Tainan Tiantan (Altar of Heaven)
Main Deities
About
Tainan Tiantan, commonly called the 'Tiangong Temple' (Temple of the Lord of Heaven), sits in the heart of Tainan's West Central District. Built jointly by officials and the townspeople, it is dedicated to the supreme Jade Emperor (Yuhuang Dadi). Step into the plain, solemn main hall and look up: a plaque hangs there bearing a single character, 'One' (一). It is one of the 'Three Famous Plaques of the Old Capital' and was designated a general antiquity in 2009. The reasoning is wonderfully clever — the Lord of Heaven is supreme, and however many principles there may be under Heaven, none is greater than the single word 'One.' Every year on the ninth day of the first lunar month, the Jade Emperor's Birthday, worshippers lay out lavish offerings — one of the most solemn days in the old capital's calendar.
History
In 1854, officials, gentry, and merchants of the old capital joined forces to build this altar devoted solely to the Jade Emperor; its site is said to have been an altar for worshipping Heaven back in the Ming Zheng period. The 'One' plaque inside is the temple's best-known feature — its great treasure, and the very thing countless visitors come specially to see. Today it is a municipality-designated historic site.
Tainan Tiantan (Altar of Heaven)
West Central District, Tainan City
Visitor Info
Address
No. 16, Ln. 84, Sec. 2, Zhongyi Rd., West Central Dist., Tainan City
Region
West Central District, Tainan City
Plan Your Visit
- Hours
- Daily 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- When to Go
- The Jade Emperor's birthday (Tiangong Sheng) on the 9th day of the first lunar month is one of the most solemn days in Tainan, when worshippers prepare lavish offerings.
Checked on 2026-10-13 · Sources: Google Maps