A few days ago I was in Tainan's Cheng Huang Temple, the best known of its three city god shrines. The exterior art features quite prominently two men of Western appearance but in semi-Chinese garb. The temple's caretaker confirmed they are 'foreigners' but couldn't tell me why they're here.These figures are certainly not the only depictions of foreigners in Taiwan temple art. I like the five o'clock shadows on both men, and the widow's-peak hairstyles that remind me of Ray Reardon, the snooker player.
Temples in Taiwan are full of interesting details, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteHere's another temple in the western part of Tainan with a couple of obviously-western guys holding up the roof.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21506490@N00/2640153579/in/set-72157594172826399/