Editing Xiamen (section)

=== Religion ===

==== Nanputuo Temple ====
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[[File:Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen, China.JPG|thumb|Nanputuo Temple]]
[[File:Buddhism library.jpg|thumb|Buddhist library, [[Nanputuo Temple]]]]
Like most of the temples in PRC, [[South Putuo Temple|Nanputuo Temple]] ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=南普陀寺}}) has endured its share of violence and destruction during the disastrous [[cultural revolution]]. The temple's original construction was built more than a millennium ago, then it was destroyed and later rebuilt during the [[Tang dynasty]], the temple was rebuilt and expanded by general [[Shi Lang]] during early [[Qing dynasty]]. The temple was named after the Buddhist sacred site [[Mount Putuo]] of Zhejiang Province, which is considered the abode of [[Guanyin Bodhisattva]]. The first elected abbot of the temple, Master Hui Quan set up [[:zh:闽南佛学院|Minnan Buddhist College]] in 1925. During cultural revolution, the temple was severely damaged and converted into a factory. After the cultural revolution, the status of the temple was finally reinstated and renovated in the 1980s.

The temple consists of four separate halls of worship, monks quarters and some of the finest maintained grounds and landscapes you're likely to find in any Chinese temple.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} Stone carvings, lotus filled ponds and secluded caves are scattered around the grounds. If you're after a bit of good luck, try tossing a coin on the rock behind the main temple, which is said to bring good luck your way. Behind the smoky courtyards, libraries, monk's digs, temples and statues of laughing Buddha Milefo is Wulao Feng, "the peak of five old men," which overlooks the South China Sea, offering a scenic view of Xiamen University campus and the sprawling urban metropolis of Xiamen.

Take a bus or cab to the temple which sits very close to Xiamen University on Siming Nanlu. The temple and the university gates are within 100 meters of each other.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

==== Brahma Temple ====
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Brahma Temple ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=梵天寺}}) is located at the southern foot of Dalun Mountain ({{lang-zh|labels=no|s=大轮山}}), which was established in the first year of Kaihuang of the [[Sui dynasty]] (581). Its primitive name is Xingjiao Temple, which is one of the earliest Buddhist temples in Fujian Province. Both of Miaoshi Temple in Xiamen Island and Sunlight Rock Temple in Gulangyu Island are the branch temples.

Even though Brahma Temple has experienced many vicissitudes of life, it cultivated many eminent monks, attracted refined scholars, gathered unceasing burning incense and enjoyed a widespread reputation. The distinguished Master [[Hong Yi]], Master [[Hong Choon]] and the Master [[Yin Shun]] who is the charismatic figure of Humanistic Buddhism in Taiwan has once stayed in the temple. There is a Brahman pagoda of the Song dynasty in the temple, which has been included in the first group of cultural relics in Fujian province.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

==== Belief in Life Protection Emperor ====
Life Protection Emperor ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=保生大帝信仰文化}}), commonly referred to as "[[Baosheng Dadi]]" ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=保生大帝}}) or "Dadaogong" ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=大道公}}), "Wuzhenren" ({{lang-zh|labels=no|s=吴真人}}) or "Huajiaogong" ({{lang-zh|labels=no|s=花桥公}}), is the Medicinal Deity popularly worshiped by people across Southern Fujian and the Chaozhou-Jieyang-Shantou region (Teochew speaking region in Guangdong province). There are temples dedicated to the deity across the Southern China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Among them, the Qingjiao Tzu Chi Temple and Baijiao Tzu Chi Temple are recognized as the ancestral temples of Life Protection Emperor.

Wu Tao or Wu Ben<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Folk memory of Baosheng Dadi|last = Li|first = C|date = 2011|journal = Zhonghua Yi Shi Za Zhi |pmid=22169495|volume=41| issue=4 |pages=249–51}}</ref> ({{lang|zh|吳本}}) was born in the village of Bailiao near Xiamen in Fujian Province, during the [[Song dynasty]] in the year 979.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Encyclopedia of Taoism|last = Pregadio|first = Fabrizio|publisher = Routledge|year = 2013|isbn = 9781135796341|pages = 218}}</ref> He was a skilled doctor and Taoist practitioner who was credited with performing medical miracles, including applying eye drops to a dragon's eye and removing a foreign object from a tiger's throat.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.baoan.org.tw/english/biographies_01.html|title = Baosheng Emperor|access-date = 2014-06-17|website = Dalongdong Baoan Temple|archive-date = 2014-03-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140307044603/http://www.baoan.org.tw/ENGLISH/biographies_01.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> After his death in 1036, he began to be worshiped as a [[Shen (Chinese religion)|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, [[Xian (Taoism)|Great Taoist Immortal]], and the Long-lived, Unbounded, Life Protection Emperor“.

==== Belief in Lord Chi ====
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Lord Chi ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=池王信仰文化}}), or Chi Ran, is an imperial official of [[Nanjing]] origin. He is very upright in disciplining himself and fulfilling his official responsibilities. It is said that in the era of [[Emperor Wanli]] of the Ming dynasty, Chi was appointed by the imperial court to be magistrate of Zhangzhou, Fujian province. He met two envoys when he passed Small Yingling Mountain, which is in present Xiang'an district. After having a good conversation with them, he knew that they were under the celestial imperial order from the [[Jade Emperor]] (the Supreme Lord of Heaven) and were instructed to spread plague among the population in Zhangzhou. Chi tried to get the poison from them and swallowed the poison immediately to prevent the plague. When he arrived at Maxiang, he was badly poisoned and his face turned black, then he died under a big banyan tree. Jade Emperor was touched by Chi's bravery and selfless sacrifice, and his love for the people as his children, so Chi was deified and titled "the Celestial Imperial Inspector representing the Heaven" ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=代天巡狩}}), and was promoted as [[Wang Ye worship|Wang Ye or Sacred Duke]].

After [[Koxinga]] took over Taiwan, the belief in Lord Chi has been transmitted to Taiwan and Southeast Asia. It has a history of over 300 years and Lord Chi has become one of the divinities (Wang Ye) worshipped in Taiwan.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

==== Belief in Fude Zhengshen ====
Belief in [[Fude Zhengshen]] ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=福德正神信仰文化}}) is the belief in the God of Earth. In [[Chinese folk religion]], the Earth Deity is also regarded as God of Wealth and Prosperity, because people believe that "land can bestowed wealth" ({{lang-zh|labels=no|c=有土斯有財}}).

Every year, the second day of the second month and the fifteenth day of eighth month on the [[Chinese calendar|Chinese lunar calendar]] are regarded the birthday of the Earth Deity. Every 16th day of the 12th month of the lunar calendar is the sacrifice day of the "year-end dinner". Folk activities include the ceremony to light the first incense to invite the ruler of heaven, holding the sacrifice ceremony, sending stoves, and offering incenses to Buddha. Among these activities, meeting the deities, dancing performances, and opera performed to show gratitude for gods are all cultural events.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}