Xinyi Shibawang Temple Introduction
The Eighteenth Wang Gong Temple is located halfway up the mountain, famous for the Eighteenth Loyal Dog Wang Gong, which is similar to Taiwan's version of Hachiko. The new Eighteenth Wang Gong Temple is not far from the old one, and its biggest feature is the statue of a "Black Dragon Loyal Dog" that is about ten stories high sitting next to the temple. During the times when "Dajiale" (a type of lottery) and "Liuhecai" (a popular lottery) were prevalent, the temple's reputed accuracy attracted many players from all over Taiwan, and to this day, worshippers continue to flock there. The origins of the Eighteenth Wang Gong Temple are tied to a touching story: it is said that during the mid-Qing Dynasty, seventeen merchants from Tangshan drowned while crossing the sea, and their loyal dog also perished alongside them. Upon discovering this, the villagers built a mound for the dog and the seventeen owners. It is rumored that Eighteenth Wang Gong enjoys cigarettes, which is why some devotees offer them as a form of worship—a particularly interesting phenomenon in the temple. After nightfall, devotees gather in large numbers, and the incense offerings fill the place, creating a spectacular sight.
