Taiwan Temple Guide: How to Worship, Which Gods to Pray To – Taiwan’s folk culture is deeply influenced by religious beliefs, with numerous famous temples attracting many visitors interested in Taiwanese folk traditions. As of 2019, Taiwan had 15,175 religious buildings, with Buddhist and Taoist temples accounting for 12,279 of them. That’s approximately one temple or church every 2 square kilometers, showing just how prevalent religious faith is in Taiwan.
In recent years, religion-focused cultural tourism has become increasingly popular. Beyond the famous Mazu pilgrimages, many temples themselves have become important cultural and tourist symbols. The Tainan Grand Matsu Temple, Lukang Matsu Temple, and Beigang Chaotian Temple are recognized as Taiwan’s three most important Mazu temples, carrying deep traditional beliefs while also serving as famous tourist attractions. The annual Mazu pilgrimages have evolved from religious events into activities with tourist appeal. For example, the Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage has recently attracted many non-religious tourists, showcasing its popularity as a cultural phenomenon.
As visitors, we can simply tour the temples and appreciate their architectural beauty. Many famous temples provide English brochures allowing tourists to understand the relevant background, and if you have questions, you can always ask the temple keeper (the person responsible for maintaining the incense). But if you want to deeply experience the culture through formal worship, you’ll need to understand the relevant etiquette and taboos to avoid causing offense, since temples are sacred places of religious faith. Let’s learn about these worship methods and taboos!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking or purchase, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my work!
Table of Contents
English-Friendly Temples in Taiwan
For visitors who want to experience Taiwanese culture but don’t understand Chinese—don’t worry! To enhance international visitors’ religious cultural experience, since 2019, Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior has partnered with local governments and temples to promote the “English-Friendly Temple” program. This initiative encourages temples to set up various bilingual instruction signs, including worship procedure guides, divination instructions, and English fortune slips.
You can follow these instruction signs to worship, and after seeking divination, you can also receive English explanations. This way, you can have a deeper experience instead of just taking photos and moving on. Some temples even offer guided tours introducing the temple’s features and cultural background. Currently, 35 temples across Taiwan have joined this program and continue to improve their English-friendly environments. Here are some temples offering English services:
- Taipei City: Zhinan Temple
- Keelung City: Daitian Temple
- New Taipei City: Jinbaoli Cihu Palace
- Tainan City: Shoubian Tiantan, Sacrificial Official Martial Temple, Grand Mazu Temple, North Pole Temple, Fucheng City God Temple
Besides these temples, you can check out more temples with English services on this website: English-Friendly Temples List
Common Deities in Taiwanese Temples and Their Taboos
Taiwan has many temples and many different deities. Just like we have different job roles at work, these gods are responsible for different matters. Before visiting a temple, it’s good to research which main deity is enshrined there so you can choose the most suitable god for your needs. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular deities in Taiwan!
Mazu (妈祖)
Mazu is a sea goddess widely worshipped in the Chinese world and honored as the “Heavenly Holy Mother.” Legend has it that Mazu’s original name was Lin Mo(林默), born during the Song Dynasty in Fujian, and was revered for her expertise in navigation and rescuing those in danger. Mazu worship spread to Taiwan with immigrants and took root there, becoming an important folk belief. Initially, her main followers were fishermen and seafarers, but over time, she became a deity who blesses everyone, so many people worship Mazu regardless of what they’re praying for.
Taiwan has numerous Mazu temples, with Tainan Grand Mazu Temple, Lukang Mazu Temple, and Beigang Chaotian Temple considered the three major Mazu temples, attracting countless devotees each year. Mazu pilgrimage events are significant cultural celebrations in Taiwan, such as the Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage and Dajia Mazu pilgrimage, which not only attract hundreds of thousands of devotees annually but have also become tourist attractions in recent years.
City God/Chenghuang Ye (城隍爷)
City God worship originated in China and was brought to Taiwan by immigrants. The City God serves as a local guardian deity, mainly responsible for maintaining order in both the living and spiritual worlds, particularly local judicial and departed soul judgment matters—sort of like a management position. Different town City God temples usually enshrine different City God deities, many of whom are believed to be historical officials who made outstanding contributions to the people and were appointed as City Gods after death.
