宗教廟宇

Dawan Guanghu Temple (大灣廣護宮) was built in 1679 and enshrines Guang Hui Sheng Wang (Guanghui Sage King) (廣惠聖王). Located on the main road from Tainan’s old downtown area to Xinshi, transport is convenient and helps attract many worshippers to the temple. It is best-known for the centipede formation that makes an appearance during the jian jiao (建醮) main sacrificial ceremony; it attracts many photographers who have an interest in cultural subjects.

Completed in 1967, Dawan Lingxiao Main Hall and Wulong Temple(大灣凌霄寶殿武龍宮) each enshrine a main deity. The upstairs Lingxiao Main Hall enshrines Yu Huang Shang Di (Jade Emperor), while Wulong Temple downstairs is dedicated to Xuan Tian Shang Di (Dark Heavenly Highest Deity). Although not historic temples, they are extremely important belief centers in the Dawan area of Yongkang District and closely connected to people’s lives; joint events are often held with local communities and schools, and a blessing ceremony is also staged at exam time.

Da Guanyin Temple(大觀音亭) was built in 1678 and was the first temple in Taiwan to enshrine Guanyin Bodhisattva. Xingji Temple, which enshrines Bao Sheng Da Di (BaoshengEmperor) and was built in 1679, is on the same site, creating the unusual situation of Buddhist and Daoist temples together. Entering Da Guanyin Temple, the solemn and imposing Two Generals Heng and Ha(哼哈二將) can be seen on each side; Guanyin Bodhisattva, wearing a serene expression, is in the middle, giving people a feeling of peace and harmony.

The Sicao Dazhong Temple (四草大眾廟) enshrines the Marshal of the Sea (or Dazhong Ye), called Chen Tze (also known as Chen Yu), a Taiwanese general of Koxinga.He was known for his bravery and skill at fighting, and once defeated over 300 Dutch soldiers, but was betrayed by traitors and committed suicide by throwing himself into the ocean.

The temple is the belief center of Tucheng. Every tourist is impressed by the large and magnificent building, the design of which is based on the Forbidden City in Beijing. It is known as the biggest temple in the Far East. A huge heavenly general statue stands either side of the temple square, they are Shun Feng Er (With-the-Wind Ear)) and Qian Li Yan (Thousand Miles Eye) (順風耳與千里眼). Standing in front of the beautiful temple under blue sky, they are as powerful as if the gods had descended to earth.

Luermen Matsu Temple was rebuilt in 1977 along the lines developed by Chen Tsung-kan. The design followed the concentric arrangement of halls used by traditional Confucian temples. The main hall is encircled by the front hall, rear hall and wing buildings. Two covered galleries then connect the front hall to the main hall. The foundation of the main hall was raised to a height of nine steps while the rear hall was two steps lower. The raised foundations emphasized the importance of the two buildings. At the front of the temple courtyard stands a memorial gateway with three archways.

Zhengmen Temple (鎮門宮) is a small temple at Xikou in Luermen (鹿耳門溪口) with a Ming Dynasty style exterior, facing the Natural Defense of the Capital stone tablet (Fucheng Tianxian;府城天險石碑;). The temple serves as a shrine for the hero Koxinga. It is not as well-known as the Luermen Tianhou Temple (鹿耳門天后宮), but this temple has a unique feature: two "Barefoot Western Door Gods", the idea of painter Lin Zhong Hsin. Lin believed that since Koxinga defeated the Dutch, he should be served by the Dutch.

Anping Guanyin Temple(安平觀音亭)was built in 1590 and enshrines Guanyin Bodhisattva. The god statue in the main hall is over 400 years old. The temple’s glittering golden exterior is very striking; it is as if tourists are illuminated by Buddha’s grace and are protected. As the Guanyin Temple is near Anping Old Street, Anping Fort and other attractions, numerous famous products and snacks can be bought nearby. After a sincere visit, visitors can enjoy some of the various tasty local old-time delicacies at their leisure.

Located next to Fort Zeelandia, Anping Kaitai Matsu Temple(安平天后宮(開台天后宮) is Anping District’s largest temple and has a spacious temple square. Its statue of Matsu is a rare soft-bodied statue that, it is said, was brought with Koxinga’s fleet from Meizhou in Fujian in 1668. A temple was built, and the statue was enshrined, which is why the temple name has “kaitai” (“founding”) in it. The temple is one of the main centers for Matsu belief in Taiwan. The temple’s grandest event is the Matsu Festival held every four years.

Kaiyuan Temple(開元寺) is one of the main ancient temples of Tainan and was formerly Beiyuan Retreat(北園別館), which was built by Koxinga’s son Zheng Jing(鄭經) for his mother Empress Dong in 1680. With exquisite garden landscaping features, pavilions and buildings, plus a small winding bridge, Kaiyuan Temple’s Garden is viewed by many as the best in Taiwan. The temple preserves many cultural relics from the Ming Dynasty, making it a good place to learn about early Taiwan history.