While we were visiting the newly named Sun HOON Lake over the New Year’s break, we made sure to stop at WenWu Temple. While our children were more interested in sitting in our car playing on their electronic gadgets (even though we dragged them halfway around the world to expose them to stuff like this), Becky and I had a wonderful time strolling the grounds and taking lotsa pics.

A WenWu temple is unique and slightly rare in China and Taiwan because it venerates both a civil saint – Confucius – and a martial saint – Guan Yu – and there are sections of the temple dedicated to each. I, of course, was mostly interested in the martial aspect and approached the statue of Guan Yu outside the entrance where he is depicted wielding his signature weapon, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade. He proceeded to cut my head off as seen in this entry’s main image. But don’t worry, Confucius was able to reattach it. Once I had my head on straight, I was able to take and share with you the following photographs.

This is when Guang Yu decided to cut my head off….was it something I said?

The entrance to WenWu Temple is guarded by two large red lions crouching on big white balls.

These lions are pretty imposing, definitely creating a mood for your temple visit.

It was a beautiful day – around 60 degrees and wispy clouds littered the sky.

Taiwan is such a mountainous place that landscapes always seem like Sumie paintings with mountains fading into the distance.

The light at Sun Moon Lake can get quite dramatic at certain times of the day…like sunset.

When you look up at the roof of the temple you see all these tiny little animals adorning the gables.

Love the lines and shapes captured in this pic…

There must be some story behind this and someday when I know it, I will tell you.

I think these tiny animals were laughing at me….or coughing.

View from up on a hill to the side of the temple.

Different structures of the temple seen from different angles bring geometry into play.

Becky standing in the arch at the highest point overlooking the lower structure roof and the setting sun.

Larger view of Becky at the Sunset Gate.

He was a real person who did some pretty important stuff. Here he is shown in the midst of that….

Here you can see the moon through the gate we were looking at the setting sun through earlier.

Mr. Demille, the moon is ready for her closeup now…

Nine Dragon Head Fountain

Incense receptacle on the second level behind the front structure.

Here Confucius and Gong Yu honored side by side with offerings of incense, fruit and cash.

Here shown to scale with average sized people in the shot.

This guy was supposed to tell your fortune…..when he wasn’t snoring.

Right before he cut my head off…