In the folk belief system, City God temples are like “underworld government offices,” managing the spirits of a city or county, karmic retribution, and local peace. Therefore, the City God’s authority is higher than the Earth God’s, belonging to a higher level of deity responsible for overseeing local good and evil, and can even report to higher gods (like the Jade Emperor or Eastern Peak Emperor).
Famous City God temples in Taiwan include the Hsinchu City God Temple, Tainan Grand Mazu Temple’s City God Shrine, and Taipei Xiahai City God Temple. The Hsinchu City God Temple is particularly famous, honored as “Taiwan’s First City God.” The City God symbolizes justice and dignity. Devotees typically pray to the City God for career success, official fortune, fair judgment, and protection from troublemakers. Those in public service or legal professions particularly respect City God worship.
Guan Gong / Guan Yu (关公/关圣帝君)
Guan Gong, whose original name was Guan Yu(关羽), was a famous general of Shu Han(蜀汉) during the Three Kingdoms period. Known for his loyalty, righteousness, and bravery, he was later worshipped as a deity widely revered in Chinese society. He is not only a war god and commercial protection deity but also an important deity in Taoism, honored as the “God of War” or “God of Loyalty.” Guan Gong worship was brought to Taiwan by Chinese immigrants and became one of the important deities enshrined in temples. (This happens to be the deity worshipped by the protagonist in the 2023 Taiwanese film “The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon”!)
Famous Guan Gong temples in Taiwan include Taipei’s Xingtian Temple, Tainan’s Sacrificial Official Martial Temple, and Kaohsiung’s Guandi Temple. Devotees are found throughout the country, with many praying to him for career success and good fortune, especially revered by merchants, police, and military personnel. Additionally, Guan Gong is seen as a symbol of integrity and justice, with far-reaching influence, not only occupying an important position in religious beliefs but also representing the spirit of loyalty and righteousness in Chinese culture.
Wenchang Dijun / God of Literature（文昌帝君）
The Wenchang Dijun is a god of literature and wisdom widely revered in Chinese society, viewed as the guardian of academic studies, examinations, and official careers. Legend has it that the Wenchang Dijun’s original name was Zhang Yazi(张亚子), who was officially listed as a Taoist deity during the Yuan Dynasty, presiding over literary fortune and official success. Wenchang worship spread to Taiwan with immigrants, becoming an important belief for students, examinees, and civil servants. Many people visit Wenchang temples before exams or when seeking career advancement, praying for wisdom and smooth promotion.
Famous Wenchang temples in Taiwan include the Wenchang Dijun Hall at Taipei’s Xingtian Temple, Nantou’s Zhinan Temple, and Taichung’s Wenchang Temple. Among them, the Wenchang Dijun at Taipei’s Dalongdong Baoan Temple is particularly famous, attracting large numbers of students each year, praying for successful examinations. Common worship practices at Wenchang temples include burning incense for prayers, lighting wisdom lamps, and offering Wenchang pens as symbols of growing wisdom and literary success. If you want to pray for academic improvement, go worship the Wenchang Dijun!
Earth God / Tudigong (土地公)
Earth God, also known as the Righteous God of Wealth, is a widely worshipped guardian deity in Chinese society, mainly responsible for blessing local peace, agricultural harvest, and financial prosperity. Compared to the City God, the Earth God is like a grassroots civil servant. Since the Earth God is viewed as an approachable deity, the belief is extremely widespread. Small temples or shrines are common throughout Taiwan’s temples, villages, and even roadsides, providing blessings for local residents, merchants, farmers, and travelers.
Famous Earth God temples in Taiwan include Nantou Zhushan’s Purple Bamboo Temple, Taipei Shilin’s Zhishan Yan Huiji Palace, and the Earth God Shrine at Taichung Nantun’s Wanhe Temple. Among them, the Purple Bamboo Temple‘s Earth God is known for its “fortune gold,” with many people borrowing fortune gold and returning it later, symbolizing financial circulation. When worshipping the Earth God, devotees often offer rice wine, mochi, or steamed rice cakes, symbolizing financial prosperity, and pray for career success and family peace. Due to the Earth God’s closeness to daily life, there are many believers, and he is also known as the “most down-to-earth deity.”
Yue Lao (月老)
The Yue Lao is the matchmaking god in Chinese traditional beliefs, viewed as an important deity who oversees marriage, romance, and interpersonal relationships—similar to Cupid’s job, but seemingly more mature and steady. Legend has it that the Yue Lao holds a “red thread” that can connect destined couples. Therefore, many devotees, especially those looking for a partner, visit Yue Lao temples to pray for good marriages.
