Taichung City God Temple Introduction
Cheng Huang Ye (City God) is a center of faith for the public. The temple worships various deities including Cheng Huang (City God), Guan Sheng Di Jun, Zhen Sheng Niang Niang (Goddess of Birth), Cheng Huang Fu Ren (City God’s Wife), Tian Shang Sheng Mu (Heavenly Mother), Fu De Zheng Shen (God of Wealth), Wen Chang Di Jun (God of Culture), Wen Pan Guan (Civil Judge), Wu Pan Guan (Military Judge), General Xie, General Fan, Niu Ye (Bull God), Ma Ye (Horse God), and Yin Yang Si Gong (Officials of Yin and Yang). The original temple was built in the 10th year of Guangxu (1884) by Huang Cheng-yi, the magistrate of Taichung at that time, in the Le Ye neighborhood of the eastern district of the city, which is now the site of the Taichung Sugar Factory. After the First Sino-Japanese War, the original temple site was converted into a sugar factory by the Japanese, and the deity's altar was subsequently relocated multiple times. In the 10th year of the Republic of China, local gentlemen including Lin Zi-jin, Wu Zi-yu, Lin Yan-dun, Lin Zu-fan, Lai Qing-yan, and Lin Cheng-po initiated the reconstruction of a new temple at No. 50, Lane 94, He Zuo Street in the southern district of Taichung City, which continues to this day. The Cheng Huang Ye worshipped at the Taichung City Cheng Huang Temple is regarded as the local official managing the original Taichung area. Due to the strong and devout belief of the public, the temple remains vibrant with incense offerings. Every year, the 15th day of the 6th lunar month is celebrated as Cheng Huang Ye's festival, a significant religious event in the area, where the temple holds grand birthday celebrations. Beginning from the start of the 6th lunar month, large numbers of devotees flock to the temple, participating in the festival along with parades, operas, and other folk activities, making the temple square lively with performances of opera to honor the deities, creating a bustling scene.
