Taiwan

Number of temples grows in Taiwan

In July's 28 printed edition of Taipei times there is short article with a statistics (I love statistics, there is a real life behind it), about number of temples in Taiwan.

Fow now, as Ministry of Interior says there is 14,993 temples in Taiwan. And there definetly is, because wherever you go you in Taiwan, you will find one - small and big - they are just everywhere, you can stumble upon one even in the middle of rice field.

If the nation has about 20 million residents, that means there is 1 temple for each 1500 people. Is that much? In my opinion, it's very much... however, I do not have data to compare for example with Cambodia or Lao, or India.

At the end of last year Taiwan had 11,731 temples and 3262 churches.

78.4 % percent are Taoist temples - there is not only Taoist folk deities but also Buddha, and also Buddhas Goddess Guanyin. Which part of the Taiwan have biggest density of temples. It's southern Taiwan, and Tainan county is a leader with 1245 temples, and then comes Kaohsiung 1142 and Pingtung county with 1068.

Taipei however has most of Taiwan's churches 432, and then of course next place where you will find more churches is at east side - Hualien county alone has 300 churches. And really, if you happen to be driving in east side of Taiwan - density of temples drops, they are very rarely seen.

Protestant churches outnumber Catholic churches by 3 to 1.

Let's juice up the the post with some of examples of temples in Taiwan - seeing is believing.

This temple can be found in beautiful mountains somewhere in Miaoli county - do not ask me exactly where though. But views are realy great - just look at this:











Closer view



Those are used for getting answers yes or no. Ask something with a question yes or no, and throw 2 pieces on a ground, and depending on how they land you will have instant answer from God.



To easy for you? For more detailed answers look for such shelves - together with numbered sticks (you should take 1 from many), which shows which card you should read, they provide more insights in your future.



Nothing different with horoscopes - if you believe in this, then you also should believe in those cards.

Jiouhua Mountain Monastery and Temple in Tongluo, Miaoli county, Western Taiwan

If you happen to be driving from Tongluo (銅鑼) - small rural township in Miaoli county in Western Taiwan to Sanyi township, a place worth to visit is Jiouhua Mountain Monastery and Temple - place that reveals a real heart of contemporary Taiwanese religion and gives you insight in a spirit of Western Taiwan. You will not find this place in tourist guides, while everyone who lives on western taiwan knows this place. Students come here to pray before exams, some people come here several times per year to pray - and - eat "good" noodles. What's "good" noodles? Stay with me, you will see. Now, we did not arrived yet, there is a place to visit before.

Don't miss the turn, it shows just a turn to Jiouhua mountain:

 

Soon, after you turn right following this road:

...you'll stumble upon interesting place. I would call it tea shop, but it's something really unexpected here.



and the nearby shop, where you can find a snacks and nuts (at least at the moment, we were here - may, 2009).



At this moment, the tea shop seemed to be closed, but i was so interested about it, that one of older woman went out and then after a moment a woman - owner appeared in a door, and opened tea shop just for us. She told, that they are usually open in november only, when Chrysanthemum full blooms - in fact that's what Miaoli and Tongluo is proud of - Chrysanthemums, and their blossoms. Owner told us that it is worth for them to be open just at this time of year. Nevertheless she is so warm and welcome to us! After short chat, we decide to try Chrysanthemum flower tea, coffee and what else she can make for us. I took a walk in garden while snacks where preparing:





In november, when Chrysanthemum blooms, they also offer bicycles for rent.







Here's what we've got. Chrysanthemum flower tea, coffee and really tasty honey cake - seems warmth of welcoming hosts are transforming in their snacks also.



Aroma & taste is very special - you need to try it, it can not be described and photo can not pass aromas...

For the temple itself - in fact the tea shop already made my mood good for all the day, it turned out as a very big place, surrounded with a supplementary small business - there a lineups with noodles sellers before the temple you buy it, and then give away, and then they cook it and you eat for free. That's the idea.



When you approach the temple, monks chants are heard already from a distance, and here is what opens to your eyes once you arrive:



Singers are two monks in black, standing with faces to temple:







I noticed that here prayers were older man and woman, while "good" noodles - those were eating everyone - small and not so.

According tradition, you need eat those noodles and luck will be with you - those are good noodles.

Let's try, here you see the serving room, a really big place:

Of course signs of "no photo" are everywhere, but I still wanted share this to world - so, I did it for YOU:





Serving "good" noodles for everyone...



Choose your seat...



... and enjoy your meal - especially recommended before important university exams!

