The history of Yuanshan
The history of Yuanshan ~~ The location of shrines
In 1972, Taiwan and Japan severed diplomatic relations, the government issued an instruction for the elimination of Japanese shrines, all of the shrines in Taiwan had been destroyed, except only Taoyuan shrine remained not damaged.
Taoyuan Shrine
Year: 1935.
Address: Located in Chiayi City Chiayi Park.
Objective: After Japanese arrived in Taiwan, for winning popular feelings, converted the Yianping King temple into an initially opened shrine, thus Yianping King temple changed to a Shinto shrine.
Characteristics: After the war, Taoyuan shrine was renamed as "Hsinchu County Martyrs Shrine"; in 1950 changed to Taoyuan County Martyrs Shrine; on February 15, 1994 it was designated as a grade three historic site by Ministry of the Interior; in 2004, changed to Cultural Center of Taoyuan County Martyrs Shrine.
Hsinchu Shrine
Year: 1917.
Address: Located in the present "Mainland China people treatment center in Hsinchu" of Hsinchu City.
Objective: After Japanese arrived in Taiwan, for winning popular feelings, converted the Yianping King temple into an initially opened shrine, thus Yianping King temple changed to a Shinto shrine.
Characteristics: In 1992, Mainland China people treatment center in Hsinchu was established here, the original recreation hall of the shrine became the administrative center of Hsinchu Jing Lu, the remnants of Hsinchu shrine and in June 2001, other affiliated buildings was designated as a historical site of the city announcement by the Hsinchu City Government.
Chiayi Shrine
Year: 1915.
Address: Located in Chiayi City Chiayi Park.
Objective: After Japanese arrived in Taiwan, for winning popular feelings, converted the Yianping King temple into an initially opened shrine, thus Yianping King temple changed to a Shinto shrine.
Characteristics: It was a building facing west, in April 24, 1994, completely destroyed by fire. Affiliated halls, in 1998, was designated as a historic site of Chiayi City.
Kaishan Shrine
Year: 1897 converted from Yianping King temple.
Address: Located in Kaishan road in Tainan city.
Objective: After Japanese arrived in Taiwan, for winning popular feelings, converted the Yianping King temple into an initially opened shrine, thus Yianping King temple changed to a Shinto shrine.
Characteristics: Main sanctuary and side hall remained in traditional Chinese style, benediction hall was changed to Japanese style with Tang dynasty form. Japanese tried to promote imperial citizenship through religion beliefs, however had not been able to change the original beliefs and traditions.
Jiangong Shrine
Year: July, 1928, but presently does not exist.
Address: Located in the location of the present Nanhai Park in Taipei.
Objective: During the Japanese rule, as a shrine for benediction of meritorious officials died in Taiwan.
Characteristics: Jiangong shrine was the first Japanese Shinto shrine that constructed with completely steel reinforced concrete, for complying to the climate in Taiwan, through the invention of technician Moriyama Matsunosuke of prefectural governor, not only made materials for the shrine building more exquisite, but also made Jiangong shrine a more diversified style, and became a combination of China, Japan and Western design style shrine building.
Taichung Shrine
Year: October, 1912.
Address: Northeast side of Taichung Park, besides the present Taichung Library.
Objective: As a central shrine of Taichung County, also covered management of 3 Township shrines of Changhua, Qingshui and 8 unclassified shrines, became the central shrine of center part of Taiwan area.
Worshipping gods: Three gods of fate (fate of patriot, rich, famous) and imperial prince Nokyu.
Characteristics: A shrine located in a park.
Qingshui Shrine
Year: November 23, 1937.
Address: On Dadu mountain of Taichung, that is the present Qingshui sports park.
Worshipping gods: The goddess of the Sun, three gods of fate (fate of patriot, rich, famous) and imperial prince Nokyu of Kitashirakawa Palace family.
Kaohsiung Shrine
Year: February 1912.
Address: Located in Shou mountain of Kaohsiung.
Worshipping gods: The god of materials, Emperor Sutoku and imperial prince Nokyu.
Yilan Shrine
Year: December 1917.
Address: Located in Yuan mountain of Yilan.
Worshipping gods: Imperial prince Nokyu.
Characteristics: After the war, dismantled and rebuilt as martyrs shrine.
Yoshino Shrine
Year: February 1912.
Objective: A large number of Japanese immigrants to Taiwan, bringing the local faith.
Worshipping gods: Three gods of fate (fate of patriot, rich, famous), imperial prince Nokyu and the godess of the sun.
Characteristics: In Japanese rule, a guardian shrine of the first government-run village.
Taitung Shrine
Year: October 1911
Address: Located at the western end of the Carp Mountain of Taitung City.
Objective: For guiding aborigines, attempted to bring culture and civilization for aborigines, bypassing Chinesization directly evolving into Japanese.
Worshipping gods: Three gods of fate (fate of patriot, rich, famous) and imperial prince Nokyu.
Characteristics: After recovery, rebuilt as martyrs shrine.
Five-house Shrine
Year: 1916.
Address: Located in Huwei Township, Yunlin County, today's Anqing primary school.
Objective: A company shrine, established by Great Japan Sugar Company with other resident’s resources.
Worshipping gods: Three gods of fate (fate of patriot, rich, famous) and the godess of the sun.
Taiwan Shrine
Year: February 1901
Address: Located in Jiantan mountain near Jiantan, Taipei.
Objective: For memorizing prince Nokyu who died in the beginning of Japanese rule, while leading troops toward southern Taiwan to suppress armed resistance, and to comfort the Kitashrakawa Palace family. In the late period of Japanese rule, for the needs of the War, Taiwan shrine also became a tool for propaganda of imperial citizenship.
Worshipping gods: Three gods of fate (fate of patriot, rich, famous) and the godess of the sun.
Characteristics: The most important shrine among the shrines built during Japanese rule. On October 25, 1977, a passenger aircraft to land to Songshan Airport, unfortunately, crashed near Taiwan Shrine, causing a huge fire and damages to Taiwan Shrine, there had been no refurbishment to the shrine since the War ended. In 1952 Mrs. Song Meiling, changed the shrine as Grand Hotel. In 1973, rebuilt into a 14-floor hotel.
