I’ve decided to split my Tainan trip into three parts because I took a zillion pictures that day. This part focuses on my visit to the Datianhou or Official Mazu Temple. I apologize for the lack of information on this temple – there wasn’t a guidebook like there was at the other temple, and my Taiwan guidebooks only dedicate a paragraph or so to this temple.

I can tell you that Mazu (Matsu) is a goddess associated with the sea – she is a protector of sailors, fisherman, and other people who have a connection to the sea. Because Taiwan is an island nation, there are thousands of temples dedicated (in whole or in part) to Mazu. This particular temple is just down the street from the Guan Gong Temple I discussed in the last post and was built around 1830.

Just outside the Guan Gong Temple, there is a sign with directions attached for tourist attractions. I walked down Lane 227, which is also known as Fortune Teller’s Alley (there are Feng Shui masters still at work here, their shops are pictured above), and headed to the Mazu Temple.

Outside the temple, someone had set up a little food stand. I was too hot to think about eating, so I didn’t check out what he was offering. Just to the left of the food stand/entrance to the temple, some women were burning ghost money (that gold paper you saw in the last post). I read somewhere online that there is a movement to burn virtual ghost money, as burning the actual money is bad for the environment, especially during the Ghost Festival when a lot is being burned, but there is a lot of resistance to this idea. I’m not surprised. Can you imagine going camping and having a picture of a fire on your laptop, instead of the real thing?

I find that I’m continually amazed, not just with the attention to detail in these temples, but with the sheer variety of artwork represented.

This particular temple has some gorgeous murals throughout.

The DIY (do it yourself) culture is alive and well here in Taiwan – even at the temples!

These bells were near the entrance of the main temple.

In the garden…

and in one of the smaller temples, there were many sculptures of animals. Again, the sheer diversity of materials and subjects amazes me.

This particular statue was in the temple that was dedicated to babies and families. I don’t know her name, but I really enjoyed her. There were two statues of her, one facing the other. It took me nine tries to get this shot. I’m pretty sure she kept moving.

These were all in the same temple (within the Mazu temple). I’m pretty sure that the hen was in this one as well.

Another altar within the temple…

and finally, a statue I saw as I was leaving. Perhaps this is Mazu?

Up next: My trip to Tainan concludes with winter melon tea and a trip to see Mr. Lin, a master of traditional Taiwanese embroidery….