Taoyuan’s Zhongyuan Festival Free from Smoke Pollution! Bade’s Zhi Xuan Temple Leads the Way with Temple-Hosted Rituals, Su Chun-Pin Praises Eco-Friendly and Public Welfare Model

With the Zhongyuan Ghost Festival approaching, many Taoyuan residents and communities suffer from smoke pollution caused by joss paper burning and the logistical burden of preparing offerings. Today (23rd), Bade District’s key religious center, 'Bade Zhi Xuan Temple,' hosted a Zhongyuan Pu Du event, taking the lead in promoting a 'temple-hosted' model that consolidates community worship resources. This initiative not only implements reduced incense usage and centralized joss paper burning but also transforms ritual offerings into tangible aid distributed to underprivileged families—earning high recognition from Taoyuan City Deputy Mayor Su Chun-Pin, who hailed it as a new paradigm combining environmental sustainability with social welfare.

Su Chun-Pin attended the 'Fuyou Qunsheng Puji Zhongyuan Pu Du Ceremony' at Zhi Xuan Temple, stating that the temple is one of the first in Taoyuan to respond to the city’s Environmental Protection Bureau’s initiative to promote 'temple-hosted Zhongyuan Pu Du.'

Su emphasized that by assisting community worshippers in conducting collective rituals, resources can be consolidated, helping advance efforts to reduce incense use and centralize joss paper burning—thereby minimizing impacts on air quality. He noted that while preserving traditional beliefs and ghost festival culture, this approach allows for more eco-friendly practices, setting a positive example for local religious activities.

He further explained that Daoist philosophy emphasizes harmony with nature and coexistence with the ecosystem—a principle that resonates strongly with modern eco-conscious rituals. The number of temples in Taoyuan participating in the 'temple-hosted Zhongyuan Pu Du' initiative has steadily grown each year. Starting in 2024 (Minguo Year 113) with pioneering participants including Bade Zhi Xuan Temple, Bade Sanyuan Temple, and Zhongli Sanjiao Ziyun Temple, the number expanded to 15 temples in 2025 (Year 114). Today, 20 temples are involved, indicating widespread public acceptance of this environmentally responsible model.

According to the Bade District Office, Zhi Xuan Temple, dedicated to Lord Fuyou Dijun, has served as a vital faith center in the region for 64 years. The day’s activities began with the 'Three Offerings for Peace and Blessings' ritual in the morning, followed by the afternoon's 'Universal Offering to Wandering Spirits' ceremony, culminating in an evening 'Peace Banquet' to strengthen community bonds among worshippers.

To facilitate participation, the temple offered a 'Pu Du Package' for registration, allowing devotees to join the joint ceremony easily. Su particularly commended Zhi Xuan Temple and its worshippers—not only for preserving traditional ritual culture but also for transforming leftover offerings into concrete acts of care by donating them to underprivileged families after the event, turning reverence into real-world compassion.

Today, Taoyuan residents and community apartment complexes can easily participate through temple-hosted services. Devotees simply register for a Pu Du package with a participating temple, eliminating the need to purchase offerings individually or burn joss paper at home. The temple then handles environmentally compliant, centralized disposal according to regulations.

Regarding offering disposal, participants may choose to retrieve their items after the ceremony or opt to have the temple directly donate them to local disadvantaged families and charitable organizations. This approach not only effectively resolves post-ritual waste issues but also ensures the compassionate spirit of the Zhongyuan Festival continues to spread throughout the community—achieving a win-win outcome for environmental protection and social care.