With Chinese Valentine’s Day (23rd of August 2023) approaching, there is love in Taipei. That much is evident as I toured the city; numerous cafes were adorned with heart-shaped balloons. I even saw a digital billboard à la New York Times on Ximending that displayed Niulang and Zhinu, star-crossed lovers from the Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day) along with wishes of romance. Qixi Festival is not as widely celebrated in Malaysia as it is in Taiwan. Intrigued, I began asking the locals if there was anything romance-related I should do when I am in Taipei. Seeing that I am a lone traveller, they deduced correctly that I am single and referred me to Xiahai City God Temple where I can pray for love. Perhaps divine intervention is necessary to make the ladies swipe right on me.
Xiahai City God Temple is a small temple, located at Dihua Street, the oldest street in Taipei. Its main deity is the City God, who is believed by the locals to be the protector of the city. It also houses Yue Lao, the Chinese deity of marriage and love; one might even say that he is the Chinese Cupid. Legend has it that in the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD), a young man stumbled upon Yue Lao who was equipped with red threads and a “book of marriage”, said to contain the names of couples who are destined to be together. Curiously, he asked the old man who his soulmate might be and the old man pointed to a three-year-old girl. Furious and in utter disbelief, he had the girl attacked. Many years later, he married a beautiful woman who had a scar from the same attack. The man wept upon realizing this and asked his wife for forgiveness. In an act of love, his wife forgave him.
As I stood before its ornate entrance, the scent of incense and the faint hum of prayers created an atmosphere of reverence and hope. The temple’s serene ambience seemed to echo the stories of countless singles who have visited and sought guidance from Yue Lao in matters of the heart. I was surprised to find out that Yue Lao was not only visited by the locals but by Koreans and Japanese as well. It seems that love transcends all borders and boundaries; Yue Lao will aid whoever seeks him out no matter who they are and where they come from.
Fascinated by the seemingly powerful Yue Lao, I ask the abbot what one should prepare before praying to Yue Lao. The abbot told me that there are 2 things one should prepare:
- A list. This list should include appearance, age, family background, financial background, and other traits you are looking for in a partner. The key is to be as specific as possible.
- Sweets. Yue Lao is a big fan of sweets so offer some chocolates to Yue Lao to sweeten the deal and convince him to help you find a lover that is as sweet as a Kit Kat bar (no pun intended!). But if you want to help Yue Lao watch his blood sugar level, you can offer fresh flowers, longan, wolfberries, and red dates (no Yusuf Taiyoob please!)
As for how to pray, the abbot instructed as follows:
- Purchase the items necessary for the prayer from the temple’s counter. This includes joss sticks and joss paper. Other items offered include a red string and a Love God amulet. There are also numerous vendors outside the temple selling flowers and other offerings, which you could also buy if you like.
- Light 3 joss sticks and head onto the large incense burner outside the temple. You will face the streets and pray to the Jade Emperor by facing the outside of the temple. Introduce yourself briefly – the Gods don’t have an IC card reader.
- After that, head to the main altar with your joss sticks in hand. Here, you will see the sculptures of the City God, Yue Lao and other deities. You will then briefly introduce yourself to the deities. Also, let the deities know what you are looking for in a partner. You will also have to say what you will do to ‘return’ the favour when it has been granted.
- Next, head to the right altar to pray to the Yi-Yong deity so that people with bad intentions will steer clear of you. Also, pray to the City God’s Wife for blissful relations and a happy family. Finally, pray to other deities for peace.
- Lastly, head back out of the temple and place your joss sticks into the large incense burner. Take the red thread in your hands and circle it three rounds in a clockwise direction around the incense burner before keeping it in your wallet.
- You can then leave your offerings on the table at the temple. Drop your joss paper into the joss paper box and the temple will burn it on your behalf. Before you exit the temple, drink the tea that is provided. It is said that whoever drinks it is blessed with good fortune.
After listening to the abbot’s explanation, I looked around the temple and saw various followers that stood before the altar of Yue Lao. The act of them lighting incense and bowing before Yue Lao felt like a profound exchange of energies – a moment where hopes and dreams merged with ancient wisdom. With closed eyes, they whispered their intentions, sending them into the universe with a silent prayer. It was a moment of vulnerability, a moment of surrender to the unknown forces that govern our lives.
When I left the temple, conversations flowed freely among strangers outside after they are done with their prayer, all united by a common yearning. It was here I was reminded that love is a universal language that transcends barriers and connects us all. My journey to the temple has transformed into a pilgrimage of the soul, guided by the spirit of love that thrives within all of us. Just as Taipei’s vibrant streets held hidden gems to be uncovered, so too did the temple’s quiet sanctuary offers profound insights into the complexities of human emotions and relationships.
If you are interested in praying to Yue Lao, you can do so in Malaysia. There is a temple at Batu Pahat called Si Hai Long Wang Temple where you can pray to Yue Lao. The ritual you go about there might be different from the one in Taipei but rest assured that Yue Lao is still a fan of Snickers. Let’s just hope your boss gives you time off to pray to Yue Lao.
Aaron Colt is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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