Xiahai City God Temple Introduction
Xiahai City God Temple, located on Dihua Street Section 1, was built in 1856 (the sixth year of the Xianfeng period) and covers an area of about 46 pings. Although it does not have a majestic temple appearance, its belief circle is vast, and the incense offerings are booming. Every year, during the welcoming of deities and festivals, it is always lively and a significant local event, closely related to the development of Dadaocheng. The main deity worshiped in the temple is the City God of Xiahai, accompanied by two judges (one civil and one military) and Generals Xie and Fan (Qiya and Baye), along with thirty-eight righteous volunteers. The temple also houses the City God’s wife, eight officials, eight generals, the Horse Lord, and the God of Marriage, among others. This famous ancient temple currently has around 200 statues, making it the temple with the highest density of statues in Taiwan. Among the attractions in Xiahai City God Temple, besides the City God, the most appealing to visitors is the worship of the God of Marriage. Each year, more than 6,000 couples bring offerings to thank the deity, with the most sought-after item being the "Husband's Shoe" (also known as "Happiness Shoes"), a famous love talisman in Taipei. On average, more than 200 families visit Xiahai City God Temple annually to "ask for shoes." It is said that the City God and his wife have an age difference of about 70 years, and with the concept of "the old husband spoiling the young wife," people believe that this divine couple can bring happiness to families, leading to the origin of the "Husband's Shoe." There is also a miraculous story associated with the City God Temple. In 1884, during the Sino-French War, when the French troops attacked Taiwan, the people of Taipei sincerely prayed for the protection of the City God of Xiahai. The City God indeed displayed great powers, and ultimately, the French army was defeated at Wudu and could not capture Taipei, thus the public venerates the Xiahai City God as Weiling Gong.
