Shibawang Temple Introduction
The full name of the Shiba Wang Gong Temple is the Qianhua Shiba Wang Gong Shrine. Qianhua refers to Qianhua Village in Shimen District, locally known as Ali Bang. For a long time, the Shiba Wang Gong Temple has enjoyed a flourishing incense offering tradition. According to legend, during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, a sailboat carrying 17 Fuzhou merchants and a dog capsized on its way to Mount Putuo in Zhejiang. The boat drifted to Qianhua Village in Shimen, and all the people drowned, except for the dog, which survived. A local resident with the surname Lian discovered the dog and buried it at the foot of the mountain. Believing that the dog mourned for its deceased owners, the villagers buried it alongside them. Subsequently, during festivals, nearby residents began to offer incense and worship, and over time, they referred to the deity as Shiba Wang Gong. Legend has it that whenever local fishermen encountered danger, they would often receive help from the spirit of Shiba Wang Gong. Thus, the residents pooled resources to build a small temple for worship. After the construction of the shrine, more miraculous occurrences were reported, and the following supporters gradually expanded across the North Coast, leading it to become a highly regarded temple in northern Taiwan. Shiba Wang Gong honors both humans and dogs, and since dogs are commonly associated with loyalty in folklore, many believe that as long as they sincerely offer sacrifices to the dog, they will earn the loyalty in return. To this day, the legend of Shiba Wang Gong continues to make this small temple by the mountain a popular tourist attraction for travelers along the North Coast. People come seeking the legend, hoping for miraculous responses and protection, and of course, drawn in by the fragrant zongzi, a local delicacy. It is said that the boatmen carried zongzi for convenience while praying for safety during their voyages. The combination of peanuts, pickled vegetables, along with mushrooms and braised pork, creates an ordinary yet surprisingly delicious flavor that visitors cannot resist taking home a bag. The tasty zongzi has even become a specialty of the Shimen area, available for purchase along the streets of Shimen District. Source: North Coast and Guanyin Mountain Scenic Area.
