Saturday, February 29, 2020

Zi Nan Temple (紫南宮)


Zi Nan Temple in Nantou County is a very popular tourist destination in Taiwan. It is said that people who borrow money from the Land God there will become very prosperous, which is why so many people go there to worship the Land God and borrow money. It is required that people who borrow money from the Land God pay back the borrowed money within a year. Since many people become prosperous or make a lot of money after they borrow money from the Land God, many people choose to pay back more money than they originally borrowed. 

Below is a picture taken from outside the front of Zi Nan Temple:



The Land God and Land Goddess, with other gods by their side:




People who with to borrow money from the Land God must first obtain his permission by throwing a pair of crescent-moon-shaped wood pieces onto the floor. If you get one wood piece side-up, and the other side-down, that means the Land God has agreed to lend you money. You get six tries per visit. If you cannot succeed within six attempts, then you have to come some other time to try again. If you succeed on your first throw, then you have been granted 600 NT dollars by the Land god; if you succeed on your second throw, then you have been granted 500 NT dollars by the Land God; if you succeed on your third throw, then you have been granted 400 NT dollars by the Land God; and so on and so forth....... Before you throw the wood pieces onto the floor, you need to respectfully tell the Land God your name and ask his permission to borrow money:





Once you are granted money by the Land God, go here to get your borrowed money:




One year later, come here to pay back what you borrowed (don't forget to add some additional money if you prospered because of the Land God's blessings):




Touch and pat the golden hen for good luck and good fortune:




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