‘Green’ move spurs debate for temples

[yuiyoshida]

SMOKE SCREENS:Taoist temples around the nation have responded to Taipei’s Xingtian Temple, which has barred food offerings and incense burning, beginning today
By Sean Lin and Lin Yi-chang / Staff reporters Taipeitimes.com


Worshipers pray at Taipei’s Xingtian Temple yesterday, which the temple said would be the last day when people could use incense burners and offering tables.

Taipei’s Xingtian Temple’s announcement on Sunday that it would prohibit incense and food offerings to become more eco-friendly met with mixed reactions yesterday.

The popular temple, which is dedicated to Guan Gong , a legendary third-century heroic general-turned-deity, is to remove its two incense burners and 12 offering tables beginning today. The temple is asking visitors to put their hands together in prayer instead of burning incense or offering food, stressing that what matters is a sincere heart.

Chang Wei-tung , chief executive of the Lugang Matsu Temple in Changhua County, yesterday said that while he supports practices that aid the environment, he objects to the idea of removing incense burners and offering tables.

As the two items are indispensable during Taoist rituals, it would be disrespectful to the deities without them, he added.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/08/26/2003598308