Worship Place
The place of worship where Taoists go is the gong. The gong is a place where Taoists can mix their thoughts and ideas of construction with ancient ideas. There are 3 types of Gongs. Palace-like, regular, and simple huts or caves. Although a Gong can look like a Buddhist temple, gong statues from the Yin and Yang which are dragon and tiger are placed outside main gates. Taoists have a choice of either worshiping at home or at the Gong.
Worship and Devotion
There is one area in which the Taoshi (Taoist priests) are still actively engaged with the laity. The Taoshi serves as a consultant to the people of the community who have personal problems or illness. Each Taoshi has an office beside the altar , along with statues or paintings of deities and important people in Taoist history. When a person comes to the Taoshi to fix their problem , they first tell about his or her problem or illness . He will then write a talismanic symbol (good luck charm) that transfers the energy of his power to his the person . This talisman will either be carried around until the problem is resolved, or to be eaten by burning and dissolving the ashes in water, or rolled into a little ball and taken as a pill.
Sometimes the Taoshi will perform several self-cultivating practices on a regular basis. These might be gymnastic or breath-control exercises, special diets, or meditation . Visual practices are common, such as visualizing the gods within you or visualizing journeys to the gods palaces. These exercises are performed on certain days, and at certain times of the day . Sometimes the Taoshi will engage in retreats, and on these retreats sleep is forbidden, or fasts, which they avoid certain foods.
Sometimes the Taoshi will perform several self-cultivating practices on a regular basis. These might be gymnastic or breath-control exercises, special diets, or meditation . Visual practices are common, such as visualizing the gods within you or visualizing journeys to the gods palaces. These exercises are performed on certain days, and at certain times of the day . Sometimes the Taoshi will engage in retreats, and on these retreats sleep is forbidden, or fasts, which they avoid certain foods.
Rituals
A contemporary ritual , used today in southern Taiwan in a Way of the Celestial Masters ritual, starts with a square, each of the four sides represents the north, south, east, and west. The square is divided into an inner and an outer altar . to the north are portraits hung of the presiding deities. These might be the Heavenly Worthy of the Primordial Beginning, the Heavenly Worthy of the Numinous Treasure, the Heavenly Worthy of the Way and its Power (Laozi), the Jade Emperor, and the Great Emperor of the Purple Empyrean. These are the deities of highest rank.
A table placed at the south are portraits of the Golden Gate, a threshold, and below that is the "cave table," where the ritual will take place.
Portraits are hung along the east and west boundaries. Along the west, within the inner altar area, are the gods of earth and hell, and along the east, the gods of heaven and water. Along the eastern boundary of the outer altar are portraits of Taoist officers and generals and the Four Saints and along the east, officers and generals and the Six Masters. The officers and generals which are the Mother of Lightning, the Duke of Thunder, the marshals of the four directions, and other martial and protective deities. The identity of the Four Saints varies; sometimes they are the Emperors of the four directions.
Just within the southern boundary is the Three Realms Table (the Three Realms include various lesser heavens). Offerings for the popular gods are placed here, and behind it are bleachers on which deities that are brought from people's homes and deities from temples are placed so that they can observe the ritual. These are the deities of lowest rank.
The officiating priests, including those who recite the liturgies, are located around the cave table, and the musicians are to the east and west. A few high ranking Taoshi's may attend, or they may be represented by lanterns hung along the south wall.
A table placed at the south are portraits of the Golden Gate, a threshold, and below that is the "cave table," where the ritual will take place.
Portraits are hung along the east and west boundaries. Along the west, within the inner altar area, are the gods of earth and hell, and along the east, the gods of heaven and water. Along the eastern boundary of the outer altar are portraits of Taoist officers and generals and the Four Saints and along the east, officers and generals and the Six Masters. The officers and generals which are the Mother of Lightning, the Duke of Thunder, the marshals of the four directions, and other martial and protective deities. The identity of the Four Saints varies; sometimes they are the Emperors of the four directions.
Just within the southern boundary is the Three Realms Table (the Three Realms include various lesser heavens). Offerings for the popular gods are placed here, and behind it are bleachers on which deities that are brought from people's homes and deities from temples are placed so that they can observe the ritual. These are the deities of lowest rank.
The officiating priests, including those who recite the liturgies, are located around the cave table, and the musicians are to the east and west. A few high ranking Taoshi's may attend, or they may be represented by lanterns hung along the south wall.