Taiwan Temples Photos
Temple worship is part of life for many people in Taiwan.
These photos provide a respectful look at temples in Taipei and the Dajia District of Taichung. The Lungshan Temple in Taipei was built in 1738. The temple in Dajia honors the goddess Matsu and other less powerful deities.
Taiwan is a modern country with excellent streets and highways.
The capital city of Taipei is open 24 hours daily all week long.
The cities are full, safe and have interesting night markets.
People you meet in the night markets are friendly and like chocolate.
Four wheel and two vehicles mix well on the streets.
In this genuinely polite and pragmatic country, scooters are given special considerations, meaning the last shall be first, at least at traffic lights.
Traffic lights politely give people plenty of time to cross the streets. Taiwan is pedestrian friendly.
A memorial honors Chiang Kai-Shek. A playful lion guards the memorial.
Taipei 101 is one of tallest highrise buildings in the world.
The view from the base of Taipei 101 is impressive.
The top of Taipei 101 reveals a modern civilization condensed into a small space. Generally speaking people strive to get along.
Taiwan also worships idols. This is a not criticism, but a characteristic of this island nation. This observation is from a foreigner who loves Taiwan and its kind, pragmatic people.
An idol along a highway was the first hint at idol worship. Calling the objects idols is not a criticism, but a fact of life in Taiwan, or so the people of Taiwan say.
The Lungshan Temple in Taipei was constructed beginning in 1738. It is the oldest center of idol worship in Taipei.
The steep roofs at Lungshan Temple prevent evil spirits from alighting on the temple.
Dragons and other creatures at Lungshan Temple also drive off evil spirits.
A fountain is cool and refreshing inside the temple gate at Lungshan Temple. The religion mixes the beliefs and practices of Buddhism, Taoism and native ancestor worship.
Food on a table provides sustenance for those who have pasted to the next life.
Lungshan Temple in Taiwan is busy each day with thousands of worshippers. Weekends generate the most traffic.
Worshippers burn incense at Lungshan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan. The incense represents prayers to idols and ancestors.
Worshippers show respect to ancestors and idols with lighted candles at Lungshan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan.
Incense fills the inner court of Lungshan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan.
Lungshan Temple in Taipei Taiwan is surrounded by modern apartment buildings, creating a mixture of old and new.
Worshippers pray at Lungshan Temple in Taipai Taiwan. Visisting the temple is a sign of respect for ancestors and idols. Worshippers seeks aid from these during times of stress. They also give thanks.
When worshippers burn incease the smoke and scent penetrates the spirit world, reaching and pleasing the ancestors.
When worshippers pray with folded hands and burning incense they are seeking the favor and protection the idols and ancestors can provide.
The idols reside in enclaves in the inner court. The temple encourages observing and photographing. They ask visitors to not walk between worshippers and idols.
Worshippers kneel before an idol.
A worshiper recites prayers with a bead chain.
The most famous temple for the goddess Matsu—aka Mazu—is located in Dajia District of Taichung in central Taiwan.
Playful lions guard the temple courtyard of the goddess Matsu, protector of those who go to sea. It is located in the Dajia District of Taichung, Taiwan.
The temple for Matsu is busy all day everyday. People come to burn incense and offer temple money to ancestors and idols.
Statues and peaked roofs protect the temple from evil spirits. This temple is for the goddess Matsu. It located in the Dajia District of Taichung.
Each of the statues has a story. The statues help protect the temple to Matsu. They keep away evil spirits.
Dragons protect the temple against evil spirits. This temple is for the goddess Mastsu and other less powerful deities.
A man with a cell phone enters the temple, while a woman in the background burns temple money as a gift to ancestors. This temple is for Matsu in the Dajia District of Taichung, Taiwan.
Each lighted eye represents a person protected by the powers of the temple.
Some of the idols at the temple for Matsu are less powerful deities. This temple is located in the Dajia District of Taichung, Taiwan
A white-shirted man with a briefcase worships at the temple made for Matsu. Next to him is a playful lion statue. The temple sits in the Dajia District of Taichung, Taiwan.
Worshippers burn incense and leave food offerings at the temple where Matsu is the primary goddess. The temple is located in the Dajia District of Taichung, Taiwan.
The temple in Dajia is one of 800 to 1000 in Taiwan honoring Matsu, the protector of those who go to sea. Dajia is a district of Taichung.
A young girl lights incense in the temple made for Matsu. It is located in the Dajia District of Taichung. Other young worshippers are to her left.
Women kneel before one of the many idlols in the temple for Matsu. Matsu is the most powerful of the idols at the temple in the Dajia District of Taichun, Taiwan.
Worshipper kneels before an idol in the temple for Matsu. It is located in the Dajia District of Taichung, Taiwan
Worshippers burn incense.
