Detailed Introduction
An incense stick nearly blown out by mouth, a foot about to land on the threshold, a custard apple casually set on the altar table -- in a Taiwanese temple, each of these makes people wince. Temple culture carries many taboos, and the versions differ from place to place; here are the most common ones -- remember them and you'll steer clear of an innocent misstep:
Entering Taboos
- Don't enter or leave by the middle door: it is the deity's passage; ordinary worshippers use the dragon or tiger gate.
- Don't step on the threshold: it stands for the deity's shoulders, and treading on it is a grave irreverence.
- Don't dress too revealingly: dress neatly and modestly for the temple, avoiding shorts, flip-flops, and skimpy clothing.
Worship Taboos
- Don't blow out the incense with your mouth: fan it out with your hand; blowing is seen as irreverent.
- Don't point the incense down or plant it carelessly: keep the incense pointing up, so your wish can rise to the heavens.
- Don't point at a deity statue with your finger: use your whole open hand as a mark of respect.
- Don't be noisy or rowdy in the hall: keeping solemn is basic etiquette.
Offering Taboos
- Don't offer tomato or guava to the gods: these two fruits have seeds that don't digest easily, carrying a sense of "uncleanness."
- Don't offer hollow-hearted things like water spinach: the "hollow heart" suggests "no sincere heart."
- Pineapple, apple, and orange are the most welcome, meaning "prosperity comes," "peace," and "good luck" respectively.
- Don't offer custard apple (sakya) to the Buddha: its name matches "Shakyamuni," and it's considered irreverent.
Other Points
- Traditionally, women avoided temples during menstruation -- but the origin of this custom lay mainly in the poor sanitation and nutrition of old times, when a woman's body was weaker during menstruation and a long trek to worship placed a real strain on it. With sanitation and medicine now vastly improved, most temples and religious figures agree there is no problem at all with visiting during menstruation; sincerity brings a response, and there's no need for such worry.
- It's best not to enter a temple straight after a funeral; purify yourself first, then go.
- Watch the incense fire for safety when bringing infants and young children into a temple.
- If you come across temple incense ash or a peace talisman, don't discard it casually; return it to the temple.