Deity Guide

Worship Tips: Bring a copy of your exam permit, celery (diligence), green onions (intelligence), garlic (winning odds), and radish (good luck). Wenchang Dijun is the deity most people pray to before exams; the Taipei Wenchang Temple in Shuanglian is a common stop for test-takers.

Worship Tips: Offer auspicious items like fa gao (prosperity cake) and pineapple (ong lai, 'prosperity comes'), and your business card. Taiwan's most common Military Wealth God is Zhao Gongming; Guan Gong is also revered as one. At the Tiger Lord, pass a coin over the censer before his mouth, say 'Tiger Lord, bite money in,' and keep it as seed money.

Worship Tips: Xia-Hai City God Temple and Longshan Temple are the top love shrines. Red-thread customs vary: Longshan Temple requires 3 consecutive Sheng Jiao, while at Xia-Hai you buy the thread and pass it over the censer. Zhinan Temple is famous for 'cutting off bad romances.'

Worship Tips: If you're unwell, see a doctor first; some also ask for a 'Medicine Lot' for peace of mind. Report your condition sincerely to Baosheng Dadi. Mazu and Guanyin also protect safety — pray to Mazu before long journeys.

Worship Tips: Offer dates, peanuts, longans, lotus seeds (pun: 'early birth of a noble child'). After praying to Zhusheng Niangniang at Longshan Temple, gently touch the flowers on the offering table (some say white flowers for a boy, red for a girl). After delivery, return with sticky rice to repay the vow.

Worship Tips: Report injustices to the City God, the underworld's judge and guardian of the local community. Guan Di protects the righteous. To find lost items, people often pray to Dazhong Ye at Xinzhuang Dizang Temple. Never lie — these deities are strictly just.

Worship Tips: Light a blessing lamp or register for Tai Sui protection at temples. For severe cases, seek the 'Ji Gai' (luck repair) ritual. Xingtian Temple offers free 'soul calming' service. Xuantian Shangdi and Wangye are the premier exorcism deities.