Niu Jiang Jun Temple Introduction
The Niu Jiang Jun Temple is located in the Shui Niu Cuo area of Taibao City, Chiayi County. It is one of the earliest sites where Han people came to cultivate land. Inside the temple, there is a statue of a large black water buffalo, alongside a shepherd holding a cattle whip. According to legend, when Zheng Chenggong came to Taiwan for land reclamation, he brought eight water buffaloes to help with farming. However, the cultivation of wild land was very difficult, and with more fields than buffaloes, these buffaloes eventually died due to overwork. Later, the ancestors built a water buffalo temple to honor the contributions of these animals and to memorialize the hardships faced by early settlers. Up to the present day, the Niu Jiang Jun Temple continues to thrive with offerings, attracting a steady stream of visitors throughout the year. The stone mortar in front of the buffalo is perpetually adorned with fresh fodder, flowers, fruits, sugarcane, and a bucket of clean water, making it a distinctive feature of the community.
