Day 438: Tainan

Jun 14 - After our meal last night with Bryan and family, we decided to meet up briefly at one of the most famous temples in town, the Tainan Confucius Temple.

Confucius (c.551-479 BCE) was a philosopher and politician during what is now known as the Spring and Autumn Period in China. He emphasized moral character and piety, and his teachings have remained an underpinning of Chinese thought since his time.

This temple, as are others dedicated to him, are sought out by people looking for guidance and blessing with their educational endeavors. Unusually, there is an entry charge for this one, but there is also a museum here. The grounds are sparse and clean, not cluttered with chairs and decor like many of the Taoist and Buddhist temples we’ve previously visited in Taiwan.

The temple was first built in 1665, and became known as ‘Taiwan’s First Institute of Learning’. It was renovated and expanded in 1683, when Taiwan became part of the Qing Dynasty Empire.

While we are there, many F-16 military jets fly overhead. There is a military airbase near Tainan. These exercises are apparently in response to statements made by Chinese officials yesterday reiterating that the strait between Taiwan and the mainland is part of their ‘exclusive economic zone’ and not the ‘high seas’ as Taiwan, the US, and other countries treat it.

We bid farewell to Bryan and his family and head to a bus stop to find our way to an out-of-town destination today. However, the bus leaves just before we get there, as does the next option. The third bus stop turns out to be temporarily closed, though we cannot read the notice. The fourth attempt, after we eat lunch, also never arrives. Defeated, we return to our room and take the clothing out to the laundromat. Later, Janet and Odette go out to see The Little Mermaid, which turns out to be in English with Chinese subtitles. Movie tickets are rather expensive here, almost US$10 a pop.