英文摘要:In the Chinese society, solitary ghosts are regarded as ghastly ghosts. Constructing temples is often used to place these spirits. Due to the view of valuing men above women, there were single females excluded to be worshipped among ancestors after they died. This traditional custom has always been practiced as man authorized. Thus, Gu Niang temples were built to place the souls of the unmarried females. Gu Niang temples also thrived because of the miracles and myths. Accordingly, the spirits were viewed divinely and Gu Niang temples gradually transferred to the local religion. To begin with this study, the tradition of worshipping gods and ghosts was probed to discuss the folk ritual of worshipping dead in Taiwan. The inquiry regarding to the Confucianism、Buddhism and Taoism, which had been brought from China and had influenced the folk beliefs in soul space and spirits, was compared with the beliefs in Gu Niang temples. Furthermore, the following aspects about the ethical teaching of traditional females、the feminine taboos in patriarchy society、the sexual discrimination revealed in language and titles were also observed to look into the origin of Gu Niang temples ── patriarchism. Finally, field surveys were done including six Gu Niang temples in Tucheng、Shulin、Sanxia、Ruifang and Yonghe of Taipei County. The local elders were also interviewed concerning the background、the transition of buildings and the mysterious fables of Gu Niang temples. The rituals and taboos of Gu Niang temples were also investigated in this research.