List of Shinto shrines in Taiwan
Encyclopedia
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
came under the rule of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
. In the following year on December 3, 1896 , the first Shinto shrine was created in Taiwan. This was actually the already existing Koxinga Ancestral Shrine
Koxinga Ancestral Shrine
Koxinga Ancestral Shrine is a family shrine built in Tainan City, Taiwan in 1663 by Zheng Jing, to worship his father Koxinga.When Taiwan became part of the Qing Empire, it was renamed "The Cheng's Ancestral Shrine" and today the official name is "Ancestral Shrine of Koxinga". The complex is...
(開山王廟 Kaizan Ōbyō) located in Tainan but renamed Kaizan Shrine (開山神社).
Since then, Shinto shrines were built in the major cities between the Meiji
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
and Taishō period
Taisho period
The , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...
, while the majority of Shinto shrines in Taiwan were built from the late 1930s until Japan's defeat in World War II. In total, 204 shrines were built in Taiwan, 66 of which were officially sanctioned by the Japanese Empire .
Although many shrines in the exterior territories (外地 gaichi) such as Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
had enshrined deities (祭神 Saijin) such as the Three Kami Deities of Cultivation (開拓三神 Kaitaku Sanjin) which consisted of Ōkunitama no Mikoto (大国魂命), Ōnamuchi no Mikoto (大己貴命) and Sukunahikona no Mikoto (少彦名命); the Sun Goddess Amaterasu
Amaterasu
, or is apart of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major deity of the Shinto religion. She is the goddess of the sun, but also of the universe. the name Amaterasu derived from Amateru meaning "shining in heaven." The meaning of her whole name, Amaterasu-ōmikami, is "the great August kami who...
; Meiji Emperor etc., in Taiwan, most shrines had Prince Yoshihisa
Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa
of Japan, was the 2nd head of a collateral branch of the Japanese imperial family.- Early life :Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa was the ninth son of Prince Fushimi Kuniye . He entered the Buddhist priesthood under the title Rinnoji-no-miya...
as a Saijin. Prince Yoshihisa was sent to Taiwan to subjugate the anti-Japanese rebellion
Japanese invasion of Taiwan (1895)
The Japanese invasion of Taiwan was a conflict between the Empire of Japan and the armed forces of the short-lived Republic of Formosa following the Qing Dynasty's cession of Taiwan to Japan in April 1895 at the end of the First Sino-Japanese War...
but fell ill and died from malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
in Tainan in 1895. This fate was similar to that of the legendary Prince Yamato Takeru
Yamato Takeru
, originally Prince Ousu was a Japanese legendary prince of the Yamato dynasty, son of Keikō of Yamato, a legendary monarch who is traditionally counted as the 12th Tennō or Emperor of Japan. The tragic tale of this impressive figure is told in the Japanese chronicles Kojiki and Nihon Shoki...
that Prince Yoshihisa was made a tutelary deity (鎮護の神 chingo no kami) of Taiwan. In 1901 (Meiji 34), the Taiwan Shrine (later Taiwan Grand Shrine) was built and Prince Yoshihisa along with the Three Kami Deities of Cultivation were enshrined. Amaterasu was later included in the shrine. The shrines in Taiwan followed in its lead and Prince Yoshihisa became a Saijin in most shrines throughout Taiwan. Furthermore, in Tainan
Tainan
Tainan City is a city in southern Taiwan. It is the fifth largest after New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. It was formerly a provincial city, and in 2010, the provincial city merged with the adjacent Tainan County to form a single special municipality. Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in...
, the place of Prince Yoshihisa's demise, the Tainan Shrine was built.
After Japan's defeat in World War II, the shrines were either destroyed or converted into Chinese Martyr Shrines.
List of shrines
Below is a list of Shinto shrines which were built during Japanese colonial rule. The shrines were ranked according to their importance such as Grand Shrine (官幣大社 kokuhei taisha), Small Shrine (国幣小社 kokuhei shōsha) and Martyr Shrine (護国神社 gokoku jinja), the last of which was designated by the Governor-General of TaiwanGovernor-General of Taiwan
The position of Governor-General of Taiwan existed when Taiwan and the Pescadores were part of the Empire of Japan, from 1895 to 1945.The Japanese Governors-General were members of the Diet, civilian officials, Japanese nobles or generals...
.
