"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us." -Winston Churchill

Taiwan's traditional architecture is one of its most noticeable cultural characteristics. Having been to historical sites in Seoul, I can note several distinct qualities in traditional Taiwanese buildings. Of the buildings I have seen, such as a temple in Tainan, I noticed that Taiwan's architecture commonly features very bright colors, ornate designs and steeply curved roofs.

Temple in Tainan

In contrast, South Korea's traditional architecture is more reserved. Rather than scarlet and gold, one will typically see a more rustic green and deep red, more akin to the colors found in nature. Furthermore, Korean architecture does not feature the steeply flared roof tips or fanciful designs found in Taiwanese columns.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul

Many factors can influence the design of architecture. Taiwan's historical connection to dynastic China most likely played a heavy influence in the design we see today. Given China's status as the center of East Asian commerce, religion and politics for centuries, it is of little surprise that Taiwan's architecture bears similar qualities to the architecture from mainland China's contemporary history. It is possible that Korea's historical status as China's "little brother" led to more humble architectural designs.

Modern factors of Taiwan's elaborate architecture can sometimes be tied to religion. Buddhism, while sometimes not considered to be a religion based on Western standards, nonetheless has a global following and is particularly popular in the East. Fo Guang Shan's big Buddha is one of the most impressive modern architectural feats I have seen. The symmetry of the pagodas and stupas and the colorful expanse before the primary temple space makes for a beautiful site.

Fo Guang Shan, Kaohsiung

Though I lack photos, South Korea's Buddhist Temples were quaint, typically featuring the aforementioned rustic colors and simple designs. Given that Buddhism is far more prevalent in Taiwan than South Korea, I am not surprised that Taiwan would hold such a tremendous Buddhist site.

Like the United States, South Korea has many self-identified Christians, meaning there exists a high number of churches in both countries, something that Taiwan also has, though not in great numbers. For my next blog, I will discuss personal space and how it differs between Taiwan and the United States.