Hukou Sanyuan Temple

During the Qianlong and Jiaqing eras of the Qing Dynasty, the Dahukou (Greater Hukou) area attracted a large number of Hakka immigrants who settled and gradually formed scattered villages. Old Hukou, situated between mountains and plateaus, became a community center and a hub for goods. In the 13th year of Guangxu (1887), the railway between Keelung and Hsinchu began construction. Because it passed through Hukou and had a station in Old Hukou, its opening in the 19th year of Guangxu brought new business opportunities, leading to rapid commercial growth and establishing Old Hukou as an important commercial center. The predecessor of Sanyuan Temple was the 'Sanguan Chang' (Three Officials Offering) during the Daoguang era, a deity association that helped immigrants consolidate their strength. As the commercial scale took shape, it gradually became a public faith, prompting local gentry to propose building a temple. Construction of Sanyuan Temple began in the 43rd year of Meiji (1904). The original temple faced east to west, but due to inconsistencies with local Feng Shui legends, it was rebuilt to face south to north during the Taisho era, funded by donations from Zhou Lin-he and others. The reconstruction was completed in the 7th year of Taisho (1918), and the grand enshrinement ceremony was held the following year. During the late Japanese colonial period, the temple was used for military purposes. Worship resumed after Taiwan's Retrocession, and the temple underwent another major renovation in the 56th year of the Republic (1967). In recent years, it was damaged by an earthquake, and the Ministry of Interior approved subsidies from the 921 Community Reconstruction and Renewal Fund for its repair project, which was completed in the 94th year of the Republic (2005). Hukou Sanyuan Temple is the center of faith in the Old Hukou area. Next to the temple is the famous Old Hukou Street, one of the county's tourist attractions. The temple enshrines deities such as the Sanguan Dadi (Three Great Emperor-Officials), Mazu, Guanyin Niang (Goddess of Mercy), Bogong (Earth God), and Zhusheng Niangniang (Goddess of Childbirth). It was designated a county-level historic site in the 90th year of the Republic (2001).