Taihoku PrefectureTaihoku PrefectureTaihoku Prefecture was created in 1920 under Japanese rule, encompassing what is now New Taipei City, Taipei City, Keelung City and Yilan County. Its office, which is now occupied by the Control Yuan of the Republic of China, was in Taipei City...
| Shrine name | Location | Rank | Enshrined deity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan Grand Shrine | Taihoku | 官大 | Prince Yoshihisa Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa of Japan, was the 2nd head of a collateral branch of the Japanese imperial family.- Early life :Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa was the ninth son of Prince Fushimi Kuniye . He entered the Buddhist priesthood under the title Rinnoji-no-miya... , Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu Amaterasu , or is apart of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major deity of the Shinto religion. She is the goddess of the sun, but also of the universe. the name Amaterasu derived from Amateru meaning "shining in heaven." The meaning of her whole name, Amaterasu-ōmikami, is "the great August kami who... |
| Kenkō Shrine (建功神社) |
Taihoku | 県社 | 台湾での戦死者・殉職者等 |
| Taiwan Martyr Shrine (台湾護国神社) |
Taihoku | 護国 | 台湾出身の護国の英霊 |
| Giran Shrine (宜蘭神社) |
Giran district | 県社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu |
| Kiron Shrine (基隆神社) |
Kiron | 県社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu, Ōmononushi no Mikoto, Emperor Sutoku Emperor Sutoku was the 75th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Sutoku's reign spanned the years from 1123 through 1142.-Genealogy:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Akihito .... |
| Taihoku Inari Shrine (台北稲荷神社) |
Taihoku | 郷社 | Ukanomitama no Kami |
| Zuihō Shrine (瑞芳神社) |
Kiron district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu | |
| Ratō Shrine (羅東神社) |
Ratō district | Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Emperor Meiji Emperor Meiji The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death... |
|
| Shiotome Shrine (汐止神社) |
Shichisei district | Prince Yoshihisa, Ōnamuchi no Mikoto, Amaterasu, Emperor Meiji, Ukanomitama no Mikoto | |
| Shinshō Shrine (新荘神社) |
Shinshō district | Prince Yoshihisa, Emperor Meiji, Ukanomitama no Kami | |
| Kaizan Shrine (海山神社) |
Kaizan district | Prince Yoshihisa, Ōnamuchi no Mikoto, Emperor Meiji | |
| Tamsui Shrine (淡水神社) |
Tamsui district | Prince Yoshihisa, Emperor Meiji, Ōmononushi no Mikoto, Emperor Sutoku | |
| Bunsan Shrine (文山神社) |
Bunsan district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Emperor Meiji | |
| Suō Shrine (蘇澳神社) |
Suō district | Prince Yoshihisa, Emperor Meiji | |
| Ōgon Shrine Ogon Shrine The also known as the Gold Temple or Spirits of the Mountain Shrine is a Shinto shrine located halfway up a mountain at Siping Lane in the Gold Ecological Park in Jinguashi, Rueifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan Kinkaseki town at the... |
Kiron district | Ōkuninushi no Mikoto, Kanayamahiko no Mikoto, Sarutahiko no Mikoto | |
(円山水神社) |
Taihoku |
Shinchiku PrefectureShinchiku Prefecturewas one of the administrative divisions of Taiwan during the Japanese rule. The prefecture consisted of modern day Hsinchu, Taoyuan County, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli County.-Population:1941 census.*Total population: 838,011**Japanese 20,693...
| Shrine name | Location | Rank | Enshrined deity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinchiku Shrine (新竹神社) |
Shinchiku | 国小 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation |
| Tsūshō Shrine (通霄神社) |
Byōritsu district | Prince Yoshihisa, Amaterasu | |
| Tōen Shrine (桃園神社) |
Tōen district | 県社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Toyōke no Ōmikami, Emperor Meiji |
| Byōritsu Shrine (苗栗神社) |
Byōritsu district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Emperor Meiji | |
| Chūreki Shrine (中壢神社) |
Chūreki district | Prince Yoshihisa, Toyōke no Ōmikami | |
| Tōfun Shrine (頭份神社) |
Chikunan district | Prince Yoshihisa, Toyōke no Ōmikami, Emperor Meiji | |
| Chikunan Shrine (竹南神社) |
Chikunan district | Prince Yoshihisa, Ōkunimitama no Mikoto, Toyōke no Ōmikami | |
| Taigo Shrine (大湖神社) |
(大湖郡) | Prince Yoshihisa, Ōkunimitama no Mikoto, Emperor Meiji | |
| Chikutō Shrine (竹東神社) |
Chikutō district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Emperor Meiji |
Taichū Prefecture
| Shrine name | Location | Rank | Enshrined deity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taichū Shrine (台中神社) |
Taichū | 国小 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation |
| Shōka Shrine (彰化神社) |
Shōka | 郷社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation |
| Inrin Shrine (員林神社) |
Inrin district | 郷社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation |
| Kiyomizu Shrine (清水神社) |
(大甲郡) | 郷社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu |
| Toyohara Shrine (豊原神社) |
