The Lunar New Year falls on January 25 in 2020, and as a multicultural melting pot, Sydney is preparing the largest Lunar New Year celebrations in the country.
Unlike the very few people will know of the Taoist ceremony taking place before Dragon Boat racing in Sydney's celebrations this year. Even fewer know about Taoism and the religion's connection with Lunar New Year.
Indeed, Lunar New Year celebrations are deeply influenced by three belief systems: Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
While Australians may not know much about Taoism, most will have heard of the Yin and Yang symbol, Tai chi and Feng Shui, which all hail from this folk religion.
The Chinese Zodiac also links with Taoism, as according to Chinese folk law, in legendary times the Jade Emperor, who was the Taoist god of Heaven and Earth, selected the Zodiac animals by way of a race.
Taoist blessing at a Lunar New Year celebration in Chatswood, Sydney. Source: Supplied
In Australia, few people are affiliated with Taoism, even within the Chinese community.
But Maisy Yan, a Sydney based female Taoist priest devoted herself to develop the culture and religion in Australia.
Ms Yan inherited the religion from her family.
"This carried down from my grandparents, my parents to my own family. In 2009 I finished my religious study in Tianshi Temple and became a qualified Taoist," she told SBS Mandarin.
Ms Yan has been the official priest for Sydney Lunar Festival's Dragon Boat Racing in Darling Harbour for many years. During the ceremony, Ms Yan leads other Taoists to pray to gods, chant mantras and bless all athletes with good wishes.
Ms Yan's Taoist group and Sydney City councillors at Dragon Boat Racing. Source: Supplied
She believes the ceremony during Lunar New Year is very important as "it is a blessing for the local community and the whole society".
The ceremony is to bless people in the upcoming year with a safe trip, successful career and happy family life. It also blesses the ghosts to leave suffering and attain bliss.
As a Chinese folk religion, Taoism emphasises nature, simplicity, spontaneity, compassion, frugality, and humility. As it is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, Ms Yan hopes she can raise its profile among the local Chinese community.
"For Chinese people, Taoism is the guidance of understanding the world and way of life... It relates to all aspects of Chinese society such as governing the country, family relationships, even military affairs, astronomy, geography, music, medical and martial arts. It is the foundation of traditional Chinese culture.
"Now I have some students with me and we work as a team. As more and more people join in, we are doing more and more work on Taoism."
According to the 2016 Census, only 5,488 people in Australia described themselves as Taoists. It has increased by 29 per cent since 2014.
Ms Yan and local community members. Source: Supplied
