Has anyone tried this? How effective is it?
[Is the voiceover for this electronic tour guide a loli voice or a baby voice? Just imagining a little girl earnestly introducing the deities in a Daoist temple makes me think the image is just...]
[Out of curiosity, I want to try it.]
These days, netizens are very curious, so quite a few actually came here specifically to try out the Daoist temple's electronic audio guide.
The electronic audio guide at Clear Breeze Temple is not free; it also requires payment. The normal price is 50 yuan per hour, with a maximum of 200 yuan.
Some netizens initially thought it was too expensive, but after hearing that there was a quiz and a chance to win cash prizes, they thought it might be okay.
Zhang Ru's best friend was one of these curious netizens.
After having a meal cooked by Daoist Chang Kong at Clear Breeze Temple with Zhang Ru last time, she went back to work for a while, and then couldn't resist coming back again.
I felt bad asking Zhang Ru to come with me this time, so I came by myself.
After arriving, she went straight to the Clear Breeze Temple canteen. Unfortunately, Zhang Ru had helped her queue up and save a seat last time, but not this time, so she had to settle for the new canteen. Fortunately, the food at the new canteen was quite good, especially their vegetarian noodles, which were the best vegetarian noodles Zhang Ru's best friend had ever eaten.
After finishing her noodles, Zhang Ru's best friend came here and paid for an electronic guide.
She didn't know what others thought, but she herself felt that such an electronic guide was quite necessary.
Because people like her, who don't often visit Daoist temples, basically don't recognize many deities. Sometimes, even when they want to pray, they're afraid of praying to the wrong one and being laughed at. They've heard that this electronic guide will not only explain in detail which deity they're facing, but also introduce some rituals for worshipping gods, which is perfect for young people.
My best friend didn't hesitate at all and readily paid for one.
The electronic guide was turned on, and a pleasant piece of music played first.
My best friend seemed quite captivated by the music. However, as soon as she entered the main hall, the music changed to a deep, masculine voice. "[Dear worshippers, welcome to the world of Clear Breeze Temple. You are now entering the first main hall of Clear Breeze Temple. The deity standing before you is Wang Lingguan, the first guardian deity of Daoism. Come, kneel down first, and let me introduce you to him.]"
Best friend. "..."
My best friend felt like she'd been brainwashed, because as soon as the voice in the electronic tour guide told her to kneel down, she obediently did so. Then she listened to the electronic tour guide ramble on and on for three minutes about Wang Lingguan.
Moreover, several subsequent halls followed the same pattern. First, they would tell her which deity she was facing, and then come back with the line, "Kneel down first, and let me explain to you slowly."
Finally, my best friend suddenly rebelled, thinking, "You want me to kneel? I won't. I want to see what you can do to me if I don't kneel."
The electronic guide then told her, "[The deity standing before you next is Zhao Gongming, also known as Zhao Xuantan or Black Tiger Xuantan, who is the God of Wealth worshipped in Daoism...]"
This time, my best friend didn't even need the electronic guide to make her kneel down; she obediently knelt down herself. Seriously, this is the God of Wealth!!!
-
My best friend has visited Clear Breeze Temple twice, and she's never been this tired before, from kneeling so much.
However, the final result was pretty good; it was tiring but enjoyable.
After she finished kneeling and praying, she actually won a 100 yuan cash coupon during the knowledge quiz lottery.
Last time I came here with Zhang Ru, my best friend bought a bunch of souvenirs at Clear Breeze Temple, but there were still many things she liked that she couldn't bring herself to buy. Now that she has this 100 yuan cash voucher, she felt that she might as well use it, so she ran back into the store and bought a whole bunch of things.
In fact, it wasn't just her; she saw many young girls coming out of the souvenir shop at Clear Breeze Temple, all carrying large bags and small packages.
Her best friend was instantly relieved. It was definitely not her fault. The only thing to blame was that the souvenirs at Clear Breeze Temple were just too perfect for them, making them unable to resist buying everything as soon as they went in.
The news that Clear Breeze Temple had installed an electronic guide not only spread online, but also reached the ears of other Daoist temples.
Most Daoist temples disagreed with this, but some felt that Clear Breeze Temple's move was innovative.
After all, these days many Daoist temples are opening Weibo and forums to survive, in order to communicate with netizens in multiple ways. Electronic guides are just a tool; as long as the ultimate goal is to spread the Tao, then there's nothing wrong with that.
The first to stand up for Yun Zhaozhao and Clear Breeze Temple was True Yang Temple.
Especially led by Daoist Jingyang.
Ever since Yun Zhaozhao met her Martial Uncle Chuli, she has long regarded Daoist Jingyang as one of her own.
Therefore, Yun Zhaozhao was filled with gratitude for Daoist Jingyang's righteous words. In addition to her gratitude, she also took the initiative to invite Daoist Jingyang to visit Clear Breeze Temple and experience the electronic guide.
Given True Yang Temple's prestigious reputation, they certainly wouldn't use electronic audio guides. They represent the orthodox Daoism, but experiencing it is still worthwhile.
To be honest, although Daoist Jingyang had been dealing with Yun Zhaozhao for a long time, he had never actually set foot in Clear Breeze Temple.
