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FEATURE: Technology makes prayer petitions easier

A staffer at Longshan Temple in Taipei on Tuesday lights up the 100,000 lanterns of light for devotees who have signed up for the ritual to pray for a prosperous year. PHOTO: CNA

Hordes of Taiwanese swarm to temples around the country before and during the Lunar New Year to pray for good luck.

But now, with the help of technology, those seeking the attention of local deities can use the Internet, ATM machines and even cellphones to connect with the gods.

A number of telecommunication companies, banks and convenience stores have launched "virtual lantern-lighting" and "virtual Taisui-pacifying" services that enable people too busy to visit temples in person to perform the rituals elsewhere.

Taisui (太歲) is the title of the god whose constellation is designated as the monarch of a particular year of the Chinese zodiac, and who must be pacified by people born in certain years if they want to avoid bad luck.

In the Year of the Rat, which starts today, people born under the sign of the rat or horse are considered to have offended the Taisui and must therefore pacify Ying Ban, the Taisui of 2008.

Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile Co, Far EasTone Telecommunications Co and Asia Pacific Telecom Co are working with the 300-year-old Matsu Tianhou Temple (媽祖天后宮) in Lugang (鹿港), Changhua County, to provide the service, while 3G telecommunications company VIBO is cooperating with the Hsinkang Feng-Tien Temple in Chiayi City.

indispensable

The companies are seeking to capitalize on local adherence to Taoist tradition, in which "pacifying Taisui and "lighting the lantern" are indispensable rituals.

Lighting lanterns, such as the "Lantern of Light," the "Safety Lantern" and the "Education Lantern," are thought to bring health, honor and a brighter future.

Worshippers can use their mobile phones to log on to the Internet and enter their name, birth date and address to pacify Taisui or light a lantern. Fending off the rage of Taisui costs NT$600, while the cost of lighting lanterns depends on the temple. The Matsu Temple in Lugang charges NT$600 to light a "Lantern of Light."

Customers of Far Eastern International Bank and Chinatrust Commercial Bank can use the companies' Web sites or ATM machines to perform the ritual, while others can fill out the appropriate forms available at convenience stores and submit them by fax or via the Internet.

Lu Ming-sen (盧明森), chairman of the Feng-Tien Temple (奉天宮), said that technology enables people from all over the world to worship the gods and pray for good luck, adding that it is just as effective as visiting the temple in person.

"No matter where you are, hold on to your faith and the gods will bless you," he said.

traditionalists

For most traditionalists, going to temples to experience the entire process of pacifying Taisui or lighting a lantern is a very important event.

Longshan Temple (龍山寺), a temple founded in 1738, is the most popular place for pacifying Taisui in Taipei, as well as being a local cultural landmark. The government designated the temple as a second-grade historical site in 1985 to ensure that it would be preserved.

The temple in Taipei's Wanhua District (萬華) does not offer online services -- not because it feels virtual worship is not legitimate, but because of the fear that the temple is not equipped to cope with the demand.

Chang Hsue-lin (張雪玲), director of temple affairs, said that the management had to limit applications to pacify Taisui to 1,000 per day owing to difficulties processing the massive number of applications.

"Although the temple considered launching a Web site for people to apply online, we dismissed the idea amid concerns about security and the accuracy of personal information," she said. "Besides, if we allow people to pacify Taisui by applying over the Internet, all of the openings might be fully booked within one day, which is not fair for those who come to the temple in person."

Chang said Longshan Temple's 100,000 lanterns of light have all been sold to devotees. For those who still want to light a lamp, the temple set up two colossal "safety lanterns" on Lunar New Year's Eve for the general public.

The service is free and will run until March 26, the birthday of Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, she said.
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