Hsinchu Sanshan Guowang Temple
Main Deities
About
Which three mountains are the Three Mountain Kings? The answer lies in Jin Mountain, Ming Mountain, and Du Mountain in Jieyang, Chaozhou, Guangdong — the mountain gods of these three peaks were the most important guardian deities the Hakka carried across the sea to Taiwan. Built during the Qianlong reign, Hsinchu Sanshan Guowang Temple is the most representative Hakka center of faith in Hsinchu's North District. It preserves many Qing-dynasty plaques and stone carvings that bear witness to the Hakka history of reclaiming the Zhuqian (Hsinchu) region. Built in a traditional blend of Minnan and Cantonese styles, its layout is upright and solemn, and the stone carving of the front hall is especially fine. Though the temple sits in a busy district, the surrounding lanes still keep the grain of the early Hakka settlement, making it the best starting point for understanding Hsinchu's Hakka history.
History
In 1780, during the Qianlong reign, the Cantonese Hakka immigrants of the Hsinchu area pooled their funds to build the Sanshan Guowang Temple. Qing-era Hsinchu once saw severe ethnic conflict between Hokkien and Hakka, and in such times the Sanshan Guowang Temple was not only a place of worship but a vital rallying point where the Hakka drew together and kept alive the ties of kinship and hometown. The temple has been renovated many times yet still preserves the basic layout of its Qing-dynasty architecture. Under Japanese rule it once faced the threat of demolition, and was saved in the end only through the efforts of local people.
Hsinchu Sanshan Guowang Temple
North District, Hsinchu City
Visitor Info
Address
No. 184, Ximen St., North Dist., Hsinchu City
Region
North District, Hsinchu City