People-centric services
Reacting to the complexity of contemporary romance, many temples have developed more diversified and people-centric “Yue Lao services.”
Yu Zhimin, secretary of Tainan’s Martial Temple, has been manning the temple’s service desk for over four years, clearing up the confusions of men and women of all stripes. Drawing on his own experience, he says that in recent years the number of people seeking marital assistance has risen to roughly 46% of temple visitors, and the male-female breakdown is roughly 30:70. People looking for better health account for a further 30% of visitors. The remainder are largely seeking familial harmony or career help.
The temple bulletin board clearly delineates Yue Lao’s responsibilities: “interpersonal relations, marriage, ‘peach-blossom public relations,’ reunions, keeping relationships alive, and ‘plucking spoiled peach blossoms.’” His altar is practically a convenience store for relationship consulting.
Yu explains that “peach-blossom public relations” refers to short-term “marriages” intended to address professional needs. “For example, a bar girl hoping to bring in more customers, or a male seller of perfumes seeking to impress women and make them into repeat customers. As long as no one’s getting hurt, short-term flings are permitted.”
“Plucking spoiled peach blossoms” is another service that reflects contemporary sentiments. “The Martial Temple primarily honors Guan Yu, who is benevolent, righteous, courteous, wise, and honest. He is therefore very intolerant of dishonesty and inappropriate behavior towards a spouse. When necessary, he gives offenders three raps with his staff.”
But people can’t rely exclusively on the gods; they must also help themselves. “When you make your case to Yue Lao, you have to change your own behavior as well,” says Yu. Upright, outspoken, and in his own words, “obedient to the will of Heaven,” Yu says that when he deals with a wife complaining about a husband deviating from the straight and narrow, he sometimes has to give her a rap on the knuckles: “You are rude and arrogant, and dress in a slovenly fashion. Half the blame is yours!”
He also ran into a heartbroken young woman sobbing to Yue Lao that her boyfriend had had a change of heart. He reminded her: “Your fortune says you will have three relationships. This one was just a passing thing. Be strong and let go. The experience will help you mature, and you’ll meet the right person eventually.”
Tainan’s Martial Temple gave Yue Lao his septennial bath early this year, whitening a face and beard blackened by constant exposure to incense smoke. The bath also gave the god a more affable look, making him appear to smile upon the desires of mortals.