So after spending 3 days in Kaohsiung, it was time for me to venture further afield. First stop - Tainan! A mere 15 minutes away from Kaohsiung on the High Speed Train, Tainan is Taiwan's oldest city. Formerly known as Fort Zeelandia, the Dutch established this city as a ruling and trading base. Tainan is also well known for its preservation of folk culture and Taoist rites. A lover of all things ancient, I was always going to visit Tainan.
I was fascinated with the story surrounding the Temple of the Five Concubines. This temple houses the tomb of the Five Concubines of Prince Ning-Ching. In AD 1683, when Prince Ning-Ching of the Ming Dynasty decided to sacrifice himself and become a martyr for the collapsing dynasty, his five concubines hanged themselves to express their virtue and fidelity. This site is one of the few first degree historical sites from the 17th century still left in Taiwan.
I wonder if any modern-day woman would still do what the concubines did for their man?
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| Entrance to the temple. |
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| Illustration of a concubine on the door. |
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| Illustration of a eunuch on the door. They killed themselves together with their mistresses to express their loyalty. |
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| The tomb at the back of the temple. As it was Ghost Festival Month, I did wonder if the spirits of the concubines were swirling around me... |
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