Let’s Talk About the Myths of Amulets and Protective Artifacts

2. His talisman is folded carelessly, and the angles and folds are all wrong. Does that mean this temple is fake?
A: Who exactly decided how many folds there should be? And what should the angles be? If that’s the case, we might as well open a craft store! If I were a deity wanting to bless someone, would I really care about how meticulously it was folded? In ancient times, when people left home, they would grab a handful of dirt from the ground and wrap it up in whatever they could find to feel the protection of their hometown’s earth deity. Those who had nearby temples would also just put something small in their pocket and head out. The casually wrapped offerings during the Tang Dynasty when they came to Taiwan were plentiful; interestingly enough, those casual offerings later became part of thriving temples in Taiwan. So I ask again, who set these rules? Why scare yourself with self-imposed restrictions? A deity loves you like a parent; how could there be so many conditions?

3. As for artifacts, whether worn on oneself or kept at home, sometimes one might want to change chains or settings… When others touch them, do I need to re-purify them?

A: These items are already yours once you’ve received them (i.e., they’ve been named). Let’s put it this way: You’ve been called Wang Xiaoming since you were little; will you become Chen Xiaoming just because someone touched you or helped change your clothes? Will you turn into your mother if she touches you?

Stop being so fearful due to commercial interests that you’ve been taught to approach deities with trepidation. Before even feeling warmth from them, you’re already burdened with a bunch of self-imposed costs that scare you—what kind of divine logic is that?