An exhibition showcasing the architectural beauty of Taiwan’s temples and vibrant traditional religious culture is underway at Museumpark Orientalis in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Miao-Hui—Temple Festivals and Folk Cultures in Taiwan runs until Oct. 29. It centers on the annual Mazu pilgrimage taking place in the central and southern parts of the country in the third month of the lunar calendar.
The nine-day pilgrimage, which is described as one of three major religious activities in the world by the Discovery Channel, attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees from home and abroad, according to the MOFA.
Featuring artifacts, drawings and photographs, the exhibition highlights intricate architectural styles and sophisticated carvings employed by temples dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of the sea. Some of the standout facilities include Beigang Chao-Tian Temple in Yunlin County, western Taiwan, Dajia Jenn-Lann Temple in Taichung City and Lugang Mazu Temple in Changhua County, both in central Taiwan.
The exhibition also offers visitors the opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation of temple culture through the use of an electronic fortune-telling device and virtual reality headsets.
According to the MOFA, temples in Taiwan are places for worshippers to practice their beliefs and offer spiritual comfort. It is hoped that by shedding light on this aspect of local society, a greater appreciation of the country’s culture will develop abroad.
The next stops on the exhibition’s touring schedule are French Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Vitre, Nov. 10 to March 11, 2018; 7th District Town Hall of Paris, April 1-30, 2018; Taipei Representative Office in Berlin, May 10-31, 2018; and Gallery @Oxo in London, June 28 to July 8, 2018. (SFC-E)
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