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Taiwan Presidential Election 2024: Canvassing Inside the Temples

On the afternoon of January 8, nearly 2,000 people gathered at a small venue in front of Jinlian Temple in the Madou District of Tainan. They had been waiting in an orderly fashion for more than two hours.

Suddenly, there was a thunderous cheer from the street corner as the person they had been waiting for appeared. TPP's Presidential Candidate Ko Wen-Je was ushered into Jinlian Temple amidst guards, media reporters, and the exuberant public.

It was five days before the voting day for Taiwan's presidential election. Ko Wen-Je had come to Jinlian Temple to pray and canvass for votes, just like all the other candidates.

Upon arriving at Jin Lian Temple, Ke was met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd, who had eagerly waited for over an hour at the temple's entrance.

Whenever there is an election, candidates in Taiwan will actively visit numerous temples, not only to bai bai (pray) but also as a significant step to win votes. As temples represent a fusion of religious and political life in Taiwan, they are valued by candidates as a political strategy.

Two weeks before the election, three presidential candidates had already shuttled between different temples all over Taiwan. DPP's President Lai Ching-te had visited temples 184 times since he declared his candidacy on November 20 of the previous year, closely followed by Kuomintang's Hou Yu-ih with 162 visits. Ko Wen-je from the new force TPP lagged behind his two competitors with only 93 visits. Itineraries related to temples increased nearly 30% compared to the last election.

Ko Wen-je was praying inside Jinlian Temple in the Madou District, Tainan City, after a day's canvassing campaign.

Lai's lead was not surprising since the DPP has always maintained close contact with temples and was the first party to establish the Committee on Religion in 2017, which collaborates with other departments to arrange the itineraries of electoral campaigns.

Huang Yuanyuan, 70, Chairman of the Lion Choan Temple, sees these visits as more than mere tradition.

"Candidates come here seeking blessings for peace and health, and it's a way to connect with locals and potentially earn their votes," Huang said.

However, at the same time, some people think that these visits will not have much impact on the election result.

David Sung, a staff member of Bangka Qingshan Temple, said, "Temple worship is a deep-rooted tradition, but its influence on elections is uncertain."

"It's just that everyone has become accustomed to the custom and then does as they are told," Sung added.

The owner of the Buddha shop King Fu Yuan said he was in the shop when all three candidates came, but he did not go out to see them once.

Shilin Hulu Temple, located in the Shilin district, received all three presidential candidates before the election.

"We welcome people from all parties, even those with entirely contrary ideologies, to pray in the temple; presidential candidates are no exception," said Kuo Chiang-yuan, 60, the chairman of Shilin Hulu Temple. "Clergies here can have their own stance, but it won’t influence the impartiality of the temple."

"Taiwan's temples are places where democracy and freedom of speech are realized. People come here for their beliefs, embracing all political stances," said Tai.

However, Kuo mentioned that they sometimes will initially invite these political figures to the temple when there is an activity because "there will be much incense."

Besides, the presidential candidates will ask if the temple needs help after praying. "The relationship is generally reciprocal," said Kuo.

Temples will put up posters to promote their activities.

According to Hsiao Yi-ching, a research fellow from National Chengchi University, the statistics from the Central Election Commission highlight the significance of temples in voter turnout. They reveal that voters over the age of 40 constitute nearly 70% of the total voters. Temples play a crucial role in gathering these local elders, who serve as a vital channel for candidates to connect with this demographic. Their support can potentially sway the outcome of the election.

Hsiao further emphasized that while online publicity is popular, it primarily reaches young people in metropolitan areas, which represents a smaller group with a lower turnout rate. This underscores the importance of temples as a means to engage with a broader spectrum of voters and ensure their participation in the democratic process.

William Huang, 23, who lives close to the Lion Choan Temple, became Matsu's godson from a young age.

"When politicians like Tsai Ing-wen come to pray at the Lion Choan Temple, I will be more supportive of them since there’s a bond between them and me afterwards."

According to the Taiwan branch of the Fujian Municipal Government, there are 17 million Matsu believers in Taiwan's 23 million population, accounting for more than 70% of Taiwan's population.

As Ko Wen-Je believes: "As a Taiwanese, you should visit Matsu at least once if you have the opportunity."

And Kuomintang candidate Hou Yu-ih said, "Matsu is like a mother, bringing peace and stability to Taiwan."

"People are zealous for Matsu," said Kuo. "The prayers have increased a lot since we invited Matsu from elsewhere to our temple. I believe that is one of the reasons why the candidates choose here."

Taiwan's temples serve as community and cultural hubs, particularly in rural areas. According to statistics from the Ministry of the Interior, there are more than 14,000 temples in Taiwan. On average, there is one temple for every 2.6 square kilometers, making it the region with the highest density of temples in the world.

"Taiwan is deeply rooted in religious practices," said Tony Tai, 24, cultural team leader of Bangka Qingshan Temple, which is one of the oldest temples in Taiwan.

Tony Tai said most of the temple staff are volunteers from the neighboring residents; they volunteered to clean and decorate the Bangka Qingshan Temple.

The temples also play a crucial role in fostering community cohesion, as seen during A-Ma's birthday celebrations.

"We provide free food and drinks to the neighborhood, reinforcing the temple's position as a community cornerstone," Huang said.

 

 

 

 

 

《The Young Reporter》

The Young Reporter (TYR) started as a newspaper in 1969. Today, it is published across multiple media platforms and updated constantly to bring the latest news and analyses to its readers.

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