Xiaying Bixia Palace

Xiaying Bixia Palace

Bixia Palace is located in Xiaying County, Dezhou City, Shandong Province. It is a Taoist temple primarily dedicated to the worship of Bixia Yuanjun. This site also serves as the headquarters of the Xiaying County Taoist Association.

Following the newly renovated “Virtue Avenue,” visitors can directly arrive at the main gate of Bixia Palace. Above the gate hang plaques inscribed with “Bixia Palace” and the name of the Xiaying Taoist Association. Passing through the gate, one sees a grand hall with upturned eaves standing prominently ahead. This hall is dedicated to the Taoist guardian deity, the God of Martial Justice. Behind the Hall of the God of Martial Justice lies a straight pathway leading to the main hall of Bixia Palace. Along both sides of the path are steles commemorating donors who contributed to the reconstruction of the temple. Walking along this path, one can’t help but feel deep respect for these generous and virtuous patrons.

Behind the steles are two tranquil green spaces. In these areas stand sculptures of a mother deer and her fawn nursing affectionately. Even in the cold winter, the sight brings a sense of warmth. In the southeast corner of the green space, there is a small pavilion where a fine horse is tethered. Legend has it that this horse was the mount of Bixia Yuanjun, also known as the Goddess of Mount Tai. It is said that she rode this horse across China to protect the lifelong health and safety of women and children.

The main hall of Bixia Palace is called the Bixia Shrine, which is primarily dedicated to Bixia Yuanjun. This is also the place where the resident Taoist priests of the palace conduct their daily morning and evening prayers and offer blessings and rituals for worshippers.

Beside the entrance of the Bixia Shrine is an inscription commemorating the reconstruction of the main hall. The inscription reads: The main hall of Bixia Palace was built in 2005 under limited conditions, resulting in a relatively simple structure. To promote Taoism and benefit all people, the abbot Master Zhang Chongfeng, disciple Li Gaolin (secular name Guolin), along with many devotees, worked tirelessly to plan and raise funds. Thanks to the generous contribution of Zhu Hongxia from Hongxia Hospital, a devout believer, the main hall has now been restored and the divine statues reconstructed. The hall enshrines three deities, known as Eldest Grandma, Second Grandma, and Third Grandma.

On either side of the main hall are several auxiliary halls, including the Hall of the Three Pure Ones, the Hall of the Jade Emperor, the Hall of the God of Wealth, and the Hall of Goddesses, where various female deities are gathered together.

On the birthdays of Taoist patriarchs and on days considered auspicious according to the Taoist calendar, all Taoist practitioners of Bixia Palace, led by Abbess Zhang Chongfeng, perform rituals to pray for blessings and ward off disasters for local worshippers and Taoists everywhere, in order to safeguard the harmony of heaven, earth, and China.

Source: Daoism Voice