In Taiwan, the gods have a grip on politics

The World

Taiwan is replete with Taoist temples: sacred grounds where the faithful seek blessings. Recently, politicians have been seeking both the gods’ and voters’ favor. Election season is in high gear — Taiwan chooses its next government on Jan. 13 — and candidates are converging on temples, demonstrating their piety to the public. The World’s Patrick Winn follows a would-be lawmaker facing a tough race, as she campaigns at a Taoist temple.

Will you support The World with a monthly donation?

Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you. We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

Make a gift today, and you’ll help us unlock a matching gift of $67,000!