San Sheng Gong Introduction
Located in the southern part of the Toushe Basin, San Sheng Temple is dedicated to the worship of the San Mountain King as the main deity. Although the temple is not grand or spectacular, it exudes an antiquated charm and serves as the religious center of the Toushe area. According to historical records, the San Mountain King was originally worshiped in homes scattered throughout the community, and was believed to be particularly effective in preventing intrusion and bringing rainfall. Thus, the residents proposed building a temple for collective prayers and offerings. The Toushe area originally belonged to the indigenous Puyuma people, evidenced by local place names such as "Fanzi Tomb" and "Fanzi Shop." Early Han settlers often faced disturbances and killings from the indigenous people, prompting them to invite the San Mountain King to serve as a guardian. It is said that whenever indigenous people appeared on the nearby mountain peaks, the San Mountain King would manifest and lead soldiers in a show of force to scare them away, allowing the settlers to live and work peacefully. The San Mountain King is largely associated with Hakka culture and is commonly found in Hakka settlements; however, the main residents of the Toushe area are Minnan people, who uniquely refer to the three mountain deities as "San Xian Guo Wang."
