臺灣民間信仰中的田都元帥，並非主流信仰，在許多廟宇中僅以陪祀神型態存在，但其鎮邪除煞的特性在民間信仰中卻十分突出。除了戲曲行業及民間子弟戲性質的曲館多奉為保護神之外，臺灣南部原屬農業地帶的廟宇組有不少宋江陣、金獅陣等大型武陣，基本上也都拜田都元帥（田府元帥、宋江爺）為保護神。此一信仰型態源自福建（漳、泉地區為主），在臺灣傳衍期間因移墾社會的特殊性，為了護衛鄉里，練武風氣極盛，造就宋江陣大量組設；又因水災疫患頻繁，強化了宋江陣行儺除疫的信仰功能。迄今在臺灣南部廟會活動中，宋江陣與金獅陣既是娛人娛神的熱鬧陣，田都元帥更是驅邪制煞的重要儺神，傳承了閩南的民間信仰傳統並轉化為具有臺灣特色的宗教文化。

In Taiwanese folk religion, Marshal Tiandu is by no means a major deity. Usually occupying a minor, secondary status in a temple, Marshal Tiandu is however notable for his exorcist power. Most professional traditional opera theater and amateur folk music troupes worship Marshal Tiandu as their patron god. In addition, the military troupes like Song Jiang militia or Lion dance troupe in southern rural Taiwan also worship Marshal Tiandu (alternatively called Marshal Tianfu, Lord Song Jiang) as their protective deity. The cult of Marshal Tiandu originated from Fujian (especially Zhangzhou and Quanzhou area).
The unique background of Taiwan’s immigration society fostered a prosperous martial arts practice. Many organized Song Jiang militia to guard their villages. The frequent floods and epidemic diseases further reinforced the Song Jiang militias’ religious function of expelling evil spirits and eliminating epidemic diseases. Up until now, in the southern Taiwan temple fairs, the performances of Song Jiang militia and Lion dance troupe are not only entertaining activities, their patron god, Marshal Tiandu is also an important exorcist deity. The cult of Marshal Tiandu has carried on the southern Fujian's folk belief and transformed it to a religious culture with Taiwanese characteristics.