What is a lamppost? Brief introduction of lamp post

What is a lamppost? Brief introduction of lamp post

"Light pole" refers to an important symbol erected near the altar before and after the establishment of the altar in contemporary Taiwan Province Province, which is used to announce the start and end of the altar, mark the position of the altar and guide ghosts and gods to the altar. Usually, it is in the form of hanging lights and flags with several bamboo poles.

As early as the formation of Taoist ritual vessels, there was a practice of standing a nine-foot-long pole on an open-air altar and lighting nine lamps on the pole to pray for confession with "nine days to shine on nine secluded places". Today, although there is no lamp pole installed in the altar, the practice of lighting lamps on long poles still has a classical heritage. Only today, the meaning of praying by burning lanterns has been replaced by fighting lanterns in the altar, and lanterns outside the altar are more responsible for guiding ghosts and gods to the altar during sacrifice. Therefore, the preparation and erection of light poles often become an important work in the preparation stage of ceremonies. The selection of the first bamboo material in lantern pole making is always based on the whole bamboo with sufficient head and tail, and the higher the bamboo, the more auspicious it is. If the local temple is built or instructed by the gods, even the gods will fetch bamboo. The erection of light poles must be completed in advance one month or ten days before the festival.

Generally speaking, lamp poles are mostly located in the open space in front of the altar. If the altar is built in a temple, it will be erected on both sides of the main entrance of the temple, but considering the actual space limitation, it can be planned separately. In addition to the main pole in front of the altar, in some areas, private poles have been erected in the owner's own home and even all donors. As for the shape of light poles, it varies according to ritual types, Taoist sects and local customs, and it can be divided into two types: male poles for summoning gods and female poles for summoning ghosts. () In the case of yin and yang, three or five poles are erected on the left side, and lanterns, flags, clothes and money are hung on the poles to express gratitude. The same number of poles stand on the right side, with seven-star lanterns, soul-evoking ceilings, cloth and money to ward off evil spirits and donate money. If yin and yang are juxtaposed, the number of vertical branches is uncertain. Take Sanzhi as an example, the middle part is mostly sky lanterns, the left part is sky flags or evocation flags, and the right part is seven-star lanterns.

Although the lamppost stands in front of the altar, its lamppost cannot be erected until the flag-raising ceremony (also known as "Yasuda flag" or "flag-offering ceremony"). Only in this way can the lantern pole come into effect, so that gods and lonely souls can know this place, come to the altar or accept it. Among them, the height of the seven-star lamp will determine the scope and number of ghosts that can be invited. Therefore, the host often decides the height of the seven-star lamp according to the scale of the "Lonely Banquet" (a banquet for lonely souls) set by Purdue, so as to avoid regret caused by insufficient preparation of offerings. For example, in Tainan area, a fire is often held the day before praying for An An or Wang An. After the fire, the sky lamp and the seven-star lamp must be lowered, and then the sky lamp and the seven-star lamp will be raised the day after praying for An An to "raise the flag".

In addition to being an indicator to attract lonely souls to the Dojo, the lantern column is also a place to temporarily place lonely souls before the implementation of Puduyike. Under it, there is a sacred table and an offering, which is used to worship the Tiger Sage and the soul summoner who summons the lonely soul. At the end of the ceremony, when Purdue Yi Ke was officially held, the Taoists first led the spirits to the lamppost, then toured the solitary banquet for the net sacrifice, and finally made him stay in the "Cold Forest Academy" and "Tonggui Institute" for the time being, praying Taiyi to save the suffering Buddha and come to support him. Before the end of the ceremony, the ceremony of "thanking the pool" will be accompanied by "thanking the lamp poles", and the lamp poles will also be removed at this time. Li Dian officially ended.