Tracing its origins to the classical Chinese philosophy of “Tao,” meaning the way, Taoism is believed to have been founded by Li Er commonly known as Laozi, a philosopher active around the 5th century B.C. at the same time as Confucius and Buddha.
Lu Kun-yung, chairman of the General Association of Taiwan Taoism Sects, said the country’s Taoists are united in the desire for a harmonious and spiritually fulfilled society. This is the commonality that brings all members together irrespective of their system, he added.
GATTS Chairman Lu Kun-yung (right) presides over proceedings at the Changhua ritual.
GATTS, based in central Taiwan’s Changhua County, was formed in 2007 to foster connections among the country’s Taoist temples and religious associations. It is widely celebrated for perennial efforts providing religious and charity services in the community.
According to the group, there is long-standing demand for Taoist priests to oversee folk festivals and rituals held at temples and shrines set up throughout Taiwan. One of the most beloved divinities is Mazu, or goddess of the sea, whose temples number more than 800 countrywide.
A 17th-century temple in the northern port city of Keelung venerates Mazu, one of the most beloved deities in Taiwan.
Modern life has not dampened demand for Taoist ceremonies soliciting fertility, fortune, peace and well-being in Taiwan. Case in point is the rituals staged before college entrance examinations at local temples for young examinees and their parents seeking blessings from the god of culture and literature.
With growing numbers of young people interested in Taoism, training for would-be priests is experiencing a shift from the traditional yearslong apprenticeship toward a 21st century model of classroom and online learning. Relevant training courses are available through such institutions as the Workforce Development Agency under the Ministry of Labor.
Lu believes this shift has helped safeguard the future of Taoism in Taiwan. If one wants to know the people’s hearts and the foundations on which the country is built, one must visit a local temple, he said. (E) (By Pat Gao)
Lungshan Temple in Taipei City’s Wanhua District is a center of local Taoism and folk beliefs.
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
(This article is adapted from “The Modern Way” in the September/October 2020 issue of Taiwan Review. The Taiwan Review archives dating to 1951 are available online.)