Taiwan's temples smoke out joss sticks

Instead of lighting joss sticks and burning incense paper, devotees at the Xingtian Temple in Taipei's Zhongshan district clasp their hands when praying to the temple's principal deity Guan Yu, the Taoist God of War. Temple helpers light environmentally friendly joss sticks for a daily blessing ritual.ST PHOTO: JERMYN CHOW

TAIPEI: The bearded deity Guan Yu, flanked by other deities who represent righteousness, brotherhood and victory in war, presides over worshippers who kneel before his altar at the Xingtian Temple.

But devotees at the prayer grounds in the heart of Taipei's Zhongshan district do not pay respects to the Taoist God of War in the traditional way, which is by lighting joss sticks or burning paper offerings.