Toyohara district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu | |
| Tōsei Shrine (東勢神社) |
Tōsei district | Prince Yoshihisa, Ōnamuchi no Mikoto, Emperor Meiji, Ōyamazumi no Kami, Ōwatatsumi no Kami | |
| Takeyama Shrine (竹山神社) |
Chikuzan district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Emperor Meiji | |
| Hokuto Shrine (北斗神社) |
Hokuto district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Emperor Meiji | |
| Tanaka Shrine (田中神社) |
Inrin district | Prince Yoshihisa, Emperor Meiji | |
| Rokō Shrine (鹿港神社) |
Shōka district | Prince Yoshihisa, Emperor Meiji, Kotoshironushi no Mikoto, Ōwatatsumi no Kami | |
(秀水神社) |
Shōka district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Emperor Meiji | |
(能高神社) |
(能高郡) | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation | |
| Nantō Shrine (南投神社) |
Nantō district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu | |
| Gyochi Shrine (魚池神社) |
Niitaka district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation |
Tainan Prefecture
| Shrine name | Location | Rank | Enshrined deity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tainan Shrine (台南神社) |
Tainan | 官中 | Prince Yoshihisa |
| Kagi Shrine Kagi Shrine ' was a Shinto shrine located in Chiayi Park, in Chiayi city The shrine was built on October 28, 1915 facing south but later altered in 1942 to face west. The shrine was originally categorized as a prefectural shrine in 1917 but elevated to small shrine rank in 1944... |
Kagi | 国小 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu |
| Kaizan Shrine (開山神社) |
Tainan | 県社 | Tei Seikō (Koxinga) Koxinga Koxinga is the customary Western spelling of the popular appellation of Zheng Chenggong , a military leader who was born in 1624 in Hirado, Japan to Zheng Zhilong, a Chinese merchant/pirate, and his Japanese wife and died in 1662 on the island of Formosa .A Ming loyalist and the arch commander of... |
| Hokukō Shrine (北港神社) |
Hokukō district (北港郡) |
郷社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu |
| Shinei Shrine (新営神社) |
(新営郡) | 郷社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Ukanomitama no Mikoto |
| Gokanseki Shrine (五間厝神社) |
Kobi district | Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu | |
| Nansei Shrine (南靖神社) |
Kagi district | Ōnamuchi no Mikoto, Amaterasu | |
| Arisan Shrine (阿里山神社) |
Kagi district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Ōyamazumi no Mikoto, Kagutsuchi no Mikoto, Mizuhanome no Kami, Shinatsuhiko no Mikoto | |
| Hokumon Shrine (北門神社) |
Hokumon district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu | |
| Tōseki Shrine (東石神社) |
Tōseki district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu | |
(曾文神社) |
(曾文郡) | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation | |
| Shinka Shrine (新化神社) |
Shinka district | Prince Yoshihisa, Amaterasu, Toyōke no Ōmikami, Emperor Meiji | |
| Toroku Shrine (斗六神社) |
Toroku district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation | |
| Rinnai Shrine (林内神社) |
Toroku district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Toyōke no Ōmikami |
Takao PrefectureTakao Prefecturewas one of the administrative divisions of Taiwan during the Japanese rule. The prefecture consisted of modern day Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County.-Population:1941 census.*Total population: 930,383**Japanese 59,633**Taiwanese 863,313...
| Shrine name | Location | Rank | Enshrined deity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takao Shrine Takao Shrine ' was a Shinto shrine located in the former Takao City , Takao Prefecture, Taiwan during the Japanese rule period. The shrine enshrined Prince Yoshihisa, Ōmononushi no Mikoto , and Emperor Sutoku.-History:... (高雄神社) |
Takao | 県社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Ōmononushi no Mikoto, Emperor Sutoku |
| Akō Shrine (阿緱神社) |
Heitō | 県社 | Prince Yoshihisa |
| Okayama Shrine (岡山神社) |
Kōzan district | 郷社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu, Emperor Meiji |
| Chōshū Shrine (潮州神社) |
Chōshū district | 郷社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Amaterasu, Toyōke no Ōmikami, Ōkuninushi no Kami |
| Tōkō Shrine (東港神社) |
Tōkō district | 郷社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu |
| Hōzan Shrine (鳳山神社) |
Hōzan district | 郷社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation |
| Rikō Shrine (里港神社) |
Heitō district | Prince Yoshihisa, Amaterasu, Mizuhanome no Kami | |
| Katō Shrine (佳冬神社) |
Tōkō district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Amaterasu | |
| Kizan Shrine (旗山神社) |
Kizan district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation, Emperor Antoku Emperor Antoku Emperor Antoku was the 81st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1180 through 1185. During this time, the imperial family was involved in a bitter struggle between warring clans... |
|
| Kōshun Shrine (恒春神社) |
