TAIWAN: Scores of Taiwanese celebrate the god of medicine's birthday at a popular temple fair

Record ID: 763458

  • Title: TAIWAN: Scores of Taiwanese celebrate the god of medicine's birthday at a popular temple fair
  • Date: 9th May 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Taiwanese) PERFORMER, MR CHAN, SAYING: "March 14th of the lunar calendar is Baosheng Da Di's birthday. I have been playing this role for the past 30 years, and I started when I was 40!"
  • Embargoed: 24th May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA2G6E7BYK8RC7EYEG8KY2T284F
  • Story Text: Each year the Baosheng Cultural Festival, one of Taipei's major temple fairs, attracts thousands of visitors and this year the festival was as vibrant as ever.
    The two-month long festival incorporates various traditional performances such as dragon and lion dances, which, in the metropolitan area, have been well-preserved in their traditional forms.
    Over many years believers of Baosheng Da Di (The Life-Protecting Emperor) have come to the Baoan Temple praying for a healthy and peaceful life, or for relieving the toil of an ill loved one.
    As legend has it, Baosheng Da Di, also known as Wu Ben, was an intelligent doctor who devoted his life to medical practice three thousand years ago.
    He studied herbs and acupuncture from a young age and cured thousands of people during his lifetime. He was consecrated as the god of medicine and protector of lives by local people who believe Baosheng Da Di answered their prayer up in the heavens.
    "He was a famous doctor who died saving other people's lives. After his death at the age of 58, the government and people built this temple together to worship him," said Liao Wu Zhi, the president of Taipei Baoan Temple.
    Different stories about Doctor Wu Ben have become varied over time. One particular story portrays him as a sympathetic man with divine medical skill.
    Legend has it that Wu Ben once saw a tiger painfully choking on human bones and begged him for a cure. Wu Ben reprimanded the tiger until it showed repentance for eating humans, and then gave it the medicine to melt down the bones nevertheless.
    Seventy-year-old Mr Chan dressed up as another important figure in this temple festival, the harbinger, who is traditionally responsible for announcing the coming of gods to the people.
    "March 14th of the lunar calendar is Baosheng Da Di's birthday. I have been playing this role for the past thirty years, and I started when I was forty!" said Mr Chan.
    A leaf hat, black-rimmed glasses, a red nose, a pipe, and curled moustache -- complete with his funny expression and asymmetrical accessories the harbinger is popular among children. He wears the cookie of peace around his neck, delivering what might be considered a traditional Taiwanese version of a McDonald's happy meal.
    During the celebration, gods from other life protection temples are also invited to join this grand parade.
    For some residents, worshipping Baosheng Da Di provides the hope of a heavenly ruler not found in the existing political system.
    "He does not belong to any party, not KMT, not DPP. He is almighty! I pray to him all the time and he has kept misfortune away from my family," said a local resident, Mr. Lin.
    Other parts of Taiwan and some locations in mainland China also have temples built to worship Baosheng Da Di.
    The Baosheng Cultural Festival continues until June with more activities to express the Taiwanese people's faith and the artistic value of traditional performing arts.
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