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Ancestor Worship at San Qing Gong Temple, Singapore

Ancestor worship in Chinese tradition is a deeply rooted practice aimed at honoring ancestors, seeking their guidance, and ensuring their continued spiritual well-being in the afterlife. It reflects cultural values of filial piety, respect for elders, and the importance of familial connections across generations. In Chinese tradition, bereaved family members of a deceased will set up a home altar for the purpose of ancestor worship after the funeral. The altar normally includes a photograph of the deceased, an inscription of its name on a memorial tablet, and an urn for offerings. Daily or twice-daily offerings are made to ensure the deceased has a good start in the afterlife. Necessities such as the deceased's favorite food and drink are placed on the altar. After 49 days, the altar is usually taken down, which marks the period during which the deceased is believed to undergo judgment in the netherworld. Following this, the deceased is worshipped alongside all other ancestors of t...

Xi'an Chong Yang Gong Temple, Shaan'xi Province, China

As per the Chinese saying, Xi'an stands as a symbol of Chinese culture. It was once known as Chang'an, the ancient capital of the Han and Tang Dynasties. Located in Shaanxi Province, the ancient capital of Xi'an has fostered a diverse religious culture encompassing Taoism, Buddhism, and Islam. Chong Yang Gong Temple in Xi'an is dedicated to the founder of Quanzhen Taoism, Master Wang Chong Yang. The Quanzhen Sect, also known as The Complete Perfection Tradition of Taoism, emphasizes that Taoist cultivation should begin with the self. Specifically, practitioners are taught to empty themselves of selfish desires as a foundational practice. Chong Yang Gong Temple has a historical establishment of over 800 years and covers about six acres of land. The palace underwent renovations two years ago, featuring a fascinating gallery of Taoist exhibits. Among these exhibits is a sacred tower that prominently displays the remains of Master Wang Chong Yang, offering visitors a close ...

Ceremony of Induction for New Taoists

Last Sunday morning, I was pleased to witness an important milestone in Singaporean Taoist history. More than a hundred Taoists took vows to uphold the dignity of Taoism. The Taoist Federation of Singapore collaborated with the Longhushan Celestial Master Mansion of Jiangxi Province, China (江西省龍虎山嗣漢天師府), to hold its first induction ceremony for Taoist followers at San Qing Gong Temple. As expected, I saw many familiar faces during the ceremony, all present to support the betterment of our root religion. Additionally, many of my seniors from the Longhushan Celestial Master Mansion—such as Master Ceng Guang-Liang 曾廣亮道長 and Master Zhang Gui-Hua 張貴華道長—were present and had been conducting the rituals since the day before. Taoist priests from the Longhushan Celestial Master Mansion conducted a cleansing ritual to properly prepare the site for worship. During the ceremony, they also performed a formal ritual to invite the deities and request their blessings. In the finale of the ceremony, a...

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