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Interview – Dianzai Street Fude Temple Janitor
Even though Fude Temple on Dianzai Street may seem like a small temple from the outside, it does take a lot of work to maintain it. There are a lot of worshippers, and they require a lot of assistance. We were curious to find out the tiring works temple janitors have to take care of that most people do not even know. We interviewed the janitors, and the leader of the janitorial crew gave us a lot of help on our research. He seemed to know the temple inside-out!
Interview LogQ: Why did you choose to work at the temple? What made you come to Fude Temple on Dianzai Street?A: It’s mainly I’m interested in temple culture. It was a coincidence that a relative introduced me to the temple, and then I just started working here. Q: What is the most unique aspect of Fude Temple on Dianzai Street?A: It’s the change inside the temple that made this historical temple become really bustling. Q: Can you tell us about your daily work here at the temple?A: Clean the incense burners, clean the surrounding area, maintain wiring and artifacts Q: Have you encountered any difficulties while working here? How did you solve them?A: Nothing major so far, and I think my work is not really demanding. Q: What are the requirements for being a head janitor?A: I became the lead janitor because I have been here for quite some time. There aren’t any special requirements. Q: Which deity is your favorite at the temple? Why?A: I like all the deities because they look after all of us. My favorite is Earth God because he helps me make lots of money. Q: What are some problems often faced by worshippers? How do you assist them?A: Their problems are usually quite minor, like the order of praying is the most common one, and I usually explain to them right away. Q: Would you wish to introduce Fude Temple on Dianzai Street to more people? How would you want to do that?A: Of course I’d love to have more people know about the temple, and we will do what we can to promote the temple. I think I might try promoting the temple through the internet or word-of-mouth. Q: Can you share with us your daily routine as a janitor at the temple?A: I start work at 6:30 in the morning. I sweep the floor, clean the incense burners, and then dust the large statues. Worshippers start to come in after 9:00 A.M. Then I sell paper money and incense sticks until 3:00 P.M. when the night shift comes in. At around 10:30 P.M., we collect the donations left by worshippers, and then we get off at 11:00 P.M. Source Text: The Wondrous Temple Expedition, Fude Temple on Dianzai Street janitors and committee members │
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