A Taipei Temple Celebrates the God of Medicine at Its Baosheng Festival
Taipei’s historic Baoan Temple is celebrating the birthday of Baosheng Dadi, the 1,000-year-old deity of medicine and healing. The annual Baosheng Festival, a UNESCO-recognized event, combines centuries-old folk traditions with vibrant performances including traditional opera and the spectacular "fire lion" fireworks display.
The Birthday of the Medicine God
REPORTER:
Smack-dab in the middle of the third lunar month, this temple is celebrating the birthday of Baosheng Dadi, a deity associated with medicine, wellness and longevity. Let’s see how a 1,000 year-old god is celebrated.
Temple Volunteer:
Starting in 1994 or 1995 we combined many different folk activities into one Baosheng Festival.
The main idea is seeking fortune
and avoiding misfortune.
We have to let go of the bad things
and keep what is auspicious.
REPORTER:
The festival’s activities have their roots in traditional practices brought over to Taiwan from China centuries ago. A band plays traditional folk songs, while visitors burn joss paper and set up early to try and get the best view for the rest of the night.
REPORTER:
Rainy weather did little to dampen the enthusiasm. Long-time visitors say festival crowds have only grown in recent years.
Temple Volunteer:
It’s drawing more and more people.
You can see that even though it’s raining
a lot of people showed up today.
REPORTER:
Attendees have different reasons for coming to the months-long festivities.
Attendee:
This event is to protect everyone and ward off evil.
I’ve been here five times.
[The performances] show off the culture.
As well as the fire lion
every day there’s some wonderful Taiwanese opera.
Attendee:
If you’re sick, need surgery or have a chronic illness
you can come here to Baoan Temple
to pray to Baosheng Dadi.
For the people of Taipei, he’s a deity
and a benevolent, compassionate healer.
REPORTER:
The Baoan Temple and its cultural rites have been recognized by UNESCO, raising its profile and making it even more famous. First-time observers enjoyed the show too.
Attendee:
We were just walking back to our hotel and we heard the music. So we said, oh, come on, we have to go.
It's not only a show, it's just for a faith, you know, and and it's fantastic to be here at that moment.
REPORTER:
Temple volunteers lay down fireworks and firecrackers in the street while a band gets the crowd ready for the main event.
Finally, volunteers start setting off the fireworks, getting progressively closer to the lion in the center and then the real highlight begins.
REPORTER:
Taiwan’s religious life has never been more vibrant. Between today’s celebration, the recent Mazu pilgrimages, and the countless local temple events around the country, it seems like this part of Taiwan’s past will stay a fixture for the future.
