2010 WONDERFUL - Annual Festive Celebrations at Guandu Temple Guidebook

Aug 20, 2026

Annual festive celebrations at Guandu Temple outline a full seasonal calendar of rituals, including the Spring Ritual “Grand Dipper Ritual to Protect the Country and People,” the Precious Penance of the Liang Emperor, and the Yulan Bowl Ritual. The guide also covers universal salvation for the purgatory, autumn ceremonies honoring Mazu’s attaining of enlightenment, and year-end offerings tied to Taisui and a lamp of brilliance. It further explains temple history since 1712 CE and highlights major halls such as Mazu Hall and Guanyin Buddha Hall, describing worship practices and key architectural features.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages38

Reading Time1 h 36 min

AccessFree to download

Annual Festive Celebrations at Guandu Temple

Spring Rituals

Mid-Year Rituals

Seventh-Month Ceremonies

Ninth-Month Autumn Ritual

Year-End Thanks and Lamp Ritual

Temple History and Major Halls

Mazu Hall

Guanyin Buddha Hall

# Annual Festive Celebrations at Guandu Temple the first lunar month at 10am. ceremony will be held on the first lunarmonth. to the 25th day of the third lunar month,religious specialists at the temple will conducta‘Grand Dipper Ritual to Protect the Country and People’(Spring Ritual). 4.Ritual of the Precious Penance of the Liang Emperor:This ritual wilbe conducted byreligious specialists for seven days from the 21st to 27th day of the fifth lunar month. 5.The Guangdu Temple will hold a Yulan Bowl Ritual for three days from the first tothird day of the seventh lunar month. 6.Universal salvation of the purgatory will be held for one day on the 15th day of theseventh lunar month. 7.Commemorating the Holy Mother of Heaven's ttainment of Tao:For nine daysfrom the ninth day till the 17th day of the ninth lunar month,a 'Mazu's Attainingof Enlightenment and Worship of the Dipper Ritual’(Autumn Ritual)will be held. 8.Year-end expressing thanks to Taisui and Ritual for lighting Lamp of Brilliancewill be held on 15th day of the twelfth lunar month. 9.In response to worshippers'requests,Guandu Temple has specially invitedprofessionàl priests to be based at the temple and conduct rituals for 'fortune-changing'and 'soul-retrieving'for the whole year.The replenishing of wealthstorage'ritual will be held twice every month. (For the latest activities,please refer to announcements posted on the official websiteof Guandu Temple.) Established in 1712 CE,Guandu temple was known as the Heavenly Consort orTianfei Temple as its main deity was Mazu,the Saintly Mother of Heaven.It is theoldest Mazu temple in Northern Taiwan,as the saying goes,"There is Mother ofBeigang in the South and Mother of Guandu(Kantou)in the North”.From the Qingdynasty to the period under Japanese rule,the temple underwent various phases ofexpansion until 1907 that established the temple at its present state.After the projectwas completed,it was officially known as Guandu Temple. After the Second World War,Mr.Chen Hung-Ying,a local gentry set up a committeein 1953 to launch its first post-war revamp project.In the 1960s,Mr.Huang Ding,the first chairman of the temple's board of directors,drew up a construction plan.The'Sanchuan Hall'was expanded and the main hall elevated.The Guangdu Temple isalso renovated and the main hall of Bhaisajyaguru is added above.At the sides of theSanchuan Hall,two pavilions,the 'Bell Tower'and 'Drum Tower'were built and a'Heavenly stage'added in front to entertain both the deities and the people. In the 1970s,the ‘Ancient Buddha Pit'was constructed.Converted from a bombshelter,it resembles a tunnel-shaped shrine housed in a rock grotto.In the 1980s,theElephant Trunk Mountain was opened up and transformed into what is known as the‘God of Prosperity Pit'.Located at the entrance of the pit is the'Main Hall of FudeGod’,visitors can now visit Guandu temple via this entrance.During the late 1980s,the 'Lingxiao Treasure Hall'was established.Important works including wood carvingworks inside the hall and stone carving of 'The Wall of Mazu's Miracles'were carriedout in the 2000s,creating another milestone in contemporary times.Other than theSanchuan Hall constructed in the 2000s,the Hua Zang Building was renovated in 2011.A grand ceremony was conducted on 6 March 2016 to mark the dotting ritual of theFive Buddha Hall and the Three Saints Hall. With over 300 years of history,not only does Guandu Temple mark the beginning of Mazu worship,it is also a place where historic sites of culturalheritage are based.Surrounded by nature and places of interest,theGuandu Temple is one of the best places of interest to engage in aspiritual,sensory and perpetual experience. 1 Hall that we see now.Inside the Praying Hall,there are 13 large offering tables insidethe Praying Hall,every table is decorated with simple yet elegant carving.These tablesare often filled with offerings,which are presented by the steady stream of worshippers.The worsh

FAQs

What Spring Ritual is held at Guandu Temple and during which lunar period?

The Spring Ritual “Grand Dipper Ritual to Protect the Country and People” is conducted from the first day of the first lunar month to the 25th day of the third lunar month by religious specialists at the temple.

Which rituals are observed in the fifth and seventh lunar months?

In the fifth lunar month, the “Ritual of the Precious Penance of the Liang Emperor” runs for seven days from the 21st to the 27th day. In the seventh lunar month, a “Yulan Bowl Ritual” is held for three days from the first to the third day, followed by universal salvation of the purgatory on the 15th day.

What are the key features and worship practices in Mazu Hall and Guanyin Buddha Hall?

Mazu Hall is the central main worship area, where worshippers pray to Mazu with helpers Qian-li-yan and Shun-feng-er; incense burning creates a calm ambience. Guanyin Buddha Hall, on the left side of the main hall, is linked to Guanyin through legends of Mazu’s attainment and ascending, and it features bright interior lighting and worship of Guanyin alongside Mazu effigies.

Aug 20, 2026

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