Hsinchu Du Cheng Huang Temple

The City God (Cheng Huang) is a deity responsible for administering rewards and punishments, good and evil, in both the underworld and the human world. Consequently, the layout of a City God Temple resembles an ancient yamen (magistrate's office). Founded in 1748, its scale was the largest in Taiwan at the time. The market stalls and street food vendors in the temple plaza have become one of Hsinchu's unique features. According to historical records, in 1891, officials and common people from all over Taiwan gathered here to hold a Taoist ritual (Jiao festival) praying for national protection, blessings for the people, and the removal of disasters. The temple was then elevated to Hsinchu Du Cheng Huang (Provincial City God), signifying a provincial-level City God Temple. Furthermore, due to its divine intervention in repelling bandits, Emperor Guangxu bestowed the plaque "Jinmen Baozhang" (Protection of the Golden Gate). Subsequently, it received continuous imperial honors from successive emperors, becoming the City God with the highest official rank in Taiwan. The City God Temple has undergone numerous renovations. Its current appearance was reconstructed in 1924. The halls are grand and the carvings magnificent, with the Sanchuan Hall (Front Hall) and its triple-tiered roof being the most distinctive features. The sculptures of the Civil and Military Judges (Wenwu Panguan), Generals Xie and Fan, and the Four Constables inside the temple are exquisitely crafted and lifelike. The large iron abacus hanging from the roof beam is said to be used by the City God to calculate human sins, hence the couplet on either side reads, "Why bother with many calculations in worldly affairs? Heaven and the divine have their own great reckoning." Every Lantern Festival, lanterns and crowds adorn the temple, making it vibrant and lively. And during the Ghost Festival (Zhongyuan Festival) each year, the City God's procession attracts even more devotees from all over.