What People Do in Taoist Temple?

No matter if you’ve already visited Asia or not, you might have heard of those exotic temples. The churches in Western countries are fascinating to Asian people. Likewise, the temples are intriguing to westerners. There are certain ways to pray in Churches and some rules to obey. The same thing goes to Chinese temples. Today we will walk you through how to pray in Chinese temple, aka “how to pray like a local!”  Want to know more about Chinese culture? Check out the HBO Asia original series – The Teenage Psychic. Check here for more blogs about Chinese culture, like Chinese superstition, Chinese zodiac sign, Leftover women.. etc. 

Here we go, on our way to explore Chinese temple.

• Choose a temple that fits your needs

In Chinese culture, there are countless temples with different gods. If you want to pray for your exams, work, relationships, fortune, or even pregnancy and health, there are different temples for each of them. Make sure to decide what you want to pray for and which temple you’re planning to go to.

Note: You could make different prayers to different temples and gods, depending on your needs.

• Prepare some goods to worship the God

Most people will bring flowers, fruits, drinks, or food to worship the God. You could find some vendors around the entrance of the temple who’s selling it. In the meantime, you could go to the nearby convenience store to get some drinks or cookies as well. Apple, tangerine, and pineapple are the most common fruits people prepared. They take the homophonic words to connect with those fruits.

Apple (苹果= 平平安安/ píngguǒ = píngpíng ān’ān)

Tangerine (橘子= 吉祥如意/ júzi = jíxiáng rúyì)

Pineapple (凤梨= 好运旺旺来/ fènglí = hǎo yùn wàngwàng lái)

Note: After finished praying, you could take those fruits, drinks, food back home to eat. However, it’s forbidden to bring them to another temple to worship other gods.

• Don’t wear revealing clothes

Entering temples and churches are no different. Men and women should not wear clothing that is too revealing. Shorts, skirts, or even tank tops should be avoided. Even though you could enter the temple wearing shorts and tank tops but still it’s an attitude. Respect the culture and the god is an international language that we all should understand.

• Right in/ Left out

Most temples have 3 doors. The main door/ the middle door is always the biggest. In the past, the middle door is mostly used by the god and also the king. On the other hand, the right door and the left door are the main entry/ exit for people. Remember while facing the temple, entering through the right door then exit out the left door.

This way of entering is from saying of “The green dragon on the left and the white tiger on the left”/ 左青龙 右白虎 / Zuǒ qīnglóng yòu báihǔ.“

Ancient people believed that the green dragon is a mascot, you’ll cover yourself with good energy when entering the green dragon door (right door). While the white tiger door (left door) will keep your bad luck and energy away while you leave the temple.

Fun fact: The saying of the green dragon on the left and white tiger on the right is when facing outwards. However, when facing the inwards, it’s right in and left out.)

Note: Should avoid stepping on the threshold, it is considered disrespectful. Simply cross over the threshold to show your respect to the god.

• Praying direction in Taoist temple

Entering through the right door and pray to the Jade Emperor (天公) first. Then go counterclockwise is usually the correct way of praying. However, each temple has its one role. Don’t hesitate to ask the staff or the monks in the temple.

Voluntary donations (添香油钱/ tiān xiāngyóu qián) can be given to the temple by the entrance or next to the place where the staff gives out incenses.

Fun fact: In Taiwan, some temple accepts the donation with your easy card (metro card).