Nankunshen Daitianfu Temple 南鯤鯓代天府

I love the color of the wall in the last picture. They say the paint was made from coral from the Penghu islands. I think I'd love to do a painting and print with this color.

The rest of the pictures are here: here.

Pity when we went, there were hardly any people. Out of the (few) temples I've been to, I still like Bao An Temple in Taipei and Longshan Temple in Lugang the best.


Scripts:
南鯤鯓代天府 宗教之旅

台灣廟宇多，大家都知道，尤其集中在台南、嘉義、雲林的廟宇？
這邊有許多數百年歷史古蹟廟宇，每一間廟都有它有趣的典故。今天我們就要帶您到國定古蹟[王爺開山廟、南鯤鯓代天府]，一起來聽聽五府千歲如何來到台灣的故事。
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台灣分靈超過7千座廟宇的國定古蹟南鯤鯓代天府，就是這兒。
不論柱子、屋簷、牌匾，都有著精緻的雕工、與鮮豔的彩漆。

[[民視記者 翁郁容: 南鯤鯓代天府的三川殿是在19世紀建的，可是裡面的五府千歲是在1662年，347年前雕刻的。]]

來到南鯤鯓代天府，大家拜的就是五府千歲。

[[南鯤鯓代天府管理委員會 總幹事 侯賢遜: 這個廟是因為福建放王船 沖流到這個地方 (船)裡面有五王的記號 還有一塊杉木 雕刻著五王的神像 (每年)來這邊拜拜和觀光的民眾有將近600萬人次]]

像這位女士，就是大老遠從台北來到這求保佑。

[[信眾 求平安啊 台北也這麼多的廟 有人建議我們來這邊拜 真的適合 我覺得有差]]

[[民視記者 翁郁容: 來南鯤鯓進香其實很方便
這邊除了提供午餐還有住宿 現在就帶您來看看]]

沒錯，來到南鯤鯓，不用煩惱找旅館。
這邊有通鋪、有套房，總共可以提供1500人住宿。

其實除了拜拜求賜福，信眾來到這，也可以順便觀光遊覽。正因特色廟宇眾多，雲林、嘉義、台南地區近年也逐漸形成了宗教觀光聖地。

[[雲嘉南風景管理處 技正 蔡宜育 濱海地區對王爺的信仰非常誠心 所以每逢王爺誕晨 或
者媽祖的誕晨 在我們雲嘉南濱海 都有很多的節慶活動]]

每座廟宇都有它的典故，裡面的神明更是各有各的傳奇故事。姑且不論您的信仰是什麼，有空來趟雲嘉南宗教之旅，您會對台灣的傳統民俗美學，有更深刻的體會

民視新聞 翁郁容 葉尚松 台南報導


Temple Travels

Tainan is perhaps best known as the historical, first capital of Taiwan, but its temples and other temples in the Yunlin and Chiayi areas are also major destinations for travelers who especially appreciate culture. This week, Michella Jade Weng visited Nankunshen Daitian (南鯤鯓代天) Temple for a closer look at where the more than 7,000 branch temples of the “five kings” (五府千歲) in Taiwan all started.##

Characteristic of Taoist temples, Nankunshen Daitian Temple in Tainan County is covered in brightly colored paint, mostly red and gold, with sculptures of mystical beasts and gods atop every roof, beneath every eave.

Michella Jade Weng
Nankunshen Temple was built in the 19th century, but the sculptures of the five gods inside, the five kings, were carved by fishermen in the 1600's.

These five gods are known as “wufuqiansui 五府千歲,” or the “Plague Gods” and were said to be sent by the heavens to keep an eye on and to protect the people in this world.

Hou Siansyun
Temple official
A burned Plague God boat from Fujian made its way here, and in the boat were statues of the gods made of balsa wood. And that's how this temple was started. More than 6 million worshipers come every year.

This woman has come all the way from Taipei to pray to the five gods.

Worshipper
We’re praying for peace and good health.

Worshippers like these have helped Tainan, Chiayi and Yunlin develop into an area of religious tourism.

Tsai, Yi-yu
Tourism Bureau official
People in this area are devout believers in the five gods, so every year around the birthday of the five gods or Mazu, many festivals and activities take place.

Each temple has its own resident deity and its own story, and with the infinite numbers of gods in Taoism, you’re likely to never hear the same story twice.

Michella Jade Weng, Formosa TV, Tainan.