Baosheng Dadi 保生大帝
Chinese god of medicine, worshiped in Chinese folk religion and Taoism. Wu Tao or Wu Ben (吳本) was born the village of Bailiao near Xiamen in Fujian Province, during the Song Dynasty in the year 979. He was a skilled doctor and Taoist practitioner who was credited with performing medical miracles. After his death in 1036, he began to be worshiped as a deity. His deified status was officially recognized by the Hongxi Emperor of the Ming Dynasty who conferred on him the title of “Imperial Inspector at Heavenly Gate, Miracle Doctor of Compassion Relief, Great Taoist Immortal, and the Long-lived, Unbounded, Life Protection Emperor (恩主昊天金闕御史慈濟醫靈妙道真君萬壽無極保生大帝)”.
At the age of 17, he was taken by some extraordinary person to have an audience with Goddess of the West, who taught him how to exorcise evil spirits. At the age of 24, he passed the provincial examination, and then served as a controlling inspector. He later on resigned to retirement and cultivated himself at Mt. Ta-yen in Pai-chiao. A lifelong vegetarian, he was never married. As a medicine man, he had saved countless people’s lives. On the 2nd day of the 5th moon in year 3 of Ching-you period (1036) of Sung Jen-tzung reign, as he had attained the perfect Way, fairy cranes came to pick him up. His country folks kneeled down and witnessed his ascension in the middle of the day. He was 58 years of age.
He is worshiped at Dalongdong Baoan Temple (大龍峒保安宮) in Taipei. His birthday is celebrated with parades and festivals on the 15th day of the third lunar month.
Taipei Baoan Temple (臺北保安宮) is a Taiwanese folk religion temple built in the Datong District, Taipei, Taiwan. The present temple was originally built by clan members in Tong'an, Xiamen, Fujian, who immigrated to Taipei in the early 19th century and gave the temple the name Po-an (保安; Pó-an) in order to "protect those of Tong'an" (保佑同安). The Taipei Confucius Temple is located adjacent to the Baoan Temple.
The temple construction commenced in 1804 and replaced a previously existing wooden shrine from 1742 in Toaliongtong (大隆同; Toā-liông-tông; modern-day Dalongdong). Throughout the 20th century during the Japanese period, the temple underwent numerous improvements and extensions, which resulted in the present temple grounds. In 1985, the Taiwan government conferred on the temple the status of level two historic monument and after years of neglect and abuse, in 1995 the temple was the focus of repairs and renovations. In 2003, the temple was inducted into the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation.
Baosheng Dadi is guarded by the Thirty-Six Celestial Officials, whose figures were sculpted by Master Hsu Yen of Chuanzhou during 1829 ~ 1833 (9 to 13th, Emperor Daoguang, Qing dynasty). Each figure has one different animal ride depicted in vivid style, placed on the right and left sides of the Main Hall.
Location: Take the Red Line 2 to Yuanshan Station (圓山). After leaving by Exit 2, continue walking down Kulun St (庫倫街), take a right at the intersection of Dalong St (大龍街). Continue walking straight past the Confucius Temple and take a left on Hami St. The temple entrance will be located on the right side.
From
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalongdong_Baoan_Temple
Baoan Temple website
Baoshen Dadi' bio and pictures
Baoan temple guide
