Land God’s Cash
The Land God Cash of Zi Nan Temple upholds What is taken shall be paid back. In the beginning, the civilians in Taiwan had a hard time as Japan returned Taiwan to the R.O.C.; therefore, Zi Nan Temple made the Land God’s Cash available to the reside- nts in Sheliao area for urgent relief and help, which prev- ented the native residents from economic challenges as well as offered economic help for running business. Consequently, the Land God’s Cash was taken home by the native pilgrims on the 15th and 16th of lunar Jan in 1961-1977 without limiting the maximal sum of cash. A field interview shows that a sum totaling NT$ 4,000 (NT$ 2,000 equivalent to the monthly wages in that area at that time) was taken home.
From 1977 to 1982 when the reform was finished, the na- tive taking the Land God’s Cash home used to run business elsewhere and the Land God’s Cash of Zi Nan Temple was known by the outsiders in addition to the native pilgrims. This urged the pilgrims elsewhere to visit Zi Nan Temple for taking the Land God’s Cash home. In the first place, a pil- grim elsewhere was in need of a native resident in Sheliao Village as the guarantor to take the Land God’s Cash home. In 1983, the first-term Board of Managers of Zi Nan Temple
(the Board) was founded. The temple management was unable to deal with the pilgrims nationwide in need of taking the Land God’s Cash home for the shortage of budget; therefore, the Board decided to stipulate the Code for it making it available to the public, and resolved the upper limit of the Land God’s Cash to be NT$ 200 per pilgrim and a specific staff member was in charge of the affairs concerned in 1983. The folklore event Taking the Land God’s Cash home hereby bec- ame a routine available to the public 24/7. The pilgrims taking the Land God’s Cash home are under blessing and protect- ion of the Land God and obtain what is asked for. A pilgrim even paid back a total of NT$ 200,000 to the Land God. In the end, the number of pilgrims visiting Zi Nan Temple for taking the Land god’s Cash home is increasing year by year, which secures the bountiful budget to run the Temple.
In 1987, the second-term Board of Managers of Zi Nan Temple determined to advance the upper limit of the Land God’s Cash by NT$ 600 per pilgrim since 6 in China implies good luck. This resolution becomes the catalyst of the fo- lklore event Taking the Land God’s Cash home and pilgrims are accustomed to wish making at Zi Nan Temple in terms of blessing and protection of the Land God via blocks div- ination. Those making wishes and obtaining the Holy Blocks can take the Land God’s Cash (a total of NT$ 100-600 as the footstone of fortune and wealth) home at the service counter of cash taken home and pay the cash back at the service counter cash paid back in one year. Pilgrims taking the Land God’s Cash home are under His blessing and pro- tection and therefore the number of new pilgrims in need of taking the Land God’s Cash home totals an increase by 40% in terms of word of mouth. The number exceeding 120,000 pilgrims in 1998 is an increase of 100%. The 921 Earthquake in 1999 prevented the pilgrims from visiting Zi Nan Temple temporarily. Fortunately, pilgrims returned to the shopping area of Zi Nan Temple in 2 months and this is indeed a miracle of the Land God. In the following 3 years, Sheliao area regained the boom with help and care of respective public authorities in association with Zi Nan Temple and community residents.
The SARS in early April of 2003 caused the vanishing pilgrims in the shopping area of Zi Nan Temple due to panic and unrest state of mind around the Island. The group pilgrims visiting here by tour bus dropped the most, but the SARS under control made pilgrims return in early May and 80% of pilgrims came to visit Zi Nan Temple in June. This is another miracle of the Land God. The Board of Managers of Zi Nan Temple has been running the Temple with all devotion and dedication and improved the financial balance as well as challenges concerning the Land God’s Cash taken home and paid back, which is the good footstone of the sustainable development of Zi Nan Temple.
The business hours of taking the Land God’s Cash home are 07:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. 24/7 (07:00 a.m. - 06:00 p.m. on Sunday) (off only on the Eve of the Chinese New Year). The procedures are as follows. A pilgrim worships the Land God of Zi Nan Temple by incense burning in person and subsequently informs one’s name, address and wishes in mind and performs blocks divination after taking a bow in front of the statue. The Holy Blocks of the first time implies a total of NT$ 600 to be taken home. One failing to obtain the Holy Blocks can try again after taking a bow and informing one’s name, address and wishes in mind. The Holy Blocks of the second time implies a total of
NT$ 500 to be taken home. Likewise, the Holy Blocks of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth times implies a total of NT$ 400, 300, 200 and 100 to be taken home respectively. The failure of the Holy Blocks for the consecutive 6 times implies that pilgrims might apply for it the next time.
The pilgrim obtaining the Holy Blocks can finish the proc- edures at the service counter of Zi Nan Temple by filling out the personal profile and the sum along with showing the personal ID card or any certificate of one’s identity (1. original ID card; 2. original driver’s license; 3. original Nat- ional Health Insurance IC card with photo; and 4. those without any certificate can apply for the Land God’s Cash and return it at the site).
The pilgrim taking the Land God’s Cash home will return it in one year. The wishes made by pilgrims cover business, job, academic performance, gold finding, car finding and peace of family. Normally, the Land God responds to what is wished for and therefore pilgrims return the sum exceeding that is taken home. Some pilgrims apply for the Land God’s Cash as returning the cash to Him as a proof of peace keep- ing. They are also the faithful pilgrims of Zi Nan Temple.
The business hours and procedures of taking the Land God’s Cash home apply to paying it back. Please take the personal certificate and a red envelop with the cash paid back to the Land God in it and give it to the clerk at the service count- er. The clerk will give the receipt to the pilgrim.
The Land God’s Cash that helped the native residents in the early days becomes the impressive achievement of commu- nity management as well as the faith center of pilgrim nationwide. The residents are hired and Sheliao can be developed constantly. It is crucial to employ such resource to benefit the local residents.
Content is preserved from the supplied website archive. Confirm events, service requirements and transport schedules with the temple.