Duchenghuang Temple Introduction
The belief in City Gods has a long history in China. Originally, they were the guardians of cities, but over time, they evolved into managers of the underworld, commanding the spirits of the deceased to reward goodness and punish evil. As a result, many people have a spooky and terrifying impression of City God temples. However, for Taiwanese people who emphasize the importance of honoring their ancestors, the City God can be seen as a medium for communicating between the realms of the living and the dead. Through this connection, we can have a closer bond with our ancestors who reside in the other world. After the restoration of Taiwan, a group of local people from Hsinchu and Miaoli moved to Pingtung for business and settlement, inviting the City God as their guardian. However, since the deity had to be returned to the original temple in Hsinchu after a period of time, it became quite inconvenient. The devotees decided to sculpt an idol for personal worship and built the temple in 1964, which was reconstructed in 1986 into its current form. The Du Cheng Huang Temple consists of two buildings; the main structure worships the City God, while the newly constructed hall completed in 2006 houses the Wealth Gods and the Tai Sui deity. Both buildings are four stories tall, with magnificent and splendid exteriors. Every year, from the 11th day of the 5th lunar month, a three-day prayer ceremony is held, along with the Universal Release Ceremony from July 8th to 10th, marking the two major events of the temple.
