Dazhongye Shrine (Big Camphor Tree)

Jiji Dazhongye Shrine, also known as Dazhongye Temple, is an important local religious center and historical cultural landmark. It is said to have been founded during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, originally built to inter the remains of those who died in the Lin Shuangwen Incident and the Dai Chaochun Incident, symbolizing respect for anti-Qing patriots and unknown souls. The temple's feng shui site is known as "Carp Land," and its proximity to a park and the Jiji Big Camphor Tree makes it an important place for residents to relax and worship. Historically, in 1863 during the Tongzhi reign, local residents interred the remains of soldiers who died in battles and built a shrine to commemorate them. Later, during the Guangxu reign, the temple was renovated, and a statue of Dazhongye was sculpted. A grand annual festival is held on the 23rd day of the eighth lunar month, making it an important traditional event for Jiji. A stage is set up in front of the temple, attracting large numbers of devotees and tourists during the festival, creating a lively atmosphere. The Jiji Big Camphor Tree in front of the Dazhongye Shrine is over 700 years old, stands about 30 meters tall, and is respectfully called "Camphor Tree Elder" by locals, who regard it as a divine presence. Notably, a hollow in this big camphor tree is shaped like Taiwan and is therefore called "Taiwan Tree Hollow." In recent years, this has become a popular nesting and breeding site for owls (Oriental Scops Owls), with owls settling here for many consecutive years. These Oriental Scops Owls are grayish-brown with dense pale brown markings, which are similar in color to the bark of the Camphor Tree Elder, adding to the interest of observation.