Giant Taiwan deity statues carried to top of Yushan Mountain

This year, the staff of the temple, along with the followers, brought four deity statues and reached the highest peak in Taiwan - Yu Shan Mountain on Nov. 2 in hopes of giving Taiwan blessings. (Courtesy of Yu Que Zhao Ren temple）
This year, the staff of the temple, along with the followers, brought four deity statues and reached the highest peak in Taiwan - Yu Shan Mountain on Nov. 2 in hopes of giving Taiwan blessings. (Courtesy of Yu Que Zhao Ren temple）

TAIPEI (The China Post) — Located in Wuri District, Taichung, the Yu Que Zhao Ren temple (玉闕朝仁宮) is dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu since 1832.

Against this backdrop, the staff of the temple along with some followers recently carried four deity statues to the highest peak in Taiwan — Yu-Shan Mountain on Nov. 2 in hopes of giving Taiwan blessings.

This year, the staff of the temple, along with the followers, brought four deity statues and reached the highest peak in Taiwan - Yu Shan Mountain on Nov. 2 in hopes of giving Taiwan blessings. (Courtesy of Yu Que Zhao Ren temple）
This year, the staff of the temple, along with some followers, brought four deity statues to the highest peak in Taiwan – Yu Shan Mountain on Nov. 2 in hopes of giving Taiwan blessings. (Courtesy of Yu Que Zhao Ren temple）

In addition to Mazu and the God of Wealth (武財神), they picked the deity statues of Mazu’s servant, named Qianli yan (千里眼), and Shunfeng er (順風耳), each weighing over 30 kilograms.

The journey to the top of the mountain was a challenge as Yushan stands at an altitude of 3,952 meters. 

This year, the staff of the temple, along with the followers, brought four deity statues and reached the highest peak in Taiwan - Yu Shan Mountain on Nov. 2 in hopes of giving Taiwan blessings. (Courtesy of Yu Que Zhao Ren temple）
This year, the staff of the temple, along with the followers, brought four deity statues and reached the highest peak in Taiwan – Yu Shan Mountain on Nov. 2 in hopes of giving Taiwan blessings. (Courtesy of Yu Que Zhao Ren temple）

The Chairman of the temple, Liu Chun-Jung (柳俊榮), who led a team of 12 people up the Mt. Jade, set off on Nov. 1 at 5 a.m and arrived at the Tataka (塔塔加), the entrance to the Yushan Mountain.

They arrived at the Paiyun Lodge (排雲山莊) 8 hours after leaving the entrance and stayed overnight. 

On Nov. 2, the team left the Paiyun Lodge in the early morning and reached the summit of Yushan mountain.

On Nov. 2, the team left the Paiyun Lodge in the early morning and reached the summit of Yushan mountain.(Courtesy of Yu Que Zhao Ren temple）
On Nov. 2, the team left the Paiyun Lodge in the early morning and reached the summit of Yushan mountain. (Courtesy of Yu Que Zhao Ren temple）

The team leader, Liu said that he conceived the mountain climbing plan five years ago in hopes of blessing the nation.

In addition, the temple received positive feedback from the four deities after casting divination blocks (擲筊) in October last year, according to Liu. 

The team leader, Liu said that he conceived the mountain climbing plan five years ago in hopes of blessing the nation. In addition, the temple received the positive answers from the four deities by casting divination blocks (擲筊) on Oct. last year, according to Liu. (Courtesy of Yu Que Zhao Ren temple）
The ream said they received positive feedback from the four deities after casting divination blocks (擲筊) in October last year. (Courtesy of Yu Que Zhao Ren temple）

By Shelly Yang