The Environmental Factors for Establishing Mazu Temple - A Case Study of Citian Temple in Taiwan

In traditional Chinese culture, the religious belief of the geographical environment, should be considered in the establishment of any temple. This paper points out that the establishment of Mazu Temple must be in accordance to the Geomancy of traditional Chinese culture, and examine the surrounding environment and its relation to Geomantic points. On the placement of the inner deities, we should also carefully place them in accordance with the believers' cognition of the level of deities, and the pattern of ethical difference between the left and the right. All these indicate the traditional Chinese ideology of environment and living space.