Ducheng Huang Temple Introduction
The belief in Chenghuang (City God) has a long history in China. Originally regarded as the guardian deity of cities, it gradually evolved into the administrator of the underworld, commanding ghostly officials to reward good and punish evil. As a result, many people have a terrifying and eerie impression of Chenghuang temples. However, the Taiwanese, who value the respect for ancestors, may consider Chenghuang as a medium for communicating between the realms of Yin and Yang. Through this relationship, we can establish a closer connection with our ancestors in another world. In the early period after Taiwan's retrocession, a group of local people from Hsinchu and Miaoli settled in Pingtung to engage in commerce and invited Chenghuang as their guardian deity. However, due to the inconvenience of having to return the statue to the original temple in Hsinchu every so often, the devotees decided to carve their own statue for worship and built a temple in 1964, which was rebuilt to its present form in 1986. The Douchenghuang Temple features a two-section architectural style, with the main deity being Chenghuang in the original part of the temple. The new hall, completed in 2006, houses the Five-Way Wealth Gods and the Tai Sui Star Lord, among others. Both structures have a stunning four-story exterior, grand and majestic. Every year, from the 11th day of the 5th lunar month, a three-day ritual for tranquility and offerings is held, alongside the universal offerings ceremony from July 8th to 10th, marking the two major annual events of the temple.
