San-shan Guo-wang Temple Introduction
The San-shan Guo-wang Temple, located in Jiuming Village of Jioujhuang Township, was established in 1651 (the 5th year of the Ming Yongli era) and has a history of over three hundred years. It is a rare Hakka temple that has not undergone significant renovations or expansions, maintaining its traditional architectural layout. It has been designated as a Level 3 historical site. The term "San-shan" originally referred to three famous mountains in Guangdong, China—Dushan, Mingshan, and Jinshan. The residents living in this area, in reverence for the mountain deities, developed the local belief in the "Three Mountain Kings." According to local historical records, the earliest legends of the Three Mountain Gods appeared during the Sui Dynasty, where the three gods claimed to be brothers. They were said to have received heavenly commands to guard Dushan, Mingshan, and Jinshan respectively. There is also a narrative that during the Song Dynasty, when expanding territories, the assistance of these three mountain gods led to successful conquests, and they were conferred the title of the Three Kingdom Kings. Although these legendary stories are difficult to verify, they have deeply entrenched the religious beliefs of the local Hakka residents, allowing faith to take root in the community. In terms of appearance, the roof of the Jioujhuang San-shan Guo-wang Temple features a swallow-tail design with three river ridges, giving it a streamlined look from a distance. The architectural layout comprises three main halls and two side rooms, adorned with decorations of glazed pottery, wooden beams and columns, and stone walls. The intricate colors and carvings of flowers, birds, deities, and beasts showcase remarkable craftsmanship. The halls are connected by a corridor, with a front yard and a central yard. The temple also houses precious historical artifacts, such as the plaques "Hui Guang Nan Hai" and "Wei Zhen Hai Dong," altars, incense burners, and fortune-telling tubes. The "Return of the Three Mountain Kings to Their Parental Home" is an annual cultural festival, wherein devotees from Linluo Township visit the Jioujhuang San-shan Guo-wang Temple to welcome the kings back home as the opening event. Over several days, the faithful from Jioujhuang then invite the kings back to their temple. The climax of the event involves newly born male descendants of that year carrying incense and lanterns to follow the kings in a ceremonial procession, praying for local peace and prosperity. This event is a fusion of heartfelt imagery and religious rituals.
