Spirituality in Taiwan

According to Yi - jia Tsai, his article titled "The Writing of History: The Religious Practices of the Mediums' Association in Taiwan," is about "how mediums in contemporary Taiwan engage themselves in the complicated project of modernity" (43). The article mentions the overall importance of mediums in Taiwanese culture. Tsai points out that they have "religious, medical, and political significance" (44). Right away this is a point of interest because it shows a fundamental cultural difference between Taiwan and most Western nations. In the West, the concept of mediums or metaphysical healers, is not taken very seriously. Because the Taiwanese firmly believe in mediumship, this has become a matter of interest for anthropologists. Tsai also talks about the "founding of the Mediums' Association," which "was inspired by a divine revelation received during a meeting of mediums in 1988" (47). This group is considered to be consisting of "religious professionals" (48). These professionals do not associate themselves with rigid religious structures, rather they subscribe to more open - ended spiritual concepts. Philosophies that revolve around ideas of "heaven, earth and humankind," (48) essentially ideas that could inspire the new age thinking currently found in the west. Tsai continues to talk about the Mediums' Association, mentioning the movement that occurred in central Taiwan. Apparently "this movement was inspired by the revelation of deities" (54). It is interesting to note that political decisions are being made based on spiritual ways of thinking, which could not be farther from the secular mindset we are used to in the west. In Taiwan however, spirituality is very much connected to politics. Tsai mentions that "according to mediums, the spirit realm, like the human world, has to face the issue of political tension" (59). He brings this up as an explanation for the "continuous conflict between Mainland China and Taiwan" but it could also explain why Taiwanese people allow mediumship and spiritual matters to be prevalent in the many different aspects of their lives. If politics are integrated into the "spirit realm," then why can't spiritually be taken seriously in a political sense? It is a way of thinking that could not take place in the west but it seems to be a normative mode Ti - jia Tsai is trying to describe in his article. 

Overall, Tsai talked about the Mediums' Association and issues surrounding this organization but the interesting ideas to extract from this article are about spirituality in general. It is fascinating how Taiwan can integrate their belief in mediumship and other metaphysical concepts, into most aspects of their culture. Tsai mentions that mediums offer an alternative way of looking at things. Their views are different than, for example, the Nationalist Party. He attempts to show mediums as people who are offering an alternative to the Taiwanese but at the same time he is describing them as part of the norm within the society. Life in Taiwan seems to be organically integrated with spirituality. There is a belief and reliance on the spiritual. This way of thinking is certainly not a normative model for the west but it makes Taiwan all the more interesting. 

Works Cited

Tsai, Yi-jia. 2004. “The Writing of History: The Religious Practices of the Medium’s Association in 

Taiwan.” Taiwan Journal of Anthropology 2 (2): 43-80.