Introduction of The Yuan Bao Temple Gods (Part I)

       Yuanbao tample is located on the three-way intersection of daya road, jinhwa north road and meichuan west road. having been built for over two hunderd years, the temple as numerous believers throughout the island, and is one of the most important religion center in central taiwan.





    















          The temple offers sacrifices in worshiping to buddha bausheng, which is also known as "Master Dadou" , who was a famous doctor in north song dynasty. through his life,  master  dadou was respected by people as a kind and excellent doctor. after his death, he was worshiped by people in fuchien and Taiwan.

Baosheng Dadi 保生大帝

Lord Baosheng (保生大帝 Baosheng Dadi or Pao Sheng Ta Ti) Known as Wu Tao (吳本) during his lifetime, he worked as a physician and is credited with once bringing a dusty skeleton back to life. After his death he gained a reputation for interceding in what seemed to be hopeless cases. He led a diligent and virtuous life devoted to healing the sick and ridding the world of disease. Even after his enlightenment he chose to stay in the mortal realm to continue to ease suffering. He was a skilled doctor and Taoist practitioner who was credited with performing medical miracles,  including applying eye drops to a dragon’s eye and removing a foreign object from a tiger’s throat. he began to be worshiped as a deity. His deified status was officially recognized by the Hongxi Emperor of the Ming Dynasty who conferred on him the title of “Imperial Inspector at Heavenly Gate, Miracle Doctor of Compassion Relief, Great Taoist Immortal, and the Long-lived, Unbounded, Life Protection Emperor.

          

         On the first  floor of the major temple hall of Yuan Bao temple is the statue of general Guan Yu  (關羽), goddess of childbearing and the civil god.

Guan Yu (關羽)

Guan Yu (關羽), the red-faced, bearded hero of the Three Kingdoms and symbol of loyalty. He is the patron God of policemen and law, and gangsters, as he shows forgiveness, and often also serves as "Wu Sheng". Guan Yu (Kuan Yu) (died 219) was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to The Collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the first emperor. Guan Yu: Dharma Protecting deity who helps practitioners with worldly matters. Historically, he was a legendary military general (160-219 CE), loyal to Emperor Liu Bei. Also known as the "Lord with the Magnificent Beard," he is usually depicted with a red face (symbolizing extreme courage and loyalty) and holding a long-handled sword known as a "guandao." He is regarded as a Taoist saint and god of war and martial arts. After he died he sought refuge with a Buddhist master and quickly obtained liberation whereupon he became a protector of the Dharma.

Zhusheng Niangniang (註生娘娘)

"The Maiden Who Brings Children"), also referred to in Taiwan as Zhusheng Niangniang (註生娘娘),

The Goddess of Childbirth or Zhu Sheng Niang Niang is a fertility deity in the Taoist patheon.

Goddess of Birth and Childcare is in charge of pregnancy, delivery of infant, protection of mother and child.

Women who hope to have children or these who are productivity challenged pray to her for help in conceiving and safe delivery.

Cheng Huang

Cheng Huang, ( Chinese: “Wall and Moat”) also known as Chenghuang Shen, Wade-Giles romanization Ch’eng Huang,  in Chinese mythology, the City God, or the spiritual magistrate and guardian deity of a particular Chinese city. Because dead spirits reputedly informed the god of all good and evil deeds within his jurisdiction, it was popularly believed that devout prayers offered in Cheng Huang’s temple.

         Yuanbao temple enjoys its long history. ever since it was built, the temple has been maintaining its tradition, its mission of passing throug its history. it glorifies the kind spirit in traditional culture, teaching people to have mercy, help the needs, guiding right from wrong and cultivating a peaceful land in our heart.

Traditional Chinese Medical in Yuan Bao Temple

    On Sunday, there're no ceremony or festival in Yuan Bao Temple, because we got visitor from china medical university hospital. They were in here to give free traditional Chinese medical check up for us and people who want to check up in here.

   Traditional Chinese medicine is a broad range of medicine practices sharing common concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage (Tui na), exercise (qigong), and dietary therapy. It is primarily used as a complementary alternative medicine approach. TCM is widely used in China and it is also used in the West. But before they start the traditional medical check up, there's a speech by old man (maybe he works in yuan bao temple). And then, he gave them cerficates for some students. After that, the students from china medical university hospital opened the examination directly. And their purpose were to get some practice and experience for students.

    And then, when time showed at 9 am o'clock, they began to open the examination for people who want to check their healthy. After that, many people came to here to check their body including Yuan Bao's staff and us. Although, I was scare about that but I have to try it because I really curious about it too. I got number 10 for this examination and I should wait until they call my number. Finally, they called me to come and get some form for traditional medical check up. They gave a lot of questions to me such as "did you feel cold when you arrived in Taiwan for first time? And how about now? What do you feel?". And I answer their questions like this "yes, I felt cold when i arrived in Taiwan for first time especially my hands because I didn't wear gloves. After that, they suggested me to check my weight and height but I thought the different or special between traditional Chinese medical and modern medical are Chinese medical don't use technology they just use their hand to touch patient's hand and they will know the patients disease. And then, they gave me order to move to another counter because 1 counter is different specialist doctor than another counter in there so, I have to move. Lastly, they said I must change my habit like I have to reduce drinking cold water, so the conclusion is I'm healthy and I don't get medicine.