Spring Travel Exhibition / Longest Queues Form for Tossing Divining Blocks to Pray for Safety Amulets and Interpret Fortune Sticks

Reported and photographed by You [name obscured] / Taipei

The Taipei International Spring Travel Exhibition has kicked off, with exhibitors pulling out all the stops to attract visitors. Among them, one vendor isn’t offering discounts but instead hosting a “live prayer for safety amulets” event — anyone who tosses two divining blocks and gets a “sacred pair” can receive a safety amulet from Yuandao Guanyin Temple. The divining block toss area was packed with middle-aged women, with queues stretching nearly 10 meters. Some who didn’t get a sacred pair even lined up three times in a row just to secure a “travel safety amulet,” a limited-edition item exclusive to the exhibition.


                              ▲ The amulet prayer activity at the exhibition drew huge crowds.


▲ Safety amulets are only given to those who toss a sacred pair.

“Silently recite a Buddha’s name in your heart, and toss the blocks with sincerity!” As the host called out, the middle-aged women immediately knelt before the exhibition booth and respectfully tossed the tri-colored (yellow, blue, and red) divining blocks, hoping to receive a “safety amulet.” “I never have time to go to a temple to pray for an amulet, so I figured I’d take the chance while at the travel show,” said Ms. Lin, who failed twice in a row but remained determined to toss a sacred pair in hopes of gaining divine protection.

In addition to tossing blocks for safety amulets, Yuandao Guanyin Temple also offers free on-site fortune stick drawing and interpretation services. Visitors simply meditate on a Buddha’s name in front of a computer, then operate the system to toss divining blocks that generate three numbers, which are used to draw a physical fortune stick — with staff on hand to interpret it. “The fortune sticks from this temple are incredibly accurate. There was reportedly someone from southern Taiwan who traveled all the way to Yuandao Guanyin Temple in Tamsui to pray for a baby, and ended up successfully conceiving afterward,” explained an exhibitor. Aside from offering deals, providing safety amulet prayers and fortune interpretation services adds more fun to the exhibition, allowing visitors to seek blessings and peace of mind while exploring travel options.


▲ On-site fortune stick service.


▲ After drawing a stick, visitors can also have it interpreted on the spot.