Kaohsiung – A Local Temple

While wandering around Kaohsiung, we saw this interesting temple and decided to explore it.  Given how elaborate the temple decorations look, it seems that this is primarily a Daoist temple.  The temple is called San Feng Gong.  I grabbed a brochure but I seemed to have misplaced it.  When I find it, I’ll post some more details.

 

Inside the Temple

Temple Art and Architecture

Besides being one of the larger working temples in the area, this temple is known mostly for the paintings of the guardians on the grand doors.

According to the temple worker who stopped to talk to us, temple artists from all over the island come to observe and copy these particular guardians because it is the finest example of this kind of art.  The wood is painted so that the guardians’ eyes and feet will follow you around and look like they are facing you from whatever you angle you view the doors.  We tested this and found it to be true!

In Taiwan, temples are everywhere since they are the Eastern equivalent of churches in the Western World.  As a result, it is easy to get “templed out” and have one start looking the same as the next.  So here’s a tip to travelers – try to spread out your temple exploring so that you can better remember the temples you do visit!

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