Chenghuang Temple, Taiwan Introduction
The City God Temple of Taipei was originally a government temple and has now been established as a foundation, making it one of the best-structured public temples in Taiwan. In 1875, the Qing Dynasty upgraded Tamsui County to Taipei Prefecture, and subsequently, Chen Hsing-ju opened the Taipei government. In 1881, the Taipei City God Temple was built at the intersection of Fu-Zhi Street and Bei-Men Street (between Yanping South Road and Hankou Street) behind the Taipei Prefecture Office. During the Japanese occupation, the temple was demolished, but after the restoration of Taiwan, it was relocated to its current site, which boasts convenient transportation and vibrant commerce, becoming a center of faith for local residents. Due to the widespread reputation of the City God, devotees span both domestically and internationally. This temple is the largest in Taipei, dedicating to the main deity City God, along with offerings to Sakyamuni Buddha, the Medicine Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Lord Guan, Emperor Fuyou, Emperor Wenchang, Master Jikong, City God’s wife, God of Wealth, and others. The couplets, plaques, cut-out paper, paintings, and carvings inside all reflect the principles of "seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune" and "subtle influence", allowing visitors to gain spiritual enlightenment during their worship.
