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Divine Haircare Rituals
By Lin Hsien-Yun / Tainan
AUG 2025
In the spiritual heart of Tainan, the end of the lunar year brings a whirlwind of activity—not just for the faithful, but for the gods themselves. As temples across the historic city prepare for grand rituals like jianjiao (建醮 sacrificial offerings) and wangchuan (送王船 king boat ceremonies), deities are not only worshipped—they’re groomed.
Yes, you read that right. Before a deity embarks on a procession, there’s one essential ritual: a divine makeover.
In many temples, male gods are prepped with the care of VIPs at a high-end salon. If a statue is adorned with real human hair or silk-based beards, it’s not unusual for volunteers to give the deity a full wash-and-style session—complete with shampoo, conditioner, and even a blow-dry. According to temple caretakers, the gods must look their finest before meeting their devotees.
At Guangji Temple in Sanping, the 35-years-homebound Lei Hua Bodhisattva (雷華菩薩) was recently due for an outing. The temple’s steward, Lin Xun-cheng, described the process: “We lay the bodhisattva back over a bright orange beverage tub, unwrapped the ceremonial child-style bun, and began a full cleansing using standard shampoo. After rinsing, we conditioned and dried the hair, styled it anew, and placed the divine headdress back on. It was just like preparing a human for an important ceremony.”
Not every god has time—or a team—for a spa day. In some temples, practicality reigns. The City God Temple’s officiant, Hong Shao-min, revealed that in the past, deities’ beards were cleaned with rice wine, though over-soaking could lead to discoloration.
These days, temple workers have found a better trick: foam-based dry shampoo, the kind used in hospital wards. “It’s like cleaning sneakers,” laughed one attendant. “Spray, wait, wipe—it even detangles the silk fibers.”
And then there are temples that take it a step further. One shrine dedicated to Shang Di Gong (上帝公) in Tainan’s Central-West District opts for synthetic wigs. Before a procession, the wig is sent to a professional salon, cleaned and styled for divine display. No more complicated rituals. No more soaking tubs. Just a ready-to-wear holy hairpiece.
Historically, the materials used for divine hair have evolved. In the old days, hair came from real children—specifically, young girls who had not yet reached puberty, due to cultural beliefs about purity. Now, with real hair rare and expensive, most temples use dyed silk or synthetic nylon. The cheaper nylon versions, while convenient, tend to tangle and degrade over time, making divine grooming more of a challenge.
So next time you're in Tainan and catch a glimpse of a deity gliding past in full regalia during a street procession, take a closer look. That immaculate mane? It might just be the result of a shampoo session worthy of a beauty pageant.
#TainanTips
These divine beauty rituals typically happen ahead of major temple events. Check local temple calendars around the lunar year-end (usually November to February).
Be respectful: while fascinating, these are sacred practices. Photography may be restricted during preparation rituals.
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