Readers’ Photos The Aesthetics of Life Around Taiwanese Temples

Decorated Floats (Yu Baohua)

“Beigang receiving Mazu” is a major annual event for Chaotian Temple. Besides the Mazu procession, a parade of colorfully decorated floats also attracts a great deal of attention. On the decorated vehicles, children dressed in intricate costumes excitedly pass out gifts, while people in the crowd reach out their hands to receive them. The lively celebration has a carnival-like atmosphere.

Spinning Top Performance (Wang Zhaogui)

This photo shows a performance featuring large spinning tops, presented in front of Furen Temple in Taoyuan’s Daxi District. Setting tops spinning is a skill that all ages can enjoy, and playing with spinning tops is part of many people’s childhood memories.

Mackerel Festival Parade (Chen Qixuan)

The parade held during the yearly Mackerel Festival at Nanfang’ao in Yilan County passes in front of Nantian Temple, making for a lively scene. Nanfang’ao is home to one the most important fishing harbors in Eastern Taiwan and has the highest annual mackerel catch of any port in Taiwan. Hence it is known as “the hometown of mackerel.”

Welcoming Mazu (Luo Shujiao)

Mazu is seen as a protective deity by fishermen and is devoutly venerated by them. Welcoming Mazu symbolizes being placed under her protection, and all along the pilgrimage route there is raucous noise with people continually setting off firecrackers and other fireworks wherever the goddess goes.

Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage (Lin Minji)

The Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage takes place each year in early spring. Because there is no fixed route, there are many challenges and surprises along the way. When the palanquin carrying Mazu’s statue arrives at Chaotian Temple in Yunlin’s Beigang Township, according to custom the bearers make three approaches before fully entering the temple, during which the crowd cheers loudly.

The Joy of a Group Photo (Zhang Shushan)

When traditional cultural events are held on temple plazas, performance troupes from numerous temples and clubs arrive to take part. In this photo a traveler takes a group selfie with some “generals” at Baoan Temple in Taipei’s Dalongdong area while enjoying the atmosphere created by the temple architecture and the devotions of worshipers.

Prayer (Wang Ruifu)

Praying with hands clasped is a way to achieve peace of mind. Through prayer, people calm their anxious hearts and minds and ask the deities for blessings and wellbeing.

Baozhong Temple Plaza, Hsinchu County (Shu Wei)

At Baozhong Temple in Hsinchu’s Xinpu Township, children watch a puppet show with spellbound fascination during the Hakka Yimin Festival. The festival commemorates Hakka volunteers who died helping to quell an 18th-century rebellion.