Hsing Tian Kong

The temple stands at the corner of Minquan East Road and Songjiang Road in Zhongshan District. Its principal deity is Guan Yu, honoured as Nantian Wenheng Shengdi and Enzhu Guan. Also worshipped are Lü Dongbin (Nangong Fuyou Dijun), Zhang Dan (Jiutian Siming Zhenjun), Wang Shan (Xiantian Huoluo Lingguan), Yue Fei (Jingzhong Wumu Wang), Guan Ping (Guansheng Taizi) and Zhou Cang, along with saints, gods, immortals and buddhas of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. The temple has several distinctive practices: it has no donation boxes, accepts no animal offerings, burns no joss paper, accepts no gold medallions, stages no opera performances for the gods, has no spirit mediums or spirit writing, does not solicit donations and forbids commercial activity. It is in the city centre and has a spacious forecourt, and it led the way in setting up a religious foundation, establishing its role in public welfare. Besides its religious work at the main temple in Taipei and its two branch temples in Sanxia and Beitou, and the Hsing Tian Kong Culture and Education Development Foundation founded in 1995, it runs two libraries (one in central Taipei and one in Beitou) and the Enzhugong Hospital in Sanxia.

Translated and shortened by DealTaipei from Taiwan's national tourism database. Sources are on the terms page.