Taiwan is an island of many interesting temples and shrines. A 1936 survey counted 3,700. The present number is estimated at 10,000. Of these, about a sixth is Buddhist and another sixth Taoist. The rest are dedicated to local and occupational deities.
To those who live in cities, the most familiar temples are those of Ch'eng Huang - literally the "city wall and dry moat". Urban Chinese of olden times worshipped wall and moat. Every city of strategic importance was surrounded by two battlemented walls to provide protection against attacks. The space between the walls was filled with earth excavated from the moat, which paralleled the outer wall.
Legends trace the origin of this worship to Emperor Yao, who supposedly reigned over the Middle Kingdom for a century beginning in 2356 B.C. From then until the 3rd century A.D., the worship of Ch'eng Huang was a privilege of monarchs.
When the country was divided into the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu Han and Wu in 220, the people were allowed to build Ch'eng Huang temples of their own. By the time of the Sung dynasty (960-1279), Ch'eng Huang temples were found in all the cities of China. Walls and moats gradually became less important for defense, however, and new deities were found among the ranks of deceased personages of local significance. These deities became the spiritual guardians of the city. Hence the present name of Ch'eng Huang Yeh - City Gods. The functions of City Gods are to maintain justice, punish wrongdoers and exorcise evil spirits.
Taiwan has 30 Ch'eng Huang temples, most of them built before the Japanese period of 1895-1945. The first was dedicated at Tainan, then the capital, in 1708. It was constructed by order of Taiwan Governor Chang Hung. Seven years later Chang Hung was succeeded by Yu Chao-yueh. The take-over ceremony is said to have taken place at the temple.
The second one was built in 1716 at Chulo (now called Chiayi) under the supervision of Magistrate Chou Chung-hsuan. Most Ch'eng Huang temples in other cities were erected with the financial aid of local governments. Officials and civilians of those times prayed to the City Gods frequently in those days when epidemics were prevalent and life was insecure.
Since the end of the last century, worship of City Gods has had no official sanction. Of all the Ch'eng Huang temples on the island, that on Tihua Street in Taipei probably has the largest number of adherents. At annual ceremonies on the 13th day of the fifth moon, which falls on June 8 this year, residents of the temple area prepare a feast and merrymaking for relatives and friends. The natives call this a Pai Pai - big worship.
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Enough maneuvering room for retreat may end the necessity for backing up
狡兔三窟 Chiao t'u san k'u (The cunning hare has three holes to its burrow).
Western equivalent is virtually the same.
During the period of Warring States (403-221 B.C.), Premier Meng Ch'ang-chun of Ch'i had a retainer named Feng Hsuan. One day Meng ordered Feng Hsuan to go to Hsieh county, the premier's native place, to collect some debts. Before leaving, Feng Hsuan asked the premier, "Do you want me to buy something for you after collecting the debts?"
"Anything you think that my house lacks," said the premier.
In Hsieh county, Feng Hsuan summoned all the debtors to the magistrate's office. After examining their IOUs, Feng Hsuan threw them into a wastebasket and said:
"By the order of Premier Meng, I shall burn your mortgages. None of you need pay the premier. He knows that this year's harvest is poor and is concerned about your livelihood."
Feng Hsuan returned to the capital empty-handed.
"What did you buy for me?" demanded the premier.
"I bought respect from your debtors," Feng Hsuan replied.
"What do you mean?" the premier asked, puzzled.
"Sir, you have power, money and many valuables. What you lack most is the respect of the people. To enable your debtors to live happily, I burned their mortgages. They all felt grateful for your generosity."
Although displeased, the premier couldn't deny that Feng Hsuan had given him something he had lacked.
A year later, Meng Ch'ang-chun was dismissed from the premiership by the king of Ch'i. When he returned to his native place, the people welcomed him warmly. Moved by emotion, Meng Ch'ang-chun said to Feng Hsuan: "Now I really understand why you burned their IOUs."
Feng Hsuan said: "The cunning hare has three holes to his burrow. In case of a threat, he can escape from one of them. You now have only one place of retreat. You must find others."
Feng Hsuan obtained money from Meng Ch'ang-chun to buy some goodwill in the state of Wei. The king of Wei accepted Feng Hsuan's proposal that Meng Ch'ang-chun be named premier. But before the arrival of the emissary from Wei, Feng Hsuan told his master not to accept the appointment. The emissary called on Meng Ch'ang-chun three times without winning his agreement.
The story of the Wei king's efforts to employ Meng soon became known to the king of Ch'i. Meng was reinstated as premier of Ch'i and the king apologized for the dismissal.
Before resuming the premiership, Meng asked Feng Hsuan's advice.
"One thing remains to be done," said Feng Hsuan. "You should ask the king to build his ancestral temple in your native place. Once the temple is built, the king and his offspring will regard Hsieh county as sacred and will never abandon it under any circumstances."
The king of Ch'i accepted the premier's proposal and built his ancestral temple in Hsieh county. At the dedication, Feng Hsuan said to Premier Meng: "Now you have dug three holes of retreat. You have nothing to worry about for your lifetime."
From that time on, Meng Ch'ang-chun remained in the king's favor.