Singles seek out matchmaker Yue Lao

This article was written by Rita Fang and published by the Taiwan Journal on February 24, 2006. It features the Sia Hai Cheng Huang Temple in Taipei City's Dihua Street, which is dedicated to the Yue Sia Lao Jen - "Old Man Under the Moon". The old man, who is also known as "Yue Lao" or "Moon Elder", is one of the most sought-after deities at this 148-year-old temple. His speciality is to help romance bloom and mature, and his busiest days of the year all fall on dates popularly associated with romantic love, such as the Valentine's Day, the Chinese Lantern Festival and the Chinese Valentine's Day.

According to representatives of the temple, many young people whose prayers are answered and who became engaged come back to the temple and deliver a load of traditional nuptial cakes to the old man. They do so both as an offering in gratitude to Yue Lao for his solicitude, and as a blessing for young people after them, whose prayers have not yet been answered. In 2005, nearly 5,300 engaged couples came to the temple with their cakes to give thanks to Yue Lao and pray for other people's happiness.

Statuettes of Yue Lao, of which there are seven in the temple, depict him in the standing position. It is hoped that this position will help him do his job energetically.

The Sia Hai Cheng Huang Temple is in fact dedicated to the City God, or Cheng Huang. The word "cheng" means "city wall", while "huang" means "moat" in Chinese. The City God's role is to protect his city and to promote civic harmony.

The City God worshipped at the Sia Hai Cheng Huang Temple was brought to Taiwan by Chinese immigrants some 185 years ago. Occupying about 150 square meters of land, the temple has served as the center of the community's religious activities ever since. Every year, on the 13th day of the 5th month in the lunar calendar, the temple holds a magnificent festival to celebrate the City God's birthday.

There is also a popular Sia Hai Cheng Huang Temple in southern Taiwan's Kaohsiung City, which is decidated to both Yue Lao and the City God. This temple was built in 1920s by Taipei residents who moved there to escape the danger of World War II air raids in northern Taiwan.