Zushi Temple

Welcome to Sanxia, a vibrant district in New Taipei City renowned for its historic architecture, traditional culture, and bustling old street. I am your guide, and today we stand before the spiritual and artistic crown jewel of…

Stand before the grand front facade of the temple and simply let your eyes wander over the stonework. Most traditional Taiwanese temples utilize a significant amount of painted wood and brick for their exteriors. …

Stepping into the central courtyard, you are immediately enveloped in the sensory experience of traditional Taiwanese folk religion. Placed squarely in the center is a massive, ornate bronze incense burner. …

We arrive now at the main hall, the spiritual epicenter of the complex. Enshrined upon the central altar is the deity Qingshui Zushi. …

If you move to the stone walls and pillars flanking the main hall, you will discover why the Zushi Temple is affectionately known among art scholars as the 'Bird Temple'. Professor Li Mei-shu had a profound love for avian life,…

I urge you now to stand directly in the center of the hall and look straight up. Suspended above you is one of the most magnificent architectural features in traditional Chinese construction: the caisson ceiling, known as a…

As we conclude our exploration of the Qingshui Zushi Temple, I invite you to step back toward the main entrance and take in the entire complex one last time. We have seen how a place of traditional religious worship was…