RITUALS, WORSHIP AND FESTIVALS
Rituals
Taoist rituals involve purification, meditation and offerings to deities. One major ritual is the Chiao (jiao) that is a cosmic renewal which is made up of several small rituals. A shortened version of this ritual requires the local villagers to present offerings to the deities, in order to bring peace and prosperity to the village. Most rituals are performed by priests because many are often quite complicated and technical therefore require training. The rituals involve the priest, along with assistants, chanting and playing instruments and dancing. These rituals in Taoism are performed to please their Gods and create harmony and happiness within their lives.
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Festivals
Taoists have many festivals including; The Lantern Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, The Chinese New Year and Hungry Ghost Festival. The Lantern Festival is a festival celebrated on the first full moon of the year. It is also the birthday of Tianguan, one of the Taoist gods. They eat dumplings called, Tangyuan, which represents happiness and family unity. Tomb Sweeping Day, a festival believed to have derived from the Tang Dynasty, is a festival for ancestors and is performed at the graves of these ancestors on a particular day of the year. Chinese New Year is probably the most popular celebration and involves burning paper statues of their Gods, believing this allows the spirits to fly up into heaven and report on the family’s behavior. The Hungry Ghost Festival is a festival in honor of the dead who were not given a proper funeral and are released from the underworld on this day. Offerings are made to the ghosts, prayers are said and entertainment and music events are held to please the spirits. These festivals are performed to please those who have passed and to pray for a happy and enriching year.
Places of worship
Taoists have many places of worship, including many temples, where Taoists perform ceremonies. There are generally three kinds of these temples; palace-like temples, ordinary temples and hut-like or cave temples. In most Taoist temples the “Three Pure Ones” are worshiped.
These rituals, festivals and places of worship are used so that Taoists may show their faith towards their gods and religion as well as communicate with those who have passed.
These rituals, festivals and places of worship are used so that Taoists may show their faith towards their gods and religion as well as communicate with those who have passed.