Shoutian Temple Explained

Shoutian Temple
Native Name:受天宮
Native Name Lang:zh-tw
Map Type:Nantou County
Map Size:220px
Religious Affiliation:Taoism
Location:Mingjian, Nantou County, Taiwan
Deity:Xuantian Shangdi
Festivals:-->
Organizational Status:-->
Year Completed:1657
Date Destroyed:-->
Facade Direction:Southwest
Elevation Ft:-->

Songboling Shoutian Temple (Chinese: t=松柏嶺受天宮|p=Sōngbólǐng Shòutiān Gōng), alternatively known as Mingjian Shoutian Temple, is a temple located in Songboling, Mingjian Township, Nantou County, Taiwan. The temple sits on top of the Bagua Plateau within Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area near the border of Ershui Township, Changhua County. It is dedicated to the prominent Taoist Deity Xuantian Shangdi, and has more than 5,000 affiliated temples around the island.[1]

History

The temple was first established in 1657 by Chinese settlers from Fujian. According to local beliefs, in 1737, Xuantian Shangdi revealed himself on his birthday, which is the third day of the third month in the lunar calendar. The deity indicated that Songboling has very good feng shui and instructed residents to build a larger temple. Additionally, Xuantian Shangdi traveled to Lukang and ordered a sculptor to craft three statues of him, which are currently stored in the temple.[2]

The temple was renovated in June 1973.[2] However, the temple was heavily damaged in the 1999 Jiji earthquake.[3] Furthermore, on 17 June 2000, a large fire caused further destruction to the building.[4] The temple's reconstruction was completed in 2008.[5]

Traditions

The largest celebration at Shoutian Temple occurs on Xuantian Shangdi's birthday, which is the third day of the third month in the lunar calendar. On this day, many temples around the island would embark on pilgrimages to Shoutian Temple and pay tribute. According to the temple, in 2017, more than one million worshippers visited the temple during this celebration.[1]

Around Lantern Festival, Shoutian Temple has a tradition where worshippers carry pieces of a large rice cake (米糕) on carrying poles and parade around the temple, a tradition that began roughly twenty years ago.[6] In 2019, the total weight of the rice cakes was 8888kg (19,595lb) since eight is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture.[7]

Shoutian Temple is regarded as an efficacious center of spiritual strength and several branch temples have been created by splitting the incense at Shoutian Temple.[8]

Notes and References

  1. News: 謝介裕 . 信眾住宿卡位戰!松柏嶺受天宮預約排到1年後… . 24 November 2020 . . 7 March 2017 . zh-tw.
  2. Web site: 松柏嶺(受天宮) . 南投縣觀光旅遊網 . Nantou County Government . 24 November 2020 . zh-tw.
  3. News: 謝介裕 . 神奇!20年未間斷 帝爺公蛇又來「朝聖」 . 24 November 2020 . . 16 June 2020 . zh-tw.
  4. News: 魏祿卿 . 南投受天宮凌晨火警 . 24 November 2020 . . 17 June 2000 . zh-tw.
  5. Web site: 總統參加南投松柏嶺受天宮重建入火安座大典 . . 24 November 2020 . zh-tw . 2 December 2008.
  6. News: 沈揮勝 . 受天宮米糕桃 明萬人吃平安 . 24 November 2020 . . 10 February 2017 . zh-tw.
  7. News: 楊樹煌 . 松柏嶺受天宮 挑米糕桃走到廟埕 熱鬧非凡 . 24 November 2020 . . 8 February 2020 . zh-tw.
  8. News: Han Cheung . Taiwan in Time: The Emperor of Mysterious Heaven’s reach . 11 September 2022 . Taipei Times . 11 September 2022.