| Baosheng Dadi | |||||||||||||||||
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 Old print sold in temples with a picture of Baosheng Dadi. | |||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 保生大帝 | ||||||||||||||||
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Baosheng Dadi is a Deity of Medicine worshiped in Chinese folk religion and Taoism. The deity is very popular in Fujian, Taiwan and the Chinese communities in Southeast Asia.
Wu Tao or Wu Ben[1] (吳本) was born in the village of Bailiao near Xiamen in Fujian Province, during the Song dynasty in the year 979.[2] He was a skilled doctor and Taoist practitioner who was credited with performing medical miracles, including applying eye drops to a dragon's eye and removing a foreign object from a tiger's throat.[3] After his death in 1036, he began to be worshiped as a deity. His deified status was officially recognized by the Hongxi Emperor of the Ming dynasty who conferred on him the title of “Imperial Inspector at Heavenly Gate, Miracle Doctor of Compassion Relief, Great Taoist Immortal, and the Long-lived, Unbounded, Life Protection Emperor (恩主昊天金闕御史慈濟醫靈妙道真君萬壽無極保生大帝)”.[4]
He is worshiped at many temples in Fujian and Taiwan,[5] including the famous Dalongdong Baoan Temple (大龍峒保安宮) in Taipei. His birthday is celebrated with parades and festivals on the 15th day of the third lunar month.[6]
