New Shibawang Temple Introduction
The Eighteenth Wang Gong Temple is located on the hillside, and it is most famous for the Eighteenth Loyal Dog Wang Gong, similar to Taiwan's version of Hachiko. The New Eighteenth Wang Gong Temple is not far from the Old Eighteenth Wang Gong Temple. One of its biggest features is the approximately ten-story high statue of the "Black Dragon Loyal Dog" sitting beside the temple. During the era when "Dajia Le" and "Lotto" were still popular, the temple's miraculous performance in the lottery attracted players from all over Taiwan, and to this day, devotees still come in droves. There is a touching story about the origins of the Eighteenth Wang Gong Temple: it is said that during the mid-Qing dynasty, seventeen merchants from Tangshan set sail to Taiwan, but unfortunately met with disaster at sea. Their loyal dog also perished alongside them. The villagers discovered this and built a mound for the dog and its seventeen masters. It is said that the Eighteenth Wang Gong has a fondness for cigarettes, so some followers pay homage with cigarettes, which is quite an interesting phenomenon in the temple. After nightfall, devotees gather in large numbers, and the incense offerings are abundant, creating a spectacular scene.