Matsu goddess procession comes to Fengchia street in Taichung

Last April I was lucky to witness Matsu goddess procession right in my district near Fengchia Park in Taichung. Matsu goddess procession is one of the most important religious rituals in Taiwan and especially in central region of Taiwan, mainly of course because of DaJia Matsu Temple, from where most biggest Matsu event usually starts.
As Taiwanfun.com points out:

"Each spring, Taichung county's Dajia (Tachia) town becomes a busy hive of religious and tourist activity as preparations for the goddess Matsu's birthday celebrations take place. Matsu, who came to Taiwan with 17th-century immigrants from Fujian province, is the most worshipped deity in Taiwan with hundreds of temples around the island devoted to her.
Matsu's birthday falls on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, but is usually celebrated earlier with a pilgrimage to sister Matsu temples. The pilgrimage procession starts from the Chenlan Temple in Dajia and goes hundreds of kilometers through Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi counties before returning to Dajia eight days later. "

This time however, "another" Matsu arrived on Fengchia street, and a woman in nearby restarant was kind enough to say a story, which follows exactly this Matsu. I am re-writing the story from her words, so if someone knows some discrepancies, please point them out in comments.
There was a parents, who's daugther recently died. At the same time, some businessman (she told us exactly this - businessman), saw in a dream this woman, which he never knew before, and she asked him go find her parents, and tell them, that near their house, under the tree, there is a gold buried. Businessman found the parents and told them about his dream and they really found gold. After that, frustrated and shocked they went to temple for prey, and found that Matsu goddess is crying.
Well, it seems a kind of Virgin Mary Statue Crying story.
Anyway, that's a story behind this Matsu, and my goal is to show anyone this procession as it looks like - photos and videos are to follow now.

Small temple host prepares for a ritual dance to meet Matsu when she will arrive. Procession at this moment is pretty close, as you can see the motorbike approaching with a flag - they are following procession, and some goes before it. Here are some more photos of this man:



Notice the red "snake" on a street - fireworks are prepared to make as much noise as possible - Taiwan is loud country. Just remember what noise are made at Bombing the Dragon Festival - videos are here.





It's really meditation now - watch how he concentrates for a dance.

And here they come:

2 police cars escorts procession. Singing bettelnut style girls and drummers are going first.





Followers keeping flags in hands rushes over the street trying to catch the procession.

Eventually it stops, so you can enjoy the drums more:







Finally Matsu arrives - and most interesting moment happens - man meets Matsu by ritual dance. Just watch above video!

Welcome, Matsu!

At this moment you may think, that most interesting is over. No! Most interesting starts just now. Watch below! There is one more Matsu? I could not figure out, but seems this one is more important one, as now fireworks were launched, and noise were such that my camera one moment even lost connection with hard disk. Also singing "bettelnut style" girls, photographed below, are seen here on video as they perform.





Very religious, isn't she?



This girl was so scared from fireworks and all the sounds that stopped singing and tried to hind in a car.



One more Matsu coming? Considering the noise, more important one.



Smaller than first one, but noise is much bigger.



Man in action also here.





...and they leave, just smoke and people with cameras and mobile phones in hands left.

Baguashan Great Buddha Scenic Area in Changhua

In case you happen to be in Changhua, it's definetly worth to visit the Baguashan Great Budha Scenic area.

Besides the central element of this place - a big, big sitting Buddha, where you can go inside as well:



.... you can also take a panorama view of Changhua city:

Confucius Temple in Changhua town, Western Taiwan

As usually we start with a facts: The Confucius Temple at Changhua was constructed by county magistrate Chang Kao in 1726, in the Ching dynasty. Its present appearance was attributed to a radical renovation in Tao-kuang 10 (1830). This temple undoubtedly is a very important symbol of central Taiwan's cultural development. It was originally conceived on a grand scale incorporating two further structures, the Paisha Academy and the Minglun Hall. Today, there only remain the Hall of the Sage, the East and the West Galleries, the Confucius Shrine forming the Rear Hall, the Halberd Hall, and the Ling-hsing Gate. It is unfortunate that some important features outside the Ling-hsing Gate, such as the Propriety Gate, the Righteousness Path, the Pool of Higher Learning, and the Palace Wall, were demolished during the Japanese occupation period (1895-1945). Today the temple is only two-thirds the size of the original construction. The last restoration was carried out in 1978.

For those, who expect virgin antique formosan views, the first disappointment comes  when you find the temple, in the city. Yes, it's literally surrounded by modern buildings, and you should be lucky enough to catch a view of it without a modern building or car in frame. I could not, and here is how it will look like, if you are not lucky:




Entering the temple is free for anyone who wish, and we are going in. This is how it looks like, just after you go in. Let's look around.

Model of the temple can be found inside, as we forgot home our helicopter today, to give you glance, how it looks like from birds eye view, I'll show this:







Now, you see the round hole type entrance there? We move in now. Take a look at video below, walk with me now...

Now, notice in the video building in a center of complex, also you can see in the model above. Separate photo of this central building is below:

It's Dacheng hall. Interior of hall consists of three bays. There is a wicked owl on the ridge, which symbolizes Confucius teaching any kind (also bad) students and can influence wicked owl. Podium is covered by special brick carving, including symbols of copper, incense burners.

Views from inside:

The back of the complex has a building with an original name Chisheng Shrine - it's a title of Confucius father, Su-liang-ge. In the first year of reign of Yongcheng Emperor Dynasty (1723) conferred suplementary titles to five generations of Confucius.