Taiwan is a hot place. I have lived in Taipei for two years and thus have acclimated to the temperature and the humidity. Yet, I had not acclimated to the weather in the south. HOLY COW! It is toasty here. We set out by scooter and visited the Museum of Taiwanese Literature and the oldest Confucius temple in Taiwan. It is considered the oldest place of education on the island and was built originally 1665 by the son of Koxinga, the man who pushed the Dutch out of Taiwan. It was a high honor if you were allowed to study there. The only scholars accepted had to pass the imperial exam which tested everything from musical talent to calligraphy.
Anne led us down many tranquil streets and into book shops. The heat was slowing us down, so we stopped for tea and green bean soup. We then ventured into the Temple of the Five Concubines. It honors five concubines of an Emperor. When he died, they committed suicide. Thus, they are honored for their dedication to him. The Japanese also liked this sacrifice and gave a lot of money to the upkeep of the temple (Taiwan was under Japanese rule for 50 years). It is definitely worth a visit. The grounds are impeccable and the variety of trees is amazing. Before heading to dinner we walked around the Great South Gate. It was built in 1835 by the Qing dynasty to protect the city. Best part of the day: Anne!
Anne led us down many tranquil streets and into book shops. The heat was slowing us down, so we stopped for tea and green bean soup. We then ventured into the Temple of the Five Concubines. It honors five concubines of an Emperor. When he died, they committed suicide. Thus, they are honored for their dedication to him. The Japanese also liked this sacrifice and gave a lot of money to the upkeep of the temple (Taiwan was under Japanese rule for 50 years). It is definitely worth a visit. The grounds are impeccable and the variety of trees is amazing. Before heading to dinner we walked around the Great South Gate. It was built in 1835 by the Qing dynasty to protect the city. Best part of the day: Anne!
