Online Temple Worship: A Complete Guide
Tianyun Temple is a 3D Mazu temple that never closes. Open the page and you are standing in the courtyard; the other worshippers around you are real people, online at the same moment. The rituals follow the order of a traditional Taiwanese temple: taking incense, bowing, casting the divination blocks, drawing a fortune slip, burning joss paper, and returning to give thanks.
Everything is free and nothing requires an account. Coins for incense and offerings are earned by worshipping and by playing the night-market games. This guide covers each part of the temple in detail — what it is, how to do it, and the etiquette behind it.
Guides
How to Worship Online: A Complete GuideA step-by-step guide to worshipping online: no travel needed. Open the page to offer incense at a Mazu temple, cast the moon blocks, draw a fortune slip and light a lamp. Free, no signup, phone or desktop.
Divination Blocks: Sacred, Laughing and YinWhat the divination blocks mean: Sacred (one flat, one round), Laughing (both flat) and Yin (both round), plus the correct steps, the taboos, and how to cast them online at Tianyun Temple.
How to Ask the Divination BlocksCasting the blocks is not about throwing a worry at a deity. Yes-or-no phrasing, example questions, the right order for follow-ups, reading three sacred blocks, five common mistakes, and the online flow.
Drawing a Fortune Slip: How to Ask and Read ItA complete guide to drawing a fortune slip online: casting the blocks first, reading a Mazu fortune poem, and the usual taboos. Free online slips at Tianyun Temple, any time.
Light of Brightness Lamps, ExplainedWhat the Light of Brightness lamp means, when to offer one, and how online lamp offerings work. Free at Tianyun Temple, on a shared wall of lamps, for yourself and your family.
Pudu: Offerings, Order of Service, TaboosA complete guide to Pudu: where Pudu Gong and the good brothers come from, how to prepare the three offerings and five fruits, the full table-to-joss-paper sequence, five taboos, and how to do it online at Tianyun Temple.
Shoujing: What It Is and When to Have It DoneShoujing explained: where the ritual comes from, which situations suit it, how the traditional rice-and-incense version works, what to watch with children, and how to queue for it online at Tianyun Temple.
Antaisui: 2027 Zodiac Signs and How to Do ItA complete guide to Antaisui: where Tai Sui comes from, which zodiac signs offend the year in 2027 and 2026 (value, clash, harm, break, punishment), what to prepare, and how to do it online at Tianyun Temple.
Mazu's Birthday and the Procession TraditionMazu's birthday falls on the twenty-third day of the third lunar month. Where the "March Mazu madness" comes from, what the Dajia procession involves, and how to celebrate online if you cannot be there.
Yue Lao: Asking for the Red ThreadA complete guide to worshipping Yue Lao: how to describe the partner you are looking for, where the red thread comes from, the taboos, and how to worship Yue Lao online at Tianyun Temple.
Worshipping the Wealth Deity: How to AskA complete guide to worshipping the Wealth Deity: civil versus martial wealth gods, where the wealth treasury comes from, how to phrase a request for wealth, and how to do it online at Tianyun Temple.
Praying Before Exams: A Wenchang GuideA guide for students: Wenchang governs academic success and official rank. How to pray before an exam, what to do with a copy of your admission ticket, and how to worship Wenchang online.
Worshipping Guanyin for PeaceGuanyin hears every cry for help and is the most approachable deity for praying for peace. How to worship Guanyin, her three festival days, and how to do it online at Tianyun Temple.
Wishing and Fulfilling Vows: A Complete GuideHow to make a wish that can come true: the right shape of a wish, when and how to fulfil it, and how to use the online wish wall at Tianyun Temple.
Temple Fair: Games, Daily Paper, Merit RollTianyun Temple is more than a temple: ring toss, pachinko, capsule toys, the Empress of Heaven Daily, the merit roll, fireworks and sky lanterns — the full guide.
How to Fulfil a Vow: Timing and OfferingsHow to fulfil a vow: when to do it after a wish comes true, what offerings to prepare, the sequence at a temple or online, what to do if you forgot, and the common misconceptions.
Frequently asked questions
Sincerity is what counts. Tianyun Temple follows the traditional sequence — incense, bowing, divination blocks, fortune slips, lamps, joss paper, vows — but the form is only a support. The intention is the point.
Neither. Open the page and you get a character of your own. Coins, outfits and lamp records are stored on your device, and there is nothing to buy.
Yes. Tianyun Temple is a PWA; open it in any mobile browser, or add it to your home screen for a full-screen, app-like experience.
Nothing. Get a bundle of incense, joss paper and offerings from the service desk (paid in temple coins), then follow the worship prompts around the hall.
It is recommended: the Heaven Lord censer first, then Mazu, then the other deities in order. One stick per burner. If you leave halfway, your progress is saved.
One sacred block is enough for small matters. For important ones, three in a row is the traditional standard. Phrase the question so it can be answered yes or no.
Traditionally one slip per question, per day. There is no technical limit, but asking too much makes every answer meaningless.
No. Your name is only used on screen and stays in your own browser. To move to another device, copy your recovery code and enter it there.
This site is a cultural and reflective experience. It is not medical, psychological, financial or legal advice. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.
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