San Sheng Gong Introduction
San Sheng Temple, located in the southern part of the Tou-she Basin, enshrines the San Shan Guo Wang as the main deity. Although the temple is not considered grand or spectacular, it exudes an antique charm and serves as the center of faith for the Tou-she area. According to historical records, the San Shan Guo Wang was originally worshipped in private homes. It was believed to be quite effective in preventing harm from indigenous tribes and in prayer for rain, prompting residents to advocate for the construction of a temple for communal worship. The Tou-she area was originally part of the territory of the Saisiyat people, as evidenced by local place names like "Fan Zi Grave" and "Fan Zi Shop." Early Han settlers often faced disturbances and fatalities at the hands of the indigenous people, which led them to invite the San Shan Guo Wang to serve as a guardian. It is said that whenever indigenous people appeared on nearby mountains, the San Shan Guo Wang would manifest and lead troops in drills to scare them away, allowing the villagers to live and work in peace. The San Shan Guo Wang has a strong Hakka influence and is commonly found in Hakka settlements; however, the Tou-she area is predominantly populated by Minnan people, and the local residents have uniquely referred to the three mountain deities as "San Xian Guo Wang."
