Liudui Chungyi Shrine Introduction
Chung Yi Shrine honors the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the protection of their homeland and families among the Hakka settlers of the Six Piles area. It stands as a spiritual fortress for the Hakka people of Six Piles. The Six Piles Volunteer Corps was established in the 60th year of the Kangxi reign (1721 AD) to quell the Zhu Yigui incident, and it continued its fervent resistance against Japanese rule until 1895, when Japan took control of Taiwan. This 174-year history of the volunteer militia is filled with heroic and tragic tales. The couplet at the entrance reads: "Loyalty shines through time, righteousness strengthens the land," while the spirit tablet's couplet states: "The achievements of the heroes of Baiyue in saving the country and protecting the people are everlasting; the loyalty and righteousness of the Six Piles echo in history." This valiant spirit stirs the heart, and their loyalty and righteousness endure through the ages. The events recorded in the history of Taiwan highlight their glorious victories and embody the "loyalty and bravery" spirit of the Hakka people, serving as a living textbook of local sentiment. Visitors to Six Piles are encouraged to come and pay their respects, expressing appreciation for their patriotism while praying for peace and health. During the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese attempted to win over the Six Piles villagers, hoping they would pledge loyalty to the Emperor. Initially, they did not prohibit the villagers from participating in ancestral worship ceremonies and even dispatched high-ranking officials to attend the rituals. However, they could not suppress the growing anti-Japanese sentiment among the Six Piles residents. After their attempts to gain the villagers' allegiance failed, the Japanese military adopted severe measures, closing the Chung Yi Pavilion and forbidding the residents from honoring their ancestors, leading to a lack of maintenance for the shrine. Under oppressive rule, the villagers persevered through long-lasting Japanese persecution, hoping to preserve the Chung Yi Pavilion. Fortunately, after Taiwan's restoration, through the efforts of local leaders, Chung Yi Pavilion was finally rebuilt in 1958 and renamed "Chung Yi Shrine." The shrine not only honors the Hakka martyrs who quelled banditry at the end of the Kangxi reign but also commemorates those who sacrificed their lives during various civil disturbances in the 10th year of the Yongzheng reign, the 51st year of the Qianlong reign, the 2nd year of the Daoguang reign, and the 21st year of the Guangxu reign, collectively honored here. For the residents of Six Piles, the Chung Yi Shrine serves not only as a place of worship but also as a holy site for oath-taking before battles, embodying the spirit of Hakka Six Piles. Each year, the Chung Yi Shrine holds grand ceremonies in spring and autumn, and also organizes the Six Piles Sports Festival, hoping to perpetuate the spirit of "protecting the homeland and the people while upholding loyalty and righteousness."
