Taiwan’s Grand Matsu Temple rolls out love lottery poetry service in English

台灣媽祖廟推出英語愛情籤詩服務

The Tainan temple is partly dedicated to the 'Chinese Cupid' – Yue Lao


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – With Valentine’s Day approaching, Tainan City Government is joining hands with Tainan's Grand Matsu Temple (大天后宮) to launch the temple’s “Yue Lao Bilingual Lottery Poetry” service for foreign visitors looking for love.

The English poem service is part of the city’s effort to create a bilingual environment for individuals from around the world to learn more about Taiwan’s temple culture while also promoting tourism, according to the city government.

The city in southwestern Taiwan, which boasts four temples dedicated to Yue Lao (月老), or the Chinese deity of marriage and matchmaking, has been a tourist magnet for those hoping to find the right person or praying for a smooth relationship, said Deputy Director Tien Ling-hu (田玲瑚) of the Office of English as a Second Official Language, reports CNA.

The Grand Matsu Temple is the first of its kind in the country to provide Chinese and English interpretations for love-themed lottery poetry – a fortune telling practice in which a temple-goer requests answers through a traditional ritual. International visitors will be able to have taste of Taiwan’s temple traditions with a tinge of love.

Colombian student Isamara Lobo, who is studying at the Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, shared her excitement in drawing a fortune lot that offered auspicious text while on a trip to the temple, led by Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲), on Monday.

The temple has seen a number of matchmaking successes, having received presents and wedding cards as a gesture of gratitude from foreign couples whose prayers have been answered, Huang added.

Tainan Grand Matsu Temple
Address: No. 18, Ln. 227, Sec. 2, Yongfu Rd., Tainan City
Website: http://www.tainanmazu.org.tw/


Photo by Central News Agency