Thursday, October 4th, 2007...1:51 pm
Touring Tainan County : Nan-Kun-Shen Temple
Two of Taiwan’s finest bloggers and myself have went out on a short day-trip to Tainan County to have a look at Nan Kun Shen temple in a small village just next to Beimen. It’s interesting the kind of stories and experiences one gets to hear in such company - with both having lived in Taiwan for years and holding unique perspectives on local culture and people. Up till I came to Taiwan I haven’t really mingled with my fellow bloggers, other than the occasional project cooperation, yet I now find that’s it’s great fun.
So, about Nan Kun Shen :
Built in 1662, this 300 years old temple is located at Kunchian Village, in Peimen Town. It is devoted to five Tang Dynasty heroes, Li, Zhee, Hu, Chu and Fung. This is the main temple where the five gods are worshipped under one roof and is the most frequented Buddhist temple in Taiwan. The compound is spacious and the building is grandiose. Incense burning is fierce all year around.
The most crowded time is in April 26 and 27 of the lunar calendar which is the Main God and the Fang God’s birthdays. It attracts not only the local worshippers, but also worshippers from other smaller temples all over the island. One interesting sight is perhaps the congregation of many Shamans, who seem to possess superpower especially their tolerance to pain when they are possessed.
I believe that the temple was preparing for a big event that was coming up, and I’m sure it would have been interesting to be there when it takes place, but we did get a little taste.
Here’s also some from the Beimen area:
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