Upon receiving Yun Zhaozhao's invitation, Daoist Jingyang finally decided to accept.
Some Daoist abbots like to make a grand entrance when they go out, and they like to be surrounded by a retinue. But Daoist Jingyang is low-key and simple. He didn't even bother anyone and quietly came over with just one of his young disciples.
Yun Zhaozhao personally went to the entrance of Clear Breeze Temple to greet Daoist Jingyang.
After receiving the person, Daoist Jingyang told Yun Zhaozhao not to make a fuss, only saying that she should worship like an ordinary pilgrim.
So Yun Zhaozhao, along with Daoist Jingyang and Daoist Jingyang young apprentice, each took an electronic guide and followed the pilgrims in Clear Breeze Temple as they slowly explored the temple grounds.
In fact, this was the first time Yun Zhaozhao had ever paid homage to all the deities in her own Daoist temple from beginning to end. She was certainly not an atheist, but she was not exactly devout either.
However, it is clear that Daoist Jingyang is the most devout of the pilgrims.
From the moment he entered the Daoist temple, his expression was very serious. Whether burning incense or kowtowing, every action was filled with piety.
As he knelt on the prayer mat and kowtowed, Yun Zhaozhao couldn't help but think of her deceased grandmother. In fact, she hadn't known her grandmother for very long, only for the six months she couldn't find a job after graduating from university.
But the most vivid image in her memory was of her grandmother standing in front of the statue of the deity every morning, burning incense and praying.
What is faith? Faith is ethereal and intangible, but sometimes it can sustain a desperate person's life.
From the very beginning, when Yun Zhaozhao took over Clear Breeze Temple, all she could think about was money, money, money. But at this moment, watching Daoist Jingyang every three steps and bow every nine steps, burning incense and praying to the gods with such piety and seriousness, she felt for the first time that opening Clear Breeze Temple had a meaning beyond just money.
She suddenly understood why the old woman couldn't let go of Clear Breeze Temple until her death, and insisted that Yun Zhaozhao take over the temple.
Perhaps the old woman was protecting her own faith, and also the faith of the countless pilgrims who came and went.
Yun Zhaozhao accompanied Daoist Jingyang from beginning to end, without saying a word the entire time. However, the audio guide in her ear kept talking non-stop.
After finishing the last visit to the Hall of the Three Pure Ones, Daoist Jingyang finally removed the audio guide from his ear and, with a calm yet somewhat uneasy expression, offered Yun Zhaozhao a suggestion. "The audio guide was quite good and detailed, but there was one sentence that felt a bit too abrupt."
Yun Zhaozhao guessed it right away. "Is it that line, 'Kneel down first, and let me explain it to you slowly'?"
Daoist Jingyang nodded. "Yes."
Yun Zhaozhao: "Does Daoist Jingyang have any good suggestions?"
Daoist Jingyang: "I think it could be changed to -- Please kneel down first, and let me explain it to you slowly."
Yun Zhaozhao: "..." That's a good suggestion. You don't need to make suggestions like that next time.
Chapter 117
It's rare for Daoist Jingyang to visit Clear Breeze Temple, so Yun Zhaozhao definitely had to treat him to a meal.
Unlike the Daoist priests at Clear Breeze Temple, Daoist Jingyang is a true vegetarian who does not eat any meat.
Fortunately, Clear Breeze Temple now has its own vegetarian restaurant, so this is no problem for Yun Zhaozhao at all.
That day, Daoist Jingyang ordered a small bowl of vegetarian noodles and a vegetarian pancake for his main course. In addition, he also ordered a dish called "Golden Jade Abundance," which was made with corn kernels, bell peppers, and mung beans. For dessert, he ordered a golden melon soup.
Despite not being conventionally handsome, Daoist Jingyang has always loved sweets.
So of all the dishes served at lunch that day, his favorite was the golden pumpkin dish.
Hollow out a small golden pumpkin to make a cup, and fill it with various fruits, such as chestnuts, ginkgo nuts, cashews, figs, and red dates... They taste sweet and can instantly lift your spirits.
Daoist Jingyang liked it very much.
He not only liked the desserts at Clear Breeze Temple Clear Breeze Temple Restaurant, but he also liked the dining atmosphere there.
The canteen at True Yang Temple serves only vegetarian food, and everyone there is used to eating vegetarian meals every day, including the worshippers who come to the shop.
But neither the worshippers nor the Daoist priests dining at True Yang Temple showed any happiness on their faces while eating.
It felt like they ate not for enjoyment, but simply to survive.
Daoist Jingyang initially thought it was perfectly normal.
Because for so many years, True Yang Temple and he himself have always lived this way.
But while dining at the vegetarian restaurant of Clear Breeze Temple today, Daoist Jingyang suddenly realized that eating vegetarian food can also bring happiness and sweetness.
As long as this vegetarian dish tastes good enough.
Thinking of this, Daoist Jingyang couldn't help but ask Yun Zhaozhao curiously, "Did the head chef of your vegetarian canteen go somewhere to study culinary arts before? Otherwise, how could his cooking skills be so superb?"