Taoist Main Temple – Sanqing Palace

The Sanqing Temple (Sanqinggong), located by Meihua Lake in Dongshan Township, Yilan County, is one of the most representative Taoist sanctuaries in Taiwan. Situated about seven kilometers from Luodong, the temple is built against the hillside with a grand and solemn architectural layout that embodies the essence of classical Chinese architecture. The temple enshrines the supreme deities of Taoism, the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing Daozu) — Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun, Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun, and Taiqing Daode Tianzun — regarded as the core of Taoist belief.

In 1971, by resolution of the Taoist Association of the Republic of China, the temple was formally designated as the National Taoist Headquarters of the Republic of China, becoming a central hub for Taoist organizations and scholars across the Asia-Pacific region. The deities worshipped here strictly follow Taoist tradition, without incorporation of other religions, and all rituals and ceremonies are conducted exclusively according to Taoist liturgy, safeguarding the continuity of orthodox Taoist practice.

The temple’s halls are dedicated to different deities:

• Lingguan Hall: dedicated to Marshal Wang Lingguan, a protective guardian deity.

• Sanqing Hall: enshrines the Three Pure Ones, as well as Donghua Dijun, the Queen Mother of the West, and Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun.

• Miluo Hall: honors the Jade Emperor, the Earth Mother, the Three Officials, Xuantian Shangdi, and Master Zhang Tianshi.

• Yuanming Hall: enshrines Doumu Yuanjun, Ziwei Dadi, the Southern and Northern Dipper Stars, and the sixty Tai Sui deities, who preside over celestial fate.

• Dragon God Hall: dedicated to Dragon Gods, symbolizing blessings from water.

In addition to its daily religious functions, Sanqing Temple places special emphasis on the “Restoration of Rites and Initiation (Fuli Chuandu)”, the formal initiation ceremony of Taoism. Participants must first complete basic Taoist courses before being initiated and ordained as “Disciples of the Three Pure Ones.” Since its inception in 1987, the temple has held 43 initiation groups, with over 3,800 individuals formally joining Taoism through this ritual, establishing a model for the promotion of orthodox Taoist faith and institutional practice.