A study of nonprofit temple organizations involved in community development: using Daitian Temple in Hamasen as an example

using Daitian Temple in Hamasen as an example

Abstract

The concept of community governance of local affairs was developed in Taiwan after World War II. Located in Southern Taiwan, Hamasen is one of the communities formed after land reclamation following the Japanese colonial period. During the recovery period after the War, along with the booming of the fishery industry and a collective consciousness developed by immigrants who moved in to the community, Diatian Temple was built by the residents of Hamasen. Founded on religious principles, a nonprofit organization was set up in the spirit of mutual help and altruism to create a sense of community building distinct from that of governmental policies. This study observes the assistance of Daitian Temple to the community residents of Hamasen to form a nonprofit organization and participate in public affairs in the community, and compares differences between this nonprofit organization and others.

Firstly, Hamasen is a community built by immigrants, and it played a pivotal role in the development of the fishing industry in Taiwan in earlier times. Industrial prosperity helped to develop a robust industrial chain in the community. The history of community development and industrial characteristics built collective memories and a strong consensus, both of which are necessary foundations for community building. Residents participated in public affairs ranging from community transportation, cultural preservation and community identity, to community events. Scholars worked with Daitian Temple to bring attention to the importance and historical value of the old train station and railway, using soft protest methods of traffic obstruction or collective kite flying. They also continuously negotiated with the local government to express their opinions regarding the name change of the MRT station. During these processes, Daitian Temple played a vital role.

Secondly, temple based nonprofit organizations are run with a religious, charitable, and volunteering nature, with a relatively small number of one-off volunteers and a stable financial income. In addition, their experience in funding the building of temples demonstrates their strong religious belief and loyalty to the temples that give them more flexibility than the non-religious nonprofit organizations. Furthermore, their background in community development and a strong community consciousness enable Hamasen to not rely solely on the structure of government in Taiwan. From the beginning, Datian Temple has encouraged community participation in different issues, and now its role has been taken by different nonprofit organizations in the community to promote participation in public affairs such as historical culture, industrial services, and social services.