The research of Taiwanese belief in Lord of Heaven (Jade Emperor)--- The Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan) in Tainan city is the core of this research

• Main Authors: Chia-yen Wu, 吳嘉燕
• Other Authors: Chien-chuan Wang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/90147798263440081106

碩士 === 國立臺南大學 === 台灣文化研究所碩士班 === 98 === In Taiwanese belief, all the gods in the world and in the Hades are all under The Jade Emperor (Tiangong) governance and carry out their duty that assigns by the Jade Emperor. Believers are fear, but respect to The Jade Emperor since it has the highest authority and they believe the Statue can’t be carved arbitrarily. Every believer’s family hangs the Tiangong Censer in the central ceiling of living room or put it in front of living room and prays to it every morning and evening. Every Temple needs to set up a Tiangong Censer in front of the temple and believers must do obeisance to it before they do obeisance to the gods inside the temple. According to a tale in Tainan city, there is a “New” and “Old” Lord of Heaven (Tiangong) temple. New lord of Heaven is called Tian Tan and old lord of Heaven is called Jade Emperor temple. Tian Tan offers sacrifices to Tiangong not to any other gods. Tian Tan was build in Ching Dynasty Xianfeng year 4 (1854), and a study of those groups belong to Tian Tan is the core of this research. For instance, Ru-Lan Tang is in charge of Tian Tan maintenance; Jiang-Shan Ju and Jing-Wen She are responsible for disseminating the imperial mandate, reciting scriptures and publishing Shan-Shu that books encouraging people to be philanthropic. Yi-He She takes charge of playing Taoism choral when pray to Tiangong and female Sutra-chanting group preside at the ceremony. These groups give Tian Tan a splendid history. According to the survey accomplished during Japanese occupation (1926~1945), there are 21 Tiangong temples in Taiwan and the number was increased dramatically up to 145 in 2001. The increase of Tiangong temple has changed the folk custom and place of pray to Tiangong. For example, people hold a Jade Emperor ritual at Tiangong temple instead of at their living room on the Jade Emperor’s birthday, the ninth day of the first lunar month. Tian Tan was maintained by Ru-Lan Tang since Ching Dynasty, however Ru-Lan Tang was abandoned by Japanese after The Kōminka Movement in Taiwan, a policy of converting and fully integrating the Taiwanese as Japanese citizens. The maintenance of Tian Tan was carried out by a committee after world war two and now is operating by a nonprofit organization. The Altar of Heaven (Tian Tan) in Tainan city has some routine ceremonies such as Guang-Ming Ceremony, Xiao-Zai Ceremony and Li-Dou Ceremony. The affection of Zhaijiao, are informal Buddhist societies that became popular in Taiwan under Japanese rule, can be seen from the origin and the way of worship of each ceremony. Also, the conflict between Jing-Wen She and female Sutra-chanting group was found when allotting missions in a ceremony. Zhang Tianshi is one of the major gods in Tian Tan and inviting Tianshi is a unique activity in Taian temples. Jiang-Shan, Ju Jing-Wen She and Yi-He She were found in different of time and each takes on different missions such as educating society and presiding ceremony. That makes religion belief and society more closer.