Traditional Chinese medicine doctor builds temple that has supported 78 medical students over 10 years

Three newly admitted medical students visited a temple in Tainan before starting university, returning to thank Shennong the Great Emperor for what they saw as spiritual support during their exams.

Kaitian Shengming Temple in Yongkang was founded 10 years ago by Chen Junming, a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. The temple says 78 students have since successfully entered medical programs. This year, 21 students qualified for medicine, traditional Chinese medicine or dentistry.

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The deity became a spiritual support for many students taking entrance exams for medicine, dentistry, traditional Chinese medicine and graduate-entry traditional Chinese medicine programs.

Chen said students preparing for medical and dental entrance exams often visit the temple to seek steadiness, concentration and confidence under academic pressure. The temple’s faith centers on Shennong, a figure associated with traditional medicine and healing.

Xue Xiangzhen, a graduate of Tainan First Senior High School, said praying at the temple before the exam helped him feel calm. He was admitted to both the medical programs at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and National Cheng Kung University, and chose Cheng Kung because he likes Tainan.

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I felt very calm and received a great deal of support.

Zhong Mingyu, who attended Yinghai High School, entered Taipei Medical University through an academic recommendation program. He said he visited the temple before his interview, then returned home feeling settled enough to focus fully on preparing.

Huang Hsuyuan had entered National Cheng Kung University’s chemistry department the previous year but remained determined to study medicine. During a year of preparation, he often visited the temple with his mother when the pressure became intense. He eventually gained admission to Kaohsiung Medical University’s medical program.

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When I felt a lot of psychological pressure, I often went to the temple with my mother to pray to Shennong the Great Emperor and found peace in my heart.