RS100 = Top 100 Religious Scenes of Taiwan.
The "Top 100 Religious Scenes of Taiwan" encompass a hundred iconic religious sites and activities that were chosen via public vote and announced by the Ministry of Interior on Nov. 22, 2013. these sites embody the history of early Taiwanese settlers and illustrate both diversity and the island's religious landscape.
Hsinchu Cheng Huang Temple(Hsinchu City God Temple) is Taiwan’s only provincial-level City God Temple.
Hsinchu City God Temple is one of Hsinchu’s three main temples. During the Qing Dynasty, it was the only City God Temple in Taiwan located in a provincial-level city, which meant its jurisdiction covered the entire island. Renovations carried out when Taiwan was under the Japanese rule added many works by renowned artists of the time, including stone and wood sculptures, dragon columns, guardian lions, door gods, plaques, couplets, and the temple’s caisson ceiling. Each addition was meticulously made and of great artistic value. The bluestone guardian lions sitting in front of the Sanchuan Hall are so beautifully crafted they merited the honor of an appearance on a postage stamp. The temple’s time-honored Chuchang Zhongyuan City God Festival, held on the seventh month of the lunar calendar, had its origins in traditional mid-summer ghost festivals. Strongly rooted in tradition, the festival is rich in culture, community spirit, and folk customs. Hsinchu’s City God Temple also holds the biggest prayer ritual of all city god temples in the country.
In 1747, the chief officer of the Tamsui Sub-Prefectural Office, Ceng Yue-Yin, decided to relocate the entire office to Chuchang City (today’s Hsinchu). Operating under Taiwan Prefecture, the Tamsui Sub-Prefectural Office was the central office for almost the entire northern half of Taiwan. Construction of a city god temple was immediately initiated and the temple was completed in the following year. At that time, the temple was considered to be at the sub-prefectural level. In 1875, Taipei was elevated to a prefectural-level city, but continued to use the office in Chuchang City for its main administration. Thus, the temple at Chuchang City also became a prefectural-level temple. This continued until 1878, when Taipei’s City Council moved north to Manka (today’s Wanhua District in Taipei) and Chuchang was renamed Hsinchu City. In 1891, in response to public rumors of impending natural disaster, the Qing court ordered a prayer ritual to be held at Hsinchu City God Temple. During the ritual, the government also elevated the temple’s stature again, making it the only provincial-level city god temple in Taiwan. In 1924, the temple went through a much-needed renovation funded by the local Zheng family, adopting a new, more graceful exterior. Hsinchu City God Temple is considered to be one of the three main temples of Hsinchu City, along with Zhulian Temple and Chang Ho Temple. In 1985, the temple was listed among Hsinchu City’s municipal historical sites. The temple hosts the renowned Chuchang Zhongyuan City God Festival, which evolved from the traditional Mid-Summer Ghost Festival and which includes an inspection tour parade (ràojìng) by the City God and a confession and blessing ritual (bènjiājiěè), both of which are carried out in traditional fashion. One of the most memorable sights of the parade is that of thousands of people wearing paper cangues (as part of the confession and blessing ritual) to demonstrate their devotion to the City God. The festival was named an official folk custom activity of Hsinchu City in 2009.
The container is a small canister with magnet. Only a log-paper in it. Please bring a pen for this cache.