Shibawang Gong Temple Introduction
The full name of the Shibawang Temple is Qianhua Shibawang Shrine, with Qianhua referring to Qianhua Village in Shimen District, which locals call Ali Pang. For a long time, the Shibawang Temple has been a site of great devotion. It is said that during the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, a sailboat carrying 17 Fujian merchants and a dog tragically capsized en route to Putuo Mountain in Zhejiang. The shipwreck victims all drowned, except for the dog, which survived. A resident with the surname Lian discovered the dog and buried it at the foot of the mountain. After witnessing its owner’s demise, the dog perished as well and was buried alongside him. Subsequently, during festivals, local residents would come to burn incense and pay their respects, and over time, people began to worship the deity known as Shibawang. Legend has it that whenever fishermen from the village faced danger at sea, they would often encounter the divine intervention of Shibawang, leading the community to collectively fund the construction of a small temple for worship. As the small shrine was completed, more miraculous events occurred, and the faithful gradually spread throughout the entire North Coast, making it a well-known temple in Northern Taiwan. Shibawang is a combined worship of a human and a dog; people's perceptions of dogs are often associated with loyalty, so many believe that as long as they offer sincere worship to the dog, they will receive its faithful companionship in return. To this day, the legend of Shibawang continues to make this small temple next to the mountain a must-visit tourist attraction for travelers along the North Coast. People come seeking the legend or hoping for spiritual blessings and protection; of course, some are drawn by the aroma of zongzi, which is a specialty of this area. It is said that the sailors carried zongzi for a safe journey at sea due to its convenience for offering. The combination of peanuts, radish, mushrooms, and braised pork is a simple yet surprisingly delicious flavor that has visitors leaving with bags in hand. The tasty zongzi has even become a specialty of the Shimen area and can be purchased throughout the streets of Shimen District. Source: North Coast and Guanyin Mountain Scenic Area.
