Shilin Cixian Temple

Date CapturedJune 19th, 2016 at 14:30 UTCCameraNIKON D3100LensAF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIApertureƒ / 3.5Shutter Speed1/40 secFocal Length18.0 mmISO400Exposure Value8.9 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

The principal Mazu temple of Shilin, founded in 1796 by Zhangzhou settlers as Zhilan Street Tianhou Temple (芝蘭街天后宮). It was rebuilt at its current site in 1864 after the original was razed during tumultuous conflicts between Zhangzhou and Quanzhou immigrant groups in the mid-19th century. The main hall is notable for its duichangzuo (對場作) woodwork, in which rival master carpenters competed on either side of the building, and it is the only temple in Taipei featuring three opera stages out front. Its once-expansive forecourt has been almost entirely consumed by the stalls of Shilin Night Market (士林夜市), leaving little sense of the civic space it once anchored.