Kōshun district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation |
Hōko Prefecture
| Shrine name | Location | Rank | Enshrined deity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hōko Shrine (澎湖神社) |
Makō subprefecture (馬公支庁) |
県社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation |
Taitō Prefecture
| Shrine name | Location | Type | Enshrined deity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taitō Shrine (台東神社) |
Taitō district | 県社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation |
(里壟社) |
|||
| Hinan Shrine (卑南祠) |
|||
(加走湾祠) |
Karenkō Prefecture
| Shrine name | Location | Rank | Enshrined deity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karenkō Shrine Karenko Shrine right|200px|花蓮港神社' was a Shinto shrine located in Hualien City, Hualien County in Taiwan during Japanese colonial rule. It was ranked as a Prefectural Shrine and was the central shrine in Karenkō Prefecture.The shrine was built on August 19, 1915... |
Karen district | 県社 | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation |
| Yoshino Shrine (吉野神社) |
Karen district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation | |
| Toyota Shrine (豊田神社) |
Karen district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation | |
| Hayashida Shrine (林田神社) |
Karen district | Prince Yoshihisa, Three Kami Deities of Cultivation | |
| Sakuma Shrine (佐久間神社) |
Karen district | Ōnamuchi no Mikoto, Samata Sakuma | |
| Kotobuki Shrine (寿社) |
|||
Enshrined deities
| Japanese | Rōmaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 鄭成功 | Tei Seikō | Koxinga Koxinga Koxinga is the customary Western spelling of the popular appellation of Zheng Chenggong , a military leader who was born in 1624 in Hirado, Japan to Zheng Zhilong, a Chinese merchant/pirate, and his Japanese wife and died in 1662 on the island of Formosa .A Ming loyalist and the arch commander of... |
| 能久親王 | Yoshihisa Shinnō | Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa of Japan, was the 2nd head of a collateral branch of the Japanese imperial family.- Early life :Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa was the ninth son of Prince Fushimi Kuniye . He entered the Buddhist priesthood under the title Rinnoji-no-miya... |
| 開拓三神 | Kaitaku Sanjin | Three Kami Deities of Cultivation |
| 天照大神 | Amaterasu Ōmikami | Amaterasu Amaterasu , or is apart of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major deity of the Shinto religion. She is the goddess of the sun, but also of the universe. the name Amaterasu derived from Amateru meaning "shining in heaven." The meaning of her whole name, Amaterasu-ōmikami, is "the great August kami who... |
| 豊受大神 | Toyouke no Ōmikami | |
| 佐久間 左馬太 | SAKUMA, Samata | Samata Sakuma |
| 明治天皇 | Meiji Tennō | Emperor Meiji Emperor Meiji The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death... |
| 崇徳天皇 | Sutoku Tennō | Emperor Sutoku Emperor Sutoku was the 75th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Sutoku's reign spanned the years from 1123 through 1142.-Genealogy:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Akihito .... |
| 安徳天皇 | Antoku Tennō | Emperor Antoku Emperor Antoku Emperor Antoku was the 81st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1180 through 1185. During this time, the imperial family was involved in a bitter struggle between warring clans... |
- 大国主神/大国主命/大己貴命 Ōkuninushi no Kami/Mikoto, Ōnamuchi no Mikoto
- 大物主命 Ōmononushi no Mikoto
- 倉稲魂神/倉稲魂命 Ukanomitama no Kami/Mikoto
- 弥都波能売神 Mizuhanome no Kami
- 金山彦命 Kanayamahiko no Mikoto
- 猿田彦命 Sarutahiko no Mikoto
- 大国魂命 Ōkunimitama no Mikoto
- 大綿津見神 Ōwatatsumi no Kami
- 事代主命 Kotoshironushi no Mikoto
- 大山祇神/大山祇命 Ōyamazumi no Kami/Mikoto
- 火具津智命 Kagutsuchi no Mikoto
- 科津彦命 Shinatsuhiko no Mikoto
See also
- ShintoShintoor Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
- Shinto shrine
- Shinto in TaiwanShinto in TaiwanShinto in Taiwan has its origins in the beginning of the 50-year Japanese colonial rule of Taiwan in 1895 when the Empire of Japan brought their state religion, Shinto, to the island. The Taiwanese were encouraged to adopt the religion in 1937 as the Empire of Japan began to intensify its...
- Taiwan under Japanese ruleTaiwan under Japanese ruleBetween 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
- Political divisions of Taiwan (1895-1945)Political divisions of Taiwan (1895-1945)As per the Treaty of Shimonoseki of 1895, Taiwan fell under Japanese rule after the First Sino-Japanese War. The political divisions changed frequently between 1895 and 1898. There were still several changes until the Japanese political system was adopted in 1920...
- Governor-General of TaiwanGovernor-General of TaiwanThe position of Governor-General of Taiwan existed when Taiwan and the Pescadores were part of the Empire of Japan, from 1895 to 1945.The Japanese Governors-General were members of the Diet, civilian officials, Japanese nobles or generals...
- Formosan Army