Chiayi Shrine Temizuya Introduction
The "Chōzubachi" of 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 aimed to promote Japanese State Shinto and advance the assimilation movement, actively building Chiayi Shrine. The shrine is divided into two generations; the first generation was opened in 1915, located right in front of the current Sun Shooting Tower. Due to the large number of worshippers at that time, a second generation of the shrine was built to accommodate them. The overall historic site includes the ruins of the first generation shrine, a storehouse for ritual vessels, the Chōzubachi, a resting area (Sanctuary Hall), a purification hall, and the shrine office, among other affiliated buildings. The Chōzubachi of the second generation Chiayi Shrine was inaugurated in 1945 and is an independent four-column garden structure. It features an octagonal overflow tank in the center, containing a stone basin and equipped with a long-handled ladle for worshippers to wash their hands and rinse their mouths, achieving both physical and spiritual purification. To protect the historic site, running water has been introduced with automatic sensor devices for convenience, allowing visitors to experience the purification steps when visiting a Japanese shrine. It is hoped that with the restoration, more people will understand the historical and cultural significance of Chiayi Shrine when they visit the Chiayi City Historical Relics Museum. In the Chōzubachi, explanatory signs guide visitors on how to use it: (1) Hold the long-handled ladle with the right hand to take water (each person can only take water once) and wash the left hand. (2) Switch the ladle to the left hand and wash the right hand. (3) Switch the ladle back to the right hand, pour water into the left palm for rinsing (or symbolically use water to tap the lips). (4) Stand the ladle upright and wash the handle with the remaining water. (5) Finally, return the ladle to its original position for the next person to use. Those who have never experienced a Japanese Chōzubachi can visit and try it at the Chiayi City Historical Relics Museum, and after finishing, return the wooden ladle to its place, allowing the next visitor to partake in the cleansing ritual.
