Field Study and Interviews at Guanyue Temple

Existing Issues

1. Complicated Worship Procedures

• The worship process at Guanyue Temple is intricate, with multiple steps required for different rituals.
• While guidebooks exist, there is a lack of clear signage, making it difficult for first-time visitors—especially those from outside Quanzhou—to navigate the temple and complete the rituals efficiently.

2. Insufficient Information Channels

• The temple lacks an official website and primarily relies on a WeChat public account managed by the Tonghuai Guanyue Temple board.
• The WeChat account mainly shares event notifications, historical stories about Guandi divination, and temple announcements but lacks detailed explanations of the temple's architecture, sculptures, and cultural significance.
• This limits visitors' ability to gain a deeper understanding of the temple beyond its rituals.
  
  
  

3. Limited Cultural Knowledge Among Staff

• Most temple staff consist of board members and volunteers with varying knowledge about temple history and deities.
• Their understanding is mostly limited to daily practices (e.g., burning incense, drawing lots, casting divination sticks).
• Some staff members even rely on the WeChat account for information rather than having deep cultural literacy themselves.
• A lack of reverence was noted in some cases, with one staff member describing incense donations as mere "transactions with the deity," which raises concerns about the transmission of religious values.

4. Photography Restrictions

• Visitors are prohibited from taking photos inside the temple, which limits their ability to document and share their experiences.
• This restriction affects the dissemination of temple culture and makes it harder for digital engagement and historical preservation efforts.
• Cyber Worship: Advantages and Concerns
• Through interviews, perspectives on online religious practices were gathered, highlighting both advantages and concerns.

Advantages of Online Worship

• Convenience: Enables believers to participate in religious activities anytime and anywhere, which was particularly useful during the pandemic.
• Participation: Online platforms attract younger generations more familiar with digital technology, increasing engagement.
• Diversity: Live streaming, videos, and online interaction expand the ways in which people can engage with worship and religious teachings.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Reduces travel and venue expenses, making participation accessible to a wider audience.
• Environmental Benefits: Reduces the consumption of incense, joss paper, and offerings, contributing to environmental conservation.

Concerns About Online Worship

• Loss of Physical Experience: Online worship lacks the embodied challenges of traditional rituals (e.g., fasting, enduring environmental hardships), which are seen as crucial for deepening faith and devotion.
• Weakened Sense of Community: Traditional temple visits foster a strong sense of belonging, whereas online worship may lead to isolation.
• Authenticity Issues: The digital space is filled with misleading or fraudulent religious content, including fake temple accounts created for financial gain.
• Simplification of Rituals: Online worship risks reducing religious experiences to passive consumption, lacking the depth of physical participation.
• Over-Reliance on Technology: Excessive dependence on digital worship may erode traditional practices and diminish personal reflection.

Key Takeaways

• The Guanyue Temple faces accessibility challenges due to unclear signage, insufficient staff knowledge, and limited digital resources.
• Online religious practices offer new possibilities but cannot fully replace the depth of traditional worship.
• Addressing these issues requires balancing digital engagement with efforts to preserve cultural authenticity and community spirit.