Chiayi Shrine Temizuya Introduction
The "Temizuya" at Chiayi Shrine, which has been dry for nearly half a century, has been restored! Located opposite the Chiayi City Historical Relics Museum, the history of Chiayi Shrine dates back to 1911, when the Japanese promoted the State Shinto and encouraged the Japanese assimilation movement, leading to the active construction of Chiayi Shrine by the Chiayi Hall. Chiayi Shrine has two generations; the first generation was inaugurated in 1915, positioned at the front right of the current Sun Shooting Tower. Due to high visitor numbers, a second generation shrine was built. The overall historic site includes the ruins of the first generation shrine, the ritual tools storehouse, the temizuya, a resting place (community gathering site), a purification hall, and the shrine office. The temizuya of the second generation Chiayi Shrine was inaugurated in 1945 and is an independent four-column garden building, with an octagonal overflow basin in the center containing a stone basin and a long-handled water scoop for worshippers to wash their hands and rinse their mouths, achieving the effect of purification of body and mind. To protect the historic site, tap water has been introduced and equipped with automatic sensor facilities to allow visitors to experience the purification process when visiting Japanese shrines. It is hoped that with the restoration of water, more people will learn about the history and culture of the shrine while visiting the Chiayi City Historical Relics Museum. An explanatory sign has been set up within the temizuya for visitors to understand its usage steps: (1) Use the right hand to pick up the long-handled scoop to take water (each person takes water once), and wash the left hand. (2) Transfer the scoop to the left hand to wash the right hand. (3) Transfer back to the right hand, pour water into the left hand to rinse (or symbolically use water to pat the lips). (4) Stand the scoop upright to wash the handle with the remaining water. (5) Finally, place the scoop 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 out. After finishing, return the wooden water scoop to its original position, allowing the next visitor to experience the ritual of purification of body and mind.
