By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
When the weather turns cold, being alone can feel especially lonely. If you're tired of this feeling and eager to find that special someone, consider visiting the ten most efficacious matchmaker temples in Taiwan. Whether you're hoping to quickly find a good romance or cut off bad love luck, you might just find help here.
● Hualien Sheng’an Temple
Sheng’an Temple is the first temple in Hualien to enshrine a matchmaker deity. Since its establishment in 2012, it has helped dozens of couples tie the knot.
Hualien Sheng’an Temple. (Image source / Hualien Sheng’an Temple (Heavenly Queen Mother’s Main Temple))
● Taipei Wanhua Longshan Temple
Besides showcasing Taiwan's temple art, the bustling incense offerings are also key to why Wanhua Longshan Temple has stood strong for over two hundred years. The Old Man Under the Moon (matchmaker deity) is enshrined in the rear hall's Moon Deity Hall, which is highly efficacious. Additionally, there’s a specific ritual to follow when praying to the Moon Deity at Longshan Temple: you must first worship the grand Guanyin Bodhisattva, then proceed to worship Mazu, Wenchang Dijun, Guan Sheng Dijun, and other deities while stating your intentions before you can visit the Moon Deity.
Wanhua Longshan Temple. (Image provided / Ink Publishing)
● Xia Hai City God Temple
Built in the 9th year of the Xianfeng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1859 AD), Xia Hai City God Temple is a municipal-level third-grade historic site. It primarily enshrines the Xia Hai City God, serving as a faith center for residents of Dadaocheng and a well-known matchmaker temple in Taipei. Statistics show that in the past 10 years, Xia Hai City God Temple has helped bring about over 60,000 couples.
Xia Hai City God Temple is the most popular matchmaker temple. (Image provided / Ink Publishing)
● Changhua Lukang Tianhou Temple
If you come to Lukang Tianhou Temple to pray for love, besides preparing joss paper, red thread, and lead coins, you should also bring thornless white flowers, five types of wedding candies (no nuts or sour flavors), and non-thorny, non-sour fruits. In addition, the temple offers a thoughtful online service where singles can apply online, and the temple will convey your wishes to the Moon Deity on your behalf, registering them in the matchmaking book, and sending you a matchmaking bracelet and charm to bless you in finding love soon.
● Sun Moon Lake Dragon and Phoenix Temple
Exiting from [Location Redacted], after about 100 meters you’ll see the entrance archway of Dragon and Phoenix Temple. This is the largest temple on the western shore of Sun Moon Lake, enshrining the Dark Heavenly Emperor, the Heavenly Holy Mother, and Chan Kui Ancestral Master. The temple gate is uniquely decorated with three-dimensional bas-reliefs of dragons and phoenixes, differing from typical temple designs. The original Moon Deity, which was located on Lalu Island, is now housed on the left side in front of the Dragon and Phoenix Temple. Many unmarried men and women or couples visiting Sun Moon Lake come here to worship the Moon Deity, praying for smooth romantic luck and love.
Sun Moon Lake Dragon and Phoenix Temple. (Image provided / Ink Publishing)
● Taichung Lecheng Temple
With a history of over two hundred years, Lecheng Temple is a national third-grade historic site. Having survived the 921 earthquake and undergone multiple renovations, the long-standing Lecheng Temple has become an important cultural asset and a center of faith for the public. The temple mainly enshrines the Hanxi Mazu, while the Moon Deity Hall and the God of Wealth on the second floor are particularly popular. When visiting the old Hanxi Street and stopping by Lecheng Temple, aside from experiencing traditional folk culture, don’t forget to seek out a good romance.
Taichung Lecheng Temple. (Image provided / Ink Publishing)