In Taiwan, famous Yue Lao temples include Taipei’s Xiahai City God Temple, Dalongdong Baoan Temple, Tainan’s Great Guanyin Temple, and Taichung’s Lecheng Temple. Among them, the Yue Lao at Taipei’s Xiahai City God Temple is particularly effective, attracting many singles to pray for good matches. When worshipping Yue Lao, devotees usually prepare red threads or offer candy (symbolizing sweet relationships) and sincerely state their ideal partner conditions. Some temples also provide “Yue Lao divination” or red thread blessing ceremonies to help devotees enhance their romantic fortune.
Guanyin Bodhisattva (观世音菩萨)
Guanyin, also known as the Goddess of Mercy, is the most revered deity of compassion and relief from suffering in Chinese beliefs. Guanyin worship originates from Buddhism, believed to be the left attendant of Amitabha Buddha, known for great compassion. For those in suffering, as long as they sincerely call out, Guanyin will “hear their cries and relieve their suffering,” providing blessing.
Guanyin worship flourishes in Taiwan, with temples dedicated to Guanyin throughout the country. The most famous include Taipei’s Longshan Temple, Tainan’s Great Guanyin Temple, and Changhua’s Nanyue Temple. Devotees pray to Guanyin for peace, health, career success, and even love and children. Some Guanyin temples offer divination slips, allowing devotees to seek guidance. Additionally, the 19th day of the 2nd lunar month (birthday), the 19th day of the 6th lunar month (enlightenment day), and the 19th day of the 9th lunar month (renunciation day) are important commemorative days for Guanyin. Many devotees visit temples on these days to pay respect and make wishes.
Dizang/Bodhisattva of the Underworld (地藏王菩萨)
Dizang is an important bodhisattva in Buddhism who manages the netherworld and saves departed souls, known for his “great vow” that says “Until hell is empty, I will not become a Buddha,” symbolizing endless compassion and redemption. Dizang worship is widespread in Chinese society. Devotees not only pray to Dizang for the deliverance of the deceased but also for their own peace, disaster avoidance, and blessing accumulation.
In Taiwan, temples enshrining Dizang include New Taipei Jinshan’s Wealth God Temple (enshrining Dizang in wealth god form), Miaoli Baishatun’s Dizang Temple, and Taipei’s Zhinan Temple. The seventh lunar month is a time for filial piety and gratitude, and many devotees visit Dizang temples to pray for their ancestors or lonely souls. During worship, devotees often offer fresh flowers, clear water, and vegetarian fruits.
Deity Quick Reference Chart
| Deity | Responsibilities | Worship Taboos or Features |
| Mazu (Heavenly Holy Mother) | Sea protection goddess, safe journeys | Suitable for travelers to worship, no loud noise in the temple. |
| City God | Justice, harmony between the living and deceased | Don’t joke around, many temples have spirits of the deceased, not suitable for nighttime visits. |
| Guan Gong | Integrity, justice, career and financial fortune | Often worshipped by merchants, police, and military personnel; don’t make vows you won’t fulfill. |
| Wenchang Dijun | Academics, exams, literary fortune | Suitable for students or pre-exam worship, offer symbolic auspicious items like “top scholar cake.” |
| Earth God | Local guardian deity, wealth | Good for seeking wealth and peace, can offer rice wine or cakes. |
| Yue Lao | Marriage and relationships | Singles can seek marriage matches, don’t casually take red threads or make random promises. |
| Guanyin | Compassion, relief from suffering | Mainly Buddhist, offerings usually vegetarian (e.g., fresh fruits), avoid meat offerings. |
| Dizang | Delivering the deceased, filial piety | Suitable for praying for family members or delivering the deceased, temple atmosphere tends to be solemn. |
Worship Procedure
Near the entrance, there will be a candle and incense section where supplies for worshippers are provided, along with donation boxes. First, put some money in the donation box to receive incense, candles, and joss paper. Then, place the joss paper on the offering table—if you’ve prepared other offerings, you can place them on the table too. After that, light the incense and candles, and you can start worshipping.
