Busy weekends

Temples in Taiwan are usually very busy on the weekends.The elders,with burning incense in their hands,come to ask for good health and family peace before the gods and goddesses.Outside the temple in the square there are soaring sound of firecrackers and competitive exhibition of kun-fu,and the terrifying performance of the god's interpretors.I just passed by the temple and happened to share their religious ecstasy by making numerous shootings.

Don't worry,be happy.

When I was young,I used to hear my mother persuade the suffering relatves or friends to be optimistic and liberal-minded.My mom was right.As the Chinese often say,"Ninety percent of the things in life are unfortunate." Sometimes,in the country,I often see some elders wear smiles on their faces but they don't have much education and don't have much achivement in life,though.Therefore,happiness is not necessarily connected with fortune and richness.How to cultivate a joyful and opmistic attitude toward life is paramount in our lifetime.So open the window and let the sunshine come in.Don't worry,be happy.These words are comparatively important to my fellow countrymen in Taiwan who frequently suffer from natural disasters,like typhoons and earthquakes.

Buddhists' Transcending Meeting

Recently the Buddhists held a meeting at Changhua Athletic Park on Pagumount to transcend the soul from suffering in the underworld.The meeting is closely related to the legend of Mu-lian(目蓮救母)who rescued his mother from the hell.Mu-lian's mother was orignally a devoted Buddhist before her husband was sick. She prayed to Buddha for her husband's recovery.But she was disappointed.After her husband's death she began to eat meat and committed wrongdoings which led her to the hell.Mu-lian,the obedient son,visited all the hells to save his mother. He opened one of the doors of the hells and the ghosts escaped from the hells,returning to the world.That is why the Chinese and Taiwanese call this month (July by Chinese calendar)ghosts' month.During this month,people do many bai-bais to treat the ghosts,burning lots of paper money to them,and let the Buddhist Master transcend the souls from sufferings in the hell.

Homage to ancestors

About 400 years ago,little was known about Taiwan. It was once occupied by Dutchman and then by Japanese. Our ancestors crossed the hazardous Taiwan Strait to cultivate this piece of land.Many people died during the crossing,and therefore some historians assumed that the word "Taiwan" literarily meant "burying the dead people who died in injustice or in grievance". The married males migrated to Taiwan without their wives and the bachelors got married with the local indigenous women. Today we flourish(prosper) on this land,enjoying complete freedom and economic richness,we should pay our homage to our beloved ancestors.(照片:台南億載金城) .

Pantheism in Taiwan

Most Taiwanese believe in pantheism. The sea may have a god,the mountains may have another,while the stone,or even the tree still has its own god. You can see numrous temples ranging from extravagant to humbles ones worshipping their own gods. The Taiwanese enjoy complete religious freedom because none will force them to change their belief.(照片:埔里中台禪寺)

宜蘭傳統藝術中心 Center of Traditional Arts at Yi-lan

Center of Traditional Arts,which is located at Yi-lan,introduces some of Taiwan's traditional arts like Taiwanese operas,puppet shows and some old crafts like the paintings on the doors or beds.

舊情新約

When summer comes,many people begin to gather at the pond of lotuses with different kinds of cameras.In Taiwan,taking pics of lotuses has become an annual activity.The color of the flowers resembles so much of women's cheeks while the green leaves give them the best clothes.