Time and Materials at the Changhe Temple in Hsinchu Taiwan

Temple managers in Taiwan engage in practical theorizing about the relationship between material objects and ritual.Their varied responsibilities include acquiring materials, overseeing renovations, recruiting ritual specialists, and taking part in ceremonies.In temple publications, they reflect on commonalities among these activities, and their insights can contribute to the academic study of material culture.This article illustrates the point through a case study of the renovations and subsequent ritual celebrations at the Changhe Temple in Hsinchu Taiwan from 1998 to 2004.The construction project and subsequent performance of a Daoist jiao offering were part of the same process.The underlying idea of improving and extending through time (Ch.xiu ) linked renovations and rituals.Managers viewed both as ways to renew the temple community, to protect temple buildings, and to pass liturgical and craft knowledge to future generations.