The worship sequence varies depending on the deities enshrined and the layout of each temple. Generally speaking, the main hall or central hall on the first floor is for the primary deity, with the central shrine being for the main deity. So first pay respects to the main shrine’s deity, then sequentially to the left shrine, then the right shrine, taking turns to pay respects. If there are side halls to the left and right of the main hall, pay respects first to the left, then to the right. But don’t worry—temples that receive many tourists usually have procedure charts at the entrance that you can follow.
When worshipping, you need to tell the deity your name, birthday, and address, then tell them your wish. After all, with so many people coming to worship, this helps the gods know who you are. If you need to seek divination, throw divination blocks, or make vows, do these with the main deity. Generally, you can do this while worshipping the main deity, but doing it after worshipping all deities is also acceptable.
After worshipping all deities, you can return to the offering table to retrieve the joss paper, then go to the burning furnace to burn it. Some busy temples collect these papers centrally for burning, so in that case, place the joss paper at the designated spot instead of burning it yourself.
Generally, worship ends at this step, but there are some follow-up practices. Some more traditional beliefs suggest that after your wish is fulfilled, you should return to give thanks (essentially, come back to worship again). But for tourists who probably can’t make a special trip to return, don’t feel pressured about this. Whether you need to fulfill a vow depends on your personal promise. If you made a vow during your prayer (like “if my wish comes true, I’ll return to the temple”), then according to belief customs, you should fulfill that promise to show sincerity and gratitude. But if you just made a general visit without making vows, there’s no special need to return.
For those who want to fulfill their vows but can’t personally return to the temple, you can ask friends or family to fulfill the vow on your behalf, or express gratitude by donating to the temple or doing good deeds. Some temples also offer online light-offering or worship services as alternatives. Some believe that failing to fulfill promised vows might affect personal fortune or the effectiveness of future prayers, so it’s advisable to make realistic promises that you can fulfill.
Worship Procedure Summary:
- Put money in the donation box to receive incense, candles, and joss paper
- Place joss paper on the offering table, then light incense and candles
- Follow the temple’s worship sequence (Jade Emperor → Main Deity → Secondary Deities → Earth God):
- Worship the Jade Emperor: Usually outside the temple or in the courtyard, face the sky or the heavenly incense burner (facing away from the temple), silently make your wish.
- Worship the main deity: Go to the main hall, state your name, birth date, residence, then make your wish (generally three bows).
- Worship other deities (such as Earth God, Yue Lao, Wenchang Dijun, etc.): Proceed clockwise to worship in sequence.
- Finally, worship the foundation master (if any): Similar to the Earth God; if the temple has specific guidance, pay simple respects.
- Place incense, generally one stick per deity or three sticks in the center of the incense burner; you need to offer incense after worshipping each deity
- Return to the offering table to retrieve the joss paper and burn it, or place it at the designated collection point for the temple staff to burn
Other Worship Methods
The procedure described above is the general worship process, but there are actually other worship methods! These aren’t mandatory but optional, depending on whether the worshipper needs them.
Divination Blocks (Bwa̍h-po͘ / Buei)
Divination blocks are commonly used to ask deities questions or confirm divination slip results. Worshippers throw two crescent-shaped wooden blocks called divination cups and interpret the deity’s response based on how they land. You can do this step when worshipping the main deity or after worshipping all deities. Hold the divination blocks, silently think of your question, and ask the deity clearly and specifically (e.g., “Should I change jobs this year?”). Then gently toss them onto the ground (or the designated divination area in front of the deity table).
If the result is one face up and one face down, it’s called a sacred block, meaning the deity says “yes.” If both flat sides are facing up, it’s a yin block, meaning the deity says “no.” If both curved sides are facing up, it’s called a laughing block, also meaning “no,” though a laughing block might also mean your question isn’t clear, and you can adjust your wording and ask again.
You should only ask one question at a time to avoid confusing the deity’s response. And you can’t just keep throwing until the deity says “yes”—if you get laughing or yin blocks several times in a row, you should adjust your question or stop. Some temples also have rules that major decisions (like marriage or business openings) require three consecutive sacred blocks to be considered clear divine approval. If your question can’t be answered with a yes or no, you can choose to seek a divination slip.
Divination Slips
Divination slips are a way to communicate with deities, allowing us to ask about future fortune or resolve doubts. When worshipping the main deity or after worshipping all deities, you can ask the deity questions or seek advice (e.g., “Should I change jobs? Will my stocks rise?”). Temples place divination cylinders on the deity table, and after asking your question, you shake the cylinder until a slip falls out.
