Taoyuan | The Most Well-Preserved Japanese Shrine in Taiwan: The History and Architectural Marks of Taoyuan Shrine

During the Japanese occupation, Shintoism was promoted in Taiwan with the policy of 'one shrine per town.' Taoyuan Shrine was built during this period, initially as a non-ranked shrine, and was upgraded to a prefectural shrine in 1945. It enshrined deities such as Okuninushi no Mikoto and Toyouke no Okami, the god of agriculture. After the Kuomintang relocated to Taiwan, Taoyuan Shrine was repurposed as a Martyrs' Shrine, with the main deities changed to Zheng Chenggong and Qiu Fengjia, and it also honored martyrs who resisted the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese occupation. There was a period when there was a movement to remove Japanese influences, and attempts were made to demolish Japanese buildings across Taiwan. Fortunately, due to the efforts of academics and cultural historians, along with a societal inclination to preserve historical sites, Taoyuan Shrine was preserved. Setting aside the political motives and religious policies of different periods, Taoyuan Shrine has retained its structures such as the administrative office, worship hall, main hall, purification pavilion, and the middle gate for over 80 years. The cypress wood reveals a unique aesthetic of the era, with various roof styles like the Tang-style gable and the hip-and-gable roof. The main hall features a copper-tiled gabled roof, and the worship hall has a hip-and-gable roof, encapsulating several common styles of Japanese shrine architecture within Taoyuan Shrine. Since 2017, the shrine has been revitalized and managed by businesses, featuring attractions like the wind chime tunnel and the ema wall, making it a popular spot on Instagram. On weekdays, there is a single version of the goshuin (shrine stamp), currently the cherry blossom version. On Sundays, in addition to the shrine market, a calligraphy teacher is invited to handwrite goshuin. For those collecting goshuin, this is not to be missed. 📍Address: No. 200, Section 3, Chenggong Road, Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City, 330023. Take bus 213 and get off at the Martyrs' Shrine stop.