10 Taiwanese temples went to Tonghuai Guanyue Temple in Quanzhou to visit their ancestors and trace their origins

On October 26th, the Tonghuai Guan Yue Temple in Quanzhou, Fujian, hosted a significant group worship event to promote the culture of Guan Gong and enhance exchanges among temples both domestically and internationally. Representatives and worshippers from ten Taiwanese temples gathered at the ancestral temple to pay homage to Guan Gong, expressing their admiration and reverence for his spirit.

The Tonghuai Guan Yue Temple is one of Min-nan’s most renowned venues for popular religious activities, boasting over 600 affiliated temples in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asian countries. These temples play a vital role as bridges for the cultural exchange of Guan Gong.

This year, to further preserve and promote the Guan Gong culture and the values of loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, courage, propriety, wisdom, and trust, the Tonghuai Guan Yue Temple initiated a certification program for affiliated temples. In August, the first batch of 26 affiliated temples from mainland China visited Quanzhou for a recognition event.

Chen Qingyuan, the chairman of the board of the Tonghuai Guan Yue Temple, noted that the ten Taiwanese temples attending the event came to solidify their spiritual ties through this certification, aiming to collectively promote traditional Chinese culture and encourage charitable activities across the strait.

Among the ten Taiwanese temples participating, the oldest is the Si Hu Bao An Temple in Yunlin County, established during the Qing Dynasty. The group also included newer temples from the modern era.

Liu Xiaomin, deputy director of the management committee of Jianxing Temple in Taichung, Taiwan, shared his thoughts with us. “Guan Gong is one of the most celebrated deities in Taiwan’s diverse folk beliefs, and numerous temples are dedicated to him. Each time I visit Quanzhou, I feel a strong connection due to the similarities in language and customs. This certification event helps various Taiwanese temples discover their roots.”

The day’s events showcased traditional performances, including “Twenty-Four Seasonal Drum,” “Lion Dance,” and “Five Routes of Wealth Gods.” These captivating displays attracted many locals and tourists, providing them with an opportunity to experience the rich Guan Gong culture and the spirit of Quanzhou, which elegantly balances everyday life with the ethereal.

Yang Yicheng, the person in charge of the Wujixuanlong Temple in Taoyuan, is a member of the “90s generation” and came with a mindset of learning and exchange. “I hope to leverage the energy of youth to carry on and promote the culture of Guan Gong,” he expressed.

As the ancestral temple for many of Taiwan’s Guan Gong temples, the Tonghuai Guan Yue Temple has drawn numerous worshippers this year alone, with groups like the Tainan Shan Hua Qing An Temple and the Taiwan Youth Study Group among those visiting, totaling nearly 6,000 attendees.

Moving forward, Chen Qingyuan emphasized that the Tonghuai Guan Yue Temple will continue to facilitate exchanges through Guan Gong culture, fostering ongoing connections and enhancing the spread of this rich tradition.