Xinj18 Wang Gong Temple Introduction
The Shibawangong Temple is located halfway up a mountain and is best known for the statue of the "Eighteenth Loyal Dog," which is reminiscent of Taiwan's version of the loyal dog, Hachiko. The New Shibawangong Temple is not far from the Old Shibawangong Temple, and one of its most distinctive features is the statue of a "Black Dragon Guardian Dog" that stands approximately ten stories high. During the heyday of popular lottery games like "Dajiala" and "Liuhe Cai," the temple's reputed effectiveness attracted players from all over Taiwan, and to this day, devotees continue to flock here. There is a touching story about the origins of the Shibawangong Temple: it is said that in the mid-Qing Dynasty, seventeen merchants from Tangshan traveled to Taiwan by boat, but unfortunately, they met with a tragic accident at sea. The loyal dog on board also sacrificed itself for its owner. The villagers, upon discovering this, decided to build a tomb for the dog along with the seventeen owners. It is said that the Eighteenth Loyal Dog was fond of cigarettes, which leads to the interesting phenomenon of devotees offering cigarettes as sacrifices at the temple. In the evening, crowds of devotees gather, creating a bustling and spectacular scene.
