Deities and Faith
Can a deity invited home from a temple gradually grow up?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
I believe deities also learn and grow, but 'growing up' here does not necessarily mean a body growing from age three to ten like a human. It is easier to understand as gradually increasing experience, ability, and expertise in serving living beings.
A teacher beginning to teach and one with twenty years of experience handle matters differently. From this perspective, saying the Third Prince has grown up describes growth in energy and ability. Saying his form remains three years old is also possible, because the two statements concern different things.
I would not say major growth in a few months is entirely impossible, but development generally still takes time and experience. In my understanding of faith, deities helping people in this world also need to cooperate with their representatives. Merely enshrining a statue does not establish how much a deity's ability has increased. First clarify what the person means by 'growing up' before discussing it, so that you are not talking past each other.