I had just photographed these giant figures outside a temple when they started walking.
In the Taiwanese city of Tainan I was delighted to happen upon two elaborately costumed, giant figures outside a temple. No sooner had I photographed them when drums started beating and to my amazement the figures walked. A short procession set off down the street, culminating in a burst of firecrackers.
One of the marching figures outside the Martial or Official War God Temple.
Altar inside the temple.
The first temple I visited was Ciyou Temple in the national capital of Taipei. To my surprise there it was when I emerged from the subway station to check out one of the city's night markets. Climbing the stairs to the various levels of the temple I was able to appreciate not only the art of the building itself but the views it gave of the city and nearby mountains.
Ciyou Temple in Taipei.
Worshippers lighting incense in Ciyou Temple.
View of city and mountains from fourth level of Taipei's Ciyou Temple.
Sunday morning as I wandered in the historic area of Tainan the first temple I encountered is particularly favoured by women - the Madam Linshuei Temple, dedicated to the birth goddess who is the guardian of children and childbirth.
Tainan's Madam Linshuei Temple, built in 1736, is dedicated to the guardian of children and childbirth.
Image in Madam Linshuei Temple.
The Confucius Temple, also in Tainan, was founded in 1665 to honour Confucius, regarded in Taiwan as the greatest teacher in the world, and as a centre for Confucian studies, the only form of higher education at the time.
The main gate to the grounds of the Tainan Confucius Temple.
Children play a video game outside Tainan Confucius Temple by a 1687 stele asking visitors to dismount here.
Reproduction of calligraphy of Confucian text in Tainan Confucian Temple.
Diversity and tolerance characterize religion in Taiwan. Buddhism and Taoism are the main religions with many people practicing one or both along with traditional folk rituals. Christianity is present as a minority religion and Islam is an even smaller minority. The small guest house where I stayed in Tainan held church services on the main floor, of what denomination I never determined.
This shrine occupies a shop front among other businesses in Taipei. The shrine, like many of the temples, has a fireplace for burning joss paper or fake money, a Taoist ritual.