Parasitic Temples: A record of a city adapting to survive

Hidden in the nooks and crannies of urban landscape, Taiwan’s hundreds of traditional ‘parasitic’ temples attach themselves to modern buildings, representing an architectural quirk in the fabric of the country. Coming back from overseas, architect Po-Wei Lai was amazed by this unique scene and started to research these temples and their historical contexts. The process led him to reflect on how people strive to keep intimate connections with traditional religious beliefs, amidst a society undergoing rapid modernization. How these peculiar temples survived through metamorphosis, latching onto the new structures, demonstrates the value of adaptability within Taiwanese society.

This event is organised by the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan, the Taiwan Public Television Service Foundation and Taipei Representative Office in the UK.