Longshan Temple

I went to the Longshan Temple on Wednesday. Its one of the oldest temples in the city, and interestingly it houses shrines to gods from 3 different faiths. There was a lot that I saw that I don't fully understand, I'm trying to learn more about some of the local customs.

Some people would pick up sticks of incense and light them, then kneel on benches and pray. Others tossed red wedges on the ground over and over. I was told that if the wedges faced the same direction, then God would grant their wishes.


In front of the shrines, their were big tables where people would set food while they prayed, as an offering to the gods.



There was a stand in the entry of the temple selling food. It reminded me of the Bible story about Jesus throwing out the money-changers, and made me wonder if they make a profit selling the food. I guessing they do, since there was also a souvenir shop on the other side.

More pictures from the temple..







Monk with an ipod.



After I left, I walked around the Longshan neighborhood for a while, its one of the lower-class neighborhoods in the city. I was surprised to see people burning paper in metal cans in front of their shops. I looked closer and they were burning paper squares with gold squares in the center. I tried to take pictures of a few, but they waved me away (first time that's happened here). I found out later that that day was the first day of the lunar month, and that they burn the paper in place of money, as an offering to their gods.

I got a shot of one of the cans later.



There was a park outside the temple, and it was filled with elderly men, to the point that there was barely a place to sit.



some of them played chess, but mostly they just sat and waited.

I was told that they were all retired old men, and that they probably live with their children or grandchildren. They dont want to be in the house all day, so they go to parks and sit around. Kind of sad.