A worshiper approaches Taipei's Longshan Temple. She waits in the snaking line of people at the gate. When it's her turn, the woman pauses a moment before stepping over a raised wooden lip to enter the ornate red and gold building. This architectural feature is here just for that reason--to encourage visitors to take a moment of reflection prior to venturing inside. Her glace falls to three dragons perched on the middle of the roof. They symbolize fortune, luck, and longevity.Then, she exhales, relaxes her shoulders, and passes through the entryway on the right side which artists have decorated with dragons. The one on the left side displays tigers and is for exiting. Only deities may use the center door.Every inch of Longshan's exterior and interior, like Taiwan's other thousands of temples, is steeped in symbolism--for example that raised wooden lip at the entrance. Curious foreign visitors will want to get the most from their temple visit, so here's a guide to the features they will see in many of the island's temples.

What Religion Do Worshippers Practice In Taiwan?

Religious freedom is important to the Taiwanese. Many are Buddist. Others are Taoist. Some are Christian. A few practice Shinto. A handful are Muslim. Whatever their belief, Taiwan's population is decidedly devout--some consider this nation the most religious of all Chinese-speaking countries.

Most often, the island's temples are a mixture of Buddist, Taoist, Confucianist, and folk traditions displaying deities from each. People refer to this combination as Chinese Folk Religion. Some temples honor a single divine figure while others feature a multitude. Often deities fulfill a specific role. The popular goddess Mazu, for example, represents the sea while elderly, bearded Tudigong brings wealth and fortune.

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How Can Visitors Demonstrate Respect While Touring Temples?

Religious ceremonies are tremendously important to the people participating. Visitors from afar may want to see how people do things in other parts of the world but unwittingly offend their hosts. Most travelers wish to show respect and should take care when visiting Taiwan's temples. Here are a few tips to help.

The easiest rule to follow is that guests should do as the locals do. If worshippers take off their shoes before entering, so should travelers. Sightseers should also follow the flow of people--if most people enter through the door on the right, visitors should do the same. Usually, people feel proud of their beliefs and won't mind answering questions. So, if travelers are in doubt about how to act, their best bet is to just ask someone nearby.

Pointing is one thing to avoid since doing this towards a deity is taboo. Rather, visitors can gesture towards the details that interest them with an open hand.

What To Look For

As travelers walk through Taiwan's temples, they'll notice the dragons. These mystical creatures are important in Chinese culture, but every dragon is different. In temple artwork, visitors can see the many forms and shapes these creatures take.

Lions are another favorite decoration. Stone felines stand outside of many temples. If they are female, they will likely hold a baby lion. The males usually hold coins. Sculptors carve these statues with movable stone spheres in their mouths. People are welcome to reach in and touch them.

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Inside, visitors will hear the sound of wooden blocks knocking against the floor. Worshippers take two of these red objects which are curved on one side and flat on the other. They ask a question of the deity and toss the blocks. Depending on how they fall, the faithful interpret the deity's answer: negative, positive, a failure to understand the question, and even laughter.

There are also walls of lights in many temples. Here, people will observe small boxes with statues of the temple's main deity inside. Worshippers reserve one of these boxes with a statue in remembrance of a family member or loved one by giving a donation. A closer look will reveal the name of the recipient on the lower part of the statue. The number of boxes with statues will indicate how important that temple is to the local community.

Taiwan's Most Astounding Temples

Longshan is without a doubt Taiwan's most famous temple and the oldest in Taipei, but travelers will encounter other jaw-dropping temples across the country.

Longshan, Wanhua District, Taipei City - Chinese folk

This is Taiwan's most famous temple and Taipei's oldest. Chinese settlers built it in 1738. Worshippers rebuilt the temple in 1919 and parts of it again after WWII.

Fufudingshan, New Taipei - Chinese folk

Often called the Sanzhi seashell temple, worshippers created it for Buddist monk, Ji-Gong. Visitors love seeing how artists decorated this temple with coral and seashells.

Bao'an Temple in Tongliang, Penghu Island - Bao'an

This colorful temple is intertwined in the roots of the 300-year-old Great Banyan tree. The roots form the columns of the exterior courtyard.

Taroko Eternal Spring Shrine, Taroko Gorge

Workers built this shrine into a cliff and waterfalls cascade below it.

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