Chinese sage Lao Tzu is believed to be the originator of Taoism, which is drawn from his work "Tao Te Ching." It outlines the fundamentals of Taoist thought: a focus on harmony, natural behaviour and simplicity and the importance of balance in all things.
The shape of Taoist Worship
A Taoist sacred site may reflect any or all of the diverse heritage of thought and practice. Formalized worship may take place in any of the Taoist temples that abound across China and in Southeast Asia. While the shape and look of a Taoist temple may vary across time and space, the architecture of the of Chinese Taoist temples is generally reflective of Chinese tradition, though outside China local styles are used. Most Taoist temples are structured much like traditional Chinese or Buddhist temples, with shrines for various deities and sages. Offerings to the divine are often made, generally in the form of incense or joss paper. Some Taoist temples or priests with a more Shamanic focus may still perform animal sacrifices, though this practice is increasingly rare.
Activities in Taoist Temple
- Taoist rituals (Spring Qingming Festival etc.)
- Offerings to God, nature spirt, ancestors
- Lion Dance performance (during various festivals)
- Blessing of the priest
- Fortune telling
Information extracted from
http://people.opposingviews.com/types-sacred-places-taoism-7119.html
Some very important essentials here for making sense of the temple. The architecture of the temple will have no meaning without an understanding of its underlying beluef system.
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