao Te Ching, the most important Taoist text. The founder, Laozi (meaning ‘the old one’), is said to have lived at least 2,400 years ago, although some historians doubt he existed. Unlike Buddhism, Taoism is a homegrown Chinese religion and philosophy. One block coming to rest flat-side up and the other flat-side down means the answer is yes if both land rounded-side up, the god’s response is negative both landing rounded-side down means the deity feels the question is frivolous.įolk beliefs continue to play a high-profile role in society, especially in more traditional regions such as Tainan and Pingtung. These are used to ask deities questions: The worshipper frames the question in his or her mind, and then casts a pair of blocks three times. The boards or blocks are typically battered-looking crescent-shaped blocks of wood that have been painted red. This can be translated into English as ‘casting moon blocks’ or ‘throwing divination boards’. If you spend any time in a temple, you’re sure to see someone bua buay, as one particular rite is called in the Taiwanese language. Incense is left to burn before these icons all day, every day offerings of fruit, cookies, joss paper and tiny cups of rice wine are frequently made. Most are elaborately carved from wood, although some are clay or even solid gold. Some are no bigger than dolls others are fearsome statutes twice the size of a man. In a typical house of worship you’ll see several – possibly over a hundred – effigies of Taoist, Buddhist and folk deities. The majority of Taiwan’s temples are classed as folk shrines. Rather than uplift people’s thoughts and refine their behaviour, a lot of folk rituals are designed to bring immediate personal benefit, such as protection from disease-spreading demons or success in school examinations. Some say there’s no such thing as folk religion, rather a motley collection of beliefs and superstitions which adherents hope will bring them health, longevity and prosperity. Despite Japan’s huge impact on Taiwan in fields as varied as architecture and cuisine, very few Taiwanese follow Japanese religions. Christians are a small minority, and Muslims an even smaller one. The gods and goddesses revered by most Taiwanese are Chinese in origin, although a few are entirely local. For anyone who grew up in the West or the Middle East, where monotheistic faiths require exclusive loyalty, the pick-and-mix approach of many Taiwanese to religion is initially bewildering but always intriguing. Far more, however, follow one, or both, blended with folk beliefs. In Taiwan, some people practice ‘pure’ Buddhism and some follow ‘pure’ Taoism. Some observers have likened the mix of religions to threads which together create a beautiful cultural tapestry. There’s some competition between sects, but almost no friction. Taiwan’s religious environment is characterised by tremendous diversity and tolerance.
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