Haishan Shrine Ruins Introduction
The Haishan Shrine was completed on May 13, 1938, during the late period of Japanese rule in Taiwan. At that time, following the Incident of July 7, Japan had entered a wartime phase, reaching the peak of its religious governance in Taiwan. The Japanese government aggressively promoted the Japaneseization movement, mobilizing the entire island to support the war effort and responding to the situation by enforcing religious worship at shrines among the Taiwanese people. They also adopted the approach of "one shrine for each township" to strengthen their control over Taiwan in various aspects. The construction of the Haishan Shrine is believed to be related to these policies implemented by the Japanese government in Taiwan. As a site of ideology and colonial education by the Japanese government, the shrine contrasts sharply with local temples and shrines in Taiwan. The Haishan Shrine still retains its stone walls, stone steps, the base of a third torii gate, a stone platform, and an air raid shelter built in 1940. The stone walls are made of Shilin hard stone, the steps are composed of washed pebbles, and the front section of the air raid shelter has been renovated with cement while the rear section remains in its original structure. The historic site includes the ruins of Haishan Shrine, the air raid shelter beneath the shrine, and the water reservoir located in Yuan Mountain Park.