To confirm this is indeed the deity’s intention, you need to throw divination blocks to ask the deity. If you get a sacred block, it means the deity agrees; otherwise, seek another slip. Unlike divination blocks, deities can answer with more than just yes or no.
After obtaining the slip, look at the number on it—each slip has a number. Then you can exchange it for a divination poem based on the number. A divination poem will have a general answer, plus answers for different aspects like career, love, and health. Divination texts are usually classified as very good, good, fair, bad, or very bad, symbolizing fortune and misfortune. Temple keepers generally can help interpret the meaning of the divination poems for worshippers. For tourists, though, you can visit temples that provide English divination poems, allowing you to understand the meaning yourself.
Tying Red Thread (Seeking Love)
Now for what love-seekers care about most! How can we pray for love? Legend has it that the Yue Lao connects lovers with a red thread, so seeking love is about seeking this red thread. First, you need to choose a temple with the Yue Lao, as not every temple has him. Seeking love differs from seeking peace—many gods can protect peace, and almost every temple can offer this, but not all have the Yue Lao. Taiwan’s most famous Yue Lao temples include:
- Taipei Xiahai City God Temple (one of the most effective for love seeking)
- Taichung Lecheng Temple
- Tainan Grand Mazu Temple
- Kaohsiung Sanfeng Temple
Next, you can prepare offerings yourself (like red dates, peanuts, longan, sugar) or use offerings provided by the temple, go worship the Yue Lao, and pray for him to bless you with a good relationship. When worshipping, remember to state your name, birthday, address, and the kind of relationship you’re seeking (like what kind of partner you want or hoping for relationship stability).
Then you can throw divination blocks to ask if you’re suitable for receiving a red thread. If the Yue Lao says “yes,” you can get a red thread from the temple, usually tied on your wrist, kept in your wallet, or placed under your pillow, and shouldn’t be casually given away. Some temples have specific ways to tie the red thread; you can ask the temple keeper or follow the temple’s instructions. If the Yue Lao says “no,” hold off for now—after all, matters of the heart can’t be forced.
If you’re already in a relationship, you can also pray to the Yue Lao for a smooth relationship or ask if this person is your true match (Mr./Ms. Right), but you shouldn’t seek new relationships. If you eventually successfully find a partner and get married, you can return to the Yue Lao temple to fulfill your vow, usually bringing sweets (like wedding cakes or candy) to thank him for his blessing. Remember, sincerity brings results—don’t approach this with a casual or joking attitude. But also don’t be impatient and seek help from multiple Yue Lao temples at once, as this might affect your love fortune.
Basic Temple Etiquette
- Dress appropriately, avoiding overly revealing clothing (shorts, short skirts, tank tops, etc.); try to dress more formally.
- Remove hats and sunglasses when entering the temple, show respect, avoid chewing gum or eating while walking.
- Enter through the dragon gate (right side) and exit through the tiger gate (left side): the middle (main gate) is the deity’s path and generally not open except for important ceremonies; don’t walk directly through the middle.
- Follow temple rules—some main halls prohibit photography or filming, especially places where main deities are enshrined; pay special attention to this.
- Don’t randomly touch deity statues or offerings; if you want to light incense or make wishes, follow the methods provided by the temple.
- Don’t be noisy inside.
- Don’t blow out candles or incense offered to deities with your mouth; if the incense catches fire when lit, you can fan it to extinguish the flame.
Conclusion
Taiwan’s temple culture is rich. When worshipping, as long as you have respect in your heart, you can smoothly experience Taiwan’s religious atmosphere. Just remember to follow proper etiquette when visiting temples.
I’d also like to give everyone a small reminder: throwing divination blocks and seeking divination slips are ways to communicate with deities. The key is sincerity, so don’t be overly fixated on the results—use them as just one reference for life decisions. Also, even if you’re not satisfied with the deity’s answer, you should respect it. Additionally, if you don’t know what to pray for and are just making a general visit, I recommend praying for family peace and safe travels.
I hope this article helps you successfully experience temple worship in Taiwan! If you’re interested in other activities, you can also check out these topics:
13 Taiwan’s Festivals and Holidays: Traveler’s Comprehensive Guide to Plan Your Trip
How to Get a Tourist Tax Refund After Your Trip to Taiwan: A Complete Guide
