Kaiyuan Monastery
Kaiyuan Monastery (Kāiyuán Sì 開元寺) One of the most beautiful and historic temples in Tainan is also one of its least known due to its remote location. This historic place is reportedly the oldest monastery in Taiwan, and was the home of the Zheng family towards the end of their reign on the island. Today … Continue reading
The Zheng Ancestral Shrine (Ancestral Shrine of Koxinga)
The Zheng Ancestral Shrine (Zhèng Shì Jiā Miào 鄭氏家廟) Much is made of the achievements of the national hero Zheng Chenggong (鄭成功), also known as Koxinga. He defeated the dutch and established the first Chinese kingdom on the island of Taiwan, and thus he has his own shrine dedicated to his worship in Tainan. However, … Continue reading
Tainan Grand Matsu Temple
Tainan Grand Matsu Temple (Dà Tiānhòu Gōng 大天后宮) The goddess Matsu is one of the most important deities in Taiwan. It’s a simple equation, really: Goddess of the Sea + Taiwan being an island = high status among worshippers. Matsu was already important among the coastal Fujianese before crossing the straight, but the perilous journey from … Continue reading
Temple of the Five Concubines
Temple of the Five Concubines (Wǔfēi Miào 五妃廟) Unlike urban cemeteries in Europe where you can find people sitting next to grave stones and reading books, Taiwanese people are far too superstitious to treat a grave site as a park. The very idea of entering a cemetery for any purpose other than to clean the tomb and … Continue reading
Tainan City Guide 