Xingtian Temple | 行天宮

I decided to visit Xingtian Temple 行天宮 in Taipei as I hadn't visited the place in YEARS. I visited in Aug. 2021 when Covid restrictions were heavily enforced. The main entrance of the temple was completely closed off and all visitors had to line up in the side and enter through the side entrance. Before entering the temple, we had to get our temperatures checked by temple staff who wearing hazmat suits, register our presence at the temple by sending an SMS to 1922 (Taiwan CDC), and sanitize our hands before entering. Honestly, there were more people there than I thought there would be.

Since I last visited the temple, Xingtian Temple 行天宮 has completely removed the incense burner for environmental reasons in 2014. It was the first temple to do so in all of Taiwan. Instead of burning incense sticks, people join their hands and bow their heads in prayer. We weren't allowed to go extremely close to the deities and everyone had to socially distance from each other while praying. 

Another interesting thing...I never realized that the temple had a clock or extensive woodwork. I did manage to take a few photos.  

During Covid times, the temple was still allowing people to draw a fortune stick (求籤) and/or throw divine blocks (擲筊) to ask for divine intervention as they are seeking answers to their questions. However, the temple wasn't offer shoujing (收驚) services, a kind of an exorcism in Taoist culture to "recall the frightened soul." 

Xingtian Temple 行天宮 was built in 1967 and is dedicated to Lord Guan Yu 關羽. Most people visit the temple when they're looking for a new job or they have concerns related to their business. I've heard that praying at the temple has proven to be quite effective. Many people have their wishes come true. 

Xingtian Temple is in the middle of Taipei and is extremely accessible. You can take the MRT and get off at Xingtian Temple Station and walk for roughly 10 minutes to get to your destination. 

P.S. the Xingtian Temple also has a branch in Beitou 北投, located on the outskirts of Taipei. Interestingly, it was opened before the main branch in Taipei. 

Bonus: it isn't as crowded as the main Xingtian Temple branch. This means that you can take your time in scrolling around the temple and looking at the view of the city (as this temple is located on a hill). 

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