Elaborate Design of the Lungshan Temple 龍山寺
Although it wasn’t my first time visiting Taipei or Taiwan for that matter, I don’t really remember much about the city. My impression of the city before coming here was that it is an ultra-modern city not unlike Tokyo. Although, it does have modern conveniences such as the metro system, much of Taipei is actually not that modern. In fact, the pace of Taipei is much slower than one might get in Hong Kong or Singapore. Part of this is due the the fact that the people are still very traditional and they hold on to these values well into the modern age. The Lungshan Temple is one of these examples and it is actually a living and breathing temple.
Altar at the Lungshan Temple 龍山寺
Although, it is really extremely busy here with busloads of tourists coming to the temple, there are still a lot of people who come here to worship. It gives you an insight into the people of Taiwan. The temple has been rebuilt several times after it was damaged or destroyed by earthquake or war. However, it doesn’t show that it was recently constructed. The current structure is actually “only” from 1945 after being rebuilt from damage from an air raid. The temple has two main halls, the first of which is visible from the outside. Upon entry, you can see an altar for offerings to the Buddhist and Taoist deities. Honestly, if I was a worshipper here, it would be difficult for me to do it since there were so many visitors snapping away. The locals doesn’t seem to be bothered by it though.
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