The art performances and folk activities held at Taipei’s Dalongdong Baoan Temple fully demonstrates the essence of local Taiwanese culture, ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said April 9 at the opening ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Baosheng Cultural Festival.
“The temple has become a regional religious, social welfare and educational center, and also the cultural center of Taiwan,” Ma said, pointing out that the annual festival at the temple has grown bigger and richer over the years.
“Baosheng Dadi is a god of medicine,” Liao Wu-jyh, president of the temple, said. “The herbal exhibition and free clinic are held to commemorate him. We hope to introduce the deity to the world, promote cultural exchanges and boost tourism in Taipei through the event.”
The participation of temples in Southeast Asia worshipping Baosheng Dadi is a highlight of this year’s event, Liao noted. “Their temple architecture and the way they show respect to the god are different,” Liao said, adding that temples in Singapore and Malaysia are well kept and preserved, something Taiwan can learn from.
Running until June 3, the annual event also includes fire walking, guided tours of the temple, painting and photography contests and seminars on religious beliefs, Liao said.
Founded in 1742, Baoan Temple was awarded a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Culture Conservation in 2003. It was one of the first temples in Taiwan to set up a website of its own, available in Chinese, English and Japanese. (THN)
Write to Grace Kuo at morningk@mail.gio.gov.tw