My Diary

Please visit the following website for updates and interesting articles on Taoism:  http://www.hianeng.wordpress.com Feel free to add any additional details or instructions as needed!

The Lunar 7th Month Festival used to be an annual event for ancestor worship among Chinese descendants. However, my new neighbor, who recently moved in last month from mainland China, seems busier than usual. They were told by acquaintances that they should offer joss papers every day for wandering spirits during that month.   It's good to follow the tradition of 7th month prayers. However, it is also important for people to understand the meaning and purpose rather than blindly following. In Chinese tradition, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Zhong Yuan Festival (中元節), and the entire seventh month is commonly known as the Ghost Month. During this time, ghosts and wandering spirits, including those of deceased ancestors, revisit the mortal world from the lower realm.   Intrinsic to the Ghost Month is ancestor worship, where traditionally, the filial piety of descendants extends to their ancestors even after their deaths. Activities du...

Ancestor worship is based on the belief that the bereaved family members of the deceased have a continued existence and possess the ability to influence the fortunes of the living. Early forms of ancestor worship were deeply rooted and extensively developed by the Late Neolithic Period in China. With the teachings of Confucianism and Taoism, religious traditions such as ancestor worship have become an integral part of the daily activities of Chinese descendants.   The goal of ancestor worship is to ensure the well-being of ancestors in the netherworld and sometimes to request special favors or assistance. The social function of ancestor worship is to cultivate kinship values such as filial piety, family loyalty, and the continuity of the family lineage.   The rituals of ancestor worship commonly involve making offerings to deceased ancestors to ensure their welfare in the afterlife, which is often imagined resembling earthly life. Ancestor worship typically begins with the...

The event was held at Dewan Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang in Penang, organized by Lean Wah Thong Chinese Temple as part of the 115th anniversary celebration of the temple, coinciding with the feast festival of Tai Shang Lao Jun, the founder of Taoism. Taoist priests and residents from Penang, along with representatives from six countries, attended the forum. The forum's theme was ' Harmonious Society, Dao in the Heart‘ 和諧社會，道在人心. According to Malaysian speaker Professor Yan, every human being has an ego. If we can balance our ego with the Great Dao, people can maintain peace and harmony without being bound by worldly knowledge and desires. Master Cheng from Malaysia asked the audience to shake hands with each other. He observed that many people smiled and showed friendliness during the handshake. This positive gesture aligns with the Taoist belief “萬物負陰而抱陽” (All things carry yin yet embrace yang). During the handshake, our inner palms, which represent 'yang' or pos...

Pasir Panjang Laut is a traditional Malay fishing village located in the Sitiawan district of Perak State, Malaysia. Pian Sian Chee Tua Pek Kong Beo (品仙祠大伯公廟) currently houses the tallest consecrated stone statues of Tua Pek Kong, the Goddess of Mercy and the Goddess of the Sea, in Malaysia. These statues stand upright, facing directly towards the Straits of Malacca, extending their blessings not only for the safety of villagers but also for fishermen.   The temple's annual thanksgiving celebration falls on the 29th day of the seventh lunar calendar month. It is noteworthy that this temple allows vegetarian food offerings for prayers only, out of respect for its ethnic group. It was reported that in 1993, a senior member of the temple communicated through meditation that a statue of the Goddess of Mercy was arriving from the sea. Subsequently, the statue was discovered floating on the sea and eventually placed next to the Tua Pek Kong Temple. Over time, there were multiple instanc...

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 ...

Feng Tien Gong Temple (松山奉天宫) is located in the bustling housing estate of Songshan in Taipei City, Taiwan. Established approximately five decades ago, the temple is dedicated to the main deity, The Jade Emperor, also known as Tian Gong. A cultural exchange program between Fujian Province of China and Taiwan was proposed by leaders of both countries. It was held towards the end of 2010 in Taiwan and titled 八音花鼓鬧廰堂. Alongside our Taoist group, other performing troupes were selected from Quanzhou, Xiamen, Shishi, Nan'an, and Yongchun. Our Taoist group was assigned to perform a blessing ceremony at Feng Tien Gong Temple. During the cultural exchange performance held at a public theater in the Taipei City Government Building, the organizers arranged for our Taoist group to collaborate with the Yongchun Senior Folks Nanyim Association in staging a joint performance of Yongchun Traditional Music, 永春鬧廰, as the opening event. This musical ensemble boasts a unique artistic style rich in loc...

