Niu Jiang Jun Temple Introduction
The Niujjiangjun Temple is located in Shuiniucuo, Taibao City, Chiayi County, which is one of the earliest places settled by Han Chinese. Inside, there is a statue of a large black water buffalo, alongside a shepherd holding a cattle whip. According to legend, when Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) came to Taiwan to cultivate the land, he brought eight water buffaloes to assist in farming. However, clearing the land was extremely difficult, and with more fields than buffaloes, these buffaloes eventually perished from overwork. Later, the early settlers built a water buffalo temple to honor the buffaloes, allowing future generations to remember the hardships endured by their ancestors. Even to this day, the Niujjiangjun Temple remains vibrant with worshipers throughout the year, attracting a steady stream of visitors. Fresh grass, flowers, fruits, sugarcane, and a bucket of clean water are continuously offered at the stone mortar in front of the buffalo, making it a prominent feature of the community.
