Pink Chrysanthemum at Lungshan Temple 龍山寺
The Lungshan Temple in Taipei oozes with ancient Buddhist charm in the middle of modern Taipei. The current structure was rebuilt after the second world war so it isn’t really that old however, looking at it you might be forgiven if you thought you were transported back in time. Truly it does feel like I was back exploring Mainland China which has countless of these ancient Buddhist temples. These days, it is a major tourist attraction but this has not stopped the local faithful from coming to visit. It is probably tricky navigating your way through the droves of tourists which descend upon this temple. Already there was a busload of Japanese school children being guided through the temple. Additionally, it was also raining so everyone started moving inside.
Main Temple at Lungshan Temple 龍山寺
The main temple is at the rear of the complex. There is a covered area which has offerings to the deities which includes food and flowers. This is a common practice in Buddhism. Additionally, there are large pots where incense is burned, one needs to be careful here since these can be quite hot. At the furthest end is a the main temple, which houses a statue of Buddha. This part is off limits to visitors and people can only stand in front of the figures and pray. It is a pity that people are not allowed inside but I think with the huge number of people passing through the temple, it would be wise to just keep the holiest part away from the tourist crowd.
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