In mid-November this year, the Hian Eng Taoist Group was honored to conduct a thanksgiving ritual at Nam Yong Keng Temple, located in Klang Central, Selangor State, Malaysia, upon invitation. The main deity of the temple is Hui Ze Choon Ong 惠澤尊王, the Ancestral God of the Chinese Surname Ye 葉氏祖佛. Before the grand ritual, the temple management engaged the puppet performance service of Master Huang Zhen Cai 黄振財師傅, the 5th Generation leader of a famous puppet troupe in Johore State, Malaysia. The main ritual of thanksgiving lasted for three days. It primarily involves prayers to bless the living and to alleviate the suffering of spirits. Taoists believe in harmony between Yang (Positive Energy) and Yin (Negative Energy) to achieve tranquility in both realms. The grand finale of the ritual was crossing a seven-star bridge. I was told that the temple had never performed the crossing bridge blessing ceremony since it was established more than 40 years ago. Many pilgrims turned out for the ev...

Upon invitation by the temple management of Soon Hock Keng Chinese Temple, Taoist priests from Hian Eng Taoist Group conducted a 3-day ritual of thanksgiving.   The temple is operating a temporary place of worship located within the Central Klang Valley vicinity. The main deity revered at the temple is Zhang Gong Shen Jun, also known as Fazhugong  法主公  in  Chinese . During the three-day ritual, many questions arose regarding a Taoist rite known as Chi Shui Jin Tan, also known as Cleansing Water Ceremony (敕水禁壇). The cleansing water ritual begins with the invocation of gods to purify the water and sanctify the space. This Taoist rite aims to cleanse the ceremonial area, removing impurities and halting negative influences, such as black magic or disruptive energies, within the Taoist place of worship. During the ritual, Taoist priests from the Zheng-Yi sect perform dynamic movements, including playing with swords and destroying the bronze flag column, which are believed...

In the past, the seventh moon prayers were primarily organized by residents of small towns or villages. However, with the development of more private and public housing estates, these prayers have become scattered across various locations. As a result, what were once small-scale community events have evolved into medium-sized prayer gatherings held at different times depending on the financial capacity and preferences of the participants.   Klang serves as the royal capital of the State of Selangor in Malaysia, situated approximately 32 km west of Kuala Lumpur and 6 km east of Port Klang. Historically, it was the administrative capital of Selangor before Kuala Lumpur and the current capital, Shah Alam, emerged. Taman Indah, a small town located along the banks of Tepi Sungai within the Klang Central area, is part of this historical and geographic context.   The seventh moon prayers are widely observed by the majority of Chinese descendants living in Taman Indah. This tradi...

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...

The famous mother temple of Zhang Gong Sheng Jun, also known as Fazhugong, is located on Mount Shiniu in Dehua County. The temple is situated in a cave approximately 1700 meters above sea level, known as Shihudong. According to folk tales, the cave was once inhabited by five ghosts who were eventually captured by Fazhugong and his two brothers. This deity is depicted with unkempt long hair, holding a sword in one hand and entangled with a snake in the other. The air at Shihudong remains fresh throughout the year. Standing outside the cave and admiring the beauty of the vast clouds gives one a feeling of heaven on earth and comfort. During temple celebrations, numerous devotees from China, Taiwan, and Malaysia gather. They wake up early to trek up to the cave, hoping to catch the sunrise at Shihudong. On the auspicious annual thanksgiving day, our Taoist priest initiates the ceremony by beating a drum, followed by the crackle of gunfire, symbolizing hopes for prosperity and good fortune...

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...

Last year, I was asked to conduct a funeral ceremony for a relative of my friend in Jakarta City, Indonesia. Among the Chinese, filial piety is a core moral value, and worshiping ancestors from generation to generation has been practiced since childhood. Chinese descendants generally believe that honoring ancestors and continuing their good deeds will ensure prosperity for future generations, while neglecting this responsibility may bring about adverse consequences. The concept of salvation for ancestors is rooted in the belief that deceased family members continue to exist in some form and can influence the fortunes of the living. This belief underscores the importance of maintaining familial ties and honoring ancestors through rituals and offerings. The deceased was an elderly lady who hailed from Putian County in Fujian Province, China. Inside the mourning hall, it was customary to place two incense urns for prayer purposes: one set for immediate family members and another set for f...