Chiayi Shrine Temizuya

The Chiayi Shrine's "Temizuya" (purification font), which had been dry for nearly half a century due to a water cutoff, has been restored with water! Located opposite the Chiayi City Historical Relics Museum, the history of Chiayi Shrine dates back to 1911. At that time, in order to promote Japanese State Shinto and the Kōminka (Japanization) movement, the Chiayi Prefecture actively planned the construction of Chiayi Shrine. Chiayi Shrine was built in two phases. The first-generation shrine was inaugurated in 1915, located to the right front of the current Sun-Shooting Tower. Due to the large number of worshippers, the space became insufficient, leading to the construction of a second-generation shrine. The entire historical site includes the ruins of the first-generation shrine, the treasury (saiki-ko), the temizuya, the rest area (sanshū-jo), the sai-kan (purification hall), and the shamu-sho (shrine office), among other ancillary structures. The temizuya of the second-generation Chiayi Shrine was completed in 1945. It is a freestanding four-pillar pavilion with an octagonal overflow basin in the center. Inside the basin is a stone plate with a long-handled ladle, provided for worshippers to wash their hands and rinse their mouths, achieving the effect of purifying body and mind. To preserve the historical site, tap water has been introduced, and sensor facilities have been installed for automatic water dispensing, allowing visitors to experience the purification steps of washing hands and rinsing mouths as they would at a Japanese shrine. It is hoped that after the water restoration, more people visiting the Chiayi City Historical Relics Museum will gain a deeper understanding of the shrine's history and culture. An explanatory sign is placed inside the temizuya to guide visitors on how to use it: (1) Hold the long-handled ladle with your right hand, scoop water (only one scoop per person), and wash your left hand. (2) Transfer the ladle to your left hand and wash your right hand. (3) Transfer the ladle back to your right hand, pour water into your left palm, and use it to rinse your mouth (or symbolically pat your lips with water). (4) Hold the ladle upright and use the remaining water to wash the handle. (5) Finally, place the ladle back for the next person to use. Those who have not experienced a Japanese temizuya can visit the Chiayi City Historical Relics Museum to try it. After use, please return the wooden ladle to its original position, allowing the next visitor to experience the ritual of purifying body and mind.