Taichung Nantian Temple

Temples are where pious Taiwanese worshippers pray to deities for blessings, harvest, and mercy towards them. Nantian Temple is the first and biggest temple in Greater Taichung housing Emperor Guan, also known as Guan Yu and Lord Guan, who sits at 146 meters and is challenging to the viewers, both aesthetically and mentally. Hailed for his righteousness and trustworthiness, Emperor Guan is also celebrated by businessmen as “Martial God of Wealth.” Nantian Temple is therefore known as God of Wealth Temple.

In addition to the main god Emperor Guan, the temple also venerates a great number of deities including God of Fortune, Guanshiyin Buddha, Confucius, and of course the popular God of Marriage and Love (Yue Lao), followed by myriads of worshippers. Immersed in the splendor of massive structure and fine sculptures, people flood here to have heart-to-heart conversations with deities. Pious worshippers are so large in number that Nantian Temple has always been an incense-choked temple for the past sixty years, serving as a center of faith among locals.