Temple of General Ox

The Temple of General Ox is located in Shuiniucuo, Taibao City, Chiayi County, an area that was one of the earliest settlements for Han Chinese pioneers. Inside, a large black water buffalo is enshrined, accompanied by a cowherd holding an ox whip. Legend has it that when Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) came to Taiwan for land reclamation in early times, he brought eight water buffaloes to assist with farming. However, reclaiming barren land was extremely difficult, and with many fields but few buffaloes, these animals eventually died from overwork. Later, the early settlers specially built a water buffalo temple to commemorate the buffaloes and to allow future generations to remember the hardships faced by the pioneers in clearing the wilderness. To this day, the Temple of General Ox remains a vibrant place of worship, attracting a constant stream of visitors throughout the year. The stone mortar in front of the buffalo statue is perennially adorned with fresh fodder, flowers, fruits, sugarcane, and a bucket of clean water, making it a prominent feature of the community.