In 1987 we undertook a 2 month road trip through Europe. Our then 3 year old son would ask each morning “Are we going to a <C>athedral or an Abbey today? He was a happy traveller and trudged through the great churches of Europe without complaint. Fast forward almost 40 years and compare his mother’s attitude. Anguished moans of “not more temples”, “how many more temples” and “I am all templed out”.
Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan established 400 years ago. The travel information shows multiple Taoist and Buddhist temples in the historic centre just a short walk from our hotel and from each other. My impression was that this must be a precinct of small alleyways, perhaps cobblestoned and replete with old town charm. Unfortunately that is not the case. The streets are ordinary 20th century affairs and the temples are all sandwiched between ordinary shops. While the insides are ornate and pretty the view from the outside is not.
The exception to this is our first port of call the Confucius Temple built in 1665 to offer lectures and cultivate intellectuals.
When is too much temples not enough?