Hsinchu City God Temple
Main Deities
About
In rank, Hsinchu City God Temple is the highest-ranking City God temple in all Taiwan — a claim backed by the 'Jinmen Baozhang' plaque bestowed by the Qing Guangxu Emperor himself. This old temple in Hsinchu's North District burns with devotion, and its most stirring scene comes at the 'Hsinchu Zhongyuan City God Festival' in the 7th lunar month: in the 'bearing the cangue' (hangjia) rite, tens of thousands of worshippers parade through the streets wearing paper cangues in penance, a spectacular sight. After paying respects to the City God, don't miss the famous street food ringing the temple square — meatballs (gongwan), rice noodles, and pork balls stall after stall, a place where faith and food are satisfied at once.
History
In 1748, during the Qianlong reign, Zeng Ri-ying, the sub-prefect of Tamsui, proposed building the Hsinchu City God Temple, one of the oldest government-built temples in the Hsinchu area. In the Qing imagination the City God temple was like an 'underworld county yamen,' facing the yamen of Hsinchu's magistrate from afar — one of the netherworld, one of the living — symbolizing the ideal of 'gods and people governing together.' It was rebuilt many times through the Jiaqing and Guangxu reigns, and under Japanese rule the gentleman Zheng Zhao-ji led a large-scale renovation that set its layout as it stands today. The temple preserves a great many Qing plaques and couplets, the 'Li Yang Qi' plaque being the most famous. Its annual 'City God Procession' is the largest religious event in Hsinchu City, and the route by which the City God circles the four city gates — north, south, east, and west — has continued for nearly three hundred years. The temple-front square and its surrounding stalls have grown into the renowned 'City God Temple-Gate' food street.
Hsinchu City God Temple
North District, Hsinchu City
Visitor Info
Address
No. 75, Zhongshan Rd, North District, Hsinchu City
Region
North District, Hsinchu City