Baxian Gong - Xi'an

	Not far from the eastern section of the walls that enclose Xi'an, the ancient Tang capital Chang'an, is one of the most beautiful Quanzhen temples, the Palace of the Eight Immortals. Built during the Northern Song dynasty, the place has now around one thousand years of history, but as it's often the case the present buildings had to be restored after the Cultural Revolution, when "classics, books and other materials were burnt, statues were pushed to earth and most of the steles were also destroyed" (I quote from Xi'an baxian gong by Zhang Jianxin and Chen Yueqin, 1993). Of course all was due to the notorious "gang of four" and absolutely not to president Mao or the Party, and as soon as 1982 (the Cultural Revolution finished in 1976) the latter restored the freedom of religion, hurried to proclaim Baxian Gong historical relic and invested 150.000 yuan in its restoration.
During the Cultural Revolution, "only a couple of priests remained at the temple: some returned home, some resumed secular life, some seeked wild places to practise Taoism. (...) The other priests gathered in the Dongkua Hall and lived there, while other halls were transformed into factories or dormitories for the workmen". Now it seems like there are a little bit more; some returned to the temple and a few novices were accepted, for a total of around 30, mostly young people. As for the reasons why these people left home to become priests, there is scarcely a good one: "the majority used to live in straightened circumstances, got only an elementary education and couldn't find any other way to escape poverty; others were disappointed by the world in their secular life; extremely few were raised under the influence of religion and entered Taoism because they believed in longevity techniques".
	As for the reasons why believers go to the temple to pray Taoist gods, well it's to get good health, luck and richness, as with any other Chinese god. In the Hall of the Eight Immortals a family offered a one hundred yuan bill to the priest and some sticks of incense to the Emperor of Eastern Splendor, who sits in the middle of the eight immortals. Before this main hall is the Hall of Lingguan, a powerful guardian god; behind, the Hall of Doumu (the Mother of the Big Dipper), which hosts the painted images of the Three Purities, of the Jade Emperor and of twelve Star Gods.

 

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