Taiwan: Temples of Taichung (2009-2018)
This page
only contains photos of temples in Taichung. For other photos of Taichung, click
here.
Wanhe Matsu Temple (2017):
This temple
located in the Nantun district was completed in 1726,
forty-two years after most of western Taiwan had been conquered by the Qing
Dynasty. It may well be the oldest surviving temple in Taichung.
Facade of the
temple.
Zoom on two
decorations (Coching ceramics) on the facade.
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Roof detail.
Inside the
temple.
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Statues of guardians.
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Wood carvings and paintings.
Zhang (Chang) Family Temple (December 2018):
Located in the Xitun
district, this temple was built in 1905 (during the Japanese occupation of
Taiwan) by descendants of the Matang Zhang family to
worship their ancestors. This family had its roots in the Shibi
village of the Fujian province (China), so the architectural style of the
temple is typical Fujianese, with beautiful
swallow-tail roofs, many small statues, and Cochin ceramic decorations. Today
the temple is in a fast-growing area of Taichung, but in 1905 it was surrounded
by rice paddies.
Views of the half-moon pool in the
garden preceding the entry into the temple.
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Entrance porch and gate of the temple
building.
Various views
of the building and its swallow-tail roofs, with ceramic decorations and small
statues all around.
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The roof
covering the entrance porch seen from the courtyard inside the temple.
The ancestor
hall (main worship hall) located on the side of the courtyard opposite to the
entrance door.
Left and center-left: Decorative panels
on the two side-walls of the entrance porch. Center-right and right: Guardians
of the temple painted on the backsides of the double entrance door.
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Some of the
roof statues.
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Ceramic
decorations, some of which may represent scenes from the Zhang family life.
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Zhang-Liao (Chang-Liao) Family Temple (December 2018):
Located in the Xitun
district, this temple was built from 1908 to 1911 by the Zhang-Liao clan that
originally came from Zhangzhou, in the Fujian province of China.
The facade of the temple, seen from
behind the half-moon pool (with ugly buildings in the back, unfortunately).
A closer view of the facade...
...its roof...
...and the decorative panels on the two
side-walls of the entrance porch (left and right).
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Inner courtyard, with the ancestor hall
in the back.
Ancestor hall.
Left: Moon window in the courtyard.
Right: Corridor across the temple.
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Various decorations, including painted
wood carvings and clay sculptures.
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Entan Matsu Temple (December 2018):
This temple
located in the West district is relatively small and neither old, nor of
historical importance. Nevertheless, it is gorgeous.
Sumptuous
decoration at the entrance of the temple.
Inside the temple.
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Paochueh (Bao Jue) Buddhist Temple (2009):
Located in
the North district, this temple is best known for its 30m-high statue of the
Laughing Buddha.
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Nantian Taoist Temple (October 2018):
This temple
located in the East district is primarily dedicated to Emperor Guandi (also
known as Guanyu), the ″Martial God of Wealth″, whose massive statue
stands on top of the temple′s roof. But other deities, including
Confucius, are also venerated in this temple. Although it is difficult for me
to make sense of all these deities, I always find such temples amazing places
to visit. In many ways this temple is particularly stunning.
Leh Cherng (Lecheng) Matsu Temple (October 2018):
This temple
located in the East district was erected in 1791 and restored in 1928 and 1963.
