Matsu Temple

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  • Address
    18 Lane 227, Yongfu Rd, sec.2, City Centre, Central Tainan

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Lonely Planet review

The lively Matsu Temple once served as the palace of Ning Jin, the last king of the Ming dynasty. If you wish to confirm visually that a king's status is lower than an emperor's, count the steps to the shrine. There are only seven; an emperor would get nine.

Matsu is the most popular folk deity in Taiwan, with over 500 temples dedicated to her around the island.

Some features to note (besides the elaborate carvings and paintings) include the 300-year-old Matsu statue, and the shrine in the back to Matsu's parents in an area that used to be King Ning Jin's bedroom. Look up and you'll see the roof beam where the king's concubines hanged themselves so many years ago. For fun, check out the eyes and feet of the door guards. Notice something odd?