folk religion Archives | Island Folklore

Bodhidharma Tales: Origin of Zen Buddhism

In the heart of the Shaolin Temple, nestled among the ancient halls and towering trees, Bodhidharma, founder of Zen, sat in deep meditation.

The story of the Buddha is a great source of inspiration and serves as a guide for millions of Buddhists in Taiwan and around the globe.

The Taiwan Jingū (Grand Shrine of Taiwan) was chief among Taiwan’s 66 official Shinto shrines. What happened to it? Find out here!

The Formosan Tiger features prominently in Taiwanese culture. Here are four examples!

Behold, this is your definitive at-home siu-kiann guide for combating your child’s nightmares and mom’s sleep deprivation.

The ancient Chinese tale of the lady who became the Goddess of the Moon.

Fairies, genies and demons—Eurasian hinterlands are home to mythical beings, like Taiwan’s “mô-sîn-á.”

Memories of martyrs help a struggling people find their identity in a brave new world.

This is the story of the evolution of Taiwan’s beloved Goddess of Mercy—how a Buddhist princely saint became a motherly deity for the Taiwanese.

The Sea Goddess has two loyal attendants who are “all eyes and ears.” This is their story.

The Sea Goddess is the protector of Taiwan. She was once a real person and this is her legend.