Koxinga Shrine

Koxinga Shrine was built during the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, located on Kaishan Road in Tainan City. It is dedicated to Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), the pioneer of Taiwan, and his generals, making it an important historical site in Taiwan. Covering an area of over 9,400 ping, its garden design is stately and elegant, a rare example of "Fuzhou-style" temple architecture in Taiwan. In 1661, Zheng Chenggong landed at Lu'ermen with his troops, drove out the Dutch, and actively developed Taiwan as a base for restoring the Ming Dynasty and resisting the Qing. In his administration of Taiwan, in addition to establishing government offices and conducting census checks, he also ordered soldiers to cultivate land, allowing officers and soldiers to claim land and settle down, and recruited residents from China's coastal areas to come to Taiwan for reclamation. The Ming Longwu Emperor once bestowed upon him the imperial surname Zhu, leading later generations to often refer to him as "Koxinga" (Lord of the Imperial Surname). After Zheng Chenggong's death, later generations, in remembrance of his great achievements, specifically built a temple here to worship him, honoring him as the "Sacred King who Opened Up Taiwan" and the "Pioneer King." Currently, there are over 50 "Temples of the Sacred King who Opened Up Taiwan" throughout Taiwan. The continuous incense burning in temples and ancestral shrines across the island has left a profound influence and numerous legends in Taiwan. In 1874, Imperial Commissioner Shen Baozhen was ordered to Taiwan to handle defense matters. He gained a deep understanding of public sentiment, recognized Zheng Chenggong's contributions to Taiwan's development, and suggested building a shrine in his memory. After the Qing court agreed, funds were allocated to establish the shrine. He was posthumously honored with the title "Zhonglie" (Loyal and Valiant). Craftsmen and materials were brought from Fuzhou, expanding the Kaishan King Temple into a "Fuzhou-style" building and inscribing "Ming Yanping Junwang Shrine" (Shrine of Yanping, Prince of Ming) on the stone plaque at the main entrance. The shrine is rich in valuable cultural relics, especially the numerous couplets from the Qing dynasty period, including those personally written by Shen Baozhen, with powerful calligraphy and profound meaning, still possessing great historical value. The "Koxinga Museum," located next to the shrine, houses many cultural artifacts from Tainan. The first floor primarily displays prehistoric artifacts, illustrating Taiwan's geographical relationship with China and the evolution of early settlers' lives. The second floor exhibits mostly historical artifacts from Tainan, including portraits or posthumous writings of eminent figures associated with the old city, such as Zheng Chenggong and Shen Baozhen. Furthermore, daily necessities from the old city, such as street signs, beds, land deeds, and banknotes, are on display, allowing visitors to gain a deep understanding of the daily lives of their ancestors. It is well worth a visit.