Century-Old Temple in the Alley – Fude Temple on Dianzai Street

After we entered Fude Temple on Dianzai Street, we noticed tiny lights filling the entire wall. Upon closer examination, they turned out to be different types of lights bearing different significance. There is a total of approximately thirty thousand lights on the walls of the temple, and they are able to bring different types of blessing to worshippers! Besides lighting perpetual lights, the temple also holds general scripture reciting seeking good fortune for people who hold a perpetual light at the temple on the second and sixteenth day of each month of the lunar calendar.

Lighting Perpetual Lights

Lighting and Dimming of Perpetual Lights

In traditional Taiwanese culture, lighting of perpetual light is something that people do during Lunar New Year to seek good fortune and show support for deities! Fude Temple on Dianzai Street gets really busy near the end of the Lunar Year with lighting of perpetual lights, and sometimes even free-meals were cancelled. The Cyberfair team went to the temple during this busy time of the year to help people light perpetual lights, and we hope our assistance would help worshippers bring good fortune in the coming year.

Yearly Registration

On the first day of November of the lunar calendar, people may come to the temple to register for perpetual light for next year. The temple also holds prize draws for those who signed up. The temple would place a sticker with the name of the worshipper in front of the light before the lighting ceremony.

Lighting Ceremony

On the ninth of January of the lunar calendar, a Taoist monk would read out the names of light owners in each section along with corresponding scriptures. On the fifteenth of January, the temple holds lighting ceremony with twenty scripture reciting choir members reading aloud the name and address of each light owner. Afterwards, the lights for that section would stay on for the rest of the year.

Light Dimming Ceremony

Perpetual lights are lit until the twenty-sixth of December of the lunar calendar. Fude Temple on Dianzai Street would invite its scripture reciting choir to host a general prayer to repatriate some of the divine power from reciting scriptures to wandering spirits, as well as people who had the lights on for the entire year. After the ceremony, the lights are dimmed.

Types of Perpetual Lights at Fude Temple on Dianzai Street

Good Fortune Lights of Longevity

Safety for the family, all goes well

The eighty-eight big red lanterns hung above the temple plaza are actually Good Fortune Lights of Longevity. One lantern is sponsored by one family. The light brings good fortune to the family.

Lotus Lights of Wisdom

Eliminate mishaps, welcome good fortune and wealth

On the second floor of Fude Temple on Dianzai Street, next to Maitreya Buddha, there are Lotus Lights of Wisdom for those who wish to obtain wisdom and good fortune from Buddha. You may light one up for the entire family.

Perpetual Lights

Lighting up the path to success

Lights on the wall inside Earth God Hall and Main Hall are perpetual lights. During Lunar New Year, people would come to the temple for prayers and lighting perpetual lights to seek good fortune and prosperity in the coming year.

Lights of Wisdom

Excel on tests and work

Next to God of Wisdom are Lights of Wisdom. Besides helping students to get their thinking caps on and do well on tests, people may light one up to seek better job prospects and promotion opportunities.

Lights of Marriage

Great opportunity to become a couple

These lights are for those who are looking for marriage, or people who are married but want their relationship to get better, may want to light up a Light of Marriage next to Yuelao.

Lights of Wealth

Money comes, business soars

Lights of Wealth light up the entire God of Wealth Hall. People doing business or working people may want to light one up to guide them towards the path of wealth.

Lights of Health

Longevity with lucky streak

There are Lights of Health on the second floor of the temple. Medicine Buddha devoted his life to rid all illness off people. If you want to wish for good health and longevity, come and light up a Light of Health.

Appeasing Taisui

Turn misfortune into blessing in the year of Taisui

In folk religion, there were sixty Taisui stars representing all of the heavenly and earthly stem combinations. One Taisui would be on duty for each year. Taisui is also known as God of Age, responsible for people’s lives and their luck of the year.
If a person’s Chinese zodiac is the same as Taisui of the year, then they are said to be in direct clash. The sixth Chinese zodiac from the current Taisui is said to be in indirect clash. Anyone having clashes of any sort would need to appease Taisui by lighting up a Light of Taisui.

Appeasing Taisui at Fude Temple on Dianzai Street

After our investigation, we found out that there are two ways to appease Taisui. One is to send the God of Age away, and the other way is by appeasing Taisui and asking for his blessing, just like what Fude Temple on Dianzai Street has been doing.
If you are not sure whether you need to appease Taisui or not, you may get a copy of the Lunar Calendar booklet and look up your Chinese zodiac on the chart.

Text: The Wondrous Temple Expedition, interview with Fude Temple on Dianzai Street staffs │
Photos: The Wondrous Temple Expedition

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Appeasing Taisui and Lighting Perpetual Lights