Janthopoyism
Sacred Travel: Taipei Confucius Temple
#holythrowback to early-2023 when I visited The Taipei Confucius Temple in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Initially completed in 1879 under Qing dynasty rule, the Japanese demolished this temple when they took over the island in 1895. Thankfully, they rebuilt it in 1930, just in time for... World War II! Traditional Chinese ceremonies were banned during this period, and the temple was used primarily for Japanese Shinto beliefs. In 1945, the Japanese handed Taiwan back to the Republic of China, and they could resume some Confucian order.
The Taipei Confucius Temple is modelled after the original Confucius Temple in Qufu, Confucius’ hometown. Meanwhile, Confucianism itself is such an interesting religion that it can be complicated to register it as a religion whatsoever. With a hefty focus on traditional social values and ethics, other descriptions include a philosophy, a theory of government, and a way of life.
Speaking of interesting, I was surprised to find some rather peculiar things in this temple, including cartoonified sculptures of Confucius (photo 2), a stamp (photo 3), and a video game (photos 4 and 5) in which you ride a horse and cart.
Like many Eastern countries, tallying the religions of Taiwan can be challenging as they mix and match faiths as they please. 35.1% of the population identifies as Buddhists and 33% as Taoists, but even these figures are misleading as almost everything falls under a wider Taiwanese folk religion umbrella. Confucianism is significantly followed yet unfairly absorbed into the aforementioned. However, Xuanyuanism claims 0.7% of the people as a Confucian branch that worships Huangdi as “God”.
Initially completed in 1879 under Qing dynasty rule, the Japanese demolished this temple when they took over the island in 1895. Thankfully, they rebuilt it in 1930, just in time for... World War II! Traditional Chinese ceremonies were banned during this period, and the temple was used primarily for Japanese Shinto beliefs. In 1945, the Japanese handed Taiwan back to the Republic of China, and they could resume some Confucian order.
The Taipei Confucius Temple is modelled after the original Confucius Temple in Qufu, Confucius’ hometown. Meanwhile, Confucianism itself is such an interesting religion that it can be complicated to register it as a religion whatsoever. With a hefty focus on traditional social values and ethics, other descriptions include a philosophy, a theory of government, and a way of life.
Speaking of interesting, I was surprised to find some rather peculiar things in this temple, including cartoonified sculptures of Confucius (photo 2), a stamp (photo 3), and a video game (photos 4 and 5) in which you ride a horse and cart.
Like many Eastern countries, tallying the religions of Taiwan can be challenging as they mix and match faiths as they please. 35.1% of the population identifies as Buddhists and 33% as Taoists, but even these figures are misleading as almost everything falls under a wider Taiwanese folk religion umbrella. Confucianism is significantly followed yet unfairly absorbed into the aforementioned. However, Xuanyuanism claims 0.7% of the people as a Confucian branch that worships Huangdi as “God”.
Janthopoyism is a spiritual philosophy meets self-improvement program.
We view the Absolute collection of all Universal Energy to be the highest power. You are part of that power. You are an extension of divinity.
The ultimate purpose of this power is to evolve, and we each have a unique part to play in this progression. The details of your role are relayed to you every moment of your life via emotional notifications.
The tricky bit is that human beings have developed a communication barrier between themselves and this instruction.
This barrier is called "the brain".
But never fear! By utilising some very simple practices, you can open the flow of exchange, granting you access to the ether of infinite ideas, the infallible path of your guided destiny, and the recollection of your holiness.
Which is basically a wanky way of saying that your life is about to get a whole bunch better.
Join the movement before it becomes too mainstream.
We view the Absolute collection of all Universal Energy to be the highest power. You are part of that power. You are an extension of divinity.
The ultimate purpose of this power is to evolve, and we each have a unique part to play in this progression. The details of your role are relayed to you every moment of your life via emotional notifications.
The tricky bit is that human beings have developed a communication barrier between themselves and this instruction.
This barrier is called "the brain".
But never fear! By utilising some very simple practices, you can open the flow of exchange, granting you access to the ether of infinite ideas, the infallible path of your guided destiny, and the recollection of your holiness.
Which is basically a wanky way of saying that your life is about to get a whole bunch better.
Join the movement before it becomes too mainstream.
