The Study of Traditional Architecture Decoration in Taiwan

－Roof Ornaments of Chao-Tian Temple of Beigang Town

Abstract

In Taiwan, the roof of the temple is full of variety of gorgeous ornaments to express the people's hearts to pray and wishes.The result of this field study of Chao-Tian Temple located in Beigang Town, Yunling County showed that the setting of these ornaments were not only for decoration purpose, but have meaning after a certain rule to be produced. The summarized of decorative motivation as follow: 1) strengthen the structure, 2) stay out of trouble, 3) pursuit ideals, and 4) pay homage to the god. The decorative principle could be summarized as: 1) the status of serial principle, 2) symmetry principle 3) earth to sky principle, 4) the central pack principle. The decorative purposes were 1) good luck, 2) cultivation, and 3) disaster prevention.