- Title: Taiwan island temple keeps ancient dream-seeking ritual alive
- Date: 27th March 2026
- Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (MARCH 24, 2026) (REUTERS) FOLK BELIEFS INSTRUCTOR AT TAIPEI WAN HUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, LU CHIANG-MING, TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 59-YEAR-OLD FOLK BELIEFS INSTRUCTOR AT TAIPEI WAN HUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, LU CHIANG-MING, SAYING: "Although many temples in the Fuzhou region also worship the Nine Immortals Lord — as I mentioned earlier, the practice was
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Dream Seeking Matsu Matsu Islands Nine Immortals Lord Taiwan culture deities folk beliefs island remote islands ritual
- Location: MATSU, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- City: MATSU, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- Country: Taiwan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA003765026032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: On a remote Taiwanese island, believers gather once a year at a small temple to sleep on the floor, hoping deities will send them prophetic dreams to guide their lives.
Every 29th day of the Lunar New Year, residents of Matsu islands make their way to Lung Chiao Feng Wuwei Ling Temple in Beigan Township for the centuries-old "dream seeking" ritual. Wrapped in blankets on the temple floor, they pray for divine visions that might answer personal questions about marriage, career or family concerns.
Local restaurant owner Yang Jui-yun, 60, first participated more than a decade ago when worried about her daughter studying in the United States. "I heard someone saying 'hello, hello' in English. And then I saw an image of a couple holding hands with children," Yang said.
Years later, her daughter gave birth to twin girls in the U.S. When the granddaughters first visited Matsu, Yang witnessed the exact scene from her temple dream — her daughter and son-in-law walking hand-in-hand with the twins toward a Matsu beach.
The tradition originated in Fujian, China, and was brought to Matsu by early fishing settlers from East Fujian coastal villages. Their geographic proximity shaped the islands' cultural development, giving Matsu a spoken language, culture and folk beliefs distinct from most of Taiwan's population.
According to temple lore, the Nine Immortals Lord deities leave their home temple in Fujian on the 29th day of the Lunar New Year to visit relatives at Wuwei Ling Temple. A severe storm once forced them to stay an extra day before returning. Because of this tale, people in Fujian can seek dreams on any of the other 364 days, while
Matsu worshippers can participate only on this specific day.
Matsu is the last remaining place in Taiwan where the dream-seeking ritual survives.
Chen Shih-tien, 78-year-old honorary chairman of Wuwei Ling Temple, said most people seek divine guidance on marriage and career decisions.
In recent years, Taiwan's county government has promoted the ritual as a cultural tourism experience, drawing visitors from across the island who hope the deities will speak to them through their dreams.
(Production: Yi-Chin Lee, Angie Teo) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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