Thirtieth anniversary of the Italian Daoist Church based in Caserta

Chiesa Taoista d'Italia, based in Caserta near Naples, celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of its activity on 27 May 2023. On this occasion, the solemn ritual Xiangong dianli chengxu biao was held, led by Venerable Li Zhiwang, President of the Singapore Daoist Mission and Abbot of Yu Huan Gong Temple. 

The event had special symbolic significance, as it coincided with the 9th day of the 4th lunar month, when the Daoist tradition celebrates the birthday of Zhang Sanfeng, the legendary master of internal arts and spiritual tradition.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of numerous international Daoist organizations, including from China, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Singapore, and Australia, as well as representatives of the Slovenian Daoist Temple of Supreme Harmony. The event thus confirmed the important role of the Italian Daoist community as one of the key European centers of Daoist connection.

A special place in the history of European Daoism belongs to the founder of the first Daoist religious community in Europe, Vincenzo di Ieso, also known as Venerable Master Li Xuanzong. Through his humility, perseverance, and clear vision, he has made an important contribution to the development of Daoism in the West.

His work also reflects the teaching from the classic text Daode jing 道德经 (Classic of the Way and Its Power), where chapter 67 speaks of the three treasures: compassion, modesty, and humility. These are precisely the values that Master Li Xuanzong consistently embodies in his work. In Italy, the traditional cradle of Catholic culture, he has succeeded in establishing an exceptional interfaith dialogue, which he continues to develop and deepen. His work has made an important contribution to connecting Daoist communities in Europe and in the wider international space.

The anniversary also included a historic interfaith meeting, organized in cooperation with the Pontificia Facoltà Teologica dell’Italia Meridionale, Sezione San Tommaso d’Aquino (Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy, St Thomas Aquinas Section), based in Naples. It is one of the central pontifical theological higher-education institutions in Italy, operating within the system of pontifical universities and faculties and playing an important role in academic theological education under the auspices of the Holy See.

The meeting was held under the theme Comunicare con il cuore (Communicating with the Heart) and represents an important contribution to the development of interfaith dialogue grounded in listening, respect, and the search for shared spiritual values.

The Slovenian Daoist Temple of Supreme Harmony also took an active part in the international interfaith meeting. Two representatives of the Slovenian Daoist Temple contributed two papers: Daoism – A Religion or a Philosophy?, prepared by Darija Mavrič Čeh, MA (Yuan Weixin), Vice-rector of the temple, and What is Peace Actually?, by Jure Čeh (Yuan Weiqi), Rector of the temple. The translation was provided by Luka Golob.

Thanks to careful organization, the contributions in the proceedings were translated in advance, which enabled the speakers to present in their national languages while making the content accessible to an international audience.

See links: https://www.agensir.it/quotidiano/2023/5/25/dialogo-interreligioso-
pftim-sez-san-tommaso-domani-a-napoli-seminario-internazionale-con-cristiani-e-
taoisti/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.gazzettadinapoli.it/eventi/napoli-capitale-del-dialogo-tra-…-
a-capodimonte-il-seminario-internazionale-tra-cristiani-e-
taoisti/?utm_source=chatgpt.com