Some history and guidance for the temple

Yesterday all of the AIESEC EP's (along with Kevin) did an informative tour of the temple and some of the surrounding area with a travel official from the government. It turns out there is two other small temples in the perimeter, and that the Yuan Bao temple grounds extend further than previously thought.

During the tour we learned about the first underground tunnel dug in Taichung (at the intersection of Section 1, Zhongqing Rd. and Jianxing Rd.), built many years ago to allow children to cross a busy street and get to school. There is now a lot of police surveillance in the area due to a large amount of homeless people attempting to live there.

We also learned about the Lai family, the founders of this temple who grew sugar cane in Taiwan, and after selling it in China it allowed them to earn enough profit to build the temple. There are many employees and volunteers at the temple with the surname Lai, but most aren’t actually related to the founding family. But, it turns out Kevin is actually a descendant of the family that built the temple!

Across from the temple there is a long walkway surrounded on both sides by flowers and workout machines. Interestingly enough, under the walkway, there is an underground river (which I really wanted to see, but there is no way to access it). The tour guide and her husband also take care of most of the garden along the walkway; there are many types of flowers and trees and the government doesn’t mind the couple taking care of them.

But, I think the most interesting thing I had learned all day was how the people pray in the temple. I am around the temple most of the day almost every day and see all the attendees praying, but I never understood why or even noticed a pattern in the people praying. I will communicate my understanding so far in the following paragraph.

In front of the Gods keep in each section of the temple there is a large, metal censer (used to store ash burned from incense). Each censer has three legs, is large and round, and has two protruding designs on the side (from what I have seen it has usually been a dragon). For all censers you only pray between the three legs; never aligned with them (as it is considered an insult to the Gods). To pray, you must think or mutter what you ask of the God whilst holding the incense at eyebrow level; this shows respect to the god. After you finish praying you either bow or bend three times, to show you want something. Lastly, you place one or multiple incense in the censer, and depending on your ideals you may place a larger incense in the censer of the God you appeal more to.

In the very front Yuan Bao temple there is a large censer. This censer is dedicated to the sky God, and to pay respects at the censer you must face the sky, not the temple. The tour guide said you often see people praying but face the temple instead of the sky, and this is incorrect (but they aren’t aware of the proper way to pray). Apparently, one of the AIESEC EP’s responsibilities is to inform people, but I have trouble believing they would listen to me… Haha, but you never know. As I am extremely curious about the people that visit the temple, I will update the blog with new information once I find out more.