| Baosheng Dadi | |||||||||||||||||
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 Old print sold in temples with a picture of Baosheng Dadi. | |||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 保生大帝 | ||||||||||||||||
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Baosheng Dadi is a Deity of Medicine worshiped in Chinese folk religion and Taoism. The deity is very popular in Fujian, Taiwan and the Chinese communities in Southeast Asia.
Historical Personage
Wu Tao or Wu Ben [1] (吳本) was born in the village of Bailiao near Xiamen in Fujian Province, during the Song dynasty in the year 979. [2] He was a skilled doctor and Taoist practitioner who was credited with performing medical miracles, including applying eye drops to a dragon's eye and removing a foreign object from a tiger's throat. [3] After his death in 1036, he began to be worshiped as a deity. His deified status was officially recognized by the Hongxi Emperor of the Ming dynasty who conferred on him the title of “Imperial Inspector at Heavenly Gate, Miracle Doctor of Compassion Relief, Great Taoist Immortal, and the Long-lived, Unbounded, Life Protection Emperor (恩主昊天金闕御史慈濟醫靈妙道真君萬壽無極保生大帝)”. [4]
Worship
He is worshiped at many temples in Fujian and Taiwan, [5] including the famous Dalongdong Baoan Temple (大龍峒保安宮) in Taipei. His birthday is celebrated with parades and festivals on the 15th day of the third lunar month. [6]
Some of the temples dedicated to Baosheng Dadi
- Dalongdong Baoan Temple, Taipei
- Zuoying Ciji Temple, Kaohsiung
- Yuanbao Temple, Taichung City
- Jen Wu Temple, Chiayi City
- Xian'an Temple, Changhua County
Gallery
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Main-Hall of the Ciji-Temple in the Syuejia District of Tainan City (Taiwan) -
Altar to Baosheng Dadi at Yuanbao Temple in Taichung, Taiwan -
Baosheng Dadi amulet.
See also
- Chinese folk religion
- Shennong Dadi (神農大帝)
- Huatuo Xianshi (華佗先師)
References
- ^ Li, C (2011). "Folk memory of Baosheng Dadi". Zhonghua yi shi za zhi. 41: 249–51. PMID 22169495.
- ^ Pregadio, Fabrizio (2013). The Encyclopedia of Taoism. Routledge. p. 218. ISBN 9781135796341.
- ^ "Baosheng Emperor". Dalongdong Baoan Temple. Dalongdong Baoan Temple. Archived from the original on 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
- ^ Lin, Meirong. "Great Emperor Who Protects Life". Encyclopedia of Taiwan. Archived from the original on 2014-06-18. Retrieved 2014-06-17.
- ^ Vermeer, Eduard B. (1990). Development and Decline of Fukien Province in the 17th and 18th Centuries. BRILL. pp. 397–416. ISBN 9789004091719.
- ^ Keeling, Stephen (2011). The Rough Guide to Taiwan. Penguin. p. 34. ISBN 9781405382878.
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