Shoutian Temple

Songboling Shoutian Temple (Chinese: 松柏嶺受天宮; pinyin: 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]

Shoutian Temple
受天宮
Religion
AffiliationTaoism
DeityXuantian Shangdi
Location
LocationMingjian, Nantou County
CountryTaiwan
Geographic coordinates23.8317°N 120.6307°E / 23.8317; 120.6307
Architecture
Completed1657
Direction of façadeSouthwest

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 8,888 kg (19,595 lb) since eight is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture.[7]

References
  1. 謝介裕 (7 March 2017). "信眾住宿卡位戰！松柏嶺受天宮預約排到1年後…" (in Chinese). Liberty Times. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  2. "松柏嶺(受天宮)". 南投縣觀光旅遊網 (in Chinese). Nantou County Government. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  3. 謝介裕 (16 June 2020). "神奇！20年未間斷 帝爺公蛇又來「朝聖」" (in Chinese). Liberty Times. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  4. 魏祿卿 (17 June 2000). "南投受天宮凌晨火警" (in Chinese). CTS. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  5. "總統參加南投松柏嶺受天宮重建入火安座大典". Office of the President (in Chinese). 2 December 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  6. 沈揮勝 (10 February 2017). "受天宮米糕桃 明萬人吃平安" (in Chinese). China Times. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  7. 楊樹煌 (8 February 2020). "松柏嶺受天宮 挑米糕桃走到廟埕 熱鬧非凡" (in Chinese